First time poster here. I've been interested in the RX-8 since it came out but haven't really had the means to seriously consider owning one until now. I've visited a couple of the local dealerships here in Ottawa but haven't been able to make anything work. However, there's an '04 GT in Titanium (my preferred colour) available at Import Auto Leasing.

Here's my question(s): The car is an '04 but it only has 3100km on the odo. When I sent an email to the dealership about this oddity I was told that they had taken in two Mazdas on trade-in after a death in a family.

What questions should I be asking the dealership regarding this car. I want to ask how much of the warranty is left and whether any recall work has been done on the vehicle. Are there any other questions I should ask?

Thanks in advance,

Canphan
(Sean in Ottawa)

 

Drive it and compare it to a dealer demo. Does it feel okay?
Get a history for the car. Make sure that it was not flooded or crashed. You also need to know the original registration date.
Have the car checked by the local Mazda dealer. They can find out about warranty and recall status. Assume that the seller will say whatever it takes to get you to buy the car.
Be prepared to walk away.
Good luck.

 

You would need to budget another couple K for wheels and snow tires if you are going to winter drive it, I am only a few weeks away from parking mine. I personally wouldn't drive that car here in winter, others do and say it's fine, depends where you drive . . . Make sure the brake rotors have not rotted too badly if it has been sitting out on the lot for a while. The warranty is 3 years bumper to bumper and 5 years on the powertrain from the date sold. The first cars were delivered around the summer of 2003 and some 04's were sold earlier this year . . . Import won't know about the recall work but a Mazda dealer will if they look up the VIN, silly dealers around here don't put the recall modification stickers on the cars so you can't tell on your own.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Unfortuantely somebody bought it for cash yesterday afternoon before I could get down to take a look at it...sigh.

Oh well, the search continues...

 

I have an 04 RX8 GT that I might be willing to sell. I am in Ottawa too. I'm sending you PM with the details.