Looking at my first RX-8
05-02-2020, 08:27 AM
#1
Looking at my first RX-8
Hello everyone,
Let me tell you all an interesting story. 3 weeks ago I was on autotrader and I found an amazing deal, a 2008 audi TT with only 96 000 km. The price was 11500. Let me say the Audi R8 is my dream car but definitely out of my price range at this time and the TT is a great low priced alternative 80%R8 for 20% the cost. After discussing this with my wife she said it was fine to make an offer.
Her exact words were "sounds likme you've done all your homework go for it, but CAN YOU CHECK THE THERMOSTAT THERE'S AN ERROR CODE."
Long store short a new furnace A/C and ERV for my house cost 11300dollars.
Enter the RX8, a local dealer just got in a 2004 with the 6 speed manual gearbox. I am the previous owner of a 1987 RX7. I had this back in college and remember both how fun and expensive that car was.
I can grab this RX8 as it listed at 3900 or I can wait until this pandemic is over and my wife's maternity leave is also over and she returns to her nursing job in june and look for another TT
what are your thoughts? I've always loved RX7 and RX8 I also have a garage full of tools and this would only be my summer car. Do I grab it up or wait for a TT?
Let me tell you all an interesting story. 3 weeks ago I was on autotrader and I found an amazing deal, a 2008 audi TT with only 96 000 km. The price was 11500. Let me say the Audi R8 is my dream car but definitely out of my price range at this time and the TT is a great low priced alternative 80%R8 for 20% the cost. After discussing this with my wife she said it was fine to make an offer.
Her exact words were "sounds likme you've done all your homework go for it, but CAN YOU CHECK THE THERMOSTAT THERE'S AN ERROR CODE."
Long store short a new furnace A/C and ERV for my house cost 11300dollars.
Enter the RX8, a local dealer just got in a 2004 with the 6 speed manual gearbox. I am the previous owner of a 1987 RX7. I had this back in college and remember both how fun and expensive that car was.
I can grab this RX8 as it listed at 3900 or I can wait until this pandemic is over and my wife's maternity leave is also over and she returns to her nursing job in june and look for another TT
what are your thoughts? I've always loved RX7 and RX8 I also have a garage full of tools and this would only be my summer car. Do I grab it up or wait for a TT?
05-02-2020, 09:37 AM
#2
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
It depends on it's engine health.
If it's not failing it's not an unreasonable price,
Ask them if it's had a rotary specific compression test, if not ask them to provide one, maybe offer to pay half for the test IF it passes.
If they refuse, unless you REALLY want this specific 8 ( color, trim, etc.) and can't afford ballpark $4-5k on a rebuild/remand down the road, pass.
You can test drive it and make sure it gets good and hot, stop it and restart it.
Pay attention to how long it takes when cold.
If it takes a couple of seconds longer when hot, it's likely failing.
Run away.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
If it's not failing it's not an unreasonable price,
Ask them if it's had a rotary specific compression test, if not ask them to provide one, maybe offer to pay half for the test IF it passes.
If they refuse, unless you REALLY want this specific 8 ( color, trim, etc.) and can't afford ballpark $4-5k on a rebuild/remand down the road, pass.
You can test drive it and make sure it gets good and hot, stop it and restart it.
Pay attention to how long it takes when cold.
If it takes a couple of seconds longer when hot, it's likely failing.
Run away.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
Last edited by BigCajun; 05-02-2020 at 09:39 AM.
05-02-2020, 11:01 AM
#3
It depends on it's engine health.
If it's not failing it's not an unreasonable price,
Ask them if it's had a rotary specific compression test, if not ask them to provide one, maybe offer to pay half for the test IF it passes.
If they refuse, unless you REALLY want this specific 8 ( color, trim, etc.) and can't afford ballpark $4-5k on a rebuild/remand down the road, pass.
You can test drive it and make sure it gets good and hot, stop it and restart it.
Pay attention to how long it takes when cold.
If it takes a couple of seconds longer when hot, it's likely failing.
Run away.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
If it's not failing it's not an unreasonable price,
Ask them if it's had a rotary specific compression test, if not ask them to provide one, maybe offer to pay half for the test IF it passes.
If they refuse, unless you REALLY want this specific 8 ( color, trim, etc.) and can't afford ballpark $4-5k on a rebuild/remand down the road, pass.
You can test drive it and make sure it gets good and hot, stop it and restart it.
Pay attention to how long it takes when cold.
If it takes a couple of seconds longer when hot, it's likely failing.
Run away.
https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
Last edited by Inabox85; 05-02-2020 at 11:05 AM.
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BigCajun (05-02-2020)
05-02-2020, 11:09 AM
#4
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Good deal.
You'd have to take your time to bring it to the dealer for the recall work, that's worth a reduction in price alone.
I can't remember the source, but there's an official Mazda site where you can enter the VIN and it will say what recalls have been done.
I don't remember if they address warranty work done like a new engine, might be worth a shot.
You'd have to take your time to bring it to the dealer for the recall work, that's worth a reduction in price alone.
I can't remember the source, but there's an official Mazda site where you can enter the VIN and it will say what recalls have been done.
I don't remember if they address warranty work done like a new engine, might be worth a shot.
05-02-2020, 12:00 PM
#5
Registered
Well I just got off the phone with the dealership. The sales lady made the mistake of telling me that the car was almost sold a year and a half ago but it needed to be sent to the dealership for some recall work and that gentleman couldn't wate the 1 month it would take to get it in. If it will take a jump and start and if after coming to temp starts fine I think an insultingly low off and some shrewd negotiation may take place.
05-03-2020, 07:09 AM
#6
Good deal.
You'd have to take your time to bring it to the dealer for the recall work, that's worth a reduction in price alone.
I can't remember the source, but there's an official Mazda site where you can enter the VIN and it will say what recalls have been done.
I don't remember if they address warranty work done like a new engine, might be worth a shot.
You'd have to take your time to bring it to the dealer for the recall work, that's worth a reduction in price alone.
I can't remember the source, but there's an official Mazda site where you can enter the VIN and it will say what recalls have been done.
I don't remember if they address warranty work done like a new engine, might be worth a shot.
I searched the vin. no more open recalls.
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BigCajun (05-03-2020)
05-03-2020, 07:20 AM
#7
so I went to see the car yesterday. The inside is was very clean. It looked like they had done a very nice detail job in it when they had it almost sold. There was no fram rust but the rockers had some rotten segments.
It wouldn't start. Now the sales lady got a jump pack but still no dice. I dont think the jump pack was fully charged. She said the good ones were locked up as there are no mechanics in until monday.
I offered $2700 if it starts fine hot. so monday at 10am were going to give this another try with a mechanic there.
It wouldn't start. Now the sales lady got a jump pack but still no dice. I dont think the jump pack was fully charged. She said the good ones were locked up as there are no mechanics in until monday.
I offered $2700 if it starts fine hot. so monday at 10am were going to give this another try with a mechanic there.
05-03-2020, 07:48 AM
#8
They might have flooded it moving around their lot. You can use that to your advantage, if they don't realize it. Half your offer since it's not running. Read up on deflooding.
If you're financially prepared for the chance that it needs a new engine, of course.
If you're financially prepared for the chance that it needs a new engine, of course.
05-03-2020, 08:05 AM
#9
Registered
so I went to see the car yesterday. The inside is was very clean. It looked like they had done a very nice detail job in it when they had it almost sold. There was no fram rust but the rockers had some rotten segments.
It wouldn't start. Now the sales lady got a jump pack but still no dice. I dont think the jump pack was fully charged. She said the good ones were locked up as there are no mechanics in until monday.
I offered $2700 if it starts fine hot. so monday at 10am were going to give this another try with a mechanic there.
It wouldn't start. Now the sales lady got a jump pack but still no dice. I dont think the jump pack was fully charged. She said the good ones were locked up as there are no mechanics in until monday.
I offered $2700 if it starts fine hot. so monday at 10am were going to give this another try with a mechanic there.
05-03-2020, 09:20 AM
#10
05-03-2020, 09:40 AM
#11
Well I just got off the phone with the dealership. The sales lady made the mistake of telling me that the car was almost sold a year and a half ago but it needed to be sent to the dealership for some recall work and that gentleman couldn't wate the 1 month it would take to get it in. If it will take a jump and start and if after coming to temp starts fine I think an insultingly low off and some shrewd negotiation may take place.
You can find at least a dozen videos of "rx-8 hot start issues" on youtube to see what should and shouldn't happen. If it won't start, the engine probably needs to be rebuilt. If it does, you may still need to be rebuilt in a few months. While you're on youtube, check out Driven by Maddness videos on what to look for when buying an RX-8. Some very good advice there.
05-03-2020, 12:19 PM
#12
Registered
Ya, each car had a different procedure. Thankfully, the RX8 is very easy to deflood. Generally, flooding can happen due to weak ignition system or clogged cat. I’ve deflooded every RX8 I’ve ever had with this guide. Just follow it and it will come to life. But, as suggested before, make sure it restarts hot. Otherwise you have a compression issue. It’s at this point the wise move will be to walk away. This car’s value is solely determined by the shape the engine and transmission is in due to how much of a pain in the a$$ it is to fix if you catch my drift.
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Gigawatz (05-04-2020)
05-04-2020, 04:14 PM
#15
05-04-2020, 04:31 PM
#16
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
05-04-2020, 05:08 PM
#19
they started it on the back lot before I got there. I had an appointment. they drove it around. it's a large RV lot it a creek and pond. brought it up front. turned it off. I think it was off maybe 10 mins at most. they bosted it again. the neddel for the water temp shot back up. about 4 mins of idling later it ran out of gas.
05-04-2020, 05:51 PM
#20
You gonna eat that?
iTrader: (1)
Too late now, but you shouldn't have waited 10 minutes to restart it.
Good luck.
Good luck.
05-04-2020, 06:00 PM
#21
Registered
they started it on the back lot before I got there. I had an appointment. they drove it around. it's a large RV lot it a creek and pond. brought it up front. turned it off. I think it was off maybe 10 mins at most. they bosted it again. the neddel for the water temp shot back up. about 4 mins of idling later it ran out of gas.
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