im buying my 1st car in 2 weeks its been decided, but my issue is im in texas living with my parents still (im only 20=p) and im on the edge of moving out... the problem is that im going to be moving from San Antonio Texas to Lakewood Washington (roughly 2,000 miles), i have test drivin the rx8 that i am getting only once and that was before i even got all hyped up on learning about it as much as possible. when i test drove it, it seemed great my dad even looked it over and thought it was in awesome shape (he is a lab tech in the army so i dont expect him to know much about a rotary but hes my pops yah know) the car has 93k miles on it.... would it be safe at all to even take the trip to Washington??? i want this car really bad. what should i do???? and if i can take the trip what should i do to prepare the car for it as well as what i should do along the trip to make it as easy on the car as possible. sry im rly new to the forums dont rage on me too hard pllllzzz D: lol

ty for any help what so ever! -saint

 

https://www.rx8club.com/sevenstock-a...-miles-197270/

That was 8,330 miles in Sept of 2010.

Bring oil, but otherwise it's still just a car

 

^^ Do anything you'd do to any other car. Check all of the tires - condition and pressure. Check all of the fluid levels including transmission and differential. If you have the maintenance records and they show a recent change (<30k miles) you should be ok as long as there is enough in there, otherwise I'd have those drained and filled.

I'd get on the car hard before you leave the area where you're buying it, in case you uncover some unknown problems.

And check the oil level at every other fuel stop to get an idea of how fast it uses it. On the highway you won't be going through much, but it's good to keep an eye on it.

Have fun, the 8 is a great road trip car!

 

Why not...do it. Anyways, maintaining it will keep it performing better. Drive it and enjoy it, have fun with your trip.

 

ok so i work at discount tire company as a tire tech repairing, replacing, and re-balancing tires and all that good stuff... so today i walked up to the store owner and jokingly said hey so will you buy me some new tires for my 1st car... AND HE SAID YES =D woo im gunna save some moneys

anyways, my question is what tires should i get for my 8???

thx much for any help! -saint

 

There are many tire threads, and everyone had their own opinions about what is "best", but then everyone has their own situations/circumstances too.

Get tires for the worst condition you will usually see. If you deal with lots of rain, then it needs to be an important consideration, and not just "wet", but damp vs anti-hydroplane. If you never see rain, then you can exclude it. Moving to washington state, you are probably going to want a separate set of winter wheels and tires, or a beater so you can park the 8.

 

In regards to tires, if $$ is tight, play it safe and get the best "all-season" tires you can afford. Some people hate all-season tires, but they are a good compromise for everyday driving. It doesn't sound like you are going to race that car anytime soon, so that type of tire should do the trick.

I would also do a full tune-up to the car before driving the 2,000 plus miles.

 

so that is filters, oil change, spark plugs/wires, coils, Manual Transmission Fluid Change.... psssshhh these are the only things i really know atm xD sry anything i have wrong and/or missing???

<--- new to cars dont hate me to much please!

ty for any help its very much appreciated! -saint

 

A jug of bug juice for your windows could help.
All the other stuff has already been discussed.

Don't rush to get to your destination, either! The 8 is quite an enjoyable ride

 

Although many people just do fluids during 'regular' tune-ups, in reality you are buying a car with some miles on it.

So I would go ahead and and do the whole thing: ALL fluids (engine/tranny oil, clutch, brakes, coolant, differential, etc.); ignition (spark plugs/wires, ignition coils if they have not been replaced, check battery); alignment and tire balancing (both of these things are true especially if you get new tires); and any other thing that you can afford to inspect/replace (like drive belt, check brake pads, etc.)

It can be expensive, but I think this is the best thing to do when buying a used car that will see a rather long road trip.

 

I just wanna thank everyone that has psted on this and helped me out and anyone that will still give advice, im new to the rx8 world but every day after work i get straight on the forums and learn more than the day before. and i just wanna add that I've read that the very knowledgeable people on these forums get mad when people come on and just ask questions and dont try to search for answers at all and for the most part wanna be spoon fed. and also just wanna let u guys know im not doing that, yes i am asking questions but right after i ask i keep looking into it and learning on my own and also get even more tips from replies like yours

this is a great community of people with tons of awesome advice! thx much i appreciate it!

-saint

 

Also, here's a little thread for fuel efficiency over Loooonnnggggg distances. 60 MPH vs 75 MPH (with cruise control)

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss.../?ref=esp-link

Have a safe trip!

 

^
Nice fine, speed vs gas mileage thread.

 

That part of WA rarely gets snow... But you are going to see A LOT of rain. Take that into consideration when you are selecting tires.

 

Lakewood, along with most of Western Washington along the I-5 corridor south of Everett has not gotten any significant snow accumulation in the last few years. We may get a few days of snow here and there, but it has been melting quickly.

As far as tires go, the ideal way to go is two sets. One summer set and one winter set. For summers, if you can afford them, I absolutely recommend the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. I've had my set for a month now and they have been fantastic! Great dry traction and it takes effort to break traction in the wet. I expect these tires to last me a good two years with the amount of driving I do.

Concerning your trip, as everyone else has recommended, new fluids and spark plugs are in order. Finding any issues and concerns and having them corrected before you set out is just common sense. These cars are fantastic road trip machines. I purchased mine in Las Vegas and drove it through Salt Lake City on my way to Seattle. I did not have one issue. They are comfortable and easy on you during the long haul.

Have a safe trip and I hope you enjoy your new home!