Hey folks- I used to own a 2004 RX-8 Touring... traded it on a Jeep Commander in Fall 2008. Don't regret getting the Jeep... gets me through the winters. But I do regret parting with the RX-8.

So now I got the RX-8 bug again and am shopping. I found two 8's recently that I'm considering. I'm soliciting comments and opinions.

The contestants are:

2004 MT Grand Touring, Velocity Red Mica, black/red leather interior, 5K miles, $14990, 1-owner.

2006 MT Shinka, Copper Red, leather parchment interior, 28K miles, $16900, 1-owner.

Both have spoilers and appearance kit.

Thanks.

 

'06 all the way...

better starter, rerouted intake fixed, Shinka could be worth something someday.

I'm sure they had some other fixes in the '06 that I'm forgetting, but the first models years always have some issues... if the price is close to being the same, I'd get the '06. Plus you have 2 extra years of warranty, etc.

 

I'd say get the 2006. While people will say they've never had an issue with their '04-'05, that's where the majority of issues are, within those first 2 years. About 8/10 posts I see on here with issues are people who own '04-'05 versions. Granted, those years are the most populated likely as well.

Not only that, but chances are at 5k, that 2004 doesn't have the flash upgrades done to the car to fix the poor oil pump rate and anything else that was done from that time to now. For a 2k difference I'd say def get the 2006 to prevent going for something that will cost much more in hassles, breakdowns and what not even though any RX8 is a potential for engine problems due to its design.

Lastly, it's a shinka, rare indeed and it's copper, sexy as hell.

 

i'd go with the shinka as well for the additional warranty and personally i like the shinka copper color. neither is really high mileage but the '04 wasn't drive much at all so sounds tempting but would also depend on what they did with it for those 5k miles to make sure it wasn't just sitting around.

 

Copper Red Shinka is my favorite, next to my '05 of course.

 

Are these similar prices? If so, the shinka might not be such a good buy, comparatively speaking.

 

looks like 2k difference between the asking prices on both... 04 has less miles, but 06 is a special edition, and newer... this is an easy one.

 

I'm partial to the Shinka myself, again fewer produced, the color is amazing and I think at less than 17K a really good deal....

 

Thanks folks. I took delivery of the 2006 Shinka on Thursday evening. I'm very pleased with it. I'll post photos soon.