I am very close to completing a deal for an RX. It is a '05 with 17,000 miles. It has all its recalls completed. When I took it for a test drive and asked to see the manuals I noticed that there was an invoice for the most recent service before the previous owner traded it in. I took down his name and number and gave him a call.
He told me that the car is in great condition and was well looked after but also told me not to buy from that dealer as he was ripped off and has had nothing but trouble with his new purchase. He didn't want to discuss anything else about the car with me as he didn't want to help the dealer sell a car.
The dealership specialises in vintage cars and the previous owner traded in the RX for an older Porche. He didn't specify year or milage but stated that he has had to spend $6K on it.
This obviously sent alarm bells ringing but as the car is covered by Mazda warranty I am wondering are my fears misplaced.
After the phone call I am reluctant to purchase the car even though I have been told by the previous owner that it is mechanically sound. I know that his experience could be down to bad luck but I feel that it is unlikely that the dealer didn't know that it needed work.
Any thoughts or advice on what to do would be appreciated. Am I being over cautious as the car is still covered under warranty or should I listen to that niggling voice in my head?

 

Do you have another dealer to go to if needed? It is a very common thing to hear from RX-8 owners, Great car / Bad sales and service.

 

Yeah there are other dealers in my area with RX8s in stock within my price range but this car has the lowest milage and is the best value of all the others. The exterior and interior are in better shape than the others and it is in the one of colours that I prefer. All of the above is why I'm reluctant to pass on this one but am fearful of the perceived risk outlined by the previous owner!

 

Ask them for the service record. They serviced the car at that dealer.

Then you know what was replaced.

Then come ask again.

 

It sounds like the person who had the car originally had bad service from the dealer. Since the car is under warranty still it really doesn't matter what might be wrong with the car. You can always just take it back to any other dealer and get the work done. Would the person you called tell you anything about how his service was bad?

 

It wasn't the service with the RX8 that was the problem. It is not a Mazda dealership that is selling this car. The previous owner felt he had been ripped off with the car he traded the RX in for as he didn't receive a warranty and had to put a lot of money into it.
On quizing the dealer about the service they had given the car (which they had advertised) he knew nothing about it. When I asked to speak to the technical department/mechanic who performed the service he conceded that they had not serviced the car it as the previous owner had the car serviced 4000 miles prior to trading it in but assured me that they had changed the oil filter and oil. When I asked him what type of oil they used he brought me to the mechanic who admitted that they didn't even perform an oil change as he claimed to know nothing about the car. This I can accept as I wouldn't want anyone that doesn't know what they are doing touching it!
From the lies I have already been told by the sales person I am inclined to believe the previous owners view of the dealer.
The deal has hit a stumbling block over price which will also buy me some time to decide if I want to buy from these guys

 

Given that information...how sure can you be that all of the recalls were done as you said in your original post? And does it really matter other than they are shady? If you buy the car you take it over to another dealer and have it checked out for warranty work and get it all put to new anyways.

 

I have rang Mazda with the VIN number and they informed me that the recalls were completed. The salesman didn't know what I was talking about when I asked him about the recalls so I took it upon myself to find out and am glad I did as I wouldn't trust him with any info he gives me on the car.
My own feeling on this is that the people people selling the car may not be the most reputable and may be diplomatic with the truth when it comes to making the sale but given that the car is under warranty I will be covered if there is something that they aren't telling me.
The purpose of my origional post was to determine if I was foolish to have such an opinion.

 

Sounds like the guy just had a nasty experience with individuals at the dealership. If the price is decent and the car runs well, id say get it there. I had a few problems after getting mine, but the warranty is a great thing to have.

 

Just out of curiosity, approximately where are you located?

 

I'm in Oregon.