Ok, so im looking into buying an 04 RX8 for 16k with 36k miles on it. Then there is also a 16k 04 350z with 74k miles on it; which car would you suggest i buy? Also I've heard that a 20b engine is only about 10k to build and install, if so should i try to buy a cheaper rx8 and go for a 20b?

 

I'm a fan of working with what I've got. the renny is a decent platform to start with. If you have the extra money laying around for a 20b swap why not make the renny a monster powerplant? it will do 400whp as proven by esmeril and jeff(mazdamaniac)

It comes down to personal preference and what you'll be using the car for. There is a thread about someone who auto-x's nissans and switched to the rx8 and loves it. you came to a 8 forum to ask which to get? obvious answer will be rx8

 

You're really asking RX-8 Club ifyou should buy a 350Z or an RX-8?

They're asking too much for the 04 RX8. I don't know the first thing about 350Z values. Go with what car fits you.

 

Haha i guess it was stupid to ask that here, but thanks for telling me its overpriced. But two more, ive asked about prices before for other car(on different sites) and been told theyre overpriced and i find these cars at carmax. Is carmax a rip off? and if i were to go with the 20b idea would insurance be alot higher than having just a stock rx8?

 

For what reason would that raise insurance?

 

The RX8 IMO.

36k is pretty low miles for a 2004. With the Z you'd be at 100k before you knew it and probably start to require more maintenance (just an assumption).

 

Not really as it only has 36k miles. I just picked up an 04 with 30k for 15k so it's about in the same general area.

Obviously as an RX-8 owner, I'd suggest you get the RX-8...

 

First of all, if its an auto 2004, run for the hills. Hopefully its not what you were looking at, but anyone will tell you to stay away from the 04 autos. I would agree its also overpriced, i got my 05 6mt with 40k on the clock for 11,700, and thats with a new engine at 26k.

The question between the two can be whittled down to just a few things.
1) Do you want a muscle car, or a good handling car? 350z is more muscle car grunt than the RX8, but the 8 is a superb handling car.
2) Are you only ever going to be just driving one other person? Because although four basketball players wont fit in an 8, its very comfy for 3 people under 6ft.

Also keep in mind the 8 with require more regular maintenance, and get worse gas mileage. Educate yourself, ask yourself what kind of driver you are, and then you might find it easier to decide which car is for you. The RX8 really isnt for everybody, but thats perfectly fine with me.

 

In addition to being classified as a 4-door vehicle, the stock 1.3L engine is seen by US insurance companies to be relatively small/lower powered and therefore a lower insurunce rate. They could very well raise the insurance for a larger displacement engine. The theory to insurance rates is pretty simple - if you have more displacement/power available, especially in a sportscar, you're more likely to use it and the risk of accident/personal injury therefore increases. There are a number of other factors as well, but this is the most salient to the discussion.

 

^run for the hills? 04 4 ports are still respectable and plenty of people on here use them and love them

about the price, that seems really high for the US, so if you are in the US then you need to look again, another country that may be a good deal

 

Ok sorry, that was a little harsh Part of that comment was seeded in the assumption that the OP probably hasnt done a lot of research, and that combined with the price, would make me tell him to look at another vehicle. Its not that the Rotary makes these cars alien technology, but everyone who buys one should know the little nuances so if they run into issues they at least have some sort of idea of where to go and what to expect from the vehicle.

 

I paid 12.5k for my 2004 w/ 42k miles two weeks ago.

 

What do the 350Z guys say?

 

first - where did you hear you can do a 20b swap for $10k? if that were the case, you'd have people doing that before turbo. second - yes, carmax is a ripoff. third - test drive both cars and see which you enjoy. some people just like the feel of the extra torque that the Z will give you. you decide which you like best rather than asking us or the guys on the Z forum.

 

Get the 8 or a 370z.. but not the 350.

 

if hes looking at an 04 rx8 do you really think he will be able to swing a new 370z?

 

drive both see which one fits you. simple as that.

 

TRUE...but an additional thing they take into consideration is it's claim history. Here in GA the "coding" mumbo jumbo has changed on the RX-8...it is now considered a coupe....and the accident history is pretty shitty. Granted the car is very safe, but one good accident and the body is pretty Fd up! I have no kids, no tickets and over 35...out of the blue my insurance went up like 25-30 bucks more...A MONTH!!! I called and asked the insurance co (STATE FARM) WTF, and the lady told me the RX-8 had recently been "recategorized"

 

Why do people say this? Ive seen it before and it doesn't make any sense. It has FOUR seats, not three. Its not like if there's only one person in back he can lounge out across both back seats. The center console kinda prohibits that. The RX8 can comfortably fit 4 people as long as none of them are circus freak tall.

 

The reason I personally say it is because with three people around the 5'10''-6' range, the passenger has to move he seat up a little to accomodate the rear passenger. Now im not eating the steering wheel while i drive now, but its uncomfortable if i move the seat up any further. If there were to be a fourth person behind me, they would either be very short, or very uncomfortable, considering the hard plastic no give backs the RX8 seats have. Now im not saying its impossible, but in my opinion, adding that fourth person ends up in one person or the other being at the very least slightly uncomfortable. And having an uncomfortable/cramped driver usually isnt the best travelling situation.

 

Paid $13,995 for an '04 MT with 19,450 miles on it in April in Pennsylvania from a BMW dealership. Also has navi and rear spoiler options. Took it to my local Mazda shop which did a full tune and compression test. They gave it two thumbs up (except the tires were around 5,000miles from needing replacement) and tossed in my first oil change.

Price seems steep to me.

 

^... I got my 04 AT with approx. 33K for about a total of $8,500 In January of this year... with a $2000 down payment, $6,500. :D But they dropped it from about $13,900... My dad and I are real lowballers at the stealership... sometimes they deserve it though. lol

So this shows how the RX-8 has a sucky resale value... But if you look around, sometimes they're so cheap because the dealer might not know how to fix a very simple problem, just because they don't know rotaries. I guess they don't realize that a lot of problems the 8 has, have simple fixes. The easiest thing I can think of is cleaning the MAF, I mean how easy is that, given you gotta be extremely careful with it, but we all know the problems we can have from a dirty MAF/IAT sensor; and sometimes a dealer might not know how to handle that.

So again, people can work bad RX-8 resale value in their favor. It kinda sucks if you're trying to sell your 8, but then you could just claim that you've taken super good care of it and it'll be worth the $20000 you're trying to get for it... XD lol jkjkjk

But you guys get it. ;D

 

I bought my '09 R3 with 5k on it for only $6k more than the '04 you're looking at. Seems like you're paying a high price to me. FYI, I just bought mine 3 months ago. I just looked on AutoTrader and found some better deals than the $16k w/ 34k in it.

It's a huge buyers market out there, you can really get some great deals right now.

As for the Nissan I'd never buy a car w/ 74k on it. And I've never been a big fan of the 350Z. It's way too cheap looking. However, I do love the 370Z though. If I could have a 2 seater I would have gotten one.

If you can live w/ a two seater, for my $16k I'd be out shopping for an S2000 in a heartbeat. Right now on AutoTrader there's an '05 S2000 w/ 33,500 on it for $15,995.

Just my thoughts, get whichever one you like, not what we like. Good luck w/ the search.

 

20b swap costs more than 10k sorry...get the 8 and drive it as it is till you learn how the car reacts