New guy, questioning my motives on buying an 8

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Oct 10, 2010 | 05:02 PM

#26

RyanT754

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Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 8

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 04Green

Just checked prices, they are back to high. Right now a decent 04 is as much as I paid for mine over a year ago...

I would not worry too much about an 04 vs 05. You can check the engine replacement thing with Mazda. I did the rest of the clean up stuff on mine for $100. Thread below lays it out.

The prices fluctuate, not sure why. Pull up AutoTrader, set up your search, and check it every day. I found mine in St. Augustine, from Orlando, at a Chrysler Dealership. Someone traded it on a pickup truck and they wanted to move it. Just be ready to pounce. At that time, there were 8K and 9K 2004 and 2005s. If there is a local dealer, tell them what your are looking for, if they see one on trade, they can save bucks not auctioning it. If prices are high, give it a month, they might change. There were not a lot out there this morning, so prices are high. If more show up, maybe they will drop...

Good luck.

Mike

Will do. Thank you.

Oct 10, 2010 | 06:48 PM

#27

Maries8

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Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 117

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From: New Jersey

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanT754

Here is my question to you 8 owners: Someone like me, who likes the look, would appreciate the car from a "civilian standpoint" (vs someone who takes it to the race track once a month) loves driving manual, etc - is this 'sports car' really worth my time and money?

Well, speaking as a "civilian" who hasn't modified anything, doesn't race, and "just" uses the car as a daily driver for commuting, groceries, etc...

Yes, it's been a perfectly nice car for daily use, AND it makes those "ordinary" drives something... else, lol.

I've never understood it's reputation as a high-maintenance car. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, and it hasn't been a problem. Yes, you need to add oil more often then a "normal" car, but that's the only real difference.

Oct 10, 2010 | 09:18 PM

#28

ken-x8

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Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 5,027

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From: Northern Virginia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maries8

...I've never understood it's reputation as a high-maintenance car. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, and it hasn't been a problem. Yes, you need to add oil more often then a "normal" car, but that's the only real difference.

I think there are some folks who over-maintain their cars, and like to play-act that it's more different than it really is. As far as oil use goes...it was not that long ago that most cars routinely burned about as much oil as the 8 uses. And they weren't anywhere nearly as much fun to drive as the 8.

For me, the only negative has been fear of flooding. But that's fixed by turning very short trips into slightly longer ones...not a bad solution at all.

Ken

Oct 10, 2010 | 09:23 PM

#29

04Green

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Joined: Aug 2009

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From: Oviedo, Florida

On the flooding thing....

Once I changed the coils and plugs (B version coils), flooding issues went away. My old ones were apparently original at about 72,000 miles...

I do rev a bit (2,000 rpm) and turn off the key at rev if I just move the car, but that is likely not needed any more with decent coils.