I am going to purchase an RX8 this evening and want to get an Idea of car specific things to look for.

I have owned quite a few other cars including an MX5 but this is my first rotary.

I pulled the carfax/auto-check and its clean (well at least in regards to what has been reported) But it was repo'ed for delinquent payment and auctioned last year, so i am buying with most likely no disclosures.

Its a 2004 with 86k on the dash. Besides the basics, like body damage, tire life, clutch and breaks etc. Is there anything specifically I should be checking for that may be a regular problem or symptom to look out for with theses rx8's?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the less than one day notice.

 

You're not going to buy a RX-8 tonight, unless you're willing to deal with the consequences of not following the most import piece of information we will ever give: Get a rotary specific compression test by a Mazda dealer.

Additionally this link: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/ has all the information you need.

 

Thank you, had no idea about this.

Calling the seller and the dealer now to see if I can schedule this for this afternoon.

 

Okay, contacted Mazda. This is apparently a 2 hour operation for Mazda with and i quote "if we can knock it out with no interruptions" or apparently it will take longer. Doubtful this gentleman will let me take the car for what may end up taking half the day including wait time. So i will most likely have to do this on my own time and find out the good or bad news after the investment.

I am going to contact the seller now and see if he will let me do this... However, if it was me in his shoes I doubt i would let someone take my car I didn't know for a few hours.... Well see

I can do a compression test on my zrx in 15 minutes, yes its a complexly different animal... but still the time line seems a bit extreme.

Just to minimize my gamble here...

If start up revs pull normal, and everything starts and runs fine, should i still have much concern on compression before buying? Just to reconfirm .... I know very little about rotary engines, but inline engines I know a great deal about, and low compression is very noticeable when "feeling" start up and acceleration.

Is the notability still prominent on rotary's? Or is low compression only determined by the full test?

 

If you've driven a few healthy RX-8s, you'd probably be able to feel the difference in performance and how the engine starts, especially when hot. However a rotary specific compression test is the only way to know for sure.

 

Start the car up when cold. Then after fully warming it up, shut it down, wait a half hour and restart it. Does it take a bit of cranking before it starts? That's a good sign of low compression.

 

Don't get attached to a single car. If the seller isn't willing to deal, move on. The cost of a new engine is far higher than whatever he has to offer.

Also it's not a 2-hour operation. Call another dealer

 

Thanks! I will do that, if anything seems a bit off I'll skip the investment and go with another.

 

It is a good deal, but you are absolutely right, the price hes selling it for pluss the cost of an engine and install is a horrible deal of a price...lol

 

2+ hours for a comp test? Is that just the comp test itself or did they say you were in like a service line?

Mine took an hour, at a Mazda dealership, maybe a 5 minute wait for her to go back. 2+ is excessive to me.

When I went and bought mine, I told them I wasn't going to sign the paperwork unless they agreed to a comp test, as well as agreeing to replace the engine should it fail. Engine failed, engine was replaced at no cost to me. Definitely definitely biggest thing.

Also, mine failed with almost no symptoms, she only showed one. Like mentioned previously, don't get too attached to just one. Find the one that 'talks' to you, and is at a place willing to take the steps to ensure it is in acceptable condition before you sign the papers.

Good luck ^.^

 

2+hrs is crazy but it is a stealership. travis probably did at least 6 comp tests at my last meeting in about an hour

 

2 hours is bullshit. The job has a specific labor time attached to it, they can't just make up whatever they want. If they do, report them to Mazda North America.

 

As Loki suggested, don;t get attached to one car and its not like you are buying an skyline or FD for that matter. it's an Rx8 you'll always find another good deal.

Meanwhile, read as much as you can espe the new owner thread mentioned by love hound.

DOn't get me wrong, rx8 is one hell of a beast of its own kind but again not worth buying one from auction esp without a compression test. Engine rebuild can easily cost a $4-6 k depending on where you get it done.

All the best in your search and if you have any questions shoot away :-)

 

Okay just called multiple stealerships in DC and Maryland and the only places that even have openings to do it are saying 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

The rest asked me to schedule for next week.

Asked the guy selling and no dice there.

Like I said, if i even get a hint of start up issues I'm dropping this deal because I don't want to make this chance. 5000 for a car and then 5000 for an engine is not what I want to budget for.

 

Do not base engine health on how the car starts.

 

Like 9K said dont base your decision based on how the car starts.

I had an 04 with low compression and I had classic hot start sysmptoms.

Swapped my coils, plugs and wires along with upgraded starter and it masked the issue like hot starts didn't exists for next 7 months (24k kms)
low compression only gets worse with time and after 7 months the engine was done.

 

You cant rule its a perfect engine from the cold and hot start up... but you sure as hell can rule its a shot engine.

I am working with the seller now. He just gave me the go ahead. So now i need to schedule

 

Rotaries are completely different animals from Pistons.
engine can be flooded and may sound like its shot.
Ignition components may be shot and cause it to not start instantly.
There are quite a few factors that could play a role here.
Hence, why we strongly advise every new owner/buyer to get a compression test before buying an rx8. Because that's the only sure way of telling engine's actual health

Compression test takes 15-30 mins but dealerships charges 2 hours of labour therefore, they call it 2 hr job.. talk to them they may expedite it and charge you 2hrs labour.

Cheers,

 

All scheduled for 3pm today. Ill let you guys know this evening if i got an rx8... or if you guys just saved me from a bad investment...lol

 

I would start here when you are asking about buying an 8 from any dealership. If they aren't able to do 1 of 3 things I would decline and go find another one.

1. Do the test themselves (which depending on the dealership I might still want my own)
2. Allow it to be take somewhere to get done prior to the purchase
3. Give you a few days, 3-5 to get a test done on your own after the purchase if you are just in love with the car, then if it fails repair/replace the car/engine.

I would also look at the test itself as a pass or fail, and not barely failing so it's ok to buy. If one face is failing here then the whole thing fails.

 

When you get the compression score, you shall receive something like this

Front Rotor - 7.0, 8.1, 8.1
Rear Rotor - 7.7, 7.7, 7.8
@ 250 RPMs

match it with this chart to determine the health of your engine;

 

Allow me to jump in here.

You are receiving a lot of good advice from reputable people here in this thread. DON'T throw it in their face. Take their advice, or you will perhaps regret the purchase. We have been RX8 enthusiasts for a number of years and we've seen it all. You have already made a good impression by asking questions PRIOR to your purchase. Just don't step in your own **** by not heeding the advice/ responses to those very questions you have inquired about.
Take your time with this purchase. Have the engine compression tested by an AUTHORIZED ROTARY COMPRESSION TESTER.

This puts into question your future for me. Not taking advice is a sure way to get yourself stomped all over. If you can handle that- great. But don't expect people to roll over for you when you ignore them. Get back to the stable platform you STARTED with and do the right thing.

Good luck

 

You did read the part where I said I have scheduled a compression test with Mazda, and wont be buying unless it passes right?

 

Thank you!
Printed and am bringing to the dealer with me! You rock!

 

I know it kinda sounds like we're beating on you, but we really just don't want you to have a fail purchase. The community cares, we're not all ******** I promise :P

Again, good luck.