I'm just about ready to sign on the line and it occured to me that you guys know about what build dates to look for.
There were problems of this and that with the car when first produced, can you identify when these were cured? Or when some of the major ones were solved.

A little care here might mean alot later. If you had known when to buy or not would you have bought or waited knowing what you know now?

 

The only things that I know of are the ecu flashes. It doesn't really matter which one it is since they can all be made current anyways. Obviously I don't own an RX-8 myself so hopefully someone else who may or may not have had issues with theirs will contribute.

 

richard i bought mine from the first batch and have had no problems.

 

Another one from the 1st Pre-order group here, and have had no issues after 27,000 miles.

Feel safe with any low mileage 6-speed RX-8.

 

Earlier cars MAY have shift forks that are more apt to be defective. Supposedly, when mine was repaired Mazda knew of the issue and replaced them with a different part #.


My build date was 8/03

 

guy that's not an early car im talking about the batch that was already being driven before your car was born :D

 

i have one of those too... no big problems with mine either

 

Well, you may have thin shift forks and not know it :p

 

Wait a second now, thin shift forks? You guys know that about 5% of my shifter customers have a problem with my standard lock out tab. For those cars I have to take off about .25mm so they get a good feel into 5/6 slot. I wonder if this has something to do with that?

Should I get the build dates from those that are having a problem?? If they all have early build dates that will solve the question why. Then when I get an order I ust ask their build date and send them the right part. Naaa that's too easy, I'm never that lucky or smart.

 

I shouldn't say thin.. Just saying that when I had a prob with them that my dealership called Mazda, and mazda immediately said they needed to replace my shift forks and any damaged gears. They didn't hem and haw about needing to rebuild my tranny, and the dealership said that they used an updated part. I read this to mean stronger


That is an interesting thing to note though RP. SO many variances in these cars.

 

Are you looking for build dates for VIN numbers? I don't know how to get my build date, but it was delivered to me 2 weeks after the first one in North America.

Your shifter (from the first batch) works great!

 

the build date is located on the pillar/frame next to the drivers seat.