Is this car a good buy?
 

So my current situation is, I found this car and thought it was an amzing deal so i put down 500$ to secure it as mine while I investigated further. The carfax has open recalls which I assume havent been met due to the mods done to it causing it not to be fully covered. I am attaching a link to the cars site where they have the car fax and all available. The car fax is clean other than the recalls, and the Autocheck score is above the average so those check out. The main issue here is, is the car an overall good buy? 11k for 31k miles 2005 upgraded rx8. I am not sure what upgrades have been done completely, but as fas as I remember, it was a blow off, new exhaust, a turbo, and an intake. Im pretty sure it has a boost controller as well. I am sunk into a 500$ non refundable deposit so its either buy the car and fix it up ( No idea how much that woudl cost?) or lose the 500. Its an out of state purchase so I cant test drive it, but the dealership says its all well except it should be professionally tuned soon. Any ideas guys? This is my first real car purchase, so I need all the help I can get.

Thanks!



2005 Mazda RX-8 Turbo 6-Speed Cleveland, Ohio | Autos Direct Online

this was already answered in your first thread
https://www.rx8club.com/aftermarket-...engine-244738/

Well I am adding more information to it. Showing the history, miles, and other pictures to see if it is worth the price and possibly taking a hit to repair it if needed.

You put a non-refundable $500 deposit??? Okay, if you did that, then i guess you are serious about the car. Why question us after you put that hard earned money into it? Well...all i could say is good luck with your car you just bought...

I can't speak for the car, but if you don't buy it and you become semi-serious about another car, try using a car inspection service if distance is an issue. I've seen them cost around $100-$200.

I got one whole obama buck that says the compression is lower then lil waynes pants.

I will look into the inspection service. So if I end up getting this and all turns south, whats the worst to expect? I mean the dealership said everything is running and no issues. What would be the most it could cost to fix this thing to make it in top shape. They said it will need a tune up soon. Why would they say that?

I guess worst case would be a new engine.

If it passes a compression test, that would be one big plus. I would personally be wary of buying heavily modified cars. Especially turbocharged ones. The cost isn't bad, but it really depends on how it checks out.

Well, it's definitely clean, looks obvious that it was owned by someone who loved it. Typically.......typically, that transcends into the car being mechanically maintained as well. It's also the right model and color combo. Mileage is good too.

I'm not a huge mod guy when it comes to the engine of the RX-8, so for me personally, that would be a deal breaker. For someone who wants a FI RX-8, then that one looks as good or better than most. I said 'looks', cause that's all we know.

What would scare the crap out of me is this talk of needing a tune up? What is that nonsense? If it needed a tune up, then why not have it done before offering it up for sale? What that translates into for me is, "the car is not running right but we have no idea why so as to disclose and not hide anything about the car we will just tell prospective buyers it needs a tune up."

$11K seems fair for a clean, low-mileage '05 GT with nothing to hide, regardless of mods. As far as how much spare change you should have in your piggy bank, well, I am going to leave that up to some of the more Sr. RX-8 veterans to determine.

Sounds like it's your either way, so keep us posted and good luck.

If you buy it I would get a compression test immediately. If they list up a 1k mile/30 day warranty and seem to think the car came turbocharged, then they might deserve to put a new engine in it.

With less than 32,000 miles on the clock it may not have been boosted for very long. IF it wasn't butchered in the process you may have some life left in the engine. Keep in mind that most boosted engine don't make it past 30k miles in an 8.

Put on your reading glasses and check these out:
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...rx-8-a-233937/
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...t-here-202454/

Also, I would plan on keeping 3k or 4k dollars on the back burner AT LEAST for the inevitable boosted mishap.

:cwm27:

This adds to reasoning that this car is not for you. A *tune* and *tune up* are two very different things, with two very different know-how and cost requirements.

A *tune*, put simply, means reprogramming the PCM via an engine management system so the turbo does not destroy itself and the engine.
A *tune up* means changing spark plugs, wires, coils, etc.

That said, if it has a turbo and isn't properly tuned, who knows how long it has been modified and driven that way, and how much damage it has already done to the engine.
So to answer "How much it could cost?" all depends. A professional tune means paying for dyno time, and at least a few hundred dollars labor, after getting the car to a capable shop which could be quite far from you, and who knows if it even has the engine management installed to do a proper tune.
If done improperly and has already sustained/sustains future engine damage, cost will be BIG.

rule no1 never trust a dealership!!! and our motors arent boost friendly. If you do get it checked out get a compression test done preferably from mazda or someone with knowledge in rotary's

Thanks a lot guys, as much as this deal is great from the looks, I think ill just pass on it. I know losing 500$ is annoying, but putting in 11000+ for a car that needs work and simply just causes problems in the future isnt what I was looking for. I wasnt even looking for a car with mods becase as you can tell I know nothing about rx8 mods. I wanted to start clean while waiting for the best deal and this just happened to pop up. I think ill try and argue the non refundable deposit a bit and see where that gets me, but overall its better to lose 500$ than 11000$. Take it as a lesson learned the hard way. I appreciate all the help. I guess im back on the search for my RX8.

Also, by compression test, what do you mean? Why would that be a big plus? Or terrible if it fails?

good luck in your search
and deffinatelly read theses 2 threads below....
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...rx-8-a-233937/
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...t-here-202454/

if the motor has low compression then you basically need a rebuild or new motor

Will do Lvis thanks man

Definitely get a compression test for any RX-8 you look at unless it still has a sizeable warranty left on the engine (and even then I would still likely get one done).

What is a low compression level? Maybe i can get this tested by them.

dont know how low is to low with those miles, but your better off going to mazda and getting a print out of the test and then posting the results on here.

Thats just it, Im in MN and thats in OH so arranging that would be nearly impossible in the deposit time I have. I might as well not even worry about this and just sack the 500. I can't think of ANY other car I want for the price so Im just gonna stop stressin and sack the deposit and move on. This is proabably the last you will hear from me for a while. Thanks everyone!!

They can't do the compression test, don't even bother asking.

If you had bought it, were you going to have it shipped or fly in and drive it home? What is your budget?

Ship it out. I have a budget of like 16000 but I dont want to buy this and invest in a car that is just going to have problems in the future.