I'm looking to buy an rx8 that just came up for sale but it has a problem starting and then can't idle without applying gas. The owner says he's changed the plugs and all that. He also says it has white smoke but it goes away after a second. Doesn't overheat or anything like that. He believes it has a carbon buildup in the intake but I was wanting an idea of how much that'd cost to fix it or if there were any other opinions.

 

"and all of that" is rather scarily vague. White smoke could be a coolant seal leak.

Cost to fix could be as low as replacing a vacuum line for 50 cents if it's a vacuum leak since that causes the most problems at idle, or as much as $5,000 for an engine replacement, since low compression manifests problems most easily at low engine speeds.

Get a proper compression test, test for a coolant seal failure, or don't buy.

 

Well I said "all of that" because plugs, wires, and coils are usually the go-to and it was just easier to say. Haha Thanks for the reply, would it still be worth it if it is a coolant seal leak?

 

Coolant seal leak means it needs a new engine, so not unless you are paying 'dead engine' prices for it.

 

Ok, thank you very much!