So, I've had a 2006 Mazda6 V6 for a few years now. I don't see a lot of RX-8's around here but when I do see one, I get pissed I didn't purchase one instead of the 6. Don't get me wrong, I love the 6...but damn do I want an RX-8 more than ever now. Did some looking around and found some decent 2004's fairly cheap(really trying to sell/trade the 6 and get an 8 without spending much more). I then went on Edmunds to look at the consumer reviews....here's where I get a little worried. Just about every review is negative, complaining about all kinds of parts failure, engine replacements, mazda not covering recalls...etc. Here comes a dumb question. Should I still look into a 2004? or is there a year that remedies most of these problems? I appreciate any help. Thank you

-Eric

 

read this
New and Potential Owner’s, Start Here https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/

 

Thanks

 

i bought an 04 with 120000+ miles on it and have had only 3 problems out of it.
1. cd player not reading discs (bought and replaced with a 6 disc from an 06)
2. clutch petal bracket snapped (bought used/unbroken clutch petal and the reenforcement bracket and replaced)
3. heater control inoperative ( used controls came with the radio i bought, so that fixed it)

 

same boat (kind of) torn between the 6 and the 8,, but i found a Green Dragon(aka a Green Rx8) and i think tomorrow im calling the dealer and saying Ship it, as my last bit of funding just hit the bank....

Mine will be an 04, with 126k on the clock, and a 1owner with records out the but...
As i've spent the last few days here (wife will tell ya, even on my droid in the bathroom lol) reading and reading...

Good luck though, i know how you feel.

 

for piece of mind, I would get one with less mileage. For even better piece of mind, I would get an '06 or newer. My .02

 

i would love to, you going to lend the 2k i need to get one with said mileage I'm finding them just getting them shipped is cutting into funding that isn't there. Thats why i started to look at 1 owners, and there detail carfaxes like i've found.

trust me if i could i would.

 

Then wait and save? The RX-8 is my dream car. I waited 8 years to get one. Patience is a good virtue haha. I had the same feeling as you, so I got an '05. It's not an 06, but when I was looking through the troubleshooting section, it was mainly '04 owners in there. Considering I want to keep the car as long as I can, not having a ticking time bomb ('04) was pretty important to me.

All that said, I do realize the problems aren't as sweeping as it seems. For every "my engine won't start" thread, there would be a billion "my engine did start" thread. Things are pretty easily taken out of proportion on forums. Still, I'd rather not take the chance either way.

 

I think you're approaching your purchase correctly. Set your budget and then search for the cleanest, best-kept car you can find in your price range. It would be in your best interest to have a PPI done prior to purchase too.

It may not help you much since you're halfway across the country, but I am actively searching for an R3. If/when I find one that fits my budget then I will be listing my '04 for sale. I'm the only owner, silver, 6spd sport and just turned 50k miles.

Good luck with your search! The RX-8 is a truly fantastic car, and unmatched at current price levels.

 

Well im out of parts to sell LOL... owning a dsm and trying to save didn't work. Just when you thought you where ahead of the game, something let lose. I socked the 1400 i had saved up for a new car, and ending up having to put a turbo and exhaust on it (the cat looked well like a cat, and the oil line let lose on the turbo and she blew like a zit.... )

but yeah, ive found a few that have been clean, and 1/2 owners and i'm going saturday morning to test drive one, stoked and cant wait. Only down side is, i've never been tought manual as everyone in my family has auto.... so i'll get what i know and maybe i'll get a 6spd and give the wife the auto down the road

 

It's worth it to learn, I promise. Especially on a car like this. It wouldn't take too long to figure it out.

 

I would hesitate buying an 04. I settled on an 05 because of price and the particular car I bought had a good service history, and documentation to back it up. I would shy away from the 04 because its the first year for the model, and usually that means the majority of the initial problems happen with the first versions. If your able, try for an 06 or later, they seem to not have as many problems as the 04-05's.

 

I felt very much in your position. My wife and I considered trading in our G6 for the RX-8. Trade in values on the G weren't very much for what we paid for it, so it's not even worth it.

With that said, the RX-8 is the superior drive, in every way. It's not as torquey as the G6, but you can do so much more in turns with it. The way the car feels, is just amazing. The G6 is a nice car, but it's not a sports car.