jays83gsl

Hi. I am the current owner of a first generation Seven, and am looking for a 'family sports car' for when we sell the Buick (fast, but just not my thing!).

I saw an interesting ad in the paper today (classifieds).

2003 RX8
Blue, completely stock, 30,000 miles, great condition. Must sell due to injury
$20,000 OBO

Does this sound like a decent price for an 03? Is there anything, specifically, that I should look out for, like any trouble spots? I called him and he said it was one of the first ones in town, and it's a standard. New tires and recent tune-up.

Thanks,
Jay

jays83gsl

Oops, forgot to mention:
Would this car "feel" peppy to me? The local talk on the RX7 club is that 8's are slow beasts, but I like to listen to people that actually OWN the car.

My seven is highly modified, but it IS still an NA first gen, and I would expect at least the same feel as THAT car (if not a bit 'heavier' like an FC)

Frostee

there's '03 8s?

im pretty sure it would be an '04, just maybe he got it on '03

jays83gsl

I just called him and he said he bought it in '03, so that probably does mean it's an 04 (now that I think about it, I can't remember any 03s either :D )

Other than THAT, anything I should be lookin' out for?

wedge357

The performance numbers of the RX-8 is very similar to a stock 3rd gen RX-7 (give or take a few tenth of a sec here and there). It is however, lightyears ahead as far as handling and driveability.

BTW, that car for sale would be an '04 model, probably bought in '03. Make sure to take it for a test drive and put it through its paces to make sure everything are within spec.

wedge357

Well, you're a rotary enthusiast since you got a first gen RX-7 so what would you look at?

Make sure to check all belts/hoses, check around the motor for signs of leaks, run the a/c full, drive the car and check how the transmission gears engage, listen for rattles, check the underside for signs of damage, look at the paintwork for signs of collision work, check all switches/lights. Finally, make sure to get all the documentations as far as maintenance and warranty works done to the car.

p.s. Run a Carfax search, it's not perfect but it will narrow down the possibility for issues later.

Frostee

since its an early '04, i would check to see if he's had all the TSB work and recall work done on it. flashes and the such too.

Hard 8

I am not suggesting that you should be scared. You should not be scared, but you should keep in mind that some few of the early production cars had various problems: Transmission failure, detonation, flooding, or horrendous mileage.

The vast majority of the 04 cars are fine. I have an 04 that's never given me a moment's trouble. And the new engine computer programming ("PCM firmware"), which Mazda does to all the cars, including the oldest ones, seems to have all but eliminated the flooding risk on a cold engine.

But I would simply ask the seller about these particular issues: Has he experienced any such problems? How is his mileage? Has the engine flooded? Look at his service records and see what problems he's reported, and whether he has updated firmware.

But that's just being thorough. Otherwise, it should be fine. I had an SA seven and loved it; this is like it in some ways but a lot more sophisticated. And blue is an awesome color.

BlueEyes

I'll give you driveability. Not close in any other category as far as I am concerned.

Hard 8

You know, and this may be heresy, but I bet its handling is even better than the FD's. (I guess you could race them stock for stock on a road course and compare lap times, although the differing power to weight ratios might make that difficult.)

BlueEyes

I don't think so, not in stock form. The 8 is way softer. Still handles well, but not as tight as the Rx7 was.

Hard 8

Thread drift here, but just one last (?) comment on that issue: I thought I'd seen some threads where professional test drivers, and even some FD owners, had actually found the RX-8 to handle better. (More compliant suspension and more body roll does not necessary equal worse handling.) I'll look around and see if I can find them.

KYLiquid

I know your talking about 10/10th performance vs 10/10th performance on an open road course, and I also know what tends to happen on this forum when you mention something from best motoring.....but here goes :D

In a best motoring review, they were driving on a twisty road that was well paved and smooth (by normal city road standards) The same driver drove the last rx7, 2002 Spirit R, and then drove a 2004 RX8 Type S (6port 6speed) back to back over the same strech of road.

Of course the Spirit R was the fastest of all the RX7's with the most well exicuted suspension and the very potent 280hp motor, but the driver said that while they both ran a very similar lap time (within a few secs) the RX8 rode/drove much better and also felt faster than the Spirit R, mostly because it was a little softer.

He went on to say that in normal driving situations on city streets, the RX8 should be faster....you really only get all the bennifit of the Spirit R on a controled course such as a track.

just food for though.

I think You will notice that the RX8 feels similar to the 1st gen, the interior, comfort, and features are miles ahead of the 1st gen, and the performance, while a little behind your modifyed 1st gen (due to similar power and less weight) i think you would still be happy.

The 8 does feel faster than it is. I think as a total package (comfortable for daily driving, 4 usable seats, good radio, nice style) it will fit what your looking for.!

DreRX8

Wrong--the FD was a racecar for the street. The fastest stock 0-60 time of a USDM 3rd gen was 4.9 in an R1. Typically these are mid 13 second cars--even the auto FD (0-60 in 5.9/6.0s 1/4 14.1/14.2) is faster than the 6spd RX8 (it would come down to the skill of the RX8 driver to beat an auto FD). FDs pulled higher skidpad numbers as well--however you don't feel as confident in the FD as in the RX8; you'll give up your nerve before the car did.

wedge357

The RX-7 has a published 0-60 time of 5.9sec, the RX-8 is at 6.1sec. I did not say the 8 is better, I just said it's close enough not to be a disappointment which is what the original poster would like to know if I understand his question. Stiffer ride does not equate to better handling. The 8's smaller polar inertia and use of lighter suspension alloys allowed for a softer ride without sacrificing handling. The 7 will give you a rib bruise when driven hard especially the R1 model. I know because I used to own a 3rd gen which is more than some people here can say. :D

wedge357

your quote is not manufacturer data. If you read my post again I never said the 8 was better in times.

DreRX8

Ok--I don't know where you got that bogus 5.9s number from--but thats not accurate--the auto FD has a published 0-60 time of 6 seconds. I use to own a 3rd gen as well. You can go to www.car-stats.com to verify those numbers as they are compiled from magazine test; or you can go over to the RX7 forum for a more colorful answer. :p Besides the math doesn't make sense--the RX7 has about 212rwhp 255HP at the crank--and weighs a little less. Even if it was the same weight as the 8 that would put it more than .2 of a second faster; oh you didn't have to fry the tranny to get those times either in the 7
Here is my old FD--

wedge357

Torque curve? Have you ridden an 8 before? The car has a virtual flat usable torque curve all the way to redline and you're telling me the 7 has better curve?

storemannormin

If that is 20,000 US that is over priced. There are many 8's for sale here priced better and newer models as well.

DreRX8

I don't know--the price seem ok compared to the ones I've seen--the cheapest used RX8 I've seen was 18,000 and it had about 48,000 miles on it.

DreRX8

My FD was a daily driver/college cruiser too/ highway runner I10 New Orleans to Houston all the time. The 8 is of course much more comfortable but the FD was THE business.

Hard 8

Funny thing is, the original poster has an SA, not an FD, so this is all academic. Fun, but academic.

I can't really voice an opinion on which handles better, since I've never driven an FD. So I will just stir the pot instead by suggesting that (1) the Renesis is a better engine; (2) the RX-8 suspension design is more sophisticated; (3) the RX-8 differential is better; and (4) for all I know, the tranny and clutch are also better on the RX-8.

Hard 8

IIRC, that 4.9 seconds never seemed to get duplicated by anyone else, leading many to suggest that that car was a ringer.

Back on thread, anyone?

DreRX8

I'll buy that one--as I only saw it published as 4.9 in one auto mag; but it could have been a cool night at a sea level location I suppose. Mazda documents had it published at 5.1 or 5.2 IIRC.

Hard 8

I just recall Mazda quoting it over and over and over again in their print ads and brochures, and everyone scoffing at it since the magazines were getting higher numbers. I got the impression that Mazda was doing everything it could (even using a ringer?) to break that five-second barrier.