i am looking at some 2004 / 2005 RX8 (touring trim has HID and sunroof?)

what to look out for for those model years?

is there any major service due in 60k, 75k miles or so?

all model year RX8 has LSD, right? but not traction control (prevent wheel spin on wet surface) or stability control (prevent the car from spinning out in wet surface)?

i don't really need leather leather seat but i do want HID and sunroof

 

there's a few SoCal RX-8's for sale on this forum.
Nothing major to look for since most of the 8's in California already had their recalls performed (or they can't register)

 

nothing. just make sure the body is in good shape. take it for a test drive, make sure the engine sounds good. and make sure you have all the recalls and TSB's done. then you will be fine

you would want to go in for a check up, but its not required

all of them have LSD except for the base auto model. the sport MT has the LSD, but not TSC or DSC

then go with touring or grand touring.

 

shhhh!!!! I dont want our RX8s to go to jail for drugs!!!!!

 

 

Take any year you are looking at to a mechanic. Specifically get a compression check if the car is nearing 60k miles. also, CARFAX is definitely a friend.

 

04/05 goes like this:

Base MT- 6spd, 18" wheels, better brakes, better suspension
Sport- Adds Traction/Stability control and foglights
Touring- Adds sunroof/bose/homelink
Grand Touring- Adds leather

Sounds like you want touring or sport if you can do without sunroof. If you're tall and plan on racing the car you probably won't fit in a sunroof car.

 

For maintenance, the first big chunk actually comes around 30k miles. Tran fluid, rear diff fluid, and spark plugs are done around this time as well as the recommended change in cabin filter, change in intake filter, oil change, etc.

I have a GT, and it has DSC and TCS. I think the touring package only came with traction control, but I am not 100% on that.

The 04s and 05s are the ones that had the majority of the recalls, so bring it into a Mazda dealership and make sure all the recalls have been completed.

 

Not sure about test driving AT but if its a MT, once its warmed up take it thought its rev range...also find am AM station with no music and you can used that to listen for broken wires/electrical equipment. To test what your listening for move a mirror and listen to the sound you get through the speakers...if its a 04/05 should be past the break in period, unless it was never driven.

 

If there is any problems with the spark plugs or wires you will hear a click ever time they fire, seems like there a problems in those areas with our year cars

 

dont get an auto... my only advice lol.

 

DSC/TSC are always paired together. You get DSC/TSC in every package except for base in 04/05. Read my earlier post about the different packages and what you get in each one.