New buyer questions
07-29-2007, 09:47 PM
#1
Sold my RX-8 :(
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New buyer questions
Hi, I'm very close to buying a used RX-8 and had a few questions...
1) There's a particular dealer that has a 2005 RX-8 that I test drove and really liked. They also have a 2004 model that has the "body kit" (rear spoiler and front & side "skirt"). FWIW, they're both red. I'm of mixed opinions about the added body pieces. On the one hand, it does make the car look a bit more aggressive. OTOH, I think the car looks "cleaner" without it. Does the presence of these added body pieces mean that there are other features present (e.g., bigger/better wheels/tires, brakes, Xenon lights, etc.)? IOW, in 2004, were these body pieces part of a particular "package" that included other items I might not be aware of?
2) The 2004 model they have also has a navigation system. I'm experienced with GPS nav systems. I've got TomTom software for my Palm Treo and a standalone GPS unit (Garmin) for my wife's car. I imagine that the built-in system won't have up-to-date maps and I think I came across a thread here indicating that newer map data could be purchased (for about $200 I think). Does anyone have any experience comparing the built-in system to other standalone units (e.g., TomTom)? How do they compare? And can the built-in DVD-based system be used/modified to also be used as a DVD movie player?
3) Are there any specific advantages of getting a 2005 model over a 2004 (or vice versa)?
4) Is the "flooding problem" I've read about a non-issue now (with up-to-date factory fixes, etc.) or something I still need to at least be somewhat conscious of?
Overall, I'm leaning towards the 2005 model because:
a) It's newer and has a less mileage (about 17k vs 26k)
b) I think I prefer the cleaner lines without the added body kit
c) It has the red/black two-tone leather which I like the looks of (vs all-black leather on the 2004 model).
Hopefully I'll be joining you all as a fellow RX-8 owner soon and will share with you more thoughts later about my test-drive experience (short version: I was sure I'd be going with a used Infiniti G35 coupe but was much more impressed with the RX-8 after test driving both).
1) There's a particular dealer that has a 2005 RX-8 that I test drove and really liked. They also have a 2004 model that has the "body kit" (rear spoiler and front & side "skirt"). FWIW, they're both red. I'm of mixed opinions about the added body pieces. On the one hand, it does make the car look a bit more aggressive. OTOH, I think the car looks "cleaner" without it. Does the presence of these added body pieces mean that there are other features present (e.g., bigger/better wheels/tires, brakes, Xenon lights, etc.)? IOW, in 2004, were these body pieces part of a particular "package" that included other items I might not be aware of?
2) The 2004 model they have also has a navigation system. I'm experienced with GPS nav systems. I've got TomTom software for my Palm Treo and a standalone GPS unit (Garmin) for my wife's car. I imagine that the built-in system won't have up-to-date maps and I think I came across a thread here indicating that newer map data could be purchased (for about $200 I think). Does anyone have any experience comparing the built-in system to other standalone units (e.g., TomTom)? How do they compare? And can the built-in DVD-based system be used/modified to also be used as a DVD movie player?
3) Are there any specific advantages of getting a 2005 model over a 2004 (or vice versa)?
4) Is the "flooding problem" I've read about a non-issue now (with up-to-date factory fixes, etc.) or something I still need to at least be somewhat conscious of?
Overall, I'm leaning towards the 2005 model because:
a) It's newer and has a less mileage (about 17k vs 26k)
b) I think I prefer the cleaner lines without the added body kit
c) It has the red/black two-tone leather which I like the looks of (vs all-black leather on the 2004 model).
Hopefully I'll be joining you all as a fellow RX-8 owner soon and will share with you more thoughts later about my test-drive experience (short version: I was sure I'd be going with a used Infiniti G35 coupe but was much more impressed with the RX-8 after test driving both).
Last edited by Scott R; 07-29-2007 at 09:49 PM.
07-29-2007, 10:07 PM
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1. The GT package came with all the bells and whistles. The body stuff were extra for any package.
GT package has the Xenon lights and DSC/TSC traction control also.
2. The DVD system can be modified to play movies and such.. there is a DIY thread that covers that. I have the Nav unit and I did order the updated DVD. Don't have any problems with it taveling at all. Just some newer restuarantes and such won't be listed.
3. I myself have an 04 and I had my share of issues. Far as I know 2005's have less issues.
4. Flooding as I take it now happens very infrequently. Not as bad as it used to be when the car was first released... Just don't move it in the drive way and shut it off. Just let it idle a little bit for a few min and you are fine.
I didn't like the spoiler but I have all the other body stuff on my car. I really like the front air dam and how it makes the nose more aggressive.
Maybe you can find an 05 with the same interior and Nav if you like the Nav.
I wish you luck with your decision, and I know you will be happy.
Cheers
GT package has the Xenon lights and DSC/TSC traction control also.
2. The DVD system can be modified to play movies and such.. there is a DIY thread that covers that. I have the Nav unit and I did order the updated DVD. Don't have any problems with it taveling at all. Just some newer restuarantes and such won't be listed.
3. I myself have an 04 and I had my share of issues. Far as I know 2005's have less issues.
4. Flooding as I take it now happens very infrequently. Not as bad as it used to be when the car was first released... Just don't move it in the drive way and shut it off. Just let it idle a little bit for a few min and you are fine.
I didn't like the spoiler but I have all the other body stuff on my car. I really like the front air dam and how it makes the nose more aggressive.
Maybe you can find an 05 with the same interior and Nav if you like the Nav.
I wish you luck with your decision, and I know you will be happy.
Cheers
07-30-2007, 07:22 AM
#3
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Thanks for the quick reply! Anyone else have any other thoughts/opinions? It's Monday morning and I'm anxious to make a decision today. I'm a chronic "researcher" and could spend weeks weighing various pros/cons, but I'm afraid of missing out on what could be the perfect car for me. Thanks!
07-30-2007, 07:33 AM
#4
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The MS body kit is an expensive option if you decide to get it later it will costa-plenty.
Otherwise it's pretty even - I presume the older higher mieage car's price reflects it? The nav system is irrelevant, like you mention there are better, more current and MUCH cheaper systems available.
The only item you can't duplicate aftermarket is the red/black interior - I love it!
S
Otherwise it's pretty even - I presume the older higher mieage car's price reflects it? The nav system is irrelevant, like you mention there are better, more current and MUCH cheaper systems available.
The only item you can't duplicate aftermarket is the red/black interior - I love it!
S
07-30-2007, 07:47 AM
#5
Sold my RX-8 :(
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FWIW, the 2004 has about 26.3k miles and is priced at $21,600. The 2005 has 17.3k miles and is priced at $23,000. Again, this is a "no-haggle" dealer. They also provide a 6 month / 6k mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
07-30-2007, 07:59 AM
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well for the 2005 I am sure the dealer only gave the owner like 16-17,000 for the trade in.. So I would offer like 20 for the 2005.. I would talk them down a lot more then what they are asking..
Kbb for the 2005 with that mileage and with GT package goes for 17,000 trade in in good condition... I am pretty sure the dealer didn't give more than that in trade..
Kbb for the 2005 with that mileage and with GT package goes for 17,000 trade in in good condition... I am pretty sure the dealer didn't give more than that in trade..
07-30-2007, 08:13 AM
#7
Metatron
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That's a lot'o'cash for those years (unless you're in Canada, and that is can-bucks!)
That no-haggle crap is just a bluff - they would LIKE you not to haggle, just take the top-dollar price they want, but you are ALWAYS free to deal. Just tell them the price is a joke and you'll keep on looking, they'll dicker!
You say you are a real "researcher" but you fall flat on price, the real seekers put the $ at the top of the list, not just decide between two cars on one lot.....
....but it's your cash.
S
That no-haggle crap is just a bluff - they would LIKE you not to haggle, just take the top-dollar price they want, but you are ALWAYS free to deal. Just tell them the price is a joke and you'll keep on looking, they'll dicker!
You say you are a real "researcher" but you fall flat on price, the real seekers put the $ at the top of the list, not just decide between two cars on one lot.....
....but it's your cash.
S
07-30-2007, 08:24 AM
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As long as all of the recalls have been done on the 2004, it will be as reliable as the 2005+ model years. I have an 04 with all the recalls done and have never had a problem. Make sure all the recalls have been done (ask your dealer to print out a carfax report) and if they haven't then have them do it.
See if they can knock a grand or so off the cost. Not terrible (still under KBB), but you can probably do a little better.
The "appearance package" on the 04 is what really drew me to the car. I'm really not a fan of the RX8 without the appearance package........like you said, it makes it look more aggressive.
See if they can knock a grand or so off the cost. Not terrible (still under KBB), but you can probably do a little better.
The "appearance package" on the 04 is what really drew me to the car. I'm really not a fan of the RX8 without the appearance package........like you said, it makes it look more aggressive.
07-30-2007, 08:25 AM
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That's a lot'o'cash for those years (unless you're in Canada, and that is can-bucks!)
That no-haggle crap is just a bluff - they would LIKE you not to haggle, just take the top-dollar price they want, but you are ALWAYS free to deal. Just tell them the price is a joke and you'll keep on looking, they'll dicker!
You say you are a real "researcher" but you fall flat on price, the real seekers put the $ at the top of the list, not just decide between two cars on one lot.....
....but it's your cash.
S
That no-haggle crap is just a bluff - they would LIKE you not to haggle, just take the top-dollar price they want, but you are ALWAYS free to deal. Just tell them the price is a joke and you'll keep on looking, they'll dicker!
You say you are a real "researcher" but you fall flat on price, the real seekers put the $ at the top of the list, not just decide between two cars on one lot.....
....but it's your cash.
S
07-30-2007, 12:00 PM
#10
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Just to clarify...while I'm normally someone who researches things to death, my current car has major problems and couldn't pass safety/emissions. It's an old '93 Nissan Altima with 161k miles so it wasn't worth getting fixed. So, I'm not supposed to be driving it (but still am) and my wife is very nervous about it and is pressuring me to get a new car ASAP.
FWIW, my original game plan was to buy a car through auction (a repair shop/dealer I've worked with offers a $500 flat-rate service to buy a car for me through an auction), so I was just planning to test-drive one of the RX-8's at this other dealer. But my wife is nervous about that idea and this other dealer offers a 6-month bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is why I'm considering paying a bit of a premium to buy it through them. I'm pretty sure that the 2005 I'm interested in was purchased through auction for $19.5k, so they're essentially marking it up $3500. If I bought it through auction for that same price, I would have paid an additional $500 to the guy offering the service. So, if you look at it like that, I'm paying a $3000 premium to get a very nice color combo (red exterior with red/black leather interior) and a 6-month warranty. For someone like me who isn't handy with fixing up cars, I'm willing to pay a premium for that.
And I'm not desperate to pick one of these two cars...I've actually checked online in my area and by some strange coincidence, these two would actually end up being my top picks in the area. It just happened to work out that way.
FWIW, my original game plan was to buy a car through auction (a repair shop/dealer I've worked with offers a $500 flat-rate service to buy a car for me through an auction), so I was just planning to test-drive one of the RX-8's at this other dealer. But my wife is nervous about that idea and this other dealer offers a 6-month bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is why I'm considering paying a bit of a premium to buy it through them. I'm pretty sure that the 2005 I'm interested in was purchased through auction for $19.5k, so they're essentially marking it up $3500. If I bought it through auction for that same price, I would have paid an additional $500 to the guy offering the service. So, if you look at it like that, I'm paying a $3000 premium to get a very nice color combo (red exterior with red/black leather interior) and a 6-month warranty. For someone like me who isn't handy with fixing up cars, I'm willing to pay a premium for that.
And I'm not desperate to pick one of these two cars...I've actually checked online in my area and by some strange coincidence, these two would actually end up being my top picks in the area. It just happened to work out that way.
07-31-2007, 05:07 PM
#11
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Well I went ahead and bought the '05. I went to test drive the '04 and it wouldn't start, so they had to jump the battery, which seemed like a bad sign (but was probably no big deal). I tried out the nav system and wasn't terribly impressed. My wife was pushing me to go with the '05 because it was a year newer with lower miles and she didn't care for the added body panels. I was on the fence about the body panels, but I did love the '05's two-tone interior and it seemed to be in better shape overall.
I realize many of you have already given your opinion about the price, but I did another search today at cars.com and it still seemed in line with what was out there. If I sacrificed mileage, year, leather, or went with AT over MT I could save 2-3k, but for '05's with <25k miles, MT, and leather, what few I found seemed to be priced around $21.5-24k.
Anyways, I signed the papers today. They were pushing hard to try and sell me an extended warranty. I'm typically against those, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on that (there's is through CNA National Warranty Corporation). I also discovered that the car had Bridgestone Blizzaks on it (almost new), so I'll be storing those away and immediately buying new tires. Recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I realize many of you have already given your opinion about the price, but I did another search today at cars.com and it still seemed in line with what was out there. If I sacrificed mileage, year, leather, or went with AT over MT I could save 2-3k, but for '05's with <25k miles, MT, and leather, what few I found seemed to be priced around $21.5-24k.
Anyways, I signed the papers today. They were pushing hard to try and sell me an extended warranty. I'm typically against those, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on that (there's is through CNA National Warranty Corporation). I also discovered that the car had Bridgestone Blizzaks on it (almost new), so I'll be storing those away and immediately buying new tires. Recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
07-31-2007, 05:36 PM
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Your 8 has Blizzaks on it in the summer? When was the last time the 8 was driven? I really hope they weren't driving around with those tires for a while during the spring...they wear pretty easily in warmer conditions.
07-31-2007, 05:58 PM
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I've been out of warranty (still using an aftermarket extended warranty, though) for so long that my recollections are a big hazy, so correct me if I'm wrong, but--
The standard bumper-to-bumper warranty is four years/48,000 miles. Mazda extended the drivetrain coverage to 60,000 with the last recall. all that should transfer to you. An extended warranty beyond that may give peace of mind, but expect it to be extremely expensive.
The standard bumper-to-bumper warranty is four years/48,000 miles. Mazda extended the drivetrain coverage to 60,000 with the last recall. all that should transfer to you. An extended warranty beyond that may give peace of mind, but expect it to be extremely expensive.
07-31-2007, 06:36 PM
#14
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Huskyfan23, that's my concern about the Blizzaks. They say they're in "brand new" condition, but it's almost August and if they've been driven on for several months in the hot summer, I'm concerned about it. I'm planning on calling the sales rep we originally dealt with tomorrow (she had someone filling in for her today) and letting her know my concern. They offer a 5-day money-back guarantee on the car, and I'm going to tell her that worn-out snow tires won't be acceptable.
RotrDoc, my initial response to extended warranties has always been 'no thanks', but I figured I'd ask for opinions here. One of the reasons I went with the '05 and looked for a low mileage car was to get some value out of the factory warranty.
On another note...one 'mod' I'd like to make is to get an AUX input for the stereo. I've seen some posts about some options in the forums here, so I'll have to look into that further.
RotrDoc, my initial response to extended warranties has always been 'no thanks', but I figured I'd ask for opinions here. One of the reasons I went with the '05 and looked for a low mileage car was to get some value out of the factory warranty.
On another note...one 'mod' I'd like to make is to get an AUX input for the stereo. I've seen some posts about some options in the forums here, so I'll have to look into that further.
08-02-2007, 07:08 PM
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Sold my RX-8 :(
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I took possession of my RX-8 today. Love it! BUT...I'm worried that there might be something wrong. Before I start a new thread in the tech garage forum, I figured I'd post about it here first...
I pulled my RX-8 out of my garage temporarily so that I could try to fix my broken garage door opener. I've been a bit paranoid about the whole flooding issue/non-issue, so I figured I'd play it safe and leave the RX-8 running while it was sitting in the driveway. Anyways, when I got out of the car I heard a high-pitched and fairly loud sound which was actually somewhat painful to listen to. At first I thought it might be coming from my garage door opener or something, but I quickly determined that it was coming from the RX-8 (somewhere under the hood I think, but I didn't narrow it down any further). I sat back in the car and tried buckling the seat belt, thinking that it might be a warning about the driver seat belt not being buckled, but that wasn't it. While in my car I noticed that the sound wasn't as noticeable but I could still hear it. I figured that if it was making this sound all day long, I could quite likely have never noticed it since my stereo and engine noise (while driving) would have covered it up. But when the car was sitting idle and I was standing outside the car, it was noticeable *and* quite irritating.
FWIW, my RX-8 appears to have a Mazdaspeed cold air intake. Not sure if it has any other mods installed. Please advise. I've got a 5 day return policy from the dealer I bought it from, a six-month bumper-to-bumper warranty from them, and I'm still under warranty ('05 with 17k miles), so I'm not too worried if it's something small (or if it's normal, so be it), but if it's a sign of a big problem I want to know now before I get too attached to my new baby.
I pulled my RX-8 out of my garage temporarily so that I could try to fix my broken garage door opener. I've been a bit paranoid about the whole flooding issue/non-issue, so I figured I'd play it safe and leave the RX-8 running while it was sitting in the driveway. Anyways, when I got out of the car I heard a high-pitched and fairly loud sound which was actually somewhat painful to listen to. At first I thought it might be coming from my garage door opener or something, but I quickly determined that it was coming from the RX-8 (somewhere under the hood I think, but I didn't narrow it down any further). I sat back in the car and tried buckling the seat belt, thinking that it might be a warning about the driver seat belt not being buckled, but that wasn't it. While in my car I noticed that the sound wasn't as noticeable but I could still hear it. I figured that if it was making this sound all day long, I could quite likely have never noticed it since my stereo and engine noise (while driving) would have covered it up. But when the car was sitting idle and I was standing outside the car, it was noticeable *and* quite irritating.
FWIW, my RX-8 appears to have a Mazdaspeed cold air intake. Not sure if it has any other mods installed. Please advise. I've got a 5 day return policy from the dealer I bought it from, a six-month bumper-to-bumper warranty from them, and I'm still under warranty ('05 with 17k miles), so I'm not too worried if it's something small (or if it's normal, so be it), but if it's a sign of a big problem I want to know now before I get too attached to my new baby.
08-02-2007, 08:11 PM
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Take it to an independent dealership and have them run a diagnostic to determine what the loud buzzing noise is. When I first bought my 8, it did the same thing........turns out, a rock had hit off my tire and smashed my air condenser. I think it was buzzing because of that.
Don't take it back to the place you bought it from to get the diagnostic, as they will probably tell you "nothing is wrong". Most likely, that is the case, but you want to hear that from someone who is not financially connected to your car.
Don't take it back to the place you bought it from to get the diagnostic, as they will probably tell you "nothing is wrong". Most likely, that is the case, but you want to hear that from someone who is not financially connected to your car.
08-02-2007, 08:32 PM
#19
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Yeah, my plan was to call a Mazda dealer tomorrow because I wanted to have them check out the car from top to bottom while I was still under the 5-day return policy (this was my plan even before I heard the sound). Just to clarify though...the sound I'm hearing would not be described as a "buzz" of any sort. It is a high-pitched tone/whine, but not a high-pitched buzz. No buzzing aspect to it at all.
08-02-2007, 08:42 PM
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Yeah, my plan was to call a Mazda dealer tomorrow because I wanted to have them check out the car from top to bottom while I was still under the 5-day return policy (this was my plan even before I heard the sound). Just to clarify though...the sound I'm hearing would not be described as a "buzz" of any sort. It is a high-pitched tone/whine, but not a high-pitched buzz. No buzzing aspect to it at all.
08-03-2007, 08:59 PM
#21
Sold my RX-8 :(
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FYI, in case you didn't see my other thread...I ended up making use of the dealer's 5-day money-back guarantee and returned the car tonight. I didn't do it just because of the whine issue, but that was a small contributing factor. I really enjoyed the RX-8 and my current plan is to buy a new '07 model with cloth seats. The black/red leather interior looked sweet, but with the recent hot & humid days we've been having in PA, it did not make for an enjoyable driving experience (a brief run out at lunch-time to get a bite to eat resulted in a sweaty back). I'm not sure yet if I'll pursue a base (Sport) model or a Touring model. I'm 6'1.5" and the '05 I got had a bit less headroom than I'd like. I think the sunroof was a contributing factor, and I could care less about having a sunroof, so I may pursue a Sport edition (likely with the Performance package since the traction control seems worth having) if it means gaining an inch or two of headroom.
PS - Huskyfan, what part of CT are you in? We just moved from Simsbury this past December (and still miss it).
PS - Huskyfan, what part of CT are you in? We just moved from Simsbury this past December (and still miss it).
08-04-2007, 10:50 AM
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Hi, I'm very close to buying a used RX-8 and had a few questions...
1) There's a particular dealer that has a 2005 RX-8 that I test drove and really liked. They also have a 2004 model that has the "body kit" (rear spoiler and front & side "skirt"). FWIW, they're both red. I'm of mixed opinions about the added body pieces. On the one hand, it does make the car look a bit more aggressive. OTOH, I think the car looks "cleaner" without it. Does the presence of these added body pieces mean that there are other features present (e.g., bigger/better wheels/tires, brakes, Xenon lights, etc.)? IOW, in 2004, were these body pieces part of a particular "package" that included other items I might not be aware of?
I have a 2004 (bought new as a left-over last year's model, since the cars weren't selling). Other than color (I ended up with black, as the only one the dealer could find that met my other requirements) my only requirements were NO body add-ons-- NO spoiler and I wanted a sunroof.
IMHO I think that the car looks perfect without any add-ons at all. (I generally feel the same about other cars also- no spoiler). So, my vote is for the 2005. Also, I'm not sure whether the body kit actually makes any difference at all in normal driving and I consider it an affectation, like a huge wing on a Tercel.
As for the wheels/brakes/lights, that's separate from the body kit. If you get the leather seats you'll automatically get those additional "functional" items.
2) The 2004 model they have also has a navigation system. I'm experienced with GPS nav systems. I've got TomTom software for my Palm Treo and a standalone GPS unit (Garmin) for my wife's car. I imagine that the built-in system won't have up-to-date maps and I think I came across a thread here indicating that newer map data could be purchased (for about $200 I think). Does anyone have any experience comparing the built-in system to other standalone units (e.g., TomTom)? How do they compare? And can the built-in DVD-based system be used/modified to also be used as a DVD movie player?
I have the navigation system only because the car already had it. Now that I see that you can get an after-market GPS that can easily be updated, I think that my $2000 factory system is ridiculous. It really is nice to have, and works well, but never having tried out, say, a Tom Tom or a Garvin, I can't compare it. My assumption is that those would have to be better than the built-in, if only because of the updates.
3) Are there any specific advantages of getting a 2005 model over a 2004 (or vice versa)?
As far as I know they're exactly the same car.
4) Is the "flooding problem" I've read about a non-issue now (with up-to-date factory fixes, etc.) or something I still need to at least be somewhat conscious of?
Mine has never flooded.
Overall, I'm leaning towards the 2005 model because:
a) It's newer and has a less mileage (about 17k vs 26k)
b) I think I prefer the cleaner lines without the added body kit
c) It has the red/black two-tone leather which I like the looks of (vs all-black leather on the 2004 model).
I have the all-black leather and think that it looks great (bu HOT in the summer), but the two-tone also looks good. If I were you I'd get the 2005-- newer, fewer miles, and-- most important-- NO body kit.
Hopefully I'll be joining you all as a fellow RX-8 owner soon and will share with you more thoughts later about my test-drive experience (short version: I was sure I'd be going with a used Infiniti G35 coupe but was much more impressed with the RX-8 after test driving both).
1) There's a particular dealer that has a 2005 RX-8 that I test drove and really liked. They also have a 2004 model that has the "body kit" (rear spoiler and front & side "skirt"). FWIW, they're both red. I'm of mixed opinions about the added body pieces. On the one hand, it does make the car look a bit more aggressive. OTOH, I think the car looks "cleaner" without it. Does the presence of these added body pieces mean that there are other features present (e.g., bigger/better wheels/tires, brakes, Xenon lights, etc.)? IOW, in 2004, were these body pieces part of a particular "package" that included other items I might not be aware of?
I have a 2004 (bought new as a left-over last year's model, since the cars weren't selling). Other than color (I ended up with black, as the only one the dealer could find that met my other requirements) my only requirements were NO body add-ons-- NO spoiler and I wanted a sunroof.
IMHO I think that the car looks perfect without any add-ons at all. (I generally feel the same about other cars also- no spoiler). So, my vote is for the 2005. Also, I'm not sure whether the body kit actually makes any difference at all in normal driving and I consider it an affectation, like a huge wing on a Tercel.
As for the wheels/brakes/lights, that's separate from the body kit. If you get the leather seats you'll automatically get those additional "functional" items.
2) The 2004 model they have also has a navigation system. I'm experienced with GPS nav systems. I've got TomTom software for my Palm Treo and a standalone GPS unit (Garmin) for my wife's car. I imagine that the built-in system won't have up-to-date maps and I think I came across a thread here indicating that newer map data could be purchased (for about $200 I think). Does anyone have any experience comparing the built-in system to other standalone units (e.g., TomTom)? How do they compare? And can the built-in DVD-based system be used/modified to also be used as a DVD movie player?
I have the navigation system only because the car already had it. Now that I see that you can get an after-market GPS that can easily be updated, I think that my $2000 factory system is ridiculous. It really is nice to have, and works well, but never having tried out, say, a Tom Tom or a Garvin, I can't compare it. My assumption is that those would have to be better than the built-in, if only because of the updates.
3) Are there any specific advantages of getting a 2005 model over a 2004 (or vice versa)?
As far as I know they're exactly the same car.
4) Is the "flooding problem" I've read about a non-issue now (with up-to-date factory fixes, etc.) or something I still need to at least be somewhat conscious of?
Mine has never flooded.
Overall, I'm leaning towards the 2005 model because:
a) It's newer and has a less mileage (about 17k vs 26k)
b) I think I prefer the cleaner lines without the added body kit
c) It has the red/black two-tone leather which I like the looks of (vs all-black leather on the 2004 model).
I have the all-black leather and think that it looks great (bu HOT in the summer), but the two-tone also looks good. If I were you I'd get the 2005-- newer, fewer miles, and-- most important-- NO body kit.
Hopefully I'll be joining you all as a fellow RX-8 owner soon and will share with you more thoughts later about my test-drive experience (short version: I was sure I'd be going with a used Infiniti G35 coupe but was much more impressed with the RX-8 after test driving both).
08-04-2007, 12:35 PM
#23
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FYI, in case you didn't see my other thread...I ended up making use of the dealer's 5-day money-back guarantee and returned the car tonight. I didn't do it just because of the whine issue, but that was a small contributing factor. I really enjoyed the RX-8 and my current plan is to buy a new '07 model with cloth seats. The black/red leather interior looked sweet, but with the recent hot & humid days we've been having in PA, it did not make for an enjoyable driving experience (a brief run out at lunch-time to get a bite to eat resulted in a sweaty back). I'm not sure yet if I'll pursue a base (Sport) model or a Touring model. I'm 6'1.5" and the '05 I got had a bit less headroom than I'd like. I think the sunroof was a contributing factor, and I could care less about having a sunroof, so I may pursue a Sport edition (likely with the Performance package since the traction control seems worth having) if it means gaining an inch or two of headroom.
PS - Huskyfan, what part of CT are you in? We just moved from Simsbury this past December (and still miss it).
PS - Huskyfan, what part of CT are you in? We just moved from Simsbury this past December (and still miss it).
I currently live in Middletown. Great place to live (large condo complex), but can be a little busy at times. At times I think about moving to places a little less congested, but still.......CT's a great place to live. Why'd you move to PA?
08-04-2007, 02:23 PM
#24
Sold my RX-8 :(
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We moved because of new jobs. Still adjusting to the area (we're in Warwick township in Chester County - southwest of the Pottstown burough/downtown).
08-06-2007, 02:22 PM
#25
Sold my RX-8 :(
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Well I just put down $500 over the phone on a brand new Velocity Red '07 Sport MT w/Performance Package. MSRP was about $28.4k and I'll be paying $24.5k. I worked through autobytel, Costco, and one other online "best deal" site and ended up exchanging emails with several different salesman. I started out asking for a quote on a GT model, but as I thought about it more I decided I didn't want the hot-in-summer leather seats and wanted more headroom (i.e., no sunroof). I (and my wife) really liked the red, and finding the exact car I wanted was tricky, but they did it. I ended up picking this particular dealer because the rep seemed very knowledgeable, up-front/honest, and didn't try to push me into coming into their store. He was perfectly happy exchanging [lots of] emails with me. They were also able to beat my Costco / Capital One rate on the loan.
He's got to go get it from NY himself. If all goes well, I'll have it tomorrow or Wednesday. Wish me luck for the rest of the process (no issues with the car, no issues when signing the papers).
Oh, and today I got my Audio Link USB MP3 connector shipped to me! Not sure that I'm competent to install that myself, though.
He's got to go get it from NY himself. If all goes well, I'll have it tomorrow or Wednesday. Wish me luck for the rest of the process (no issues with the car, no issues when signing the papers).
Oh, and today I got my Audio Link USB MP3 connector shipped to me! Not sure that I'm competent to install that myself, though.