Ive been contemplating buying an rx8 for a while now, the one i would get is still at the dealer sitting there, it is an 04 AT and a lot of people here think its not the model to choose. But its fully loaded, 36k mi (still under warranty).

The reason i like this particular one is because of its options and the lower mileage, but what do you guys think the life expectancy of this vehicles engine is, will it only make it to about 60k mi? and if its under warranty or an extended one, will the engine be replaced no charge?

 

Why would you consider buying a car that you think will last only another 24k miles?

Ken

 

I only said about 60k because thats what i heard, is this untrue?

 

It is not the norm for the engine to only last 60k miles. Plenty of original engines on that model are still in use and I've seen some on here over 100k. it's just that the 2004 Autos have been most prone to engine failure.

If you are still covered by the powertrain warranty then the replacement would be covered. A rental vehicle was also provided, at least by my dealer, free of charge during the replacement.

 

I have 76K on my 2004 Rx8 and it still runs like it did on day one. Its all in how you care for it! They like oil, so I keep it topped off, and full of Premium gas!

 

Would choosing this type of vehicle be a bad choice if you like reliability in your vehicle, i currently have a VW jetta that i thought was supposed to have great reliability and turn out having problem after problem with electric and engine.

Because of that im looking for another car, and i am attracted to this car, i like the uniqueness.

 

Wanted to add: Be sure to do a thorough test drive to detect common issues and symptoms of engine problems (vibration, hesitation, hard to start, dying out at idle, etc. - though these don't necessarily mean the engine itself is bad) and check and see if the recalls have been preformed if possible.

Also, as I fell into this, determine the DATE that the new car warranty expires and make sure you are ok with the answer. My 2004 was an early build and thus the car warranty had already expired as it had been more than 4 years (4 years OR 50K).

 

Mazda's powertrain warranty is 60K. Don't confuse warranty with expected lifetime.

VW's were never known for reliability. Not that engines would blow, but the supporting components tended to crap out. Generally poor engineering. I messed with Beetles back in the 60s, and in the 80s I had a Rabbit. I remember having to crawl under the Rabbit several times (including in the rain in the middle of Ohio) to hot-wire the fuel pump because the goofuses in Wolfsburg undersized the connectors.

I've been pretty impressed with the overall quality, including fit and finish, of my 8. Consumer Reports reliability ratings (the individual items on the chart) are pretty high. I'm not sure if anything but a Honda or Toyota will last as long as a Honda or Toyota, but the pre-purchase research I did on the RX-8 left me feeling fairly comfortable.

And you're not going to get those looks or handling in a Honda.

Ken

 

i think the fact that it's used is a much bigger factor than any claims of possible reliability or reliability issues of the 8 .. and they're nothing more than claims in my opinion

i'd say know what you're buying or befriend a mechanic to give you some decision making feedback

unfortunatelly, most of us on the forum would say no to an 04 AT .. but if you're primarily going for the look you should be fine

gl with your choice

 

Usually uniqueness and relliability don't go hand in hand, but the simple design nature of the rotary leaves little room for multiple part failures on the part of the motor. There are already various members on this board that have 100,000 + miles on their RX8 with very little to no issues.

From my experience, typical engine problems result from either poor care, the car not being driven in a spirited or aggressive fashion, not following through with recall or TSB service or poor quality normal care items (gas, oil etc).

Provided you change the oil on a regular basis, use good quality gas, oil, and parts, and also drive the car like it's made to be driven you will no doubt have it for a long time.

Many of us Pre-mix 2 cycle oil in the gas as a cheap insurance. To my knowlege, not a single motor has blown for recall reasons that were using pre-mix.

The rotary requires more involvement on the part of the owner, but it shouldn't be anything that you couldn't handle. It's totally worth it.