Is buying an 04 rx8 with the original engine a bad idea?
#1
Is buying an 04 rx8 with the original engine a bad idea?
I found a pretty cheap 04 black rx8 and it has 61,000 on the original engine. Is that too many miles on an original engine with the old flash. I recently crashed my 04 rx8 but it had the engine replaced in late 09 and from what I've read that's when they near perfected the renesis. I need some advice lol from someone who has an original engine in their 8.
#8
these cars actually seem to be more reliable the less you touch them. mine has had tons of warranty work done, and most of it was done badly, ie they didn't align the power plant frame, so the engine was sitting on the body, stuff like that.
my friends car has almost literally been untouched, and its perfectly fine
that being said, have some extra money for coils/wires/plugs and maybe a start on an engine
my friends car has almost literally been untouched, and its perfectly fine
that being said, have some extra money for coils/wires/plugs and maybe a start on an engine
#9
I have an '04 with 53k miles and shes fine. However, she has a full main dealer service history and apears to have been well looked after.
I think the key here is history, if the car has none, i'd be very sceptical and like has been said a few times already, a compression test is a must!
There are LOADS of early RX8's around with much higher milage so the engine can do it, just so long as it's been looked after.
I think the key here is history, if the car has none, i'd be very sceptical and like has been said a few times already, a compression test is a must!
There are LOADS of early RX8's around with much higher milage so the engine can do it, just so long as it's been looked after.
#11
Rotary Evolution
these cars actually seem to be more reliable the less you touch them. mine has had tons of warranty work done, and most of it was done badly, ie they didn't align the power plant frame, so the engine was sitting on the body, stuff like that.
my friends car has almost literally been untouched, and its perfectly fine
that being said, have some extra money for coils/wires/plugs and maybe a start on an engine
my friends car has almost literally been untouched, and its perfectly fine
that being said, have some extra money for coils/wires/plugs and maybe a start on an engine
i just tell it i'll do a REW swap into it everyday before i get in, indimidation factor.
#13
Getting a compression check is wise, but no, it's not a bad idea. I dare say most second-hand 8's are bought with the "original engine"! In fact, if you were to ask most RX-8 owners if their car still had its "original engine," they wouldn't know what the hell you were talking about.
Always remember, this forum doesn't represent the real world. Like any car forum, it more represents, quite understandably, the complaint department. Few owners without problems will ever bother to find their way here.
Always remember, this forum doesn't represent the real world. Like any car forum, it more represents, quite understandably, the complaint department. Few owners without problems will ever bother to find their way here.
Last edited by New Yorker; 01-23-2013 at 12:44 AM.
#14
Great post New Yorker. Like you stated, most people post complaints.
I had a Mini Cooper S that was a great car. No issues. If you read those forums you'll run too. I know they can have problems, but I feel those cars also require a bit more looking after than the typical Toyota. That's all.
I had a Mini Cooper S that was a great car. No issues. If you read those forums you'll run too. I know they can have problems, but I feel those cars also require a bit more looking after than the typical Toyota. That's all.
#15
Just Google 'Toyota, Mercedes, BMW problems', etc. and i'm sure you'll find lots of stuff to put you off them as well.
Sure, the Rex IS more fragile than your average shopping runaround but with proper maintainance and an owner that understands it, they can easily go to 100k and beyond......
(most dont though...........)
#17
Rotary Evolution
i'd venture to say that many cars were diagnosed as needing engines that simply were flooded.
everyone does a short trip now and then, with the right scenario it is easy to flood even a perfectly fine engine and cause it to give symptoms of a blown engine with low compression.
everyone does a short trip now and then, with the right scenario it is easy to flood even a perfectly fine engine and cause it to give symptoms of a blown engine with low compression.
#18
I don't "smell good".
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#19
Getting a compression check is wise, but no, it's not a bad idea. I dare say most second-hand 8's are bought with the "original engine"! In fact, if you were to ask most RX-8 owners if their car still had its "original engine," they wouldn't know what the hell you were talking about.
Always remember, this forum doesn't represent the real world. Like any car forum, it more represents, quite understandably, the complaint department. Few owners without problems will ever bother to find their way here.
Always remember, this forum doesn't represent the real world. Like any car forum, it more represents, quite understandably, the complaint department. Few owners without problems will ever bother to find their way here.
#20
+1, the more i try to fix the little random crap the more problems wind up popping up out of nowehere with my '04. i haven't even changed the oil in it yet but so far the track record with it it will eat a coolant seal the moment i do..(only had it 2 months)
i just tell it i'll do a REW swap into it everyday before i get in, indimidation factor.
i just tell it i'll do a REW swap into it everyday before i get in, indimidation factor.
although for a while i had an entropy theory for old rotary engines, its that you NEVER fix everything on an old engine, if you leave it leaking (or something) it'll continue to run, but try to seal up every leak, and it'll die a smokey death.
Last edited by j9fd3s; 01-23-2013 at 01:04 PM.
#21
Compression test, not a must good idea like others have said. I just got done putting 500 miles on my new to me 04 gt. Im loving every minute I drive it. Check the carfax on it that will have everything lidted that was done to the car including tsb.
#23
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
I just want to say that you should ignore all the comments that says it's just a matter of how it was taken care of. Sure, that matters. That said, there was a recall for a reason. A 2004 will be more prone to engine failures and it happens to people who definitely took good care of their cars.
That's why the compression test is about the most important thing to look into. That will be about the best thing to tell you the health of the engine. It's impossible to know how exactly how the car was treated by the previous owners and even with that knowledge, the engine could still fail. If it has bad compression, then you know to avoid it.
That's why the compression test is about the most important thing to look into. That will be about the best thing to tell you the health of the engine. It's impossible to know how exactly how the car was treated by the previous owners and even with that knowledge, the engine could still fail. If it has bad compression, then you know to avoid it.
#24
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
these engines are hand build, sorry to say but that just mean you add another level of possible failure. especially in a mass produce kind of assembly line when they demand speed over quality(always)
and dont forget, everybody had their bad day every once in a while.
this is also the reason why some people can run the car without changing oil, and some has failure even when the owner changes it every 2k miles or less.
and dont forget, everybody had their bad day every once in a while.
this is also the reason why some people can run the car without changing oil, and some has failure even when the owner changes it every 2k miles or less.
Last edited by nycgps; 01-24-2013 at 10:38 AM.
#25
i have an 04 and when i got it had 82k miles, now it has 91k miles and the engine is still running and purring like a kitten. still runs great, only thing i have to do is just change the spark plugs but its nothing big.