EinHeisserSchrei

Hi all, I'm back again!!!

So, in May 2011, I sold my RX8 and got a 2007 6MPS (Mazdaspeed 6) instead. I haven't posted here since I owned the 8 as I got very involved in the MPS owners club.

Even though the MPS is an excellent car, a few months into ownership I was wanting my RX8 back again. Now I have the MPS up for sale and may have a buyer soon.

I am after a 2008 RX8 R3 which I have test driven and I love it. I live in Ireland so this R3 is the only one in the country. In 2008, our tax system changed to Co2 based and Mazda had to stop selling the RX8 here as it would cost €2100 per year to tax compared to the old system which was CC based and cost €592.

We are still allowed to import cars and if they were registered in their country of origin before July 1st 2008, they are taxed on the old system. This R3 was registered in England before July 1st so it snuck in!

Since it's been a year and I have become used to the 6, I have a few questions about this R3 before I buy it. Keeping in mind, the car and seller are situated about 20 miles from where I live in a town that has a Mazda dealership so I might bring the car there on the day before purchase.

1. When idling, there is a bit of vibration which gets quite a bit worse after a few seconds. I don't remember this in my old RX8. It gets violent and causes the gearstick to shake from side to side badly. This is my main worry.

2. The coolant warning light went on and off during the test drive. I presume this is to do with coolant getting into the sensor meaning a full tank replacement?

3. The shut-line on the passenger side of the bonnet was about an inch wide while all other shut lines on the car were perfect. This was an odd one I must say. The seller has pictures up on sites and the shut line looks fine in these but when I asked him about it, he seemed oblivious. I have a feeling it may have something to do with the strut brace not being installed properly after being taken out for some reason.

I've known this guy for a few years as he used live in my town and I'm of the opinion that he knows his stuff about the 8 but he lets on not to know anything about it.

Thank you in advance and please help me make a joyous return to rotary ownership :D

Cheers,

Dave

G_ man

iTrader: (2)

I'm not positive but I believe the R3 model starts in 09.
And if there is an 1" gap between fender and hood/bonnet there must be some thing extremely wrong with the car.187011
No 1" gaps on my hood

EinHeisserSchrei

Thanks for your reply. Mazda started selling the Series 2 and R3 in the UK in mid 2008 as far as I know.

The thing is though, it's only that wide right there and the lines on the wheel arch/door/bumper are perfect and the rest of the bonnet is perfect.

Beautiful car!

G_ man

iTrader: (2)

Thanks they are fun cars.
Could be front end damage from an accident and a broken motor mount causing the vibration

kster

Yup, there is a TSB to replace the tank and sensor. I have a 2009 R3 and my coolant reservoir tank was replaced under warranty a few weeks ago to fix the low coolant warning.

EinHeisserSchrei

This is why I'm perplexed as its just this one shut line and everything else is perfect.

I thought they upgraded the motor mounts on the new ones?

EinHeisserSchrei

The warranties offered in the US and in Ireland are very different I would imagine! Even at that, the warranty on the R3 I'm looking at is long out, by about a year or so.

G_ man

iTrader: (2)

Any pics of the car and can you check the history instead of just taking his word.

EinHeisserSchrei

That's a photo of the car in the ad and that's the side that has the 1 inch gap between the bonnet and wheel arch. As you can see from the pic, it's perfect there.

GreySilver Beast UK

That looks normal to me,it could be that the front bumper has been off in the pass to fit a Air Intake System or fit Lockwood Grills & not put back correctly

Have seen this car being posted up on Mazda RX-8 Owners Club UK

Orthonormal

You've seen the car in person and you say it doesn't look like that. If there is really a 1" gap where the bonnet meets the wing, something is gravely wrong. You should let your friend sell the car to someone else. No honest and attentive seller would show the car to a buyer with obviously misaligned body panels.

ASH8

OK..

I suggest "IF" this Series 2 R3 has a gap on the bonnet and has gas struts to hold bonnet up, then yes, OP I suggest they were incorrectly fitted, it is essential they they are fitted in the 'right position' otherwise a bend can occur when trying to close or shut tight...or possibly a road accident?

Yes, ALL Series 2's started production from April 2008.

I am aware of your CO2 road tax impost, the main reason the Series 2 or R3's were withdrawn a little earlier than expected...don't you just love governments/politicians.

The shuddering one is a concern, it could be engine mount(s) as there was another update to them from April, 2010 (Manual), or it could be ignition/electrical, make sure plugs and or wires are correctly installed...the 'violent' shaking is one which concerns me...how many miles/KMS has this done?

Coolant tank, yes, again being an early made one it has the older Sensor Float.

fyrstormer

Don't buy a used car that runs poorly on the test drive. Keep your MS6 and enjoy it. Cars with hidden problems are a HUGE pain, and they're not worth the stress.

ASH8

/\ TOTALLY agree with our S2 M8...

fyrstormer

My previous car was VW Passat 1.8t. Great engine, heavy car but quite comfortable, and the German austerity of the design made me feel...well...better than other people when I was driving it. But my god, I couldn't get out of the shop without spending $1000 on it, and certain design flaws meant that the same parts kept breaking over and over and over. It felt so good when it worked right, and it felt so bad when any tiny thing went wrong, that it drove me absolutely up the wall.

The OP wants a nice shiny new R3. Even if he consciously knows he can't get one, that's still what he wants, and every shortcoming of the used R3 he's considering buying will drive him crazy. From the sound of it, there will be plenty of shortcomings, too.

A car you like well enough, that's reliable and doesn't drive you crazy with its problems, is worth far more than a car you lust after but will be in the shop constantly. Even if the car you lust after is a lot nicer on paper.

For what it's worth, if the MS6 had been around when I ditched the Passat, I probably would've bought the MS6. I would've regretted not getting the RX-8 a bit, but the MS6 is a really nice car, and since the OP already has one and knows its history, it's much safer to keep it than to take a risk on a car someone else has already beaten half to death.