How many of you think you'll get 100,000 miles from your RX-8 with no major repairs??
09-13-2005 | 11:16 AM
#29
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Hehe, yep.
14k miles, 18 months, and 3 recalls(control arm, tank, heat shield I think), replaced catalytic converter that fell apart, replaced broken console that snapped when I leaned over it, ECL light due to timing issue error thrown from PCM (this at 600 miles), etc.
No, I don't think I'm making it to 100k miles. Of course, that's also why I bought the fattest most comprehensive warranty I could.
14k miles, 18 months, and 3 recalls(control arm, tank, heat shield I think), replaced catalytic converter that fell apart, replaced broken console that snapped when I leaned over it, ECL light due to timing issue error thrown from PCM (this at 600 miles), etc.
No, I don't think I'm making it to 100k miles. Of course, that's also why I bought the fattest most comprehensive warranty I could.
Last edited by Raevik; 09-13-2005 at 03:01 PM.
09-13-2005 | 02:56 PM
#30
Rotary only since 1980
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 587
Likes: 0
From: Southeast of Seattle
Major recalls???
Come on, folks get some perspective. The ball arm recall is to *inspect* your car because of some very isolated manufacturing problems. Since it potentially affects safety it has to be recall. The chances of this affecting your car are minimal.
The thermal damage recall is to *inspect* your car for potential damage under highly unusual situations, i.e., extended high revs at idle. Again, per feedback from the forum, the odds that your car actually has damage is very low. Its a recall because of potential safety concerns.
How many ball joint failures have led to accidents? How many 8s have caught fire due to a thermally damaged fuel tank? If the forum is any indication, the number is close to zero. Compare this to Ford's cruise control fire issue or the Firestone tire recalls where dozens or even hundreds of accidents/fires happened and people died. Those are major recalls.
Do either of these indicate that the RX-8 was not well designed and reliable? I don't think so. I would be more concerned about the engine issue in the hot, dry climates that (predominately) the AT car have had. To me, that indicates the testing was not as comprehensive as it should have been and that something in the design is not handling the specific conditions that folks in Nevada, Texas, etc. are seeing.
Come on, folks get some perspective. The ball arm recall is to *inspect* your car because of some very isolated manufacturing problems. Since it potentially affects safety it has to be recall. The chances of this affecting your car are minimal.
The thermal damage recall is to *inspect* your car for potential damage under highly unusual situations, i.e., extended high revs at idle. Again, per feedback from the forum, the odds that your car actually has damage is very low. Its a recall because of potential safety concerns.
How many ball joint failures have led to accidents? How many 8s have caught fire due to a thermally damaged fuel tank? If the forum is any indication, the number is close to zero. Compare this to Ford's cruise control fire issue or the Firestone tire recalls where dozens or even hundreds of accidents/fires happened and people died. Those are major recalls.
Do either of these indicate that the RX-8 was not well designed and reliable? I don't think so. I would be more concerned about the engine issue in the hot, dry climates that (predominately) the AT car have had. To me, that indicates the testing was not as comprehensive as it should have been and that something in the design is not handling the specific conditions that folks in Nevada, Texas, etc. are seeing.
09-14-2005 | 12:51 AM
#31
Klingon Grammarian
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,204
Likes: 1
From: Bellevue, WA
To just second what Blue87Sport said...
Yes, I went in for the "major recall". I dropped in without an appointment, they had the thing maybe an hour and a half, no pain, no muss, no fuss. I minor nuissance? Sure. A "major recall"? Hardly.
Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT
Yes, I went in for the "major recall". I dropped in without an appointment, they had the thing maybe an hour and a half, no pain, no muss, no fuss. I minor nuissance? Sure. A "major recall"? Hardly.
Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT
09-29-2005 | 02:18 PM
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
With complete respect for the previous posts - I think recalls are a little off the point of the question. Recalls may be one indicator of the quality of the design, but they are not the whole story because recall work is always covered 100% by the manufacturer.
Let me try to re-state the question because it is a very interesting question to me too:
How many and what type of major repairs would you expect an RX-8 to require between the expiration of the 50k factory warrenty and the expiration of the uber-extended 100k warrenty they want to sell new car buyer for $1200?
Put another way: should we let Madza (or some service company) hold our $1200 for the first 4yr/50k to be better protected in years 5 & 6 or miles 50,001 to 99,999?
If I buy my RX-8 tomorrow and put $1200 in a savings account on Monday will I deplete those savings and more on "could have been covered" warrenty items in years 5 & 6 or not?
Of course, these are questions no one can answer at the time of purchase. Each buyer must make their own personal choice. However, the best data to use in that decision is the track record of the older cars.
If the RX-8 does not suffer certain failures (engine or transmission) then the $1200 is a sucker's bet. The warrenties do not cover wear items like clutches, shocks, hoses, belts or seals so unless we expect massive engine or electronics failures I can't see what value the extended warrenties really have.
The salesmen like to say - extend your warrenty at least as long as your loan and offer other scare stories, but I think that's because they get a big chuck of the fee in their store and personal pockets.
What say you long-time owners? Do you consider the extended warrenties on RX-8s a 'sucker's bet' like insurance against the dealer's ace?
Let me try to re-state the question because it is a very interesting question to me too:
How many and what type of major repairs would you expect an RX-8 to require between the expiration of the 50k factory warrenty and the expiration of the uber-extended 100k warrenty they want to sell new car buyer for $1200?
Put another way: should we let Madza (or some service company) hold our $1200 for the first 4yr/50k to be better protected in years 5 & 6 or miles 50,001 to 99,999?
If I buy my RX-8 tomorrow and put $1200 in a savings account on Monday will I deplete those savings and more on "could have been covered" warrenty items in years 5 & 6 or not?
Of course, these are questions no one can answer at the time of purchase. Each buyer must make their own personal choice. However, the best data to use in that decision is the track record of the older cars.
If the RX-8 does not suffer certain failures (engine or transmission) then the $1200 is a sucker's bet. The warrenties do not cover wear items like clutches, shocks, hoses, belts or seals so unless we expect massive engine or electronics failures I can't see what value the extended warrenties really have.
The salesmen like to say - extend your warrenty at least as long as your loan and offer other scare stories, but I think that's because they get a big chuck of the fee in their store and personal pockets.
What say you long-time owners? Do you consider the extended warrenties on RX-8s a 'sucker's bet' like insurance against the dealer's ace?
11-12-2007 | 07:53 PM
#37
I have reached 100k Miles, and have not had to perform any major maintenance to the car besides the standard recalls, and a new set of Oil Cooler lines.
Having said that, I think I may have lost my cat this past weekend when my g-friend accidently flooded the car beyond recovery without performing the complete Flooding TSB (pull plugs, disconnect secondary air and Eccentric Shaft sensor, replace with new plugs). know I have a check engine light, so we will see if the cat is dead...
But on the whole, it has been very reliable... the oil cooler lines were a bit annoying, but I guess they are not uncommin for those that drive them year round up here in New England... road salt can do such bad things to a car! I do also have a bit of rust to deal with before the start of the winter season.
Here is hoping for 200k... in my 2004 8!
Having said that, I think I may have lost my cat this past weekend when my g-friend accidently flooded the car beyond recovery without performing the complete Flooding TSB (pull plugs, disconnect secondary air and Eccentric Shaft sensor, replace with new plugs). know I have a check engine light, so we will see if the cat is dead...
But on the whole, it has been very reliable... the oil cooler lines were a bit annoying, but I guess they are not uncommin for those that drive them year round up here in New England... road salt can do such bad things to a car! I do also have a bit of rust to deal with before the start of the winter season.
Here is hoping for 200k... in my 2004 8!
Last edited by Tigger; 11-19-2007 at 10:10 AM.
11-13-2007 | 01:38 AM
#39
Greensboro's Finest
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 661
Likes: 0
From: Greensboro, NC
41k on mine... however I don't think itll make 100000 without major repairs. Let's be real here people. I love my 8 as much as the next guy here but they aren't the most reliable Mazdas.
11-13-2007 | 01:48 AM
#40
Be real, just because you think it will ..does not mean it will.
That's what' called wishful thinking.
Just cause I think I can go 1000 miles on a tankful does not mean it will. I will be either walking to the gas station or calling roadside service.
I do wish it would last that long.
My Mazda MX-3 is up to 126,000 miles with only minor problems. It's my daily driver
That's what' called wishful thinking.
Just cause I think I can go 1000 miles on a tankful does not mean it will. I will be either walking to the gas station or calling roadside service.
I do wish it would last that long.
My Mazda MX-3 is up to 126,000 miles with only minor problems. It's my daily driver
11-13-2007 | 05:44 AM
#42
He's as bad as Can
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 2
From: Manchester, NJ
Been there, done that. 200,000 see you in 2011!
11-13-2007 | 07:14 AM
#43
Registered
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Conroe, Texas
I have 55,xxx miles on my 2004 without any problems so far. I think 100,000 + is easily attainable with good, preventitive maintenance. Also, I think the cooling fan mod will help long term durability as well.
In my opinion, it should be the second thing done to RX 8's after lowering springs.
In my opinion, it should be the second thing done to RX 8's after lowering springs.
11-13-2007 | 01:35 PM
#45
Insanely Yellow
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo Grove IL
My '85 RX-7 lasted more than 200K miles without major engine-related failures - the only weak point on that car was the yoke seal on the differential - seemed to fail about every 20,000 miles.
I had that car through 39,000 miles then sold it to my brother in law who drove it past 200K, and then sold it. The guy HE sold it to wrecked it within a week. *** hat.
That car needed a new clutch at 88,000 and again at 172,000. He replaced the AC compressor once at 140,000 miles, the alternator at 122,000 miles, the muffler 3 times (this in the days before stainless exhausts) over the time he had it, and then a few electrical gremilins here and there, and wear items like hoses, brakes, tires, wipers etc. Also he replaced suspension "wear out" parts (bushings, shocks, ball joints, etc.) once while he had it.
Radiator, water pump, heater core, transmission, differential, radio (including the cassette player!) cruise control, blower fan, radiator fan, etc. etc. all lasted the entire time he had the car. As of course did the entire engine, including the apex and side seals.
Can't speak for the '8 - mine goes byebye in 10 months back to the leasing co. and will have probably 48000 miles on it when it goes away.
I had that car through 39,000 miles then sold it to my brother in law who drove it past 200K, and then sold it. The guy HE sold it to wrecked it within a week. *** hat.
That car needed a new clutch at 88,000 and again at 172,000. He replaced the AC compressor once at 140,000 miles, the alternator at 122,000 miles, the muffler 3 times (this in the days before stainless exhausts) over the time he had it, and then a few electrical gremilins here and there, and wear items like hoses, brakes, tires, wipers etc. Also he replaced suspension "wear out" parts (bushings, shocks, ball joints, etc.) once while he had it.
Radiator, water pump, heater core, transmission, differential, radio (including the cassette player!) cruise control, blower fan, radiator fan, etc. etc. all lasted the entire time he had the car. As of course did the entire engine, including the apex and side seals.
Can't speak for the '8 - mine goes byebye in 10 months back to the leasing co. and will have probably 48000 miles on it when it goes away.
11-13-2007 | 01:48 PM
#46
Registered
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,319
Likes: 58
From: NYC
Depends on how one defines "major repairs". Like the MX-5s I've owned before, I expect my 8 will be pretty much trouble-free. At the same time, I expect there will be things—some major—that have to be repaired or replaced by the time 100,000 miles rolls by.
11-13-2007 | 02:12 PM
#49
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC
I drive an 04 GT, a lot of people here said 04 RX-8s are problematic, but mine has all the recalls done. I have been driving this thing for about a year now, no problem at all. As long as I have proper maintenance with Mazda, I would think 100,000km should be a piece of cake.
The brakes still squeak somtimes, but hey what can you do?!...
The brakes still squeak somtimes, but hey what can you do?!...
