Questions about purchassing my first 8, in BC, Canada.
 

Yeah I know, read the stikies ;).
I have been reading on here for quite a while now and have absorbed a crap load of info about just about every aspect of these cars. Its great, but its pretty easy to get overwhelmed with excitement and all the rest when you are looking at them in person...

Anyway, this is a link to one I am mildly considering right now:
http://colwood.galaxymotors.net/deta...hicleID=816086

It has had one accident that cost $5300CDN to repair, but it just said front left so I have no idea what really was damaged. I have called up the local stealership and tried to get some information with the VIN, and I was able to get some from a really nice service lady. I did have to beg a bit though. She told me before she said anything that she wasnt even allowed to tell me what she did because of privacy laws here in Canada.
Does anyone else have experience in looking up this kind of info in Canada, or are there any loopholes?

Also, she told me that to get a compression test on it, it would be two hours labor and cost around $225CDN.

As the article states, that car has just under 70xxxkm's, and from what she did tell me, that car has only had some minor warranty work such as bulbs and mudflaps. I dont know if this is actually all of the work, or all of what she was able to find as the car wasnt purchassed at that dealer. Would Mazda Canada be any more helpful?

I have read all of the first time buyers posts but I was curious about what to expect out of a car with that many KM's that is a bit of an unknown... There is only so much info it seems I am able to get on it, and I really have no way of knowing how this car was treated up until now as it is off a lot and before that, from a dealer auction. It was two owners, however.

Regarding coils, can someone give me a link to a pic to tell me where exactly they are and where any burned spots on the bottom may be? I couldnt find a thread with photos on this.

One final note, would BHR coils/ignition void any warranties the vehicle may still have?

Thanks for any help!

also looking at this one:
http://bc.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-...AdIdZ310470545

are you financing or paying cash ??? if financing mazda has the rx8 at 0% for 7yrs right now.. you can pick up at r3 for about 270biweekly

planning on paying cash. not ready to commit to a 7 year lease ;)

yeah no worries just a thought... the r3s are getting scarce..I would consider trading mine in.. but I have the whole speed kit on it.. i just cant let it go

anyone want to help me out?
The link in the second post is the car I am considering now, pretty much. Its got the nice mazdaspeed wheels, every option and white interior.. guy seems like hes taken care of the car despite a couple of dents..
He said he still owes $19100 on the loan for the car but is going to suck up the loss and sell it for $17500.. doesnt sound like I will be able to talk him down any further.
Still has original engine, original coils and plugs, but does have new tires.

well, thanks for the input :P

get the maintenance records and go with #2. Get the compression tested.
This one just seems much more reliable...

For your coils question- white marks don't actually mean good/bad coils. You have to test them physically. Read this thread https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/suffering-misfire-start-here-222280/

The link in the second post is the one I am looking at right now, but it is out of town and there are a few hiccups..

First of all, the guy is the original owner and it really sounds like he has babied it (not to the extent of this forum, though). He has a lien on the car for $19100, but would be selling this car for $17500 and paying the difference. Yay depreciation!
Thing is though, seems dealers charge over $200-250 for a compression test. The vehicle still has a lot of warranty left (2015), would you still get its compression tested? It would mean paying for an overnight hotel and booking an appointment with mazda way in advance.

Also one other thing I am concerned about is that the original owner is from Ontario. He said he bought it off of the lot from the owner of the dealership with 2000km's on it. Said it was a US model car custom ordered by the dealer for himself, hence the unique white interior on black car. It also has those pricey mazdaspeed mag wheels.
Anyway, the car is still currently registered in ontario as when he went to get it certified recently, it failed on account of the front windsheild tint. I know here in BC the laws are pretty terrible, but how hard is this gonna be to take care of? I think I am just gonna tell him he has to take care of this. I am not really interested in paying for that.

find out what is required of a car to pass inspection in BC.
Send the list to the seller and have him bring it to a garage for inspection. Then, maybe you can come up with an agreement?

I once ordered a turbo rx7 from bc, and it was no where near passable in mb. Ended up getting written off before I could even make her street legal :tear: Never making an impulse decision like that again!! lol

Anyways, the car sounds like a pretty good deal. How far is it from you?

A U.S. model with headlight washers?
Edit- I would still get the compression tested. It would be great peace of mind.

^good catch!

OP get the VIN and find out more info on car #2 from Mazda Canada

Did US models not come with those washers? He did say that he thought it was a US model car but could have easily been mistaken.
I havent asked for the VIN because he is the original owner; he said that there have been no recalls done, hasnt been into dealer for any kind of major service. Still has original coils/plugs, clutch, cat, etc. Only replacements have been tires, oil changes and other normal maintenance. He had it a canadian tire (*cough*) to get it certified only, and he said it passed perfectly there except for the windsheild as I said above so it sounds like thats all that would need to be looked at. I know in Alberta the amount of tint allowed is greater than here, but no idea about Ontario.

I am on Vancouver Island, and the seller is in Vancouver, so its basically about 4 hours from me, including a 1 1/2 hour ferry ride that costs $75 each way.

EDIT: the other reason I did not ask for the VIN is because the dealer basically told me to screw off when I asked for info on the car, citing privacy laws.

I would go with #2 if car #1 will not give you the VIN for a carfax report or anything.
Car #2 has a messed up bumper but if the car was never in any serious accident you could probably just get a Mazdaspeed bumper and call it a day. I love BB more than VR as VR is kind of a common color for the Rx-8.

Also the seats are only for the 2007 models. With a factory Nav and the seat color, it's probably a less common color combo. If the car is still under warranty, that would also come in handy.

Yeah, with the first car at the dealership, I took a photo of the VIN and called the Mazda dealer to get some info. She was nice and helped me out a little but but told me that it wasnt something she was actually allowed to do. Should I be calling Mazda Canada directly?

I like the black a lot, and I like how unique that color combo is; but I really like the idea of VR with some bronze wheels :). if for some reason I cant get this car, I will probably hold out for VR or maybe PB.

It does have that damage on the bumper. Said that he is normally super careful with the car but that time was in a driveway and didnt see a rock, and it clipped that side. Aparently its not cracked, its just fractured the paint pretty badly.
Also he said about a month ago when he was out of town, he came back and there is a pretty good dent above the drivers door handle. It doesnt look creased so I am hoping it wouldnt be a big deal to pop out.. ?

What do you think of that? and how much do you figure one of the mazdaspeed bumpers costs? They look ok without ground effects?

here are some photos of the car and its dent

hey Obsidian just do your research on the car thoroughly on the car you choose since it will be a big decision but good luck on the car and can't wait to see it! Since I think you are the guy who joined our rx8 club here in Van haha!

haha yeah thats me. My, what observational skills you have ;).
I was over in Van this past weekend but I was unable to see the car, wont be until next weekend. We'll see how it goes. If he wont recertify it ill just move on and wait until another I like comes along.
Anyway, if I had managed to get this car this past weekend, I would probably have tried to show up at your meet.

haha yeah bra i knew it! :P if u can't get that car theres another 8 i saw on craigslist for sale that was really cheap, low kms, and an '08 and its from a mazda dealer heres the link:

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rd...538592270.html

I'm kind of skeptical of how cheap the whole situation since its low everything but i would look into it if i were u

Yeah that one has been on there for a while. I have probably looked at every single ad on every site in BC 10+ times each for the last few months, lol. Auto trader, craigslist, buysell, usedeverywhere, kijiji, cars.com, and various dealer sites. Most of them are just duplicates. There are really only two or three interesting cars in the province.
There is an '07 in phantom blue in coquitlam as well with only 8000'kms for $22k, too bad its an auto! A cherry red shinka on the island here for way too much, too.
I did not really want to spend over $17k (ish) though so we'll see what happens. If the one I am looking at right now falls through, ill just keep my eyes out over the next few months. My other car is back on the road now so we'll see what happens.

Thanks for the nod though!

I'm currently in Parksville - if you are looking at any up around Nanaimo/north drop me a p.m. and I'll come with, check it over.....

I don't know your local branch, but the Nanaimo Galaxy is a terrible place to buy - prices unrealistic for the car's condition.

Wow, you are pretty local then!
I am actually looking at the second car, the black one. Planning on going over to Vancouver early Saturday morning to check it out. We'll see how it goes?
In my opinion, there just arent many interesting 8's for sale in the province...
Anyway, you are welcome to come to Van with me, lol.
Either way though, nice to see another islander on the forum ;)