I am currently in my hunt for a new RX8.

I realize on the trip I would have to vary the RPMs for the first 600 miles or so but would it be bad to break in the car all at once? I am a bit concerned about not having large temp changes or just the constant speed of the drive.

Thanks,
Manner

 

I see no point in buying an RX-8 all the way in California when you live in Florida. There should be no problem getting the vehicle you want within 200 miles of where you live for a price that would make it not worth it to go all the way to California.

 

Yeah, whats the point in going out to Cali for it?

 

I would be too. Not a good idea. Not enough variation of speed or temp on a long highway cruise, no matter how you vary it.

 

but what if he wants to road trip everyday stop some where new.

 

I work in CA but live in Florida (assignment in CA ending). Just a nice long bonding session with the car rather then fly. I just do not know if there would be a significant effect to the engine to be broken in like that. I guess I would drive 8 - 10 hours a day or so. I would have to take a couple days off of work.

I was kicking the idea around just as a option (not a super high likelyhood) but I just had a concern about the breakin. The more I think about it it most likely not the best thing to do to a car.

Thanks!

Manner

 

Actually I had similar thoughts. I just moved back to Miami from San Diego. I think you're more likely to get a better price in Miami, plus the sales tax is lower. Not to mention the fact that you'll have to get Florida plates in addition to the Cali plates you'll get with the car.

 

I wonder if you could just vary the gears you were driving in, while maintaining similar speed. For instance.....

70 MPH 6th gear (3500 RPM) for 10 minutes
70 MPH 5th gear (4500 RPM?) for 10 minutes
70 MPH 4th gear (5000 RPM?) for 5 minutes

then slow to 50 MPH for a minute, downshift to 3rd, accelerate, then start the sequence again. I bet it would do just fine for a break-in. Take an exit every couple of hours and accelerate from a stop too.

 

I say this is a lot of trouble just to break in the car. What's the big deal about breaking in the car so fast? 600 miles goes by quickly. Your car only has so many miles before you'll want to sell it or junk it -- why waste them on a long unnecessary trip.

 

I think I'd share your concern... some of the break in period must be getting the car through a few heating-cooling cycles, and cold starts, warm starts, blah blah blah...

I guess they only have the colour / spec you want at this other dealer?

 

Better check the registration laws in FL. In CA, if you buy a car out of state, then move to CA within a certain period of time (90 days I believe), you may have to pay taxes on the vehicle again. I don't remember how the whole thing goes, but it's some sort of CA ream charge for buying a car out of state just before you move here. You might want to see if FL has the same thing. Also, you might want to see if the sales tax in your destination city is cheaper than it is where you live in CA. If it is, you could save a few hundred dollars (amortized) by waiting until you get to FL.


Just a thought or two.

 

well, according to Mazda, and Mazda manual, the enigne in the RX-8's are broken in from the factory. if this is true, then you dont really have to worry about it.

 

Hmmm, THIS is good information to know. So when I get mine I don't have to worry about the break-in?

 

I would say Cali is the on;y place like that. In general from wha tI have known in dealing with cross-state purchases, the dealers usually include the tax of your home address rather than where you are buying it from. I.E., if I flew home to MO and bought an 8, I'd pay no sales tax on it, because I live up here, likewise if I lived in FL and bought a car in GA, I'd pay FL sales tax. (at least that is the way it has happened for me) Then again, CA could charge you anyway, even if you lived outside.

My opinion, would be a nice trip, nice bonding/break between works, and get to see the good ole US of A.

 

not as extreme, but I bought my rx-8 in columbus OH and drove it home to buffalo NY (600 miles) as that was the only way to get a 2004 with the tit grey exterior, 6MT and red / black interior. no problems. I used 3, 4, 5, 6th gear at speeds from 60 - 80 MPH and varied the speed at least every 10 - 15 minutes. the time flew by and I don't see a particular issue with the drive if you want to invest the time. I would be sure to get a break-in oil change somewhere along the way (I did an initial change at 1500 miles).

I would check out prices in both places though and buy where it was cheapest considering cost, taxes and registration fees...

the OH dealer charged me no sales tax and I paid NY sales tax (ouch) when I registered the car in NY. I got a temporary tag from OH.

 

Cali cars have extra emmission stuff, do they not? I wouldnt buy one for that reason alone.

 

Nope, did almost the exact same thing last earlier in the year. I was stationed in CA and was due to transfer about a month after I bought the car. If you register the car as non-resident while in CA when you purchase it, the registration is cheap (might only apply to military). Anyway once I got back to Florida and went to register it (FL is my home state), I owed no additional tax. You only get charged more if the tax paid is less than what FL would get if it was bought there. Trust me - it won't be less.

The one hassle I did run into was waiting for a title. Since CA is so painfully slow about issuing tags and titles, I was left with dealer plates and then finally CA plates that finally showed up for some time before the title got sent from CA to my credit union and finally to the tag office in my hometown so they could issue a new FL title and FL tags. What a red-***.

Life is good now though.