How do you guys feel about rx8s from carmax? Does anybody have any experiences here? Or does it still depend on certain variables...etc?

Thanks

 

Look at it with scrutiny just like any used car bought from anywhere. Make sure you have a car fax, ask for service records, look it over well, get a compression test, and drive it. You an also call Mazda North America and request a service history.

 

with no experience in an rx8 your first bet should be to join in on a local meet. Have someone drive you around or even maybe let you drive their 8, which most likely wont happen. Then see if someone will go along with you to look the car over. They should know what feels right, what looks right. What to look for on recalls, how to see if the work that has been done is correct. If anything will need to be replaced.

Basically they can give you an estimate of the expense you are looking at after you drive it home. Also they will be able to tell you if it feels right, or if your being over charged. Its better to double team a sales man than to be taken advantage of.

 

Mazda keeps a record of all their vehicles or just when its serviced at a dealership?

 

Thats a great idea! Never thought of going to a car meet...where would I be able to find these in the Tampa, FL area?

 

https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/

https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/south-florida-43546/

 

Tampa Bay Thread...

https://www.rx8club.com/se-rx-8-forum-30/tampa-bay-171251/page76/

Weekly Wednesday night meet and big show coming up this Saturday, details are in that thread.

 

I got mine from Carmax, the service from the sales was great. On the other hand I've been treated like crap ever since. I've had to have my car in for service 5 times since I purchased last year. All for my brakes and they don't want to do sh** about it. Just as everyone else said, get a compression test and the basics covered before you purchase. I looked hard at the car and didn't have brake issues till a week after I bought it. If I could do it again I would go elsewhere (Carmax tends to be a little higher in price and crappy after purchase care).

 

When I was shopping around for my car I went to the carmax's in my area and while they have some very nice people there the cars are over priced and they refuse to haggle. They say "no haggle prices" because they are cheap enough already which is crap.

I was looking at an 07 there with 30-40k miles and I think they wanted 17k or 17.9k for it. I decided to go shopping around and found an 09 sport with 20k miles for 16.9k on the back lot of a lotus dealership. This was a year ago and even if you kbb the car right now it would still be a good buy today.

I just looked on carmax right now and they are selling a 2006 rx8 sport for 15.9k with 31k miles on it. Also while I was there I asked if they would let me take it to an outside mechanic to have it looked over and they said no and that it wasnt needed. They tried to tell me when a car comes into carmax they do a full circle inspection and that they guarantee its in great shape . That wouldnt have stopped me from asking for a test drive alone in the car and just taking it to a mechanic but they lost my trust right there already.

Just do a google search of carmax and read some horror stories about some of the vehicles people have bought there. I wouldn't go near that place to buy a car. Maybe I just had bad luck with the ones near me, who knows. They were the nicest people ever to me right up until they called and said they had the rx8 I wanted 'shipped' in and I told them I found a deal WAY better than what they had and didnt want to see it any more. Everyone knows when you go somewhere to buy something expensive the sales people are just being nice to sell it, but thats no reason to suddenly turn ugly when you know the deals off. Now all future deals are off as well.