First 8
10-24-2011, 07:13 PM
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First 8
First off, i'm sorry if this is the wrong thread, just made an account in hopes of being a member of the club.
So here's the story --
I've been looking to buy the RX8 for quite a while now, it's been the 8 or the s2k, however i came to the conclusion the 8 is a better choice.
Looking around I came across a craigslist post, and was very intrigued by it. The guy was selling his 2004 Mazda RX8 for mere $5000.
It says there are things wrong with the car, and i was hoping you guys of the club was able to give me a general quote on how much it would cost to fix the car. There are other 8 within my area selling for 8.5k~10k range, however I was hoping this car would cost me less to fix.
"Here is the story:
Up for sale 2004, Mazda RX-8, with 132,234 miles. Clean inside and outside. I bought the car a year and a half ago, at that time the car passed Virginia emission inspection. The car has some issues: firstly, rear tires make noise but I have two new Michelin tires which go with the car, you just have to install them (I paid for the tires 400$); secondly, it starts hardly when its cold and then when it gets warmer (running temperature), when you put in drive, the car stalls. If you want to restart it again, it wont start. When I bought it, it had issue with intake valves, and I replaced the whole intake with used one. It is probably a simple fix but I simply don't have time to fix it (I am leaving country soon)."
I hope to hear from you soon, post my pictures my 8.
So here's the story --
I've been looking to buy the RX8 for quite a while now, it's been the 8 or the s2k, however i came to the conclusion the 8 is a better choice.
Looking around I came across a craigslist post, and was very intrigued by it. The guy was selling his 2004 Mazda RX8 for mere $5000.
It says there are things wrong with the car, and i was hoping you guys of the club was able to give me a general quote on how much it would cost to fix the car. There are other 8 within my area selling for 8.5k~10k range, however I was hoping this car would cost me less to fix.
"Here is the story:
Up for sale 2004, Mazda RX-8, with 132,234 miles. Clean inside and outside. I bought the car a year and a half ago, at that time the car passed Virginia emission inspection. The car has some issues: firstly, rear tires make noise but I have two new Michelin tires which go with the car, you just have to install them (I paid for the tires 400$); secondly, it starts hardly when its cold and then when it gets warmer (running temperature), when you put in drive, the car stalls. If you want to restart it again, it wont start. When I bought it, it had issue with intake valves, and I replaced the whole intake with used one. It is probably a simple fix but I simply don't have time to fix it (I am leaving country soon)."
I hope to hear from you soon, post my pictures my 8.
10-24-2011, 07:22 PM
#2
It likely needs plugs ($80), wires ($60-$100) and coils ($150 - 200). This is just due to the age of the car. These may fix the problems or not. We need to know if the check engine light (CEL) is on and what codes are stored in the ecu, before we can get any real idea of what is wrong.
Please read this before you buy the car: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
Please read this before you buy the car: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
10-24-2011, 07:27 PM
#3
sounds like you'll need to purchase a new/refurbished engine, as you are well out of warranty.
The cost from Mazda is in the $4-5k price range, WITHOUT install. Some places will sell you a rebuilt engine at around $2-3k. However, you either have to install yourself, or find someone who will.
I think choice 2 is better. Even if you have to find someone to do the install, I'd say you're looking at ~$4 000.
If you don't have the time, I suggest you look for an 8 that is still under the 8year/100k mile warranty
Good luck
EDIT: I got ahead of myself! First, do as Al suggested. Take into consideration my advice, should you need to replace the engine
The cost from Mazda is in the $4-5k price range, WITHOUT install. Some places will sell you a rebuilt engine at around $2-3k. However, you either have to install yourself, or find someone who will.
I think choice 2 is better. Even if you have to find someone to do the install, I'd say you're looking at ~$4 000.
If you don't have the time, I suggest you look for an 8 that is still under the 8year/100k mile warranty
Good luck
EDIT: I got ahead of myself! First, do as Al suggested. Take into consideration my advice, should you need to replace the engine
10-24-2011, 07:28 PM
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I emailed the owner of the CEL and ECU hopefully he responds within tomorrow. And Thank you for the Link, i'll read through and see what i need.
also if there are some problems involving the engine, or if the engine itself was replaced new, would it fix majority of the problem?
I Know that the 8 needs immense and delicate care, and i'm not sure if the owner of the car treated it nicely. The exterior pictures looks nice, however i'm not sure whether or not he actually spent 15 minutes every time before he drove to warm the 8 up. etc.
also if there are some problems involving the engine, or if the engine itself was replaced new, would it fix majority of the problem?
I Know that the 8 needs immense and delicate care, and i'm not sure if the owner of the car treated it nicely. The exterior pictures looks nice, however i'm not sure whether or not he actually spent 15 minutes every time before he drove to warm the 8 up. etc.
10-24-2011, 07:38 PM
#5
Here, in the states, the cost to have a Mazda dealer install a rebuilt engine is about $5000. There are independent rotary shops that may easily rebuild your engine for less than that. If your location is where I think it is, you should look in the NE Regional Forum for a group near you. They will be able to give you pointers on the best places to get help. Either from a dealer, shop or a friendly members driveway.
10-24-2011, 07:42 PM
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I know of a mechanic, however i'm not quite sure whether he is familiar with rotary engines.
If he is, i'm sure i can maybe be able to install the engine for fraction of a price. Just need to know how much it might cost to fix up the car in the worst case scenario.
If he is, i'm sure i can maybe be able to install the engine for fraction of a price. Just need to know how much it might cost to fix up the car in the worst case scenario.
10-24-2011, 07:42 PM
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New England doesn't have and good "shops". Most of the good work up here is done in garages and driveways.
The post in that linked thread with all the purchase questions is where you should be starting with the seller. $5,000 is a decent price for a failed engine issue. Though from his description, it still might not be the engine, in which case $5,000 is a really good deal. A few stories on here recently from people that bought what they thought was a blown engine RX-8, and it turned out to be something simply and cheap like ignition or starter or even just flooded.
The username "CSP" seems indicative of C-Street Prepared, one of the classes that the RX-8 can run in for SCCA. Am I correct in the reference?
The post in that linked thread with all the purchase questions is where you should be starting with the seller. $5,000 is a decent price for a failed engine issue. Though from his description, it still might not be the engine, in which case $5,000 is a really good deal. A few stories on here recently from people that bought what they thought was a blown engine RX-8, and it turned out to be something simply and cheap like ignition or starter or even just flooded.
The username "CSP" seems indicative of C-Street Prepared, one of the classes that the RX-8 can run in for SCCA. Am I correct in the reference?
Last edited by RIWWP; 10-24-2011 at 07:52 PM.
10-24-2011, 07:46 PM
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New England doesn't have and good "shops". Most of the good work up here is done in garages and driveways.
The post in that linked thread with all the purchase questions is where you should be starting with the seller. $5,000 is a decent price for a failed engine issue. Though from his description, it still might not be the engine, in which case $5,000 is a really good deal. A few stories on here recently from people that bought what they thought was a blown engine RX-8, and it turned out to be something simply and cheap like ignition or starter or even just flooded.
The username "CSP" seems indicative of C-Stock Prepared, one of the classes that the RX-8 can run in for SCCA. Am I correct in the reference?
The post in that linked thread with all the purchase questions is where you should be starting with the seller. $5,000 is a decent price for a failed engine issue. Though from his description, it still might not be the engine, in which case $5,000 is a really good deal. A few stories on here recently from people that bought what they thought was a blown engine RX-8, and it turned out to be something simply and cheap like ignition or starter or even just flooded.
The username "CSP" seems indicative of C-Stock Prepared, one of the classes that the RX-8 can run in for SCCA. Am I correct in the reference?
Also i haven't thought about that acronym for CSP, but that seems really cool, I guess i'll use that as my reference from now on.
10-24-2011, 07:52 PM
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If you budget for $3-4k, it would cover a worst-case scenario, without upgrades or custom engine rebuilds, etc...
It's possible it just needs a new starter and/or ignition, cleaned clutch neutral switch, MAF, ESS, and reset fuel trims and ESS profile.
Everything he is talking about COULD be a replaced engine, but those are also various symptoms of the above list as well.
It's possible it just needs a new starter and/or ignition, cleaned clutch neutral switch, MAF, ESS, and reset fuel trims and ESS profile.
Everything he is talking about COULD be a replaced engine, but those are also various symptoms of the above list as well.
10-24-2011, 07:57 PM
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those are the images of the $5000 rx8.
there's another listing for $8500 2004 8 with
"2004 Mazda RX-8 grand touring edition with NAVIGATION,121,xxx miles, Equipped with xenon headlights, BOSE premium sound system 7 speaker , It is a 6 speed manual complete with the sports package,moonroof,Leather seats black and red
-New front brake pads,brake rotor
-Tune up
-New tires"
pictures of the $8500 rx8
sorry idk how to insert pictures so it's all links :/
Mod Edit: Posted Pictures
Last edited by CSP159357; 10-24-2011 at 08:03 PM.
10-24-2011, 08:00 PM
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(Click the little picture icon then paste the link into the box that pops up. Or put [img] and [/img] tags around the link)
I see some tailpipe smoke in the 2nd pic. Could just be warming up condensation, but...
I see some tailpipe smoke in the 2nd pic. Could just be warming up condensation, but...
10-24-2011, 08:45 PM
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Sorry, but it's about as close to accurate as you are going to get. You can have all sorts of costly problems that never throw a CEL, and you can have stupid ones like unscrewed gas cap throw it. If there WAS a CEL, then what the CEL is can help point to the issue, but without it, it's stays as an unknown
10-24-2011, 08:58 PM
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should i ask the owner for a test drive? if so is there anything i need to look out for?
or are the issues he posted above render the car undrivable until fixed?
or should i just ask the mechanic to come/tow the car for a checkup?
or are the issues he posted above render the car undrivable until fixed?
or should i just ask the mechanic to come/tow the car for a checkup?
10-28-2011, 02:05 PM
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Both are out of warranty anyway, I would just go for the lowest price one, and check the compression.
Even if the higher price one (black) got better compression, you still don't know when it's gonna go.
The fixes are small fixes, you u DIY it'll be less than $500.
Cheers.
Even if the higher price one (black) got better compression, you still don't know when it's gonna go.
The fixes are small fixes, you u DIY it'll be less than $500.
Cheers.
10-31-2011, 03:53 PM
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Try cleaning the throttle body. My car always stalled when warm at idle. I replaced everything. Just last week cleaned the MAF (again) and the throttle body (it was nasty) and the thing runs like new.