the mileage is the issue.
 

My "practical dream car" as I've called it is now pretty much out of my reach since I couldn't get approved for a loan without a co-signer, blah blah blah. Anyways, I've been looking around my area [surrounding states as well] and I'm specifically looking for a Shinka. Mileage is my big problem.

Most of them have 50k+ and I'm really wanting one with low mileage but at a good price. It's a very stupid question, but what do you think on the subject of mileage compared to how well the car performs and lasts?


I'm afraid to get a car with mileage above 40k because I would be driving it daily. I'm just trying to get all of these thoughts out of my head right now in my search for the perfect '8.

This is something for you to decide based on your priorities....

For me, mileage and condition were important to me. I plan on keeping my car for at least several years so low mileage was a priority. The way the car was maintained is also important as the Renesis tends to be rebuilt around 50k - 100k miles (mainly due to poor maintenance).

My advice is to test drive as many Rx8's as possible. Even if it's the car you'll never buy, test drive it. I test drove a bunch and noticed that all the cars performed differently. I knew what was considered good and which had potential compression issues.

^Not all RENESIS engines fail between 50-100k miles...

OP, are you specifically looking for an 05 or 06 shinka?
Just make sure you have compression tested...

I really want a 2006 but they are extremely rare in my area, unfortunately :(

Go outside your area...


My 8 was purchased 17 hours away. My Miata 3.5 hours away. The cost of travel is peanuts against the assurance you aren't having to compromise on what you want.

So what was you "practical dream car"?

Yeah millage is does not always tell you the condition of our engine........

Even if you by a higher milage one, it doesn't mean the engine has a lot of miles. I bought mine with 89k on the odo, but my engine only had about 45k on it. I drive this car everywhere, no major issues yet. Just a few small bumps along the way. Now at 100k and it's running better than when I got it.

The only thing that sucks is my engine warranty is over now.

The engine is the thing that would bother me the least. Ask for the maintenance history,pcm reflashes, products used and a compression test.
If the guy changed the spark plugs only once in 60k miles then you have a no go... just sayin' :)

If the engine is in good conditions then consider all the other wear items: catalytic converter, clutch transmission, shocks, brakes as they may need to be replaced in the not so distant future.

It's really a personal decision that depends entirely on your budget.

Well; my practical dream car would be a 2006 WWP Shinka with the sand colored interior. I would settle for a black one, but would eventually paint it, haha. I really just fell in love with the interior in that edition, my mom had a car with the same color leather interior and I've always wanted a car with it since then.


I live in North Carolina; and I've been looking all across the state [trying not to drive all the way to the outer banks], into the Virginias, East Tennessee, South Carolina, even a little bit of Georgia and Maryland. I'm trying not to go too far out because I honestly don't know anyone who would want to go with me that far just for a car.


I'll be sure to ask about all of those things; thanks!

Be patient and don't compromise on your dream car... Like RIWWP said, feel free to travel.
I drove 3 hours to snag my Shinka. If that one didn't work out, I was ready to fly 500 miles to get a different one, and then drive it back.

The fact of the matter is, you'll never regret the efforts in getting the car, but you can regret settling for something you didn't really want.


On a different note... My concern is that you want a car that you can't get a loan approved without a co-signer (if I read your first post correctly), but now have your sights on a Shinka. What was the original car you wanted, and why can you get financing on an RX-8 but not that one?

^financial company's are assholes. When I was car shopping for my previous car... I was somehow approved for a 17,000 loan on a altima, but declined for a 15,000 loan for a grandam gt. Same dealership, go figure. Needless to say I left that lot with my old car.

I was recently discouraged by a member here not to even think about getting an RX-8 because I can't get approved. I am almost twenty, not out on my own, and only have my current car payment [until may or earlier] as the one thing coming out of my paycheck each month.

Apparently things do not add up when I'm trying to finance a car because of my monthly income, my low [but growing] credit score, and the lack of a co-signer.

I suppose I should just give up and see if my current car can last until next year [a 2000 celica w/ 178k on it]..

40-50k mileage is not that high if i were you. Even though, if the car has a high mileage, but it is maintained by the owner, then it should be just fine. On the other hand, if your planning to get an rx8, then you need to get a compression test, whatever mileage it is, because of the compression issues. Anyway, good luck whichever vehicle you decide to get.

Keep your current car. The RX-8 is not anywhere near as cheap to own as your Celica. Don't dig a hole for yourself at this age.

+1 on this advice looking at your above post.

The RX-8 is going to be expensive to register, insure, fuel up, maintain, and repair.
Since your finances sound like they're on the low end of things currently, I would highly recommend that you do this:

Take as much money as you can a month (even just $50 a week means $200 a month) and put it into a savings account. After a year, look at how much you have in there ($200 x 12 = $2400, or if you were able to save $400 x 12 = $4800, etc), and see what you can do with that money. If you can't do anything, save up for another year.

There's no point rushing into an RX-8 now, because you have your whole life ahead of you, and there will always be RX-8s available to purchase.

BC.

i agree with you that a low milleage car is less of a compromise. When i bought my used rx8 it only had 29000 miles on the odo. It havent suffer no problems at all, everything is still original even the catalithic , engine transmission , i mean everything!! Now its getting to 95000 miles in 3 1/2years sine i owned it . Im thinking on trade in mine in 1 1/2 year.

It all depends.

Many people don't realize that approval for car loans has many variables - including the type of car.

So yes, being approved for one car doesn't mean you will get the same loan ammount from the same company for a different car.

^but explain how I still got the loan on a (1year newer) grandam gt from a different lot??

Not that I'm complaining or anything, I was quite happy with the deal I got on it. 15k (this was back in 04 if that matters)

Don't wanna sound like a douche but consider the cost of owning an 8 (not repairs or maintenance since no matter what you buy there's always a chance something breaks). I'm talking about premium gas with less than awesome mileage. Some people (myself included) don't care about the cost of fuel. I drive over 110 miles a day for my commute, however it's something to think about.

Now, I don't know where you live but Carmax does have a few 8's available and the transfer costs are relatively cheap. If you go the route of an 8 from further away I suggest you get a compression test before it is transferred.

In any event good luck and I hope you join us in our addiction.

PS for financing. Don't have a ton of banks run your credit as you look for financing. It will only hurt your credit and chances of getting that loan in the long run.

This is very true. I test drove an auto 07 wwp gt a year back or so and I swear it took about 9 seconds to get to 60. It was soooo sluggish from 0-3k rpms. Now before half of you go duh it's an auto it wasn't that. I owned an 06 auto gt that was so much more responsive even at low rpms.

In the end I'm very glad I waited and found a much lower mileage CWP 09 GT manual for the same price.

Not true.

Having lots of credit checks by other companies does increase the credit score, EXCEPT when it's for the same type of credit (other than credit cards) and relatively close together (somewhere within a month I think). So you can shop around for a specific type of credit from multiple locations and not have a negative impact. Shopping around for credit is encouraged, and the credit agencies don't penalize scores for doing so.

Because of the type of car. If you had enough credit, then that means you would have been approved for a loan anyway.

But the loan "amount" is a different thing. Again, financial institutions have their own criteria to determine that when it comes to type of car.

I dealt with enought banks when I was going to finance my 8 to learn that.

Interesting. I was under the impression that running the credit too often was not a good thing.

they have to think about the risk factor, an Altima, even if you can't afford your loan (which happens quite often these days) they should be able to sell it close to the loan's amount. but GrandAm GT ...

u get the idea

I never have any problems getting loan, they checked my credit and just told me straight up how much do I need? I can even loan the whole car no deposit required :D :cwm27:

Credit checks for buying car(s)/house(s) will not hurt your credit, a lot of "credit CARD credit checks" would.