So after a good bit of research I have decided I want to buy a used RX-8 (chose it over a Mustang GT, 350z and Impreza WRX). But here is my situation, I own a truck now, that I havent had for even a year yet.. I still owe about $14.6k and the tradein is maybe $12k (unless dealer uses that stupid 'wholesale value' crap). If I do get an RX-8, I want it to be a car I can keep for 5-6+ years, and since it has back seats it makes it even better..

So, my question to you all is.. Is this car worth taking a hit on trading in a vehicle? I know most arent.. I did trade in a cavalier and lost $3k~ but it was replaced with a 2003 MR2 Spyder (I loved the car, so it was worth the loss of money, but it just wasn't a practical car for me to have for 5+ years), which unfortunately got totalled in April of last year.. After this, I had to get something quick (had no other vehicle to drive) so I bought a truck, figured the whole 'sports car' in me would just die out.. And it didnt.. I find myself wanting another one..

I've read about having to regularly put in oil, which doesnt bother me, but I've also read about the engine's having to be replaced in a lot of them.. I dont want to buy a car that wont last me.. I will probably be putting a lot of mileage on it and would hope to see it last over 150k miles or more..

Tomorrow I am going to the Houston Auto Show and will be going around Houston looking at dealerships that I saw online..

Sorry for the long post, I'm hoping some of you can reassure me that this car is a car that will last me a long time, and even still enjoy it (which I know I will enjoy it, I've driven one before right after they came out)

 

first of all this is NOT a straight line car, its a track car, one that you can actually make TURNS with. If you want straight line power, go for the 350, its fast and alotta power for the money.

If you're lookin for a daily driver, id pick the 8 over the other 2 cuz its just more practical than those other cars, more liveable.

From what ive read, depreciation on these cars is ALOT, so i doubt yall get alot on resale, but i may be wrong.

Maintenance is like any other car, not a big thing.

I have 50k miles so far and its great *knock on wood*

If you buy used, make sure to find out any problems with the original owner (i.e. flooded the engine)

These engines should last you forever, literally. But just as any other car, u need to maintain it to make it last that long.

Just test drive one first to get a feel and c if this is what you want.

 

Yeah, I know it's not a straight-line car.. Thats one of the reasons I chose it over the others.. My MR2 Spyder wasn't a straight-line car either.. It was made for handling, it just also lacked in power too.. haha..

I have a friend with an 1993 Twin Turbo RX-7 and the ONLY problems he ever had with it was boost leaks.. And I know it has over 110k miles I believe.. He swears he will never own anything other than a rotary again.. Too easy to take apart and they are dang good engines from what he told me.. I've just heard horror stories about the engines in the RX-8s failing and needing to be replaced..

On a side note, the highest mileage one I am looking at has 72k~ miles on it..

 

Hi! I bought my RX-8 almost a year ago; here's my spin on your question:
Fortunately, you seem to be below the snow line, so you should be OK with the RX-8 as your primary/only car. I live in Pennsylvania and got a rude surprize when an inch of snow fell back in October. The RX-8 (with its untreaded summer tires) is nearly undriveable in the snow/ice. I had to buy a second vehicle (a Tacoma 4x4) or else I'd have to drive my wife's Dodge Neon (eeek!). Well, I always wanted a truck....

Yes, you will need to check and add oil. I find I need about 1/2 a quart every 1000 miles. It's a pain reaching in there when the engine's hot (hope you have small, long fingers). I do fear stalling it while the car is cold, but I never had that problem (fingers crossed).

I hope mine will last a long time too - it is REALLY fun to drive - it handles corners (when it's dry out) like it's on rails. Rain performance isn't bad too. If you floor it while going around a corner, you will spin out - it's got a lot of oomph - which can be fun once you know what to expect. I wouldn't expect to be the fastest car on the block, unless you customize things. Gas mileage is not good, especially since you have to buy premium gas - I think my truck gets 5 mpg more.

Did that help? I guess the short answer is - yeah it's a great car to drive - just make sure you can handle the caveats.

-Erik

 

a lot of people run 87 octane with no problems. helps make the mpg hit a little less painful.

 

i use mid grade 89 or 91 .. never an issue with the 8. I personally never use 87 in any of my cars.

 

I used to put 93 Octane in my MR2 Spyder all the time.. I put 89 in my truck now.. So that's not really a big deal.. I know they are supposed to have bad gas mileage, but what is considered 'bad'? My truck now makes about 16-18mpg mainly highway..

My only concern is: Is this car worth the possible hit I will take on trading my truck in.. If it isnt gonna last me 5+ years and over 120k miles then I should probably stay away from it..

Good thing though, it only costs $52 more per month to insure a RX-8 over my 06 Ranger Sport v6

 

Very few people trade in cars who aren't upside-down in their trade. If you are going to keep the car a long time, taking a hit shouldn't be any bigger deal on an 8 than on any other car. If you plan to keep it just a short time, then that's a different story.

As for gas, I usually run 89 and have had no problems. Plus, I drive my year-round (many people do) and have no trouble in the snow (you just have to get snow tires or all seasons - I went with snows)

I certainly could be wrong, but it seems like more 04's had bad issues than subsequent model years. The people I know with replaced engines or lots of shop time all have 04's.

Good luck.

 

All but maybe one of the RX-8s I'm looking at are 2004 models.. And most of them hav eover 40k miles on them.. I think one may have 38k.. I hope they aren't prone to failing.. I don't want to get into a car and have to start putting a lot of extra money into it for maintenance..

However, putting that money into mods is perfectly acceptable =D

 

Unless your truck is causing too many problems for you, I wouldn't make the trade. Wait until you aren't upside down on it or until its paid off before you get an RX-8. You will miss the fun of an 8 now, but you'll thank yourself later when you have broken the cycle of trading in vehicles for less than what you owe on them.

 

I may be exagerrating a bit but the truck and the RX-8 probabaly have the same gas mileage. (j/k) But it's damn close.

I traded in my Spec-V and I had $1500 to make up for which was added to the purchase. For my case...it was a good idea. It basically comes down to...can you pay for this? If you can...without a problem...for 5-6 years...then do it.

I would stay away from a 2004. I know many members on here with perfect ones...but just as many have had some real issues. I personally went out of my way to find an 05. Even though its a Sunlight Silver...I have had only transmission issues.

RX-8 > 350 > Impreza > Truck

 

Nothing really 'wrong' with the truck.. I got in a 'not-at-fault' accident last October and even though then, the truck was worth what I owed on it, now it probably won't be.. Although CarFax shows no wreck on its record *shrugs*..

My intentions were to get rid of it around this time of year, then someone runs a light and hits me.. The damage wasn't bad, but I still want to try and get rid of it, and I think the RX8 is the perfect car to replace it =D

 

Back when I was car shopping, I was looking at 350Zs, G35s, GTOs, and the RX-8. I was several thousand dollars upside down in my last car, but I had to get rid of it...mechanically it was starting to go. My having it was the result of leasing, shortly after which I took a new job. There was a nice salary increase, but it resulted in my having a 50 mile one-way commute...on a leased vehicle.

I liked the RX-8 the most anyway, and dealers in the area were advertising them for $6k off MSRP. I searched for the car I wanted and worked with the internet sales guy.

I got out of the leasing cycle and purchased this one, and buried ALL of the negative equity I had in the new loan, and still came in under the sticker price of the car. Getting it for under invoice would have been great, but my previous car was going on borrowed time (193k miles). I'd say if you HAVE to get rid of your truck, search around for a new '06 or '07 model and see how much the dealer is willing to discount it for you. You should still be able to get out of that negative equity, and possibly still come in at or under invoice. $2.5k under isn't all that much...but factor an additional $50 bucks a month in payment on the 8 because of it.

Check the MazdaUSA website...you can do a vehicle search there based on your zipcode, pick your options, etc.

 

Well, a brand new RX-8 is out of the question, they start at around $27k, thats a bit out of my financial reach. As of right now I am paying all but one of my bills on one paycheck (thank you college education). So I can always put in more on each note to lower the principle (which is what I was doing with my truck and why its value was higher than what I had owed on it).

I shall find out tomorrow hopefully.. I'm gonna try and check a few out when I go to the Houston Auto Show.. Wish me luck, if I have it my way.. I will be driving home in an RX-8 tomorrow.. But I'm trying not to get my hopes up.. Dealers tend to want to give you "wholesale value" on your vehicle instead of "tradein value" nowadays..

 

if you don't care about the low gas miles, adding in the quart of oil every few thousand miles, and the 91 octane... ( wish they had 93 in l.a. cause it runs a whole lot better) take a hit... i went $2000 upside down on my trade in... haven't regreted it. just make sure to read the newbee F.A.Q. and do all the proper maint. and avoid the stealership... just go there for flashes...

 

Well, it looks like I'll have to just out-right sell the truck.. One dealership told me it was worth $9k and another told me $7k because it had been wrecked.. Which is total crap.. Trade in is just over $12k and from what my insurance told me, the depreciation was $800~ (I'm getting a check from them soon for that).. So, I'll have to sell the truck and buy a beater til I can find another RX-8.. This sucks.. I didn't think I would get low-balled that dang bad..

 

A clean, unwrecked vehicle is typically worth 80-90% of Kelly Blue Book fair as a trade in. A wrecked, salvage title vehicle is worth about 60-70% of that... your insurance company screwed you. If they really know much how somehting is worht, they can buy it from you for that number... oh wait... they don't buy cars, so who says they have a farging clue what they are worth. There is one book alone that says what a car is worth, a check book. If you don't like the offer, keep lookign for other, better checkbooks. Maybe you can rip someone off instead of that "stealership".

 

The dealerships I checked were about 150+ miles away from me, what I may do is go to local dealerships and 'look at' a car there so I can get an appraisal on my truck.. And hopefully get it in writing and perhaps in writing that they are offering me said price because it was wrecked.. Then call the insurance company back (I wasn't at fault, but the other guy had the same insurance as me) and let them know this and that I have proof that it depreciated more.. If they still won't budge I'll just ask, "What should I do then, do I just need to get a lawyer so I can get back the money for my trucks depreciation" and hopefully that may work..

On a side note, I could just try and sale the truck.. I just hate/feel bad selling a wrecked truck to someone for its actual book value.. Is there a law against selling your vehicle and not telling the person purchasing it that it has been wrecked?

 

the dealer i went too completely paid off my car with a a blown motor i owed 8 grand...

 

Did you buy your car new or used? I know they would be more opt to do that on a new one.. I just can't afford a new RX-8.

 

personally i don't think ANY car is worth going upside down for, including the RX-8

how about keep the truck AND pick up an RX-8 as a weekend toy?

 

Because I can't afford to keep both.. Or else I would.. I like the truck, but it being only able to sit two people and it being completely useless to me (I have no need for a truck anymore), I would rather just get rid of it and get me an RX-8.

 

It's not very ethical to try and sell the car without disclosing it was wrecked. If they got in an accident and were injured due to the compromised truck they might come after you. Not worth it.

 

was the truck totalled...or just some body damage?....you don't have to disclose that the vehicle was wrecked to a dealership unless its got a salvage title, then i believe legally you have to if its been totalled.

i would say take it to a local dealership and have them give you an estimate of what its worth...then you can make a more informed decision about what you want to do. The dealerships that your talking to have just made guesses about what its worth, without seeing the vehicle.

 

Well I actually brought it to the two dealerships I mentioned that said it was worth $9k and $7k, but they weren't the large dealerships either, they were private owned ones I would guess.. But the truck wasn't totaled, it had front end damage.. The bumper and headlights and grill had to be replaced and you can tell by looking under the hood that the panels had been taken off..

I really want an RX-8, but I'm not gonna get screwed over in a trade-in for it.. Hope I have more luck selling it or maybe even trading it in at a CarMax.. Who knows..