I'm about to buy an RX8, build date is august 03, heard a lot about tranny issues, and of course all the reflashes(I think its up to R now?) just wondering if anyone with a build date around this time or earlier has put a lot of trouble free miles on their car? I'm sure many of you have, but I just want to hear to make myself feel better about the purchase...

 

car #700 off the factory floor ( 5/03 build) has been running fine through 20k miles.

 

i have an early build and have had no problems build is 6/03

 

mine was in the first shipment - other then a few little problems like a fogged up foglight and a broken armrest its been flawless.

I never had any problem with the AC or oil pan or any of the other TSB's out there either...

 

9/03 build date purchased 3 months ago new. No issues, runs perfect, has M flash.

 

10/03 build date, purchased 3 months ago, now at 22k miles. only problem was the visor broke and was replaced under warranty with the previous owner. other than that, clean history and no problems.

 

I'm number 112. Almost 33K miles. I've had the M reflash and had to have the insulation under the carpet behind the driver's seat relaid (it was bubbling up and was not properly attached to the frame). Never had any problems with the a/c (I'm in TX so it gets used a lot), never had a problem with flooding. I did have the fan blower **** break off but it was replaced under warranty.

The best thing I did was get new tires last month at 32,000. I had had the stock Potenza's and they were like rocks, it hurt almost on every expansion joint on the road. I had a pair of Avon M550's put on from Tire Rack and it is like a new car. Great ride. I highly recommend it.

 

Aug 03 build date, purchased when it was 2 weeks old. Other than updating flashes and regular maintenance, I have only been to the dealer for condensation building up in my rear right tail light and my temperature control **** broke about 6 months ago.

I have honestly never experianced any flooding issues like alot have posted.

 

:D 10/03 build date with only 10K miles now ( bought used with 4500 last November). No warranty problems except for the trunk lock didn't match my key. Replaced under warranty. Still on M flash -- is it worth updating?
It gets about 18 mpg in town and 20+ on the road.

 

9/03 build date. On the road since 12/03. Been to the dealer twice. Once to replace the control unit/pump for the TCS/DSC under warranty. Once for the airbag recall. I change the oil every 3-4k miles and changed the trans and diff to synthetic at 10k.

 

Funny. I have never used the key in the trunk or the door for that matter. I guess that I should check.

 

Sub 3000 VIN, no real issues beyond flashes, recalls and replacing the A/C amplifier (TSB), coming around to 30K service... Car will be 2 years old end of next month..

 

July 03 build here in Australia... no major issues. I had the brake squeal which was fixed under warranty with new front brake pads. I've had a couple of rattles which were easily fixed.

 

Aug 03 - 2 replacement catylitic converters, syncros & gears in the transmission, pressure plate springs fell loose causing the clutch to go bad (this is what caused the transmission problems), spark plugs replaced due to missfire and numerous CELs and flashing CELs. All in 12K mi.

Edit: rechecked the sticker 9/03 build.

 

Sept 03 build, runs like a champ. Did the M Flash the first week after delivery, never been back to the dealer for anything after that. No warranty claims at all. The driver's seat creaks a touch, but so not worth them screwing with the car. Put on new tires last winter and got rid of the Potenzas, which sucked **** in 20 different ways.

 

I have a build date of Aug 03. No probs with 23k on this A/T. As service bulletins come out I print and bring in(dealer applies them) on next 3k oil change. Ordered tires(Bridgestone RE750) looking forward to them(UPDATE...I got my tires they are everything I've heard!). The car is an Excellent Ride and a Good Value.

 

Check sig -- you can't get much earlier in the States than that.
All is & has been well here.

 

Mine is a 5/2003 build and have 38,000 miles on it. Only “problem” I would post here was a small leak in one of the oil cooler lines, which I was able to get fixed at my convenience. I was getting 17 mpg on the original flash, now I get 20 (post M). Other than flashes & the Oil Pan TSB I have not had to do anything else to this 8.

 

6MT - sport package

 

June 03 build date, 36k on the car, only real problems I've had were the oil pan bug and the a/c cycling. And it's a 6 spd GT.

 

Picked mine up mid-July 2003 -- one of the very first ones to arrive at the dealership. No issues with the car that were the car's fault at all, aside from a self-correcting CEL during the first few weeks of ownership (probably just me not putting the gas cap back on tight). 6MT, Touring package.

My car has never flooded, it shifts smooth as silk, and it's got 11,000+ miles. It would have higher mileage than that, except for the fact that it sat for six months in a bodyshop getting repaired after being rearended. Even after the major repairs, which included frame damage, the car still drives and handles like it did new. I had the M reflash done while it was being repaired since the bodyshop was next door to the Mazda dealer. It's still running fine on the M. Oh, yeah -- the battery died while it was sitting still for so long, but it was replaced under warranty. I think the early cars had rather weak batteries.

 

Mine is a june/03 build, currently I have 11,800 miles......only issues were a whiny diff replaced at 2800 miles(with a still whiny but nowhere near as bad new diff), and the cooling fans just up and quit working one day. I have had only one TSB issue, the ac amplifier...and for the most part it works great.

I guess mine has had it's problems...but I think it has been great otherwise...tranny works beautifully(Royal Purple cured that -32deg balkiness), engine has been lovely, brakes work perfect, interior has held up well, never flooded. It has been drifted, autocrossed and just plain worked around, and it never complaned. This car is awesome. My only problem with the car is that is black....if white were available when I bought it I would have gotten that.


Mine is a 6 speed sport package

 

Ac amp replaced. All else great.

 

mine has a build of 6/03 and no problems. its a mt. how do some of you guys know what number built your car is?

 

Purchased in August 03, 40k miles and some problems. AC has never been great, I need to take in in again, never was able to get the tsb done, the first dealer in MO ordered the parts and then I moved to BFE where the new dealer said "we replaced the switch"???? WTF???? Still having problems. Several xmissions probs, 6 spd mt, notchy shifting at high rpms, smooth at low rpms, now a noise whenever I go into 2nd. Shitty mpg, but I floor it as often as possible, and not as bad as some here, I'm at 18, some are at 15. But the bottom line is, you're going to have to pry the keys from my dead hands to take them from me. I LOVE MY CAR after 2 years and 40k miles. 10k more and bring the turbos on.