I should probably explain my situation a bit before asking about a car. Last month my mother passes away. I didn't know it at the time but she had mortgage insurance on the house and a rather large life insurance policy for the middle class people our family is. Basically, I have a bit of money I can spend on something I want that something I need, which is nice.

Anyhow, I was looking at an 8 on the Canadian version of Autotrader then yesterday I went to get a testdrive and took it the Mazda dealer I have gone to a few times with my sister's Miata. I can post the Ad if you guys want but it's an 2005 GT with 67,000km (41,000mi) and basically everything but Navi for $16,900. It's listed as accident free but the dealer told me, and I trust them, that the front bumper has been replaced along with the front left ball-joint. That could happen by just hitting a curb too hard but should I use this as leverage or just walk away entirely?

 

Tak it soemwhere you trust to ensure the frame is straight, and then you are ok.

Always use everything as leverage.

 

Talk to them about covering the cost of an extended warranty to throw in. Reason being you do not know how the previous owner drove it. If they babied it, then you'll have to replace the engine at some point. If they drove it hard like its supposed to, then no worries. Rev has a good idea on getting the frame checked out. The price is fair, but if you can get them to cover the cost of the warranty or at least split that with you, you got a deal.

Oh yea, I would also be suspicious if the used car lot doesn't belong to a Mazda dealer, because it wasn't Mazda Techs that inspected it before it was put up for sale.

 

I probably should have made myself a bit more clear. The car is privately listed by the owner on Autotrader. I took the car to the Mazda dealer I'm familiar with and they told me about the bumper and whatnot.

 

oh you should be good then. I would think if they noticed the Ball joint was replaced they would have seen if things were out of place. Just use it as leverage.

 

Thank you.

 

it could be like what the dealership has said (hit the curb hard), but what are the chances of that? if u ask me that question I will tell you straight up that its pretty low.

and the owner shouldn't replace its bumper if it was just "a hit at the curb", right ?

so skip it. find something else.

 

did you buy it?

Good price for that CAD price and low km for that. Personally I'm always wary when a car has been in an accident. Did the owner tell you what happened to it? Make sure to run the VIN to find out everything about it. Since it has been banged up, you might be able to get it for 16k.

If you haven't bought it, have you considered going south? I picked mine up from the states, and knock on wood so far so good

Since you are in Hamilton, you going to the CSCS (cscs.ca) this weekend? With or without your 8? I'm heading there to run some laps and see some sweet rides. Looking for new wheels/tires too. Hopefully no rain and trying to meet up with some peeps from here.

 

Yesterday at 12:24pm, I became the proud owner of a 2005 Silver RX8 GT. It's a different one that the one I was looking at originally but mostly the same. It was listed at 17,899 and after haggling, paying with a big lump of cash and declining 6 free oil changes, I signed the bottom line for $20,500 CAN.

The actual price for the car is some horribly uneven number because I had the salesman know that the final total had to be under $20,000 so we played with the numbers until I was happy and he was willing and able to make the deal. I think I got an acceptable deal on the car. It's a silver 2005 GT with the 6 speed, full black interior, second set of wheels(winter), 62,000 kms(39,000 miles) and new brake pads. I'm picking it up tomorrow evening and pics with ensue.


What do you guys think, 20K to drive an 05 GT off the lot?

 

Go to a local meet to learn more about the car.

Welcome to the club.

 

does not sound like too bad of a price welcome to the addiction!!!

 

Welcome..! :p