Long story short, I had been in the market for a sports car for some time. For the past 3 years I had been eyeing up either a 350z, Porsche Boxster, or lastly the RX-8. I was of course buying used and looked at many. In early march I found a 04 auto GT at a dealership near me and took it for a test drive. It had an AEM intake aftermarket exhaust mid pipe and rims. I drove 45 miles to test drive it but came out disappointed. The auto was lacking so I went on the search for a 6 speed. I finally found one 95 miles from me that was super clean with only 45k on her. I had given up on the boxster and the Z due to cost as this is a second car for me. I took the drive down with my girlfriend and test drove the manual 8 for the first time. I was amazed by it. I smiled ear to ear in the first gear change. The first corner was like heaven and I was sold. I signed the papers and drove her home that day 95 miles back. This has to be the most fun car I have ever driven and every day she puts a smile on my face. I have been reading this forum since purchase but just registered. Learned a lot from you guys. She is getting new coils, plugs and wires soon, and I'm switching to redline fluids as well. So far no real issues with 2k miles I have put on. I do need a o2 sensor at the cat but that's about it, just happened this week. All in all, can't be any happier with this amazing car and just wanted to share. My girlfriend refers to my 8 as "the other woman" because I spend so much time with her.

 

Fantastic, I just bought a 2004 as well. Be sure to read all the new owner sticky posts, you will learn a lot. Check out the DIY section also. How many miles on your car? Original engine?

Good luck!

 

The extended warranty on your 04' ends next year. So you better drive the heck out of it now

 

Congrats and enjoy the new ride. My first rx8 test drive was an auto transmission, and no offense to the auto owners, but it just wasn't what I was looking for, I then test drove a manual but it drove like garbage and shuttered at higher rpm's. I'm sure glad that I kept test driving others and realized it was a car that I had to have.

 

I am new owner of an 04 too with the 6 speed. Mine is the gray one.

 

^^Looks good.

 

Looks good and Frisco baby!

 

Trust me I am! I take good car of my vehicles too though. I have an 02 explorer with almost 180k miles on it that runs like new. Hoping to keep the 8 running like new as long as possible.

 

Bought with just shy of 45k on original engine. Runs perfect.

 

Just bought an 04 6-speed as well. About 85k miles on it, which, after reading alot of threads about them here(now that I already own the car) seems a bit high for buying one. Not sure about my engine history, haven't pulled a carfax on it and I should probably take it to mazda to get a compression test done(it runs great though).

Congrats dude! I'm so happy with mine (with the exception of gas mpg, which I knew about from the start) and I can never wait until the next time I drive....



Looks 2-tone but that's just the lighting in the picture.

 

I'll have to get pics of mine up soon as well. I have the brilliant black version

 

I am loving my 04. 88k miles on it but it drives like a dream. I can hardly ever wait to drive it. Now if it can only stay in my possession long enough to enjoy it. No no no, not even the cars fault. First time was due to the dealer being an idiot and taking longer to get my car to me than it should. Then I had to leave it at the dealer the next weekend for a new battery (I was going away for the weekend and he had no one in the shop.) and this past Sunday the car was vandalized and is now in the shop awaiting my insurance approval. LOL. None of this is the cars fault so I can't be mad at it.

 

What are your plans for your 8?

I have already put in an AEM CAI and loving it. Sound is awesome and it actualy improved my MPG. Smoked side markers are on. I have the pully, rear upper sway bar, nose mask, HKS ignition and high flow cat to be put on.

More to come are Tien suspencion, brake system, rims, majore tune-up using magnacore wires 8.5mm ngk laser plugs and oem coils, eyelids, tint, exhaust, and rims for now.

 

Well mine is completely stock right now. Aem cai is in the list as well as exhaust. Still under warranty until next year, so major mode then. Found a shop near me that specializes in rotary motors. So I may street port it then, possible nitrous. Going body kit and suspension upgrades over this winter and if I have the money lambo doors. This is a second car, play toy for me so lots of mods coming when the snow hits. Until then I just want to drive it!

 

I have had my 2004 for 6 weeks and put 2500 miles on it. What a great car. Getting about 18 mpg mixed (drive it like I stole it) I put new plugs in it and noticed a 1.8 mpg increase and it smoothed out the idle. Definitely worth the $50 I spent.

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I love this site. LOL. Tho it is hard to look at everyone enjoying their 8 while mine is in the shop. All of my initial mods are going to be about convenience. Ripped out my whole dash and center console so I can install the Grom box and have nothing show, even the BT mic. Next is the carputer I am prototyping (trying to make a user friendly double din carputer that anyone can install). In between the standard first 100 and post 100. Gonna try to keep street legal but give it a little boost under the hood. Still waiting for the insurance to approve damages, if they do it is getting a two tone (Red and Black) paint job and the KEI Office Eyelids. Considering footwell lighting.

Other than that no crazy mods just yet. When I buy my next 8 I will fiddle with crazy mods under the hood. Watch I turn into 9krpm and go batshit on my 8 after I swear to not mod it. ;-)