Before I buy
 

So I'm looking to buy a pre-owned Mazda RX-8, but I'd love some help in familiarizing myself in the car so I know what to look for and ask before I make the buy. I just met the owner of one of the few I'm currently looking at and had a brief discussion about the car. This one I'm looking at is the 2005 model (I'll paste a link at the bottom) in what I believe to be in relatively decent condition given the age and $12,000 price tag.

The exterior is decent with only 1 minor dent and a handful of minuscule scratches in the paint. My only concern on the outside is that the spoiler seems to have a plastic coating/layer that is bubbling up in a few places. As far as I'm concerned with that, I plan on either repainting it or just having it removed entirely. Which ever option is cheapest.

On the interior the car is perfectly fine with one major exception. The dashboard directly in front of the passenger is severely cracking in the outline of the airbag because of sun exposure (I live in South Florida. Sun damage is nothing new). I can live with it for awhile, but it needs to be fixed at some point. My major concern is what it will cost to replace that damage.

After driving it it was also apparent that either the brake pads or the rotors were getting old and need to be replaced sometime soon. I'd love to get a cost estimate for that replacement.

After looking for cars for a good month I'm ready to get this over with. I've settled that the RX-8 is certainly the model I'd love to have. Now the only question is whether I buy this one and do the repairs, or if I continue looking in my area for a different car (still an RX-8 of course).

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

This:
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

and this:
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/

And don't come back until you've learned this
SEARCH!!!

Thanks WCS for the links. Useful reading material and definitely something to look into. But still, my primary concern is what it would cost to have the massive crack in the dashboard replaced.

And just to be sure, $10,000-12,000 seems to be the average running price for a 2004 & 2005 with 60k miles on it in my area. I hope these are in fact reasonable prices. I'd appreciate it if someone could offer any input as to what standard pricing is considered.

Responded in the other thread, then WCS alerted me that you had done this thread.................so...............

1.) You didn't post the link
2.) Where in South Florida?
3.) What color is the car? I have an extra spoiler in perfect condition for $180.00 if it happens to be the right color. Anywhere else this will cost you a ton.
4.) How many miles on it?
5.) Does he have maintenance records?
6.) Is the carfax clean?
7.) Spoiler removal will require holes to be filled and then painted if you go that route.
8.) Not sure about the dash and cost to replace. This is why I use a sunshade!
9.) Well....if pads or rotors, it won't break the bank, but this car isn't the cheapest to do stuff like that and this care requires a little more car than most, so know that and deal with it or walk away.
10.) Auto or manual?
11.) Depending on miles, when was the last time the coils and plugs were changed?


Now that you have responded back in this one................try and answer my questions in more detail.
Concerning the price......I think that's a little high given what all you stated, but it's really hard to tell without seeing the car.
That's why I asked where in Florida..........maybe someone could take a look.
At 60k, if the coils have never been replaced, then this needs to be done in my opinion. Probably about $100.00 there if you do it yourself.....it's easy!

I'll go research the dash cost for you, but it's not likely to be cheap!

Best I can do using advanced search on short notice. I typed in "dash replacement" and came up with the following:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...sh+replacement

That look like your issue if you buy this car? There are always cars on here getting parted out, so you should be able to get on fairly cheap.

1. )http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false
2.) I live in Fort Lauderdale. And you?
3.) The exterior is black. And like I said, I'm just looking for the cheapest option. If yours is the color I need, then I'd certainly look into buying it from you.
4.) 62,935
5.) Yes. The owner mentioned she kept all her records in a file at home. I told her I would try and stop by one day and photocopy them.
6.) It's a private owner, so she doesn't have the car fax. I'm sure her maintenance records would suffice, as she is the sole owner of the car.
7.) I am aware of that. I had talked to someone about it on a car I was previously looking at and he said he would be able to fill in the holes and paint it over to match for around $200.
8.) I looked at the link you sent and that is exactly what is happening. I like the sunshade recommendation.
9.) Yeah. I had a feeling it wouldn't be too bad, but it isn't surprising parts a a little more expensive for this car. It should be fine though. She had mentioned that she was looking into replacing them. I'm confident I could work it out with her that if she replaced the brakes/rotors that I'd pay sticker price no haggle.
10.) It's an auto. Manuals are hell in the traffic we have (the lights in Lauderdale are never synced and you hit more than 50% of the lights).
11.) I can't say. Again, I'm sure the records will reveal what is needed.


Thanks for all your help.

Good luck!

05 Automatics have plenty of no power

Make sure you are ok with that, seriously.

I'm new on this forum and new to rotaries. This is EXACTLY the kind of info I joined the site initially looking to find, and thank you 2cd responder for taking the time to link. I am not a noob when it comes to engines, and I am currently weighing my options on a 2010 6spd manual sport model. There's just something about rotaries I'm attracted to, and it's the only type of engine I've never owned. I've had high revving Honda's, v8's, sportbikes, but never a rotary. I was told in Houston by a local dealer that they would let me have a brand new one for $25k plus tt&l. Sounds pretty damn good to me.

If you have fairly thick skin then this site will treat you well. It has a weath of info and those willing to go the extra mile to help. All we require is that you kinda make an attempt to search, learn, and sometimes even listen. :rollingla

meh, rotaries are just rotaries.:sad:

Find out what it costs to fix the brakes, spoiler and dash and tell the owner you will buy it if he either takes that off the cost of the car or gets the work done then sells it to you.

You should be able to get a grand off by doing that.

But make sure you are ok with an auto (espically the 4 speed) on this car. By reading these forums it seems a lot of people regret not getting the manual.

Yeah, I drove an R3 yesterday and aside from the handling I knew it was what I could expect out of the base 6spd rx8 performance wise. It was hard to be impressed by acceleration as I had ridden my modified zzr600 to the dealer, but the handling and throttle response were everything I am looking for. I'm also considering waiting for the 2011/2012 Boss 302 mustang. So, Jasonrxeight, are you saying you don't care much for your rx8? What are you "meh" about?

meh as in people wayy overlook how troublesome rotaries are. they are pretty simple to take care.

Buy my car. I live in central florida.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8s-sale-wanted-43/2005-wwp-gt-low-miles-203081/

^No thanks

it's the stigma I guess. Good to know they're not quite as "mysterious" as people make them out to be. You like yours then?

yea, if I didnt, I wouldnt fly to Colorado to buy it and drove it all the way to Nebraska:lol:

Thanks Coggeshall.

I love my 8, it unique styling and handling is incredible.

My only regret with buying it is the aftermarket support for it.

You look at the honda, VW, Ford, Chevy support for aftermarket products it is huge.

I think the issue is Mazda doesn't want to lend their knowledge to companies to help make the product for thier cars.

Mawee said it best on his turbo build thread. When someone learns something about the 8 they keep it to themselves.

Aftermarket support sucks, Cobb discountinuing the Accessport is a perfect example. Mazda killed the 8 and aftermarket companies are following suit.

With the problems listed, and the automagic 4-port being the model you are looking at, i would say 10,000 or move on. I got my 05 ti-gray 6spd with 41k miles full leather, and new engine at 26k for 11,700. But thats just my experience and opinion.

PS I live and got mine in Alabama, so same region although prices probably still do vary.

Yeah. In a perfect world thats not my first choice. My parents have a significantly different opinion. I drove it today and it's plenty for what I need. I'm putting on very few miles, 80% of which are city. Too much power in my hands often is just begging for trouble.

automagic? its more like autotragic:yelrotflm
I found manual in traffic is a hella fun too. and who cares if its auto or manual if you drive on the interstate all day?

honestly driving a manual to me is the last fun thing to do in my RX8 as a DD. in my world, RX8's would be manual only.

So before I contact the seller again, could someone run me through the points I should be asking? Here's what I know needs to be established so far:
- Do they have all the maintenance records
- How often did they do their oil changes
- When is the last time they had their plugs and coils changed
- Debate price reduction (to account for cosmetic and brake repairs)

This is pretty much all I can remember. If anyone has anything to add to the list I'd appreciate it. Again this is a 2005 RX-8 with 62,935 miles on it. The brake(s) and/or rotor(s) need to be replaced very soon as you can already feel the car shaking as it brakes.

Please don't get a 4 port unless you got a snail ready for it.