Purified

Hey guys, great forum you have here, I have a few questions, and hope you can help me out..I was going to buy an 8 before, and didnt end up happening, because I got persuaded out of it..But I just cant let it go, I really love the car..

I'm planning on buying an 04 rx-8 automatic, black..How come all the cars I see, only the manuals have leather, all the autos seem to have cloth?

Also, is it sage to buy a used 8, or is it really a ticking time bomb? I keep hearing all this crap about the engine, and that after 40k its trash? I really cant afford to buy a lemon..

How much am I looking to pay, if I want a 04 8 auto, with black leather, and BOSE? and around 30k?

limepro

70k miles no problems at all and dont get an automatic unless u absolutely have to ie: missing a leg

04 8 black leather bose around 17k

mine was 04 manual, navi, bose, leather 18k from a private seller

Purified

Nice, I'm going to say your saying don't get auto because its much slower then the manual version correct?

tajabaho1

yes, not much slower, but hey, we need every last pony we can get, and no, it had issues, but all cars does, you'll live with it

and its a great car a friend brought his 04 A/T with leather,but no bose it had 20k on it for 19k (from dealer) so I figured its about 19k if you can find a person selling

DaveCM203

I have '04, Touring, manual. It has 45,000 miles. No problems.

Go48

The '04 and I think at least some of the '05 (I don't recall exactly) automatics had an engine design quite different from the manual and it was less powerful. That engine was referred to as the "standard" engine while the manual engine was dubbed the "high-power" engine. A significant number of the "standard" engines--primarily in vehicles driven in hot, dry climates--failed and were replaced under warranty.

More recently the engine in the automatic was upgraded with a more horsepower and a design similar to the "high-power" engine. Again, I don't recall the exact time period when the changes were made. Someone else here will likely pipe in with the dates. As limepro says, get the manual tranny version. If you don't know how to drive a manual, learn. Or at a minimum, steer clear of the first couple of model year automatics.

Nemesis8

iTrader: (3)

They should have never come out with the auto - just ruins the experience IMO. I'm at 53K and no probs other than recalls.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

There's a full two-second gap between the auto and the manual in the quarter. It's "much slower."

Don't buy an automatic. Damn waste of money.

HolyCross05

other wise

CarAndDriver

otherwise

RufusVonStorm

+1 Buying this car in auto is like visiting a brothel to drink at the bar

tajabaho1

dam it at least give me the illusion, btw for the 07 also?

CarAndDriver

Buy a Crossfire.

dillsrotary

if you get an auto shoot for a 2006. The 2005 and 2004's have a weaker engine and a 4 speed tranny while in 2006 and newer the autos have the same engine as the manuals and a 6 speed auto tranny. Plus you should be able to still get a great deal on a 2006 auto.

Its a stupid debate on this forum between the manual and the auto so don't sweat it, people will always have their opinions. I have a manual but will never tell someone interested in an auto that its a mistake, there are reason's people buy auto's. anyways good luck with the purchase.

Old Rotor

Dont make this another AT/MT war. We all know the bennies of both. I love the Rotary and six of mine were MT. However after two back surgeries it was AT or no more Rotary. I would much rather be driving a 6sp manual. Thanks Mazda for an AT for people like me 521K on Rotary engines. I would not worry about the engine because if you are a resonable person I have seen Mazda give the engine and you pay for the install if you are over the 60K warranty. They want to keep the Rotary alive.

RufusVonStorm

Instead of the auto I would look for a talented midget to help you work the clutch pedal, some dealerships have this service now. Ask around

tajabaho1

^wow, both racist and trannyist

dshiznit1489

Krankor

There are definitely reasons people buy auto's. But that doesn't mean that they are all good reasons. If you've had two back surgeries, or spend major time driving in stop-and-go-traffic, or you've driven stick and just don't like it, then those are good reasons, by all means buy an auto. But if the reason is just "gee, I don't know how to drive stick, it must be hard!", well that's just a bad reason. No idea what the OP's story is here.

RufusVonStorm

what race are midgets

Rems31

Didnt know that midgets are also lady-boys... :-P

N rider89

make sure you test drive both the manual and the auto. after that choose which every you like. some people prefer manual and some prefer auto, do what you please

swoope

iTrader: (5)

i saw a midget race a 1/4 midget on a 1/8 mile dirt track..

it was wack.

beers

Paul_in_DC

I think my brain just froze. Again.

cavemancan

QUICK!!! Hit CTRL + ALT + DELETE...