Andrew#12

I am a 16 yr old boy and am planning on buying a 8 in November time range. I have done a lot of research on the car myself but still have a couple questions.

1. Would you recommend this car to me?
2. What is a good price to pay for an 8 with bout 50k on it?
3. What type of oil should I use?( have read a lot on this and know that everyone has their own opinions)
4. What are the do's and donts with this car?( I know you should redline it once a day to clean out carbon)
5. Overall would you recommend?
6. What are things I should check for when test driving and buying?( plan on bringing my mechanic with me, but generally what should I look for)

Thanks in advance for all your help.

fuztupnz

iTrader: (4)

I think there is a thread somewhere in this forum that answers all of your questions, and almost in the order you asked them. It even teaches you to search. Well, question #1 might not be in that thread, but there have been countless threads asking the same thing.

jasonrxeight

1. I think you can figure that out yourself asking this kind of question on a RX8 forum.
2. depending on what ear and what model you getting, something around 10k-12k.
3. just get some Castrol GTX 5w/30 and call it a day.
4. dont crash it, and do keep it well maintained.
5. I like mine, idk how you gonna like it.
6. any hard cold/warm start and high rpm power loss is a bad sign.

jasonrxeight

you mean this?
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

fuztupnz

iTrader: (4)

yes sir i do. I was gonna leave subtle hints to help him find it. My plan is ruined

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

read the red

georgemagana

1) yes and no! like they said before and also in the link.. first cars almost every time have a sad ending story. ALMOST every time.. i never had any problems at all with me first car (1998 civic si) but then i sold the car to my brother (his first car) and crashed it in about 2 months...
2)I have no idea since I am in canada prices are higher fml
3)everyone uses a different one. I use castrol gtx 5w20. It might not be the best but im still under warranty so dont wanna complicate anything in any possible way with the dealer
4)redline once a day or once per drive ( when safe to do so) try not to turn the car off when cold
5)i love this car but its really expensive to own it. If you are 16 i see no way you can afford all the **** that could go wrong with this car plus gas and insurance plus your only 16! u wanna have fun too so spending all the money in this car is not fun at all. BUT if your parents will help you with money..thats a different story
6)check how long it takes the car to start. Check for any noises (ask your mechanic for help) when at a red light check for any vibrations, check the brakes and tire condition..
I will recomend you a civic for your first car, maybe drive it for a year or 2 and then get this car

Andrew#12

I have been to that thread countless times even have it bookmarked on my iPad. I am not really worried bout the money aspect of it and am definitely not going to settle for a civic or any sedan. I was originally going to get a 2006 ford mustang v6 but my mechanic told me that ford has NEVER made a good v6 in any if their cars. While searching in fords used inventory I came across this car and instantly fell in love. My main concern is will this car be reliable? I don't want to be in the shop every single month doing repairs. I know the biggest thing that can go wrong with this car is the engine if it is neglected. As soon as I get the car I plan on installing a coolant restrictor orifice to fix the MIAC problem (if the previous owner didn't already do so). Also what type of gas runs the smoothest. I plan on using shell v-power or sunoco but am always open to hear other peoples opinions.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

You're on the right track! You still have a lot of reading to do though...
Gas has evoked some strong debate, so we don't want to get into that. But, MOST of the club (from my understanding) runs 91 or higher. Read up on it.
Premixing is another common practice. I haven't started, but I believe I will when I bring my car out of storage!
Click the "google" link in my sig to learn the most effective way of searching the forum. Believe me, there is so much to learn about this car! But, don't let that deter you, because it really doesn't require any more maintenance than other cars! It's just less forgiving if you neglect it...

Good luck

RufusVonStorm

1. Would you recommend this car to me?
Yes - if you are 16 you need to be driving a powerful sports car.

2. What is a good price to pay for an 8 with bout 50k on it?
I dunno, like $15,000?

3. What type of oil should I use?( have read a lot on this and know that everyone has their own opinions)
Just get the dealer to change the oil, keep all the dealer invoices so
you can prove the oil was changed if the motor pops.

4. What are the do's and donts with this car?( I know you should redline it once a day to clean out carbon)
Don't turn it off until it's warmed up or you can flood it.
Don't let it get low on oil.

5. Overall would you recommend?
Rev the **** out of it.

6. What are things I should check for when test driving and buying?( plan on bringing my mechanic with me, but generally what should I look for)
Check to make sure it's a manual.
Make sure the engine is healthy.
Make sure the car's never been underwater.

Thanks in advance for all your help. [/SIZE][/QUOTE]

BuBuBDunk

Too young. Unless mom and dad are paying for everything including when you bang it into a pole or something then its not for you.

Andrew#12

Like I said I am not worried about the money aspect of it. More worried about the reliability of the car. I know how to search the forum using google already and that has helped a lot. Like I said I'm nit getting it till November so I still have plenty of time to read so more of the threads. Thanks for all you guys help.

stinksause

iTrader: (5)

I want. to. believe. he can do it!

One year ago I got my 05 gt with 52k miles for 12k

Look at the cars for sale on here .... you will be in better luck to get something that has been tastefully owned/maintained

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8s-sale-wanted-43/


When I was shopping ... cars from the 8 club were in MUCH better shape than cars from dealers/craigslist/autotrader

New Yorker

Reliability? If you're the careful, attentive type, the RX-8 is reliable, IMO. But… if you tend to forget to do the "little things" (i.e. check the oil regularly, let the car warm up a bit before driving, rev it now and then, etc.), this wouldn't be the right car for you.

Personally, I believe most of the RX-8 problems you read about stem from owner neglect. Most ordinary Americans don't take very good care of their cars; they never check their oil, skip oil changes, never check coolant level, tire pressures and so on. With most cars out there this is no big deal; they keep on running (though not real well) and are more or less reliable despite the neglect. But with the rotary engine, you need to do the few little things you need to do in order to keep it happy.

If you tend to be **** about your stuff, the car will be fine. (But… I do agree with those who suggest holding off if you're 16. I know so many 16-20 year olds who loved their cars — me, included — who got into a fender bender or backed into a mailbox because they were still learning to drive. It takes only a few months to learn to drive well enough to get your license, but the truth is it takes a few years to really learn how to drive well. Why not spend those years in a car that's not your little pride and joy? You'll have plenty of time for the car of your dreams later.)

jasonrxeight

reliability is a very relative term, no car is problem free, but you also dont want too much problems.
RX8's have pretty good reliability apart from the engine. it not that the rotary engine is not reliable, its just the build quality isnt consistent. some lasted 200k without any care, some lasted 30k with premix and stuff.
however dont be put off because all RX8's have 8yr/100k engine warranty.

Dj-Trippwire

My first car was a honda civic and i know with a childhood mentality i wanted to beat every1.. i was constantly racing and whatnot and i know your going to say "Ahh i dont wanna race it" and ill put my rx8 on the line saying that you WILL be racing it just as i did my first 8.

I blew the tranny.

But i know cars very well and i DID premix and 91 octane or higher and i took very good care of her just did to much drifting and street racing. You WILL ruin the motor in your car if the tranny doesnt go first.

I just got my 2nd Rx8 and am taking very good care of this one now.

Dont buy a 2004 and this wasnt meant to flame you. Just to point out the obvious.. hopefully we dont see u wrapped around a tree on the 6'o'clock news..

:

mulletsquirrel

If you are not worried about the money, but are more worried about the reliability, I think you should get a different car. Preferably, a newer four-stroke engine without a turbo. This will probably give you the best reliability for your (parents') dollars. What I don't understand is that money isn't an issue, but you are looking at a car with 50k miles on it. You should get a brand new RX8 if you really love the 8 and money isn't a problem. Or, look at a V8 mustang, the early 2000's value have come down so much since the new Mustangs came out.

Actually, my 8 is only reliable 3 months out of the year. The other 9 months is winter. If you live anywhere where it may snow, think about that first, and invest in snow tires/wheels right away if it doesn't snow much.

sauceyI986

well i was 19 when i had bought mine look at these factors
1. how much gas money do u have for the week becuae gas is goning up and it may cost $60 to fill and get 280miles or less to a tank dependnig how fast and hard u drive

2.tires: i know you young so showing out is a must i would went through about a couple sets every couple months. tire for this whip is around $278 per tire depending what brand can be higher or less

3. at or Mt : poping clutches bad shifting wears very quick can = $700 for a relpacement clutch

4. they say u should change your oil ever 3,000 mile, if u drive this car every day 3,000 miles come up quick. not like a toyota dont need an oil change until every 20,000 o something

in reailty a rotary is called the other man's porsche, becasue not every works on them and it can get very expensive if u have to take it to a shop. there a bunch of does and dont most us proabaly went crazy on the first engine and took it easy on the replacment.

Andrew#12

I do not plan on doing any racing in my car at all. Also what is wrong with the 2004's? I am the kinda guy that will get an oil change every 1200 or so miles and wash the car every weekend to keep her beautiful. I've been saving my money for a long time (since I was 13) and I plan on driving this car very safely ( redline when the ladies are around lol) and I want it to last through college (hopefully).

fuztupnz

iTrader: (4)

What do you think a rotary is? I believe the Saab 96 was the last car to use a 2-stroke engine from the factory, and it stopped production in the 1980. Could be a little off on that though.

Andrew#12

I live in central Florida so snow is not a problem for me. My parents aren't really helping with the car just insurance and gas money. So I don't want to spend 25k on my first car that I MIGHT wreck. If I were to get a mustang it would have to be a 2006 or newer ( I don't like the 2000-2004 and the 2005 has a very bad transmission) so I would have to get a 2006 v8 or newer. But overral I just like the 8 better anyway.

sauceyI986

i understand i never said racing it but hey i was set on this car to when i was your age and got it go. spent more money on my car then any girl or anyone alone so far. lol

jasonrxeight

a rotary has no stroke.

Andrew#12

Haha but this car will definitely attract the ladies lol. So u got an 8 around my age?

milkis

this was my first rotary.
think i spent more than a year reading this forum before getting one.
think i made a good choice utill i married.
my wife wanted an suv.
so i think you're ok if $ is not an issue.