When you make an investment in a car always buy what you want. Never settle for less, if you do you will always be thinking about the car you should have bought.

 

That is so true it isn't even funny.

The first two "new" cars I bought were while I was out looking for a truck. I finally bought the truck in 98 and I have had it ever since and no regrets.

As far as the downpayment and whatnot... it all depends on your debt to earnings ratio. That is what basically decides your credit rating. I was upside down on my trade and still had to put some cash down but not what I would consider a lot.

As long as you are in "A" tier or "1st" tier (depending on the company) you should be good. I believe that this would mean you would have to have about a 700+ score on your credit.

Keep in mind that everytime someone checks your credit it dings your credit. Just an FYI.

I think if you get your credit report straight from Equifax it does not ding you and I think it gives you your score. Anyone know that one?

 

The downpayment will probably depend on your credit rating and how much income you have. If you have a steady job it should be no problem.

 

I'm just now retiring my 93 MX-6 with 231,000 miles with the original clutch and only one major engine repair, which was to clean out and rebuild the EGR system to pass NJ emissions test. No complaints about reliability here. Hoping to have a new 8 soon.

 

After credit cards, auto credit is just about the easiest to get. If you have a job and a credit card and have never missed any payments you should have no problem with the loan with a 10-20% downpayment. Unfortunately Mazda's offering cheap financing on everything but the 8. Go to Lendingtree.com or autobytel.com and you can have your financing set up before you go the dealer, which will put you in a better bargaining position.

 

I wouldn't worry about Mazda's quality, including the RX-8, since Mazda seems to be addressing these quality issues. I would buy whichever car you like best since you'll be stuck with it for years. Mazda is probably a notch or two lower quality than Honda or Toyota but the Mazda "zoom-zoom" makes up for it IMHO.

I've got a 1989 Mazda MX-6 with 167k. Still runs but is beat up like hell. I had a few emissions problems in the first 2 yrs (fixed under warranty) but after that, it's been great. Only major repairs were exhaust, power steering leaking, struts, CV boots, brakes, and they were all mostly due to wear and age. Engine is still good but cam/valves need repair.

I've got a 1996 Toyota Tacoma with 67k. I had some initial problem with the oxygen sensor and parking brakes (adjusted wrong from factory and dealer didn't fix it), but they are all fixed now. Toyotas are not perfect and the gas pedal/throttle body sticking is a common complaint! The Tacoma isn't fun to drive (zero zoom-zoom) but it's reliable and extremely tough mechanically. Also Toyota dealers are worse than Mazda dealers to deal with.

I've worked on many Chrysler products, some GM products, etc. as a backyard mechanic. Mazda is better than these brands overall.

 

wow, this weekend i test drove my third one, and it was nordic green too.......hot coincidence

 

I'm curious why he thinks Mazdas are junk when compared with other Asian automakers?

The RX8 would be my first non-German daily driver in years but I'm more than comfortable with everything I know of current Mazdas. The Miata is one of the most reliable cars in the road and everything I've seen and read about the new 3, 6, MPV and old Protoge models leads me to believe the RX8 should be a pretty reliable car when stacked next to a Camry/Accord.

I won't talk down Honda when it comes to reliability. I know they have a great reputation but I've had a lot of friends with problematic Accords and Civics over the years. Top that with miserable service and sales accounts at several local dealers and you won't find me at a Honda dealer....ever.

-Eric

 

So far my RX8 has had less prolems than my Sequoia. My Sequoia had a problem where the cable that ran from the open gas cap lever to the mechanism broke, three different times. There is no way to get that cap open by prying, it is really reinforced and if I didn't have nearly full tanks of gas then I would have been stranded. But the Sequoia has 110k mi on it. My RX8 has worked fine, and everybody that I know that has a Mazda hasn't had a problem with it, and they are ranked good for reliability under Consumer Reports.

 

Over the last dozen years or so, I've owned a Honda, an Acura, and three Mazdas (including my 8). My experience with all five cars has been the same: excellent. Of those five cars, the Acura needed the most repairs, but I also kept that one the longest (6 years, 65,000 miles). For what it's worth, my last three cars have all been Mazdas. I even kept my Protege ES when I bought my 8 because I like it so much. I never thought of myself as much of a brand-loyalist, but I sure have enjoyed driving Mazdas over the years.

 

Hmm...I've made about 5 late payments (none more than 30 days) in the four years I had my credit card. Will that adversely affect me?

 

Want to feel better? I have a 120 day late on my credit because one my student loan holders said I left school (I didn't) and hit me with a 120 day later (long story) anyway. After I got myself right side up on my Explorer I put 500 down. You should be fine.

 

HOW OLD IS YOUR DAD? what's his beef with mazda's?

 

He's 54.

I do not know what his beef with Mazda is. He was weaned on Toyotas in Pakistan and when he went with Chevy, Pontiac, and Buick, they all failed. Now he lives by the code of RELIBILITY. Which isn't bad. I tend to do the same. But he is a bit more close-minded than I am.

He only buys Sony, Toyota, and Panasonic stuff.

I don't. Sony has problems, Toyota is getting too boring for me and Panasonic, well, I still like Panasonic a lot. So no beef with them.

Like I said, I can always find some other way to get the car I want.

 

Feeling better indeed. :D

 

I'm of your Dad's vintage. I had an Mazda RX7 for 21 years and it was a great car! No major problems for the life of the car and it still looked and drove great the day I sold it, to make room for my 8. I had no hesitation buying a Mazda again.

As with all cars, just take care of it. Do the routine maintenance. Keep an eye on fluid levels. When you sense changes in the way the car drives, investigate the cause. I was able to fix little problems before they became big.

Both the RX7 and RX8 cars seem to love to be driven. The harder the better. Sometimes (usually in winter) I would let my 7 sit in the driveway for a few weeks at a time. Driving it after that wasn't pleasent. Everything was stiff. But a little spirited driving brought back the eagerness I came to love in these Mazda cars.

 

Typically they don't count it as late until 30 days. I've had a few that were under a week late that had no adverse effect.

 

As someone else stated it really is too early to tell about long-term reliability for this vehicle. Mazda tends to do a pretty good job overall.

As for rotaries the last incarnation of the RX-7 had lots of problems but the RX-8 seems to have steered clear of those design issues (turbochargers, inadequate cooling).

The bottom line for your Dad, as co-signer, is risk. As long as you arrange for the term of the loan to not be longer than the warranty there is little or no risk to him as a co-signer since any repairs will be covered.

If that doesn't satisfy him I'd suggest making do with something used; save your money and build your credit so that you can purchase what you want on your own terms.

 

How much are you paying per month?

By the way, what were you at AT&T? Were you an engineer?

 

I bought my RX-7 new ... after 148k miles it still loves to be reved. Orginal red paint ... no rust ... spent far less on insurance, maintenance, and repairs then friends that bought the 944.
My Milennia "S" with the Miller Cycle engine and Lyshom supercharger is far more complicated than a Camry.... 119k miles Pearl mica paint ... I've only done regular maintence to this car ... no major repairs... 9 yrs old ... dealers think it is only 4 or 5 yrs old.
TSX vs The 8? front wheel drive vs rear. The TSX has lots of content so does the 8. I enjoy cruising in my stealth "S" but when I want to drive it is time for the 7 or the 8. Change lanes, go around a corner, find a twisty road front wheel drive simply is not as satisfying nor fun as rear wheel drive.
Buy the 8 and drive it!

 

Mazda's factory survived the bomb blast on Hiroshima. If that doesn't convince you of longevity, nothing will!!!