Too cheap to be Real
03-21-2014, 02:06 PM
#1
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Too cheap to be Real
Hello fellow RX 8ers
I'm surfing around to finance a used car. College student, low income. I know RX-8s need maintenance, like any other car but they eat up the oil.
Also been reading about the Rotary Engine lifespan can be low on some. Though it could be said that after 120k, it will eventually give out.
In the same price range I found around my area I can get a 2004 G35 with 91k miles (knowing that the engine will never die if I do the maintenance) and a 2006 Tiburon SE with 71k miles
I like all 3 cars I mentioned. I just need some advice.
RX-8 is 6.9k with 53k miles - no leather seats and had a little front crash earlier in its life but wasn't declared rebuilt and never had engine replaced. 4 previous owners
G35 is 5.6k with 91k (2004, same year as RX 8) don't know much about it, except that I love it
Tiburon SE 2006 is 7.9k with 86k miles 6 speed
hope I can get more sense on which way to go. Tiburon is a little on the expensive side but its doable.
I'm surfing around to finance a used car. College student, low income. I know RX-8s need maintenance, like any other car but they eat up the oil.
Also been reading about the Rotary Engine lifespan can be low on some. Though it could be said that after 120k, it will eventually give out.
In the same price range I found around my area I can get a 2004 G35 with 91k miles (knowing that the engine will never die if I do the maintenance) and a 2006 Tiburon SE with 71k miles
I like all 3 cars I mentioned. I just need some advice.
RX-8 is 6.9k with 53k miles - no leather seats and had a little front crash earlier in its life but wasn't declared rebuilt and never had engine replaced. 4 previous owners
G35 is 5.6k with 91k (2004, same year as RX 8) don't know much about it, except that I love it
Tiburon SE 2006 is 7.9k with 86k miles 6 speed
hope I can get more sense on which way to go. Tiburon is a little on the expensive side but its doable.
03-21-2014, 02:09 PM
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Get the G35. The RX-8 is NOT a car for a low income only-car owner. Come back and look for one when your income is higher and/or it can be a weekend car. Or both.
The comment "but they eat up the oil" tells me that you need read this completely: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
Get the facts straight.
BTW: $7,000 for a 2004 with 53,000 miles on it's original engine in perfect condition is overpriced.
The comment "but they eat up the oil" tells me that you need read this completely: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...t-here-202454/
Get the facts straight.
BTW: $7,000 for a 2004 with 53,000 miles on it's original engine in perfect condition is overpriced.
Last edited by RIWWP; 03-21-2014 at 02:11 PM.
03-21-2014, 02:17 PM
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Thank you. I'll go drive them during the weekend. I really like the RX-8 ... U might see more of me here, lol 
I apologize I have not read it, I just came across the car online about 2 hours ago
Low income or not, I'm sure I can make it through with whatever decision I choose.
I apologize I have not read it, I just came across the car online about 2 hours ago
Low income or not, I'm sure I can make it through with whatever decision I choose.
03-21-2014, 02:20 PM
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Understood. Just be aware that walking into an RX-8 purchase blind gets incredibly costly unless you have spectacular luck. I'm serious about reading that thread, there are things that you really need to be aware of before going to look at an RX-8, and DEFINITELY before buying one. People dump RX-8s when problems show up, so any used RX-8, especially one that was wrecked and has had 4 owners, is extremely likely to have something wrong with it.
If I was buying that RX-8, assuming the engine had good compression still, I'd offer them no more than ~$5,500 and set aside around $1,500 for just parts to overhaul nearly everything critical on the car, and take a week or so doing it in my garage. I don't get the impression that you would have that as an option.
If I was buying that RX-8, assuming the engine had good compression still, I'd offer them no more than ~$5,500 and set aside around $1,500 for just parts to overhaul nearly everything critical on the car, and take a week or so doing it in my garage. I don't get the impression that you would have that as an option.
03-21-2014, 02:21 PM
#5
Hello fellow RX 8ers
I'm surfing around to finance a used car. College student, low income. I know RX-8s need maintenance, like any other car but they eat up the oil.
Also been reading about the Rotary Engine lifespan can be low on some. Though it could be said that after 120k, it will eventually give out.
In the same price range I found around my area I can get a 2004 G35 with 91k miles (knowing that the engine will never die if I do the maintenance) and a 2006 Tiburon SE with 71k miles
I like all 3 cars I mentioned. I just need some advice.
RX-8 is 6.9k with 53k miles - no leather seats and had a little front crash earlier in its life but wasn't declared rebuilt and never had engine replaced. 4 previous owners
G35 is 5.6k with 91k (2004, same year as RX 8) don't know much about it, except that I love it
Tiburon SE 2006 is 7.9k with 86k miles 6 speed
hope I can get more sense on which way to go. Tiburon is a little on the expensive side but its doable.
I'm surfing around to finance a used car. College student, low income. I know RX-8s need maintenance, like any other car but they eat up the oil.
Also been reading about the Rotary Engine lifespan can be low on some. Though it could be said that after 120k, it will eventually give out.
In the same price range I found around my area I can get a 2004 G35 with 91k miles (knowing that the engine will never die if I do the maintenance) and a 2006 Tiburon SE with 71k miles
I like all 3 cars I mentioned. I just need some advice.
RX-8 is 6.9k with 53k miles - no leather seats and had a little front crash earlier in its life but wasn't declared rebuilt and never had engine replaced. 4 previous owners
G35 is 5.6k with 91k (2004, same year as RX 8) don't know much about it, except that I love it
Tiburon SE 2006 is 7.9k with 86k miles 6 speed
hope I can get more sense on which way to go. Tiburon is a little on the expensive side but its doable.
03-21-2014, 02:33 PM
#6
Life After 8K RPM....
Listen to the Wise advise given above by RIWWP, it will save you money and hassle.
On the other note, even G35 04-05 are not easy to maintain they have queit a few problems.
Your best bet is to go with Tiburon, its a solid car, delivers decent mileage, usually comes loaded.
If you are still keen on getting an RX-8, then don't rush. Read Read Read all you can and take your time. She is a beauty no doubt, most amazing car ive ever driven, but it comes at a cost.
All the best ... :-)
On the other note, even G35 04-05 are not easy to maintain they have queit a few problems.
Your best bet is to go with Tiburon, its a solid car, delivers decent mileage, usually comes loaded.
If you are still keen on getting an RX-8, then don't rush. Read Read Read all you can and take your time. She is a beauty no doubt, most amazing car ive ever driven, but it comes at a cost.
All the best ... :-)
03-21-2014, 02:35 PM
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Understood. Just be aware that walking into an RX-8 purchase blind gets incredibly costly unless you have spectacular luck. I'm serious about reading that thread, there are things that you really need to be aware of before going to look at an RX-8, and DEFINITELY before buying one. People dump RX-8s when problems show up, so any used RX-8, especially one that was wrecked and has had 4 owners, is extremely likely to have something wrong with it.
If I was buying that RX-8, assuming the engine had good compression still, I'd offer them no more than ~$5,500 and set aside around $1,500 for just parts to overhaul nearly everything critical on the car, and take a week or so doing it in my garage. I don't get the impression that you would have that as an option.
If I was buying that RX-8, assuming the engine had good compression still, I'd offer them no more than ~$5,500 and set aside around $1,500 for just parts to overhaul nearly everything critical on the car, and take a week or so doing it in my garage. I don't get the impression that you would have that as an option.
I don't think that dealership would offer compression services - the place looks skimpy
Yeah I feel something could be wrong with it, lol I bet once I drive it ill just forget about my paranoia and just enjoy the car, living with consequences. (not really like that, I'll be logical about my decision)
I live in a place where valet has to bring my car to me, every time (Blasphemy, I know) I hate them touching my car and they're good at scratching cars.
which brings me to this point, how serious is letting the car warm up before driving it? I promise you those valet guys will ignore all my requests.
sadly, I don't have that kind of money just chilling in my bank account
Last edited by k3ng_rx8; 03-21-2014 at 02:37 PM.
03-21-2014, 02:41 PM
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IF, and I really stress that word, you stay on top of the ignition and battery health, then you will be fine. Many owners, most of them new owners, don't really have an understanding of what that means, and they will let something slip and a cold shut-down will bite them with a flooded engine "out of the blue". It's something new owners have a really hard time understanding. There were 9 different starting trouble threads in the new member suforum's first page yesterday, if that gives you an idea to the volume.
03-21-2014, 03:15 PM
#9
Nothing sucks more than your only source of transportation is not working, and you have to make a payment on it at the end of the month. Yes the RX8 looks awesome, but not being financially prepared to deal with some of it's issues can be frustrating to say the least. As RIWWP pointed out you may get lucky, who knows? I don't know your financial situation, but you yourself mentioned low income. If you were able to pay cash for the car, that would be a different matter at least you would not have the monthly obligation. In your situation I would not buy an 8. Out of the three mentioned I would choose the Tiburon. The Infiniti carries a "luxury" badge which means higher prices for parts when you go to purchase them, even though I think it's just a glorified Altima. The Tiburon is cheaper on parts, fuel and more reliable to boot. Trust us man, having a pretty car, with a payment that does not work pretty much bites.
I know you want it and in the end it's your money and your decision. If you do decide to buy it anyway. Take the car to a Mazda dealer and get a compression test done, with the correct equipment. In addition to the threads in RIWWp's signature, read a few in this section and decide if you really want to make that purchase.
I know you want it and in the end it's your money and your decision. If you do decide to buy it anyway. Take the car to a Mazda dealer and get a compression test done, with the correct equipment. In addition to the threads in RIWWp's signature, read a few in this section and decide if you really want to make that purchase.
03-21-2014, 04:32 PM
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Get the G35. The RX-8 is cooler, but is subject to random failures even when well maintained. A bit out of the ordinary and out of production, finding places to work on it can be a challenge.
G35 is a really nice car. It's not on Consumer Reports "Used cars to avoid" list. As a student with no money you don't need the distraction of a challenging car.
Some day I'll tell you about the seven year old Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder I bought when I started graduate school. Really cool, out of the ordinary. Looking back, it's amazing that I actually finished my degree.
Ken
G35 is a really nice car. It's not on Consumer Reports "Used cars to avoid" list. As a student with no money you don't need the distraction of a challenging car.
Some day I'll tell you about the seven year old Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder I bought when I started graduate school. Really cool, out of the ordinary. Looking back, it's amazing that I actually finished my degree.
Ken
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