So, I'm looking at several RX8s, I found a few 04s and a couple 05s that I'm interested in, but the 04s I've found come at a much more attractive price, and for whatever reason lower millage.

Now I've read through this forum so many times on engine problems, and it seems with all the recalls done there are no major problems that an 04 would have that an 05 wouldn't have.

But with the transmission esp with the sticky entitled: Transmission Issues/Questions

I've noticed most of the transmission problems are coming from the 04 models, and I have yet to find conclusive evidence that the 04s are not more prone to having syncros chewed off compared to the 05+ models. Did they change anything major with the transmission between 04 and 05+ models or is it just the way people are driving that cause the syncros to be shreaded?

Any insight for this rx8 owner hopeful?

 

Because the site is broken and I want to make an offer soon...*bump*

 

 

There's tons of '04's that didnt' have transmission problems. My 05 had to get the transmission replaced last month.

 

So...what is causing the transmission to have problems? Bad driving?

 

some '04's had bad shift forks

 

some? any thing I can look out for? Are some 04s more susceptible than others to having the bad fork?

 

all model years, not just '04s

very sloppy internal tolerances depemnding on which parts on which day get installed so it can be hit & miss WRT who suffers

 

That doesn't really put me at ease...oh well.

Worse comes to worse I can rebuild later on.

 

Maybe we can have a rebuild party.

 

The new part is Y601-17-40XA (1-2 Shift Fork). Make sure you have enough for all party goers please.

I'm on the original fork still.

 

Me too but shouldn't be - bad 1-2 grind. I'm tired of taking my car to the dealer but now I've got a mystery oil leak on my one month old second engine... so I don't have much choice I guess.

 

Hmm...well we can have a huge North American meet to rebuild transmissions :p

 

Don't rebuild, swap.
The R5M from the FD bolts right up to the bell housing and is nearly indestructible.
Better gear ratios for turbo cars, too.

 

Well just wondering if I need to worry about 04s having weaker transmissions than the 05+ cars, what do you think MazdaManiac.

ps. everytime I see you post I swear you have a new avatar, I love em.

 

All of the trannys are the same. I'm not sure if and when they started to incorporate the newer fork. As far as I can tell, it is only a countermeasure part, not a production change since Aisin pre-built most of the line and it is cross-platform.
In other words, unless the previous owner was an ***, you have pretty equal chances of getting a good transmission from any year.
Mine is an '04 and it is a smooth as glass, even after years of turbo use and slam-shifts.
I think clutch disengagement adjustment plays a big part in transmission life.
Most of the '8s I've driven have had the clutch set up with way too much play.

 

All of the race teams from SpeedSource on down are having issues too.