right now im test driving an 2004 rx8 auto. ive heard that a rough ideal can be a bad sign, when im at a light i notice a very small shake (normal shake) but then it kinda build up and does a quick but hard shake. kinda like when u get those body shivers how they build up but then u shake it out, if u followed me. is that normal or sign of somthing wrong. also when i switch into manual mode and shift back into auto the gear tend to hit hard before they change, is that normal the trans. it catching up or somthing. one last thing in auto i notice it stays in 3rd gear all the way down to like 5 mph before it shifts down is that normal?

Thx alot for all the advice!

 

More than likely the vibration issue is a bad right side engine mount.
Check the fluid in the trans,,, looks and smell. No burnt smell. No darkness. Nice red clear color.
5 mph is normalish before it shifts into 1st. Just about a dead stop. Just down shift it in manual mode. And upshift at 5000 and see how it works.
Is this at a Mazda dealer? If it is tell them to give you print out of warranty and service history on the car. If they won't walk away.
How many miles on the car?

 

how many miles? Also do you know if the engine has been changed or not through out its life time?


when your shifting between auto/manual are you chaning gears at the time or even doing it when parked?

 

Right, and they can be replaced. It doesn't mean the engine is bad or anything.

Try starting it when the engine is hot... see if it starts easily. If not, that could be a sign of poor compression

 

its on '04 with 40k on it and i dont think the engine has been replaced. oil was changed at the dealership recently.

im also looking at an '07 auto with 27k on it. but havnt test drove that one yet

 

Test drive the 07 to compare. I had a rough idea like you describe and it turned out to be bad coils. The car was also hard to start and had low HP.

 

i have not checked the compression but i will b4 any signature.

do the '07 have a less/smaller fail rate?

 

The 07 will have the preferrable 6 port motor (instead of the 4 port motor of the 04), and it will have a 6-speed automatic (instead of the 4-speed of the 04). The 07 will get better fuel mileage and performance, and by 07 Mazda had done all the upgrades to engine management for lubrication and starting/flooding issues. The 04 *might* have had the upgrades (PCM reflash, starter & battery upgrades, etc.), but you would need to verify this.

The 07 would be the better choice.

 

This^^

 

I would look at the '07. Forget the '04.

 

^ +1

 

well, i got approved for the 04 at 11,000 $ pending a compression check and right engine mount replacement/check. the only real bonus for me to get the 07 is a sunroof, i still have over a year on the core warranty and im getting an extended warranty on top of that for the price. is there anything else i should have them check.

i like the '07 and i know about the gear box difference, but i cant justify 7k for a sunroof and 1 more year of warranty

 

What warranty are are you referring to? Do you know about the 8 year 100,000 mile warranty from mazda on the engine core? That warranty is more than a 1 year difference for the 2007.

 

Sorry, BIG mistake getting 4 speed AT... wait till you can get a 06+ if you want an AT

 

yes but with the extended warranty im getting it only makes it a 1 year difference.

 

Exactly^^ That's why it's so much less

 

What the difference beside the ignition and flooding issues were address, in the engine, and its a 6 gear instead of a 4?

 

Did you even read my previous posting?

 

The automatic is already going to be a slower car and from what I have heard the 4 speed auto makes you feel like this. -> The 6 port motor will have more power than the 4 port, and the oil injection was upped as the years went by so the 04 probably has more wear and tear than an 07 or even a 06 of the same mileage.


Listen to pete and everyone else. If you really must go with the 04 then at least we tried to tell you what you were getting into.

 

it is sad to say but you should be able to find a 06 AT cheapish...Being on here for 2 years now (or close to it) I've seen so many threads and comments from 4speed AT people asking how to make it faster and the easy answer is you don't (or boost it I guess)

least in my opinion, the 04/05 are like ticking timebombs unless you've owned it since the beginning and know that it has had all the TSB etc work done to it.

 

If the A/C was on, this happens when the compressor cycles on and is nothing to worry about.

 

Thank u all very much for putting up wit my noob questions and such and giving advice. unfortunately i wasn't approved for 18k for the '07, so i went with the '04 with a 60k 4yr extended warranty to help with the piece of mind.

although i do have another dumb question i couldnt find. how do u read the oill dip stick, and what one if the oil stick, the black rub one next to th oil cap, or the yellow ring one, on the right side of the engine a little farther down in the engine.

thx

Oh and BTW the shaking was a broken right engine mount they fixed it no cost to me, they were very impressed i knew it from just a little vibration. credit goes u to guys