colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

So yeah - I'm looking at RX-8s. Duh. Why else would I be here? I'm looking at a couple 2007 GT's. The first is local and their bottom line price is $15,000 + TTL. It's got the black and red interior, which is interesting. It doesn't have nav. It does have the rear spoiler. It will need three new tires, which is odd. I'm guessing one got a flat and was replaced because one tire is clearly pretty new (and also a different brand/model than the other three). The other three are nearly bald. It's got just under 30k on the odometer. It's in-service date, however, was in September 2006 so the basic warranty is up.

The second is just over an hour away. It's white and has the sand leather interior, which is a classy combo IMHO. No spoiler or nav. But it's got just under 15k on the odometer and has an in-service date of October 2007, so it should still have another year of basic warranty left. They're asking $16,000 and I don't know how flexible they are on price.

I'm leaning towards the second one but I need to go and see it first (obviously). The year of warranty is what's really pulling me to that car but then I start to wonder if it's worth the extra $1,000, especially with the 8/100k engine warranty extension by Mazda.

Anyone have any thoughts on either of these? Anything specific I should be looking for when I go and see the far away one?

Old Rotor

Get the vin and get info from dealer or Mazda or carfax. You don't know the car til you know the history. I'm partial to the white with sand....

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

I haven't taken the VINs to a dealer however both have clean Carfax reports. Both are single-owner vehicles with no reports of accidents or problems. I know Carfax won't show every single thing but I did check them. I should've mentioned that in the original post. Sorry.

moonkid

iTrader: (2)

ask them to replace the tires mine were bad i they got me a set of 4 new tires!!!! it was that or 1000 off the price

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, the cost of tires should be on them as part of getting the car ready for sale.

That being said, go for the white one.

CarAndDriver

The white one. I like the color, the high-maintenance but pretty sand interior, no spoiler, lower miles and warranty. RX-8 is not a fast seller and resale sux, so I'm sure you can get a good deal.

I looked on Cars.com and found both of them. Free Carfax's on both. The white one for sure...

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

Re the black RX-8: the dealer won't change out the tires. They claim that at $15,000 that's as low as they can go. It's not a Mazda dealer, either.

Re the white RX-8: C&D - that's it. I wish it had the spoiler because this is one of the few cars where I like the factory spoiler. That said, with the low mileage, warranty and tinted windows the white one is really starting to win out. If the tires are good and the $$ is right I may very well end up with that one in the next couple of weeks.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i wanted my GT with a spoiler. after a while i got tired of it. so i traded trunks with someone. you might get tired of it too. dont let it be a defining thing.

i think the white one sounds like a better deal.

CarAndDriver

Well for decent tires for the 8, you're looking at $130+ a tire. So adding that in to the price of the black one, the white one is a better deal and you might even be able to deal some on that one.

Leave it spoilerless. Once you get a spoiler that requires drilling holes, you are stuck with it in case you get tired of it. Plus the spoiler does nothing but add weight and fade differently than the car as it ages. It's just a more elegant and less common RX-8 look anyways.

Spend the spoiler money on something else.

Don't wait, get it soon.

Old Rotor

Dealers in our area could not get away with selling a car with bald tires another reason to get the white one.

CarAndDriver

If something happened to a driver who bought that car with bald tires, I think there would be a good chance that driver could sue. I think a dealer is probably responsible for selling a car that is not a hazard and if they knew the car had bald tires and did not replace them.

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

Quick follow-up question. With the white one - since it's leather on the inside am I right to assume it's a GT and thus comes with stuff like xenons and the advanced keyless entry system?

maskedferret

iTrader: (1)

Sand interior I believe means the seats are alcantara, meaning it is a Shinka model... GT or Touring trim and then some, methinks. When I got my car I was staring at a showroom car that fits your exact description. I was very tempted to get it.

CarAndDriver

If the interior is sand it is GT or Shinka. Some year(s) (not sure which) you could get the sand color and it is full-leather seats. If it has Alcantara, it is definitely Shinka.

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

It's definitely not alcantara. It's full on leather.

Buddy Jesus

I do free autochecks btw

CarAndDriver

I've always liked WWP and the sand leather, maybe I should go buy it.

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

HA! That's a long trip for you, CD.

I'm actually having second thoughts about the sand interior. It's pretty slushy up here in the winters and while we don't usually get a bunch of snow, we do get enough to make the roads and sidewalks downright gross. Not sure I want to deal with that crap in a car with a light-colored interior. Also - I have kids who would be riding in the car and though they won't be eating in the car, they will be bringing even more of the muddy oily grimy dirty slush in.

CarAndDriver

I think the white one is a better car even if you're not that fond of the sand interior.

I think you could trade out the sand interior easily with someone within driving distance who had a different GT interior, black or black/red. Sand is a rarer interior and I am sure there would be plenty of GT owners who'd be happy to trade. It would be a straight swap 04-08s. However in 06, the back of the front seats went from hard plastic to soft material, which is nicer IMO. Also black/red interior had a black/red steering which would make the swap more complicated.

maskedferret

iTrader: (1)

So about this swap... whereabouts are you from?

Razz1

Can't sell a car that is not road worthy in the USA.

If tires are at the wear limit they must be replaced by the seller.

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

Well, since I'm here I might as well throw this one out. There's an '06 GT, silver with black leather, that's for sale with around 43k on the odometer. Clearly it's out of regular warranty but it should have the 8/100k engine warranty. It's also got a host of mods/upgrades:

* BC Adjustable Coilovers
* Adjustable Sway Bar End Links
* MazdaSpeed Rear Strut Bar
* K&N Air Filter
* MazdaSpeed Brake Rotors
* Hawk HPS Pads
* Stainless Steel Brake Lines
* Recently Cornerweighted
* Red Line Fluids Throughout: Engine, Transmission, Differential
* Recent Coolant and Brake Fluid Flush
* All modifications were installed 3,000 miles ago
* Stock Wheels with Bridgestone RE-01R Tires
* 17" ASA JR3 Wheels with Dunlop Winter Sport M3 Snow Tires

The asking price is just under $14k. The worry I have is that with all these mods it's probably been beaten to death on the track. But . . . maybe not. What sayeth the RX-8 Hivemind?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't worry about the "beat to death on the track". The only track wear points worth worrying about are the brakes, tires, and fluids, and those are all easily checked or replaced. The engine and suspension were made for track duty, so I would see it's track time as a bonus, since it would be unlikely that it was an unhealthy engine.

Still call MNAO and check the warranty status (in case it got removed), ask about plugs, coils, etc...

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

Well it doesn't matter now. The 06 was sold.

colnago1331

iTrader: (1)

Well, I took a look at the white one today. It seemed slightly dirtier on the inside but that may just be because the interior is so light. It drove well and all four tires have pretty good tread left. The rear two tires matched (brand & model) but the front two matched neither the rear nor each other ... kind of odd. Overall, though, I liked it. I'm taking it to a Mazda dealer on Thursday to have it inspected. The one issue was the DSC light (swervy car?) was on. The batter had died and they had to hook it up to a charger so I don't know if that was the problem or not. I'm sure Thursday's inspection will let me know.