Life after the Extended Rotary Warranty?
 

Do you plan to keep your car after your 8 year/100,000 mile Rotary Core Components Warranty expires?

Is it likely that if an older engine has made it to the 8 year mark without losing compression, that it'll continue to be OK as long as it's maintained properly?

Did all the fixes and flashes over the early years fix the problem with older engines such as my 2004 so that if the "inferior" settings didn't damage it back then, it'll be OK now with the revised flashes and all?

Or is my 2004 engine just as likely to "fail" after the warranty ends, even if it's OK now at 7 years?

I have never had a car that I expected to keep the engine in forever. I plan to keep mine at least for a while. Hopefully the 16X will be out in the next 3 years or so. Anything can be fixed on a car though.

I plan on driving her for a while. For the cost of buying a new car, even if I traded this one in I could get a really good race engine with ceremic apex seals. The cars beautiful, and you hardly ever see anything like it. Engines can be replaced.

Why keep a car just because of a warranty?
After 6 years, so 2 years withing the extended warranty, you may begin experiencing wear issues like wheel bearings, blown shocks etc. Keeping a car is expensive.
As Doc says engines can be replaced btw.

I reached 100,000 miles 8/2007, that was before the 8/100K program. Every time Mazda has extended coverage on any item I have been over the miles. Since 2007 my main expense was a rebuilt engine installed in 2008. The trans is fine, heck the only bulb to burn out was the rear license plate bulb. Every accessory still works fine and I still love the way the car looks and drives. I still receive complements on it. That said I am having issues with my second engine that changes the way I use the car but I plan to keep it as long as possible.

I always keep cars until repair costs reach the point where I realize that I should have gotten rid of them a couple of years earlier. The 8 won't be any different...although I might keep it longer.

Ken

exactly. For me, when repair costs exceed what I would pay in car payments in a year, that for me would be the time to move on to a new(er) vehicle.

I'm keeping the car forever. Simply because when the time comes to get any major replacement. like Engine or Transmission or Rear Diff (or all of them), its really just a 1 time cost thing that spread over the years. Its part of car ownership.

Parking space might be a problem, however. Cuz I already have 3 cars. when 16x/Rx-9/whatever comes out, I really have to find a place to store at least 1 of my car, probably my FC.

^Those are my thoughts. I love the way the 8 looks and plan to keep her simply on those basis.

I hope so, I think that's what's frustrating me lately. I had this "difficulty starting when engine hot" problem two years ago, and the coils/plugs were replaced which made it a little better, but still not cured entirely. And it worsened since then, so here I am again with the same problem, and same recommendations from one dealer (taking it to a different one though).. so I'm not hopeful. It feels unfixable :(

And sounds more and more like a compression problem from what I'm reading. I know I can get a replacement engine for free still, but it sounds like so many people have had trouble with their replacements, it starts to sound like an endless chasing of problems once at that point, trying to stay within the extended warranty, then the one-year warranty on replacements. I realize keeping a car means repair expenses, but thousands for a new engine (what does it cost anyway?) isn't a typical expense.

Still, the car is so darn fun and unique it's really hard to considering parting with it. I've actually been trying, looking at all kinds of other cars... and just can't find anything I'd rather have over a healthy RX-8.

But could mine be healthy again, and at what cost? If only I had that answer ;)

Same here. I just went through every service receipt since I bought the car back in 2004, and the only unexpected cost I could find was $580 for coils/plugs/wires back in 09.

Naturally, the warranty covered a number of little things that broke through 2006 (TSBs, tailights, heater control, sunroof rattle), but since then... nothing broke. So even if I'd been without a warranty for the last four years or so, that $580 would have been my only surprise repair cost in all that time.

If its my car and it's already paid off (pink slip on hand), then i will definitely will keep it as long as the car is in good running condition (preventive maintenance is the key). I love the rx8, i wouldn't trade it with anything else. I don't really have to get a new car if my warranty expires and i don't want to start making monthly payments again...no! The money i will be saving without making monthly payments are the ones that will continue to guard the car from any maintenance issues that will arise.

Waiting on warranty to be up before turbocharging..

Yeah, I guess that means I am keeping it.

Im not going to get rid of this car, Its the only car I like thats practical for me. The other cars I wanted would require me to get a second car for a daily. Been thirsting for a FD or a Elise. The 8 is one of the most unique cars on the road, I dont think anything can replace it. Id only get a second car.

I'll be keeping mine

Thanks for the replies, everyone. It's reassuring to know it's Not Just Me ;)

I guess it'd be different if it were an "appliance car" that really could be replaced with something new? I could give that up easier I think.

The problem is, I know once I give up the RX-8... that's it. I can't replace it, or the silly unique things about it. I won't hear that adorable chirpy/cooing sound in the morning at startup ever again, lol. Or the HUM. I can't have a true sports car AND still take my (adult) friends to dinner in the back seats.

I kinda realized how unique the car is when I was at a dealer yesterday (just exploring my options), and the man asked how many cylinders my potential trade-in had, and I said none... and I get the confused look. There was no checkbox for "none," lol.

considering how much i dumped into my last "tuner" car, i'll be keeping the 8. When something goes wrong, i replace with a better part (take for example, stock coils --> BHR coils etc)

i found out mine has an new engine in it with 6k on the clock. When the time comes it would be replaced with another one with better goodies in side. Already have on ordered drilled/sloted rotors and hawk pads (should be here thursday). Upgrades are fun :ylsuper:

the 8 is one of a kind i give it that, just wish i had more funding options to grab a 6spd in this good of cond but hey, i cant be picky, i got a taste of the 8, and now i'm hunting another :naughty:

I have a dissenting opinion.

I'm in a similar position to you. There is a ton of body work that needs to be done on my car. The only real concern I have with my car is the hot start issues and the increased oil consumption in the spring. I'm going to Mazda this Friday for a compression test. If I can get a new engine, I'll bite the bullet and fix all the issues. Otherwise, I'll fix the obvious issues and then get rid of it.

Would I trade it in for a brand new RX-8? Maybe...

My only concern is the higher then normal engine failure and general longevity of the engine. Beyound that the car is like any other.

For those of you waiting on the 16x don't hold your breath. The new fleet fuel economy standards will all but guarantee this will be the last rotary. Even if the 16x gets 20% better MPG that will just put it in the same league as present cars. The rotary is just too thermo inefficient to survive in a high gas price environment. This is beside all the problems the rotary caused Mazda with the failing engine issue. I hope I am wrong but logic dictates otherwise.

Right, I understand... it worries me that sooooooooo many people have the hot start thing (and the loss of power/raspy noise under acceleration when hot) with no real common cause or solution found. I've read of people trying everything, and yet it's still there. Yet others fixed it with coils or even new coolant (the rasp anyway), so I'm just afraid of an endless chase of throwing money at it without ever fixing it.

But, unless I chicken out, I'm going to take at least one service visit chance to see if they can figure it out.

I will keep it until gas goes 100% ethanol........