Hi. I apologize in advance if this is a real dumb question..

Other than manufacture year are there any real differences between the 2004 and 2005?

For instance, is there anything mazda did on the 2004 that they tweaked and 'got right' on the 2005?

I am asking this seemingly silly question because there are a few RX-8's for sale in my area which are very close in milage and price, but differ in year.
obviously my gut says 'hey, go for the newer model' but ya never know.
I thought I'd come to this veritable fountain of rx-8 wisdom and ask you kind souls to bestow your wisdom upon me.
(that was the part where I suck up)

Thanks

 

2006 and later got a couple of tubes and a PCV valve, not sure about 2005s.

S

 

I believe there were a few small things, as with just about any first-year car. If a 2005 isn't much more than a 2004, I'd certainly get a 2005.

 

Tubes? What do you mean?

 

Go for a 05 with a build date of July or later. They came standard with start/battery upgrade. They also had the screen to protect the AC condenser. There were a number of other corrects made for the 05 model year, some are retrofitted by TSB but others are not.

Also the engine flash which helps protect the engine from failure by increasing engine oiling came out in 06 so logically a 05 should have had less time for the damage to accumulate then a 04.

When I bought my RX I asked the same question and all the information I collected pointed top a late model 05.

 

Thanks for the info guys.

I actually passed on both of the cars I was looking at.

Heh.. actually one of them got sold out from under me while I was thinking about it.. good thing too.
it was a black 2004 RX-8 at a hyundai dealership near me where in Illinois..
It was the first 8 that I had really looked at seriously, and I was kinda bumbed when it sold.. The dealer and I were about 500 dollars apart and some other guy came in and gave them what they wanted for it..

My wife (in her infinite wisdom) told me to run it thru autocheck anyway...
Turns out the thing had its odometer rolled back and had frame damage.
So thanks to whoever bought it and saved me from myself.