Noob here (although I have been lurking around for the last month or so). I am in the market for an 8 and I need some help.

I have one on hold at a local dealer here and I have a couple questions. First let me give you guys some detail on the car.

2004 RX-8 Grand Touring Coupe M/T with 44,700 miles.
-Silver
-Navigation
-Leather
-Chrome Wheels
-Tinted Windows
-Power seats
-Blah, blah, blah...

Here are a couple small pics from their website:







Okay, questions:
-I have talked them down to $14,500, good deal???
-Have driven it, seemed fine, however is there anything I should deffinately be feeling/listening/looking for in the drive?
-Anything about interior/exterior I should know about/look for?
-Is there some sort of appearance package on this 8?
-What's the warranty, should I extend?

Sorry, I know I can probably search a lot of this, and I have, but I just ran into this deal today and I don't have a lot of time before I have to go pick it up.

Thanks in advance, you seem like a cool group, hopefully I'll be a part of the club soon

 

The 2004 models are prone to having the most problems. If I were you, I'd go for an 06 or newer. If you're dead set on getting that car then the extended warranty is a MUST! The price is pretty good but can be better for that kind of mileage and it being 4 years old.

 

I just bought mine a few weeks ago from carmax 2004 26K miles $15,000 with 4 year 48K waranty. I have had great luck with them in the past and thier warranty is great.

 

As a guide, is your similarly equipped?

 

To answer your question different package deals are not that much more/less expensive. There's 20k+ miles difference on your car, and only a $500.00 difference in price. There's your answer. Look for a newer one,06 and up as suggested. Patience is your friend. You can get good deals on the newer models if you'll take the time to look.

Personally I wouldn't pay more than 10-11K out the door ( tag, taxes etc) with an extended warranty. Just my .02.

 

Okay, but if he has an auto without nav, the price would be a lot different.

Edmunds appraisal says $16,000 private, and $14,200 trade. How can it be so far off?

BTW, this is going to be a weekend/fun car for me, already have a daily driver so not looking to spend more than $15K. If it was my daily driver I wouldn't buy an '04.

 

I don't have leather or navigation. Its mt, all power, crome wheels, sunroof, hid's, its also yellow. I would keep looking and don't rush. At least sleep on it.

 

1) Being in Canada, I cannot really speak to pricing down in the U.S. for used vehicles, but that number doesn't seem horribly out of line for the options and mileage.
2) Read all of the technical service bulletins for this car (search for them) and check if they've been performed by a Mazda dealer during the car's life. If you feel any stumbling or hesitation in the motor, it could just need the updated flash. Like any used car, make sure the engine doesn't feel weak (low compression) anywhere in the rev band when accelerating. Check for fluid leaks, how the suspension feels, the brakes, etc.
3) Not a lot of failures on the interior - they all tend to creak in a few places but there are some TSB's about specific, chronic areas of buzz, squeak, and rattle issues. The sun visors (especially driver's side) have a tendancy to split along the seam. Check all power features, the heat, the A/C, navigation, power seat operation, seat heaters, interior lights, dash lights, stereo, etc.
4) The vehicle in your photos has the appearance package that added the air dam, side skirts, mud guards, and rear spoiler.
5) You're looking to purchase a heavily optioned Japanese vehicle. While the Japanese part spells reliability for the most part, the fact that it has a lot of electronic goodies that can fail and be expensive to repair coupled with it being a first year of production model, I'd probably recommend a warranty to prevent possible heartache in the future.

Oh, and according to lore on this site, silver RX-8's are genetically doomed in some way, but don't let that put you off. :-)

 

I have actually been looking for a quite a while and this seems(ed) like a good deal to me. I have been looking/bargaining on this particular 8 for 3 days.

 

Good info, thanks!

 

Get it. You will love it.

 

Bump.

How can I tell if it's got the sports package? Upgraded suspension?

Any other thoughts? Should I just keep looking?

Thanks guys!

 

I think thats a decent deal.. I have an 05 with the exact options and color as the one you are looking at mine had 13,000 miles and i payed 18k for it..

 

When did you buy it?

 

Don't buy an 04 model period. You'll be sorry do some research. Find an an 06 or an 05.

 

Well, thanks for the posts guys. I decided to sleep on it (again) and see if they lower the price (again). I went and drove it again tonight, and it drives really well for a four year old car. I was quite impressed really. No rattles, clutch felt great, engine had pep. Not too concerned about the model year actually. I mean you hear a lot about the dreaded '04's on this forum, but i have done quite a bit of research and you'd be surprised how good the reviews are for the '04 everywhere else. Plus it won't be my daily driver and worst case scenario, I only paid $14,000 for it!

 

not a bad deal, Im a car salesman. The miles are a little high and theyre probably making a little money on the deal. Is it below book? yes so technically you are getting a good deal but there are better deals out there. Where are you located I might be able to get you one if youre in nor cal?

 

lol that makes me sick just thinking how cheap my rx8 is now.. and i paid 19k for it3 years ago. and it fully loaded gt w/ out leather or nav*didnt want leather* oh or the apearance package did not come w/ it either. so my car is probably worth about 10 cents....58k miles...so im about10k up side down... I LOVE IT!!

 

O buy the car!! you'll love it mines an 04 had some problems w/ it but just get an extended warrenty and you'll be good! get a compression test b4 you buy it though, that would be my advice

 

I have to say that I think it would be a great deal in Seattle. I shopped around a lot and settled on a private sale of an '04 15k mi, Manual Sport Package (no options) for $18k. Most dealerships were charging 18-23k for most 8's at 20-45k mi.

 

Holy crap, I paid $16k for my 04 MT last year with 21k miles. I had to fly to chicago for it, but I still wouldn't pay more than like $12,500 for the same car now. Keep looking. Read around about extended warranties too, I think some people have had trouble getting certain things covered (like they have the warranty, but something breaks and the company just cops out and says it's not covered). Do the math, it might just be cheaper to pay for the repairs if they come (not saying it is, but you should look into it).

 

****, ur getting a better deal than i got 2 months ago, i paid 15.5k for mine and it was 41k mile, and no appearance package (i am buying that now) so essentially i am paying 16k for this car, i'd get it.

 

get it FTW!