Hopeful New RX-8 Owner: What to look out for?
 

Hey all, I've been a member on here for a while, but dropped back since I bought a 3.0L Mazda6 a few years back. Anyways, it's my bro's turn and he's saved up a ton of money (damn him for not wasting it all in 3rd grade on Pokemon!!! hahaha). Anyways, he's looking between a Mazda6 or an RX-8. Fortunately, I'm good on all the technical info in regards to what to look out for in a Mazda6 and how to tell if we've got a stud or a dud.

But when it comes to the RX-8 I'm clueless. This is where you guys and gals come in. What are some things I should be weary of for these cars. Like things I should make sure have been maintained properly (ie. the PCV on our cars fail like they're paid to do so and cause fatal engine damage).

If something was to fail, and wouldn't really show signs of being bad unless purposely inspected, what would it be?

I really appreciate your all's help!

-Gregg

No one...?

if it's got a carfax report you can see if it was brought in for service

if it's a personal seller, ask the guy if it's fast. if he says "hell yeah" ask him how fast.

if he says i had it over 130 and it still had plenty to go, i'd recommend that you keep looking for a little old lady to buy one from instead. ;)

I would recommend buying one off of a member from the 8club. Then you know there is a chance it was properly maintained. As for "looking for something that would have fatal engine damage" the Apex Seals are the stake in the heart for the 8. But, unless you crack the block open and look, you will not know their condition. Luckily, Mazda gives us the 100k engine warranty.

-Make sure the oil was changed every 3k. (Some go longer, but I am anal about oil) and make sure it is an oil you agree with (forum members have long running debates over oil)
-Always check NADA and Kelly Bluebook for value before buying
-Ask the seller if they warm up the car before driving
-Ask the seller how many times they have flooded. And if they have, how they deflooded.
-Ask the seller when the last time they changed the coils, wires, and plugs. (OEM is only good for 30k)
-Ask the seller what fuel grade they used
-Ask the seller if they premix
-Ask the seller if they red-lined once a day


That's all I can think of for now. If i think of more, I will add. Hope that helps

Compared to other cars, the 8 seems to have a smaller margin of error for casual owner neglect (i.e. not checking the oil regularly, not keeping it topped up, revving it hard before its warm, etc). I suspect most 8 engine problems are a result of owners overlooking these "little" things – things that, generally speaking, don't significantly hurt piston-engined cars. So I would look for a used 8 with a well-documented history of oil changes. Also:

• Try to avoid '04s (first year teething problems)
• Run the car's history at a Mazda dealer to see if it had all ECU updates, and had them about when they were issued
• As with any used car, if you're lucky enough to find one that looks like it was very well cared for by a really anal owner (detailed service history is a huge clue), grab it. Even it costs a bit more.
• If possible, ask owner how often he redlined it. General wisdom here is once-a-day (or so) extends engine life
• Totally subjective, but personally I wouldn't buy a used car that's been engine-modded, raced, or had extensive accident damage

Good luck.

A redline a day keeps the carbon away

extensive damage, def a no. modded or raced, I will second that as well, except for healthy mods such as upgraded coils, plugs, and wires :yesnod:

Good insight above, so I'll just render a 'headline' I'd like to see:

One Owner; Clear Title; No Accidents; Non-smoker; Non-Winter driven; Full Service History with all pertinent TSB/MSP’s performed

Look for the little things. An anal owner takes care of them, which is indicative of also well addressing the larger maintenance chores.

Good headline, but unfortunatly, depending on where the car is etc..., you can only hope for so much. If when searching, one is too anal, they will never find the car that is "perfect". But, if it hits on most of the points brought up in the previous posts, especially the major ones, then you are doing good. :)

Do not buy rx8
 

Do not buy RX8 unless you are mechanic at Mazda and can work on it a lot. Buy a corvette used. My RX8 Has been in the shop many times. I've been stranded on the interstate and in the garage. If you buy it be sure it has warranty. Guess where mine is?

^ horsepoop Most of us have had very good experiences with our RX-8's. It does require a bit more preventive maintenance attention (oil level in particular), but nothing much else that you wouldn't do to properly maintain any sportscar. And if you should happen to be one of those unfortunate few, there's an 8y/100k mile drivetrain warranty.

Better than asking if they've redlined it once a day, perhaps... ask them if they've ever hit the rev limiter. Don't feed them any cues about what might be good or bad practice. Just find out their attitude to the engine.