newbie,and potential owner
 

hello eveyone, im new here but i just wanted some opinions about an rx8 i am looking to purchase. its an 04 sport with a 6speed tranny. its got about 70,000 miles on it and has a few upgrades on it as well. i know upgrades dont meke the car, but it all seems well. regular oil changes at 3k or less, and premix in with fuel. it has had pulgs wires and coils changed every 20k and has got a new starter. its being sold with winter tires. the seller is including all stock parts that they have along with the upgrades, fuel pump,midpipe, exhaust, coilover suspension, brakepads and rotors, new battery, and a few others i cant remember. the carfax is clean, and he has all service records for it. its a private sell and the price he will let me have it for is 11k even. seller has also offered to take a day off work and show me the ins and outs of the car before i decide to get it. what does everyone else think? oh and he has a report of a compression test at 68k miles from a dealer

That price seems too high for an 04, but it really depends on the sales of them in your area...
what are the reports of that compression test?

generally speaking, i would stay away from the 2004's, they've been known to have issues, but it seems like the prior owner knew what he had, so you may be in good shape, but 11k is too much, when you are talking him down say that aftermarket parts depreciate the car, but just like the prior owner did, you need to read up, a lot, this isn't a civic, it takes a lot more to make it healthy

Start by reading these
New and Potential Owner’s, Start Here https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
Congratulations, you got an 8 https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/congratulations-you-got-8-a-202548/
New Owner FAQ’s https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...&highlight=FAQ

Also, make sure you read the “stickies” in each sub-forum

i have looked ove the forum quite a bit, i may be a new potential owner, but i have done what i think is more than adquate research. the compression test showed no loss of compression, and all seems well with the car. most in the area here go for about 12k-13k until you get in the 2007s, then its like 14-16k. cheapest one i found was an 04 automatic that had been a factory buyback for a rough idle, it had 103k miles on it and was in rough shape. it just sold recently for $9,600 and some change. but im sticking with a maual tranny. plus he is giving me stock parts incase i sell it to a dealer in the future. i am capable of all diy work on most vehicles, so thats a plus. also the one im looking at doesnt have a moonroof or leather...and i consider these big pluses. i dont want a moonroof that may start to leak and need fixed, and i have leather in my current car and they suck through winter and summer.

The '04s generally had more problems because there were no updates (flashes, etc) out. Now, however, all the updates are available and can be performed to keep your engine healthy. There is no major difference between an '04 engine and the R3 engine (aside from upgraded starter, fully electric OMP, etc). It is not hard to get these things for your '04 and make it reliable.

If you are looking at a 2004, make sure it comes with service/maintenance records. Also make sure it has had the MSP-16 flash done, and check to see if it has the upgraded starter or not. There is no inherent problem with the 2004 models as long as they have been kept up to date and properly maintained - just like any other rotary engine.

It's doesn't take "more," per say, to keep a rotary healthy. It just takes a completely different knowledge. Make sure you know what you're getting in to as an abused rotary engine can become a money sink.

Although car prices vary depending upon location, $11K is too much for a '04 with that many miles.

11k sounds fine, if the owner got decent aftermarket mods on it. A set of nice coilover is about 2k new. That depends on if you are familiar with aftermarket parts or not. It's generous for the owner to show you bits in and out of the car, which is a good start.

None of us would be able to see the car in person, cuz' even little noise and sound can indicate potential issues.
Just remember, the motor warranty goes out next year for the 04.

Use your judgment, the best would be have someone that is knowledgeable on 8 (not any 8 owner) to check it out with u.

I've had a look around alot of 8s in my area and this is the cheapest and best cared for one I could find, im going to go with it, I feel the owner is very knowledgeable and is even holding the car for me. And I have looked over it and it all seems well. Second best offer is an 05' with 58k miles....and they want almost 15k for it. Well im good at math and a private sell at 11k even including tax and title is way better than a 15k asking price

Go for it. Update us and post pics if you have the keys in hand.

thanks everyone, im just trying to get my finances setup to purchace it. the owner is great. he is wanting me to see how the engine performs cold (startup, idle, warmup procedure) the car will be jacked up to look at the exhaust system with midpipe (Racing beat) and inspect for rust etc. has stoptech cross drilled rotors and HPS brakepads. enkei rpf 01 rims (17" by 8.5") the coilover set is a set of JIC coilovers. new headlight bulbs. also a cobb accessport with custom maps. vehicle has been garage kept and the actual results on the compression test are 9.7-9.8 on the front rotor and 9.5-9.8 on the rear rotor at 250-260rpm. its been driven well and has been redlined like it should be. it was going to be a track car, but he needs the garage space. he will be keeping the car until either i buy it or he throws a turbo on it and lives with it. hopefully i can buy it first!

I just bought my first RX8 last week. I found a steal of a deal at a local dealer. I bought a 2004 Grand Touring(I'm assuming it is a grand touring package, it has heated leather seats and power sunroof.) 6 speed manual in showroom condition with only 9,000 (yes 9K) miles for- 12,300.00 I couldn't believe the price I got from the range rover/jaguar dealer-- I checked out the retail KBB and it was the exact price he listed at 12,866. Only a 1600 addition for mileage. He knocked off 500.00. I'm in the process of changing all the fluids. Car runs like new. I have owned 3 RX7's and I'm very excited to have a back seat for my 2 young boys.

This statement is not necessarily accurate.

There are definitely more differences than just that.

Take a lot at a thread Ash started a while ago comparing Series I and Series II engines. LOTS of differences/upgrades.

I went and saw the car today inside and out. I must say its quite a bit of engineering for the money. I went on a triple digit run as well as some drifting with the owner. No noises out of the ordinary. Car sticks to the road like glue and its clean. Worst part of the car is the condensation on the passenger marker light. Its something I gotta get!

Well good luck.
You've been told everything that's important

I have gotten the car. I'm only financing 5400. But I'm very confident I couldn't have done better for the money in a million years. Everything is in tip top shape. Already checked all the fluids. Ill post pictures on here as soon as I can.....I just have to take a break from driving it sometime. Its a monster. For all those that say they aren't the fastest....they are more than fast enough. And handle like no tomorrow.

congrats... post pics

Thanks for the update.
Congrats.

ok i finally got these up from my phone. stock android browser wouldnt put them up, so i used firefox. i went from a 95 dodge intrepid to this, big step up!

it's clean as hell man, welcome to the community!

Yes, its cleaner than most dealer cars given its age. But I'm loving this car. Also I was aware of the standard forum rules "pics or it didn't happen" I'm a part of Avs forum too. Just had to make time. I am totally up to the maintenance on this baby. I've got a garage full of the parts that came off the car, and its been tuned by an actual tuning shop...not a teenager who thinks they know everything I also have a cobb access port for it and am playing around with the custom maps. But it was flashed with the best one on there for power per the previous owner, and he was definitely right.. Oil metering pump set to higher output along with premix (in case of failure) and I'm sure it kills the environment but I can't stop driving it. Thanks for welcoming me into the community as well :)

yeah yours is already pretty cleanly modded, thats a nice starting point, mine was bone stock. but once you start to mod things, you won't be able stop, be forewarned

Needs a body kit for sure, but looks good though.

I think I will get a second set of rims and tires before doing anything else. Maybe a rear strut bar to match the front. Then after I sell my other car getting into changing the looks a little bit. Like a front and rear Diffusers/lips and maybe led light conversions all around.

Good for you,nice clean car

Congrats, looks great! $11K is normally high, but considering the condition - and the previous owner who obviously loved that car - I'd feel the extra bucks are justified. Paying extra for the peace of mind you're getting knowing your '04 was well cared for is worth it.

FYI yes, there are hundreds of tiny little changes in the newer engines, but outside of this forum, none are considered "major". In fact, when the second generation 8 was introduced, every auto mag did a quick road test. They all mentioned the new grill, tail lights, side vents, rear bumper and tweaked suspension, but engine changes? Not a peep.

Yes the peace of mind and condition of the car were deciding factors along with all the extra stuff for it. I feel i couldn't have done better anywhere else. I also wanted a series one because of the looks. I consider the others to be kinda ugly up front. I thought about the slight engine revisions while choosing my car, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I have the knowledge to keep it running a long time and am fully prepared to rebuild it and keep it going till I can't afford the gas. Its really an amazing ride. The interior is perfect too, and nice dark window tint. Makes the silver stand out. I plan on doing an oil change and washing it again tomorrow :)

I have purchased a set of stock rims with tpms and some used cooper tires on them (neon zx3) they have about 10k left on them before they are bald or close to it. I do plan on buying new tires for my other set of rims and putting the dunlop wintersports on the stock set. All in all I don't think I did too shabby for $350. Ill post pics soon. Im also looking to aquired some enkei rpf1 and track tires from the previous owner for $600. After I get muy other car sold of course :) looking forward to lots if fun in this amazing car. Damn the expense!

Well everyone, I've had my first accident.... but its OK I'm safe and so is the car now. In fact its better than when I first got it. It all started on a warm sunny evening driving back to my parents house. My mom was in the car and I was driving well within the speed limits. While yes I am 21, I wasn't driving recklessly. A deer actually ran out in front of us between traffic and I couldn't slow her down fast enough. So I had 3 options. 1). hit the deer (which was pretty large and I'm sure would have totalled the 8) 2). Go off the road and hit a speed limit sign......or 3). Hit congested oncoming traffic. Needless to say I went with option 2. However a rock snagged the undertray and pulled the bumper down. This busted out both headlights. A corner light. And the undertray was toast. Also it still hit the sign. Which damaged an oil cooler. Well bent it slightly anyways. It was all covered by my insurance minus the deductible. So for $500 I have a new pair of oil coolers( they replaced both for whatever reason) a new bumper, new pair of headlights. Whole new undertray and fender liners. They installed new oil cooler and radiator protection screens and the paint job is better than factory. I will have pics up soon. It was a sad day that turned out better. Also I wrapped it up with a new set of rubber all around the day I got her back. Its like a new car all over again. So if anyone else is as unfortunate as me, look up because it may be better in the end.

well that's to bad, but good for you
and no animals where hurt in the remake for your 8