Hi,

So I've decided to indulge myself with an RX-8... And found a nice one with low miles (2007, 42k) with original engine. Went to mazda dealer to do a compression test, and it fails:
Rotor 1: 6.8 6.8 6.6
Rotor 2: 7.1 6.6 7.4
268 RPM
So they said they'll replace the engine under warranty.

Other than that, the car had one owner for a year, and another owner for the rest of the time. Failed emission inspection about a year ago, but I don't know for what reason. And since I don't have access to the old owner, I can't ask all those other questions that are posted in what needs to be known before buying a car.

So as my first post, the question to this community: is it a good deal to buy this car, and get an engine replaced by the warranty, or should I stay away?

Thanks for your advice!

 

not necessarily a bad deal but the fact that it didnt pass emmissions makes me think the cat has failed and if you leave a failed cat on there with the new engine it wont be long till that engine has issues also! so i would have the cat looked at and if it looks good then buy it

 

If you can start your ownership with a fresh reman in the car, you are HUGELY ahead of where plenty of owners start.

Go for it. It's nothing to be scared of.

 

If the cat has failed, that should be replaced under emissions warranty...I think from the age and mileage you're within that. Since the dealer is honoring the engine warranty, they should also be on your side for the cat.

Ken

 

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions on the reason for emissions failure. It could be anything from a loose gascap to accidentally draining the battery just before inspection. OBD2 gives tons of ways to fail that have nothing to do with costly hardware problems, and several that aren't even actually failures.

 

Thanks for the advice! I'll try to negotiate the price down accordingly, and see if I can get a deal

 

One other thing that I thought weird: I read here that if compression test fails then I don't have to pay for it. But dealer still charged me, even though it failed. Did I misunderstand it, or should I insist on the charge being removed?

 

If it's not your car, you don't have much room to ask for your money back, since you aren't the owner? You aren't the one with the warranty coverage.

 

True that. May be I'll ask if/when I become an owner.