Buying RX8, with salvage title
 

Hello

I've got a contact in the US dealing with salvaged cars and such, and through him I'm planning on buying a wrecked black 2005 RX8 (manual transmission, cloth seats (i hate leather during the summer), DSC, no nav system), and import it to europe where it'll be fixed up. I'm getting the parts at a heavily discounted rate, and I'm not paying for labor. Vehicle price wrecked is probably 5000-8000 USD (its an auction)

The RX8 in question looks like it rear-ended a SUV. The hood, bumper, front fenders are totally busted. There's a buckle on one of the rear fenders too. The engine compartment seems to be okay, the plastic covers are still attached to the battery, and the engine cover is only slightly tilted, so I don't think anything in there is heavily damaged. Both airbags are blown though (which surprises me).

I've read about a thousand pages worth of posts in this forum (or so it feels like!) and I've pretty much convinced myself that I want an RX8. There seem to be a fair bit of issues with them though, but the one I'm interested in has had all recalls done except for the emission flash, which I intend to get done before shipping it to europe.

Why don't I buy one here? Well, they're like $50k USD here :(

My contact advises me not to get an RX8, since he says they're mazdas "problem car", which is probably true.... but meh.

Anyone feel like talking me out of or into buying it?

And if I get it, anything special I should watch out for?

(Oh, and it'll be my first "real" car, not counting an old hyundai pony)

They're a problem car if you run into shit with it.

Personally, I wouldnt get near Salvaged.

is there engine damage? how bad?
Frame bent.

but most importantly.....
Insurance.

say you get it fixed up, this and that, its brand new again, "looks" awsome.... Lets even suppose it runs awsome at this point...

its not gonna be 100% mazda rx8. and!!!! Insurance.
Some insurance companies wont take you with a salvaged title. and if they do, it will be a high cost.

Im not expert, but this is at least what Ive heard when i was planning on buying an FD salvaged and fixing it back up to new.

Hope that helps a little

I doubt there is engine damage, since the engine is so far back and the damage is "minor".

As for insurance, they only care that its imported here, don't care about salvage

DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!
Unless you plan on using it for track use only, and NEVER driving it on the street. Then it is okay.
Here in Cali, Salvage title sports cars are almost impossible to register. And insurance is a whole issue in itself. It can be done, but look at the long term . . it would be half the price to buy a new one and pay full sticker price for it. (car guy humor)

EDIT: Double post.

As I said, registering title and insurance is a non-issue here in Sweden.

Have him make sure the frame isnt bent or damaged in the slightest. If the damaged title isnt a problem then go for it if you have the cash flow to fix it up right. Just remember your not going to have a warrenty so anything goes wrong its outa your own pocket for the most part. What part of the US is the car from? I'd imagine once you get the car up and running your gonna need to atleast get a reflash for your ECU since in the states we recently got one cause of our emissions (and failing engines ugh!).

Sounds like a good deal and again if you have the cash flow go for it.

Virginia.

I don't know, some good points raised here. Frame damage would not be my problem either though.. but hmm..

*looks into those payment plans for new RX-8's*

Don't let the "problem car" urban legend talk you out of an RX-8, whether new, used or salvaged. If you want an 8, you want an 8.

Discounted parts and free labor? Just do the numbers on what the repairs will cost, etc. And, more important, assess your confidence in whoever will do the work.

Ken

you know what. if the frame is bent. just leave the deal alone. even if you fix it and weild the thing together, it's gonna be different. really different.
i crush my 8 once. side rear it on a poll. the whole wheel was pushed in. i still have pictures for proof. in the end, the chasis was a bit damaged, so they had to wield and reinforce it, but it never feels the same anymore. now when i autocross, it feels very slaggish on the side where i crush it.
so to be honest, if the frame is damaged, which probably is, don't buy it. stay away.

It sounds like you have already made up your mind that you are going to buy it. Personally I would stay away from a car with a salvage title.

I have never heard of a totaled cars as having minor damage. If the damage was minor the insurance company would have repaired it.

+1 for ^^^

There was a reason why the insurance company didn't try to piece it back together again and call it 'fixed'.

Put it another way: $8K US is halfway to a fully-functioning (probably) 2004 RX-8.

I have rebuilt a Salvage titled car. It was the first FD to catch on fire. I agree with the others on frame. If the rear fender is buckled from frame damaged, I would not buy it. You will never get the car straight. Another option would be to buy two salvage cars, the one you are looking at and a flood car. Disassemble the flood car, and reassemble it with the frame damaged car's parts. You will have a like new car and a whole bunch of parts to sell.

John

Good point, although I think the rear fender damage is due to something else.

Either way, I'll wait with an RX8 til I leave college, too expensive to own one while studying. (Probably). Probably get a volvo or something instead (yay.)

Thanks for the input.

Not sure what you are trying to say here.

I believe the insurance companies wont total a car until the repair bill is around 80% the value of the car.

You should have gone for it! I can't say that it will be exactly the same but if you aren't trying to make it a race car or "autocross" car then it will definitely give you the satisfaction of having an 8. In addition to that you will feel 100 times more rewarded when you are done fixing it as opposed to most people who buy it perfect.

I bought mine in between semesters at college and fixed it up pretty nice. I will admitt it was a b**** to find all the parts and some descent help to get it done but i did it. If you say you have the right contacts and the hook ups then definitely go for it.

And full coverage insurance aint that bad especially for a 20 yr old college kid...

My total project was around 12K for an '04 titanium grey GT including all the aftermarket stuff i got to buy since my original was wrecked!

That doesn't include the stress factor though...

It's the cost of the wreck that is the issue.

For $8K US, you can buy a lot of 'other' car, that isn't wrecked, and doesn't have structural issues. For example, it's half-way to a used, non-wrecked RX-8. If the car was wrecked, it depends on what was left that is theoretically undamaged that gives the wreck the 'price'. How much does a used engine and transmission for an 8 go for? The math should tell you how much is left that is actually worth something.

for 8k you can buy Xdeedubs car! PM him.

Volvo! sic

Don't do it. Regardless how much work you do, the car will never be truly right in terms of its road manners, and it will always be worth much less than a comparable car without the salvage title. These deals always look great going in, but they just don't work out.

My first RX8....
 

Hi everyone.....

This is my first post in this forum, I have recently bought a 2005 RX8 auto tranny from an auction here in Vancouver for Just $1000, Reason(needs new engine, does not start, Low compression).

I have checked the car proof for this one....and it was never been into an accident, has clean history with 90K on the body and blown engine.

Hence, I decided to go for it and bring this beast to life but installing a used engine from any donor Rx8 which has body damage on it..... However, i had hard time to find one with auto transylvania here in Canada, finally i found one in a auto recycle in Montreal, Quebec and he was asking an arm and a leg for it.......ridiculously $3500.

I kept my options open and kept searching.....and surprisingly my girlfriend found one for me at a dealership ( Destination Mazda) for Just $2000, this was completely rebuild with all new parts in it and 0 Kms with one yr warranty or 30000 Kms which ever is early. I am very happy that I could get one.....and now it is getting ready to go into the car.

Just want to get any suggestions.... from you guys, if there is anything particularly i should be careful while installing it.

Attached the Pic...

Nice find! Replace ignition coils, spark plugs and wires. #1 killer of engines. Inspect the catalytic converter for fragmentation or clogging.
For the full list of things you should know, there is a sticky thread on the new member forum that should help.

Not worth it to get a salvage title.

Did you read the post from the person who resurrected this thread?