Buying an 8 this week! A little help please!
 

Im very excited to be buying an 8 on friday! I've read and researched proper ways to take care of the rotary engine and everything. Never the less this will be my first rotary. So can anyone please tell me some things to look for when I go to pick up the car from the dealer? Like certain parts or tests? Also can you tell me if im getting a good deal? It comes with a carfax and everything but does it look clean to you guys? Sorry I'm asking so much im just really nervous/excited! I'll post the link of the car. And thanks in advance! I appreciate any advice or tips!

This is the link to the carfax report
http://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory...&partner=CDM_0

If I were you, I would be extremely concerned about this car having 4 previous owners.

Make sure the dealership has a thorough check done, including a compression test on the engine.

Don't agree to anything until they have the proof and give you copies of everything.

If you do end up buying one, then stop getting on this Forum. I bought an 04, got on this forum and worried so much about my car (from reading about blown engines, lights going off on speedometer, water in tail lights, costs of maintenance, suggestions on need to redline, oil, pre-mix and more) that I sold it 6 months later. I now have an 09 RX8 GT that I bought after meeting folks not even on this Forum who were doing just fine and had piled up mileage without half the suggestions on this Forum.

^^I have to disagree with this...This forum has very helpful information...Chances are, you WILL face an issue at some point...That's a given...It may be something minor, or it may be the need for a new engine...Either way, it's best that you learn what other people are going through so that you'll be able to spot the symptoms.

Don't freak out over somebody else's problem...Take it all in as a learning experience.

Take it from me, this forum helps you out more than you will realize at first. I have went through 6 engines in 4 months and if you read my posts about it on here, it might scare you. However, if you pay attention to my posts, its because the dealership was buying used engines when replacing mine. This forum has some very smart people on here...and some smart asses however, we all share the same interest and if the RX8 was not an awesome car, very fun to drive and work on...and not a joy...then this forum would not exist. Apparently Zahir was not too scared off by this forum if he bought another 8 and still posts on here ;) LTA gave you some good advice and I agree with her 100%, make sure and have them give you a compression test readout of your car. Yes, the engines in the 04-06's had issues...mine is an 04. However, you tell me one car that hasnt had issues the first couple years out??? A car is a machine...and like all machines it will fail from time to time. But you dont buy a car to hate it...you buy a car cause you love it and you are willing to accept the payments cause you love it. So get the car you want, hopefully its your 8 you're talking about, stay here on the forum and read up on the all the great information...and get ready to be addicted the first time you get in your new 8!!! :)

Well said Brannon! :)

Thank you ma'lady :)

With it being an 04, check the series I section on here, since that is what your car is, and look at all the information in there. You will learn a lot about maintenance, upgrades, mods, etc...its a good place to start :)

so what's the price on that car?

First of all, ask the seller to do a compression test for you before buying the car. If the compression fails, or if it's borderline low then you should not buy the car - unless they replace the engine.

Also, you need to know that 2012 is the last year for the engine core warranty on that car. So you need to find out on what month the car was purchased back in 2004.

Thanks everyone for the help! im really looking forward to buying it and receiving advice along the way from you guys. The car sticker price is 7995. Is that a fair price or should I try and talk them down? Im going to call now and ask them to do the compression test.

Mmm...the price is decent - considering the miles.

But with an 04' you NEED to know what I told you above - which is....when does the 8yr/100,000 mile engine core warranty end!!!

Ok thanks. And i just called and asked about the compression test and the salesmen acted like he had no idea what i meant? Is that because its a Honda dealer? And will that just be 8 years after the car was sold? So it would be July 04 according to the carfax

LOL, piston owners have no idea ;) Tell them to have a compression test done and if it passes then you will purchase the car. Also, yes it is from the date sold I believe, not the date manufactured. Here is what I would do...if the 8 passes compression, I would buy an extended warranty from the dealership that covers the engine...I did this when buying mine. Yes it was a 200 deductible when I took it in to have the engine replaced the first time however that is a hell of a lot better than paying for the new engine ;) Then about 60 days before the warranty is out from mazda, take it for a compression test and make sure you dont need a new engine. If its good then and fails after the mazda warranty runs out, you still are covered under the extended warranty you purchased through your dealership ;)

I would say that you are just overly paranoid

Ok thanks. What kind of numbers should I be looking for on the compression test? Or what will it say? Also how long of a warranty should I try to get? Any advice on how to get it cheap or any tricks of the car buying trade. Thanks!

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Warranty Start Date
08-26-2004