so, i never EVER thought i'd get rid of the 8 -- and there's a good chance i still might not -- but if i do (might be having a major engine problem going on right now), i have a question about returning a leased car. this is my second car, but the first i bought, the 8 i leased. i intended to buy it out at the end of the lease but this possible engine trouble (power loss, random stall twice) is freaking me out. all i've done is lower it (tein s, threw away the original springs though) and welded on exhaust tips. there's a little body damage, but normal for a 4 year old car ... would i get busted and have to pay out for lowering it?? if i turn the car in and walk away, i'd hopefully walk away with a new ms3, but i don't want to have to PAY them for returning the 8 with different springs, etc. anyway have any experience on returning slightly 'modded' cars from a lease?

 

Depending on your dealership they might not even notice. I'm sure you could get someone here to trade you their stockers for your tein's

 

^^hmm, probably true, tein s has a nice drop. but it's not like "damn, you dropped your car". i just didn't know how particular dealers are -- and i realize it can vary.

good idea on possible swapping, gotta pay to get them removed/installed though!

 

TAKE ALL MODS OFF!!!!!!!!


I have seen countless people get a bill 2 months after they turn their car in. The dealer is responsible to ensure he car has no major damage, usually it never goes past that. but then the car is picked up from the dealership by mazda, and take to a different location where it is reconditioned. If they find excessive wear and tear, i mean REALLY excessive . . they are gonna hit you for it. If they find huge cuts in the interior, they are gonna charge you for it. If they notice that the tires are not at least 50% tread left, they are gonna charge you for it.


And IF THEY FIND MODS, they are gonna charge you for the stock replacemet parts.

THis example is a worst case scenario. usually you can get away with a tiny damage. little scratches, tiny dents. . . . . but anything major they will just send you a bill.

 

yeah, got the tiny scratches, door dings for sure!

i'm surprised they don't have to tell you right there though. what if there's a dispute??

would you, rglbegl, think aftermarket springs and exhaust (tips only) excessive? they're both for the better - look better and handle better, but i don't know if a dealer would view it that way.

i painted my yellow corners black, but i can buy those myself and slap them on. nothing done to the interior, overall good condition except the few scratches/dings.

 

take the mods off whenever possible.

They will Find your mod. thats one of the ways dealership make people pay extra out of their pockets.

Why did you throw your stock stuff away anyway ?

 

^^i know, stupid, but i was moving from dallas to austin and it was one less thing to bring along. AND ... i had (still kinda have) every intention to keep the 8, i leased it knowing i would buy it out - i love this car!

but for the first time today i experienced this power loss deal - may be spark plugs, coils, build-up, cat problem, compression, bad batch of gas, or whatever, don't know yet, but it raised a red flag on an otherwise perfect car - it's so close to my warranty being up (47k, 4 yrs in january) so it's freaking me out. i would feel better in a lease with a full warranty ahead of me.

 

if it freaks you out, then I guess you might want to try to buy some used springs(or whatever you are missing), put it back to stock, return it. THEN you get a brand new 08 Fully loaded for maybe 27K.

Thats what I would do (if I were you)

 

They will ding you for springs for sure. And anything else they find wrong will be blamed on the springs, so you will be charged.


The only allowable mod is a bed liner, and I doubt you have one of those.

 

ha ha, good call on the bed liner.

i guess i'll have to try to switch them out then, IF i return it. i'll be going to a local dealer to get it checked out and see if it's anything major. even if it's not major, i might still end it. i'm literally trying to picture myself not driving the 8, and i'm not sure if i can, just ask my girlfriend -- after 4 yrs of driving it i'm still giddy every time we get in it. but i don't want problems in the future. maybe i'll start a poll of people post 45k with and without major problems. not sure how many are out there though, considering i got an '04. part of it is i've never had a car out of warranty, and i'm not sure how extensive the extended warranty is.

i thought about getting a new one nycgps, but i'd be pissed if they switch it up or make the kabura a rotary! i guess i could get a ms3 or '08 8 on a 2 or 3 yr lease and hope they make something badass by 2010. i love the 8, and the ms3 is appealing to me b/c i like the space hatchbacks offer, but nothing else is really appealing to me, by any manufacturer, within my budget at least. this will be a hard decision!

thanks for your input though guys.

 

side note: overall what a great forum this is. i've been perusing some ms3 forums to learn more about them and it seems a lot of the posts are left unanswered. annoying!! anyway, thanks again for helping out. keep your fingers crossed that my 8 is just in need of some tlc, and not a new engine.

 

*crosses fingers*

 

No, you will definately pay for a new stock suspension system.

Call the finace company and Mazda. Most car companies will let you pay month be month at the end of the lease.

You do not have to return the car at the end of the lease.

If financing is a problem to buy it out this is what you do.

If your not sure what new car you want to replace the RX8, this is what you do.


You will be charged for any wear that is not normal. Even tires. If the feeel the wear is not normal or it's at the min. requirements you will pay for new tires.

 

^^ the tire wear looks normal to me, although i do have 245's on now, not stock tires. the rest of the dings/scratches are pretty normal to me. i asked a guy at my dealership and he said they are pretty lenient, although i guess i will have to get some stock springs and switch them out, damnit. i could buy it out and sell it to carmax, assuming they give me a good price -- maybe they wouldn't mind it being lowered!!

 

Get the stock springs back on.

Take it in, hopefully have the engine replaced.

Pick it up, put the aftermarket springs back on.

Keep the car.