Which to purchase?
 

Hi guys,

I've decided to come back to the RX8 after 4 years of not enjoying driving everyday. Its either a new motorcycle or upgrade from a neon to an RX8 I've narrowed down to 4 and was wondering if anyone had opinions on which one might be more beneficial to purchase.

First is a 2006 with 72000 km (roughly 45000 miles) cloth and leather seats but nav has a key fob...really worth having one? for about 3000-4000 more than the next 2

then we have a 2005 with 51000 km (roughly 32000 miles) everything and a nav but its been sitting a while and driven by an older gentelman more of a just to own vehicle it seems. I know must be nice

finally we have 2 2004 with 87000 km (54000) and 141000 km (88000) been out of it a while but this being my daily driver im leaning towards reliability more then price.

I want to learn how to work on these engines, not right now but eventually. any suggestions on things that should be checked before purchase...compression and such.

Thanks in advance and hope to be an RX8 owner again.

I'd start with the lowest mileage and get a compression test. If it's good, pick that one. If it's poor, move to the next lowest mileage.

The '05 sounds good BUT these cars do NOT like carefull drivers! If it's spent it's life being driven gently on rare occasions by an older gentlemen, theres actually a better chance the engine is WORSE than the higher milage cars! Why? Because they NEED to be revd every now and again to help clear the rotors and chambers of any buildups. This is why there so many Auto models in the US went before the manual cars, the Auto boxes weren't letting the engine rev high enough.

I wouldnt worry about Nav, if it has it, fine but certainly shouldnt refect in the price. Support for the system in the RX8 is almost non existant and they're known to go wrong easily. A new disk is many hundreds!

I'd still look at the '05 though and the lower milage of the '04s. Both MUST have a compression test though and you need to ask when/if things like the coils, plugs, leads were changed.

If the proper upgrades to the ignition system were done and mileage was the same, is there any advantage in going with the 06?

As they say a redline a day keeps the carbon away....why does that bring a smile to my face even before owning one.

The 2005 looks like a good candidate. Get a compression test and go from there. Good luck whichever you choose.

The more recent it is, the more warranty you have left, for one. The 04's are done now, the 05's will be going out of warranty this year. With an 06 you have another year + (depending on sale date). Something to keep in mind.

I would check out the 06 just because of the warranty. But I do think RIWWP has a good idea goin there.

Thanks guys went with the 06 the 05 with lower miles the guy never had to add oil to the car.

I came across this for you entertainment...get way to sell a car
2004 Subaru Impreza WRX

Sorry? That's NOT possible unless the car actually now has NO oil in it! The Renesis engine is DESIGNED to burn oil, without doing so, the rotors have no lubrication. Something odd there.

Thats why I walked away from that "good deal" as he said

finally purchased it a Ron burgandy 2006 love it. Forgot how it feels to drive a fun car again. Well so much for that stats exam on friday road trip anyone?

post some pics of this bad boy, burgandy means shinka too very nice, i just got myself an 06 shinka in black in november, now it sits in storage and is just a memory hahaha, second 8 and i cant wait to mod it

I don't know if it is a shinka but it seem to have all the accessories a shinka has. It would be a cool surprise, I haven't looked into the suspension but it seem to have a mazdaspeed intake. ill post pictures later.

Here are some pics if you know if it is a shinka let me know!

Shinka colour, shinka seats... sounds like a shinka :)
Congrats! Take good care of her.

Congrats! I love those Shinkas..

Beautiful!

Nice! Somewhere on this site there's a list of the VINs for all the Shinkas. If you can find it you can see if it really is a Shinka.

FWIW, on the original owner never adding oil... If he had the oil changed every 3000 miles that's not out of line. I'll add half a quart or maybe one quart between changes. And there's two quarts between "full" and "add."

Ken

grats on purchase
from the GTA too~
i just traded my yamaha R1 for a 2005 black rx8 with 100,000 kms
cars roughly worth $9500
Starts a little rough when cold and hot~
I got it as is with no compression test, not knowing much about these cars.
But after doing research im going to clean it up; new igintion coils, plugs and wires.
Decarbon it and take it to do a compression test and hopefully cross my fingers and say its good.
Also this warranty thing plays into effect but the dealers here want all your oil change receipts and service history which is where im screwed.
Also for parts~ dealer wants $650 for iginition stuff when i can grab it off the inter for $300. But to show atleast some receipts for maitenance i think im picking it up from dealer.

So my advice is to do a carfax on it also call the dealer with the vin and have them email you the service history of the vehicle. And find out the date the warranty was started because you got 8 years from than or 100,000 miles ( not kms )
And of course try and get one where a guy can supply a compression test.