Help, suggestions, bashing or flaming,.,.anything welcome :)

Fred, I have needed minimal maintenance needed on my 8.  There are plenty of 8s that go well past 100K.  I have heard that the earlier models have had trouble with the engines (04, 05).  Depending on what you are looking to spend you should be able to get a 06 or 07 for a good price.  Also depending on what color you get may vary the year.  (you like black so thats avail all years, lol)   Remember that mods produce little to no performance gains on an 8 vs the speed 3 (minus major mods aka supercharger/turbo)Fred I don't think it's a bad idea, I think the rx-8 is very sexy and a well rounded package.  The speed3 is a good car too but I havent regretted once getting an 8.  If you decide to get one, I'll be more than glad to help you with a search for one.  Just tell me what you are looking for.  And of course welcome to the dark side with the rest of us rotards

only FD motors died regularly at a 100K
thanks to poor maintenance by ignorant owners

I'd avoid the 04 to early 05's unless the PO has done all the updates

spend some time on www.rx8club.com

I would agree. You should avoid the first models of any car really, so steer clear of the 04s and possibly 05s. The trouble with buying a used 8 is you have no idea how it was driven by the previous owner. A lot of early 8s were driven by people who did not know how to take care of a rotary. If you take care of a rotary correctly it will last. I think the 6 port 13Bs tend to be fine and not have problems, so that would be 07 and above I believe? The payments on an 09 aren't that bad ;-)

You will have horrible gas mileage now, though I have no idea what the mileage is like in a 3, plus you'll be paying for premium. I would recommend premixing since it is used and the previous owner could have been an idiot. I would also mention that mods on an 8 are not cheap and a lot of the performances ones don't do much. It feels like you are throwing money away, paying several hundred for minimal HP gain. I don't know if you were going to mod it at all. It is a very solid car to begin with. 

There is a guy from MD selling a nice black RX8, http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=183780. You can also check out R8club's cars for sale section.

I'd be happy to keep my eyes open and give you criticism on any you find. I've become quite knowledge since I've become an owner. I spend a lot of time on 8club.

all the manual trans RX-8s are 6 port
only the early autos are 4 port

only FD motors died regularly at a 100Kthanks to poor maintenance by ignorant owners
I'd avoid the 04 to early 05's unless the PO has done all the updates
spend some time on [url]

-niburu

What sort of updates are we talking about?

I am both encourage and a little discourage. 04 or 05 models were definitely the ones with the price I like the most. My Speed is paid in full. I have no payment now, and want to keep it that way. So maybe I can look for 06/07 models. Good news, since Mariann can't work, we can be a one car family for awhile, but I don't want to wait to long, would drive me crazy. :)

Yeah, I know the gas mileage sucks, mine isn't great in the city now. Been buying 93 octane for years, Camaro and Speed both like the high test.

Would definitely be looking for a dark color. Black of course is my first choice, red or blue look good as well. Saw a listing for a black one with the black and red interior, man that is like sex!!

Thanks again for your advice.
Fred

Are you just looking for a better handling car?  Why not add a few goodies to the 3 before you jump off the platform?  Besides, the speed 3 track team will be developing parts soon and tri-point racing (who race the mazda 6) makes a full set of parts for you.

It's not just handling, everything about the rotary makes it unique compared to a turboed mazda3.  The 04 and 05s autos are 4 ports i have an 06 and it's a 6 port.  None of that matters, Fred will buy a MT.  I think what David is talking about as far as updates is just the recalls and general updates to the earlier car since it was a brand new model, as with any car there were a few wrinkles to iron out.  I think you should be able to find a nice 04/05 that's been taken care of and with low mileage and in black.  The black on black im assuming is leather seats, so I assume you are looking for a grand touring?  I'm not familiar with whether a touring has an option for leather seats between 04 and 05.  Tell us what options you want so we can get this search going .

And trust me I'm not bashing the MS3 in anyway,  but I doubt you'll go back after driving one. 

Well it seems the fellas have covered just about everything here Fred. Doesn't seem to be any BS floating around. Here's the good thing, you have time to look. There is always the right car out there if you have time to look.

Next, I would shoot for an '06 model if you can. The first 18 months of production are the cars that ran on the old oil injection stats. After that Mazda realized that more oil needed to be burned to protect the seals and a flash was sent out to correct the older model cars. So the latter half of '05 and on is your better bet.

My thoughts are if you find a low mileage car that was owned by a car enthusiast and he knew how to keep oil in the car and change it regularly, you'll be in heaven. The rotary engine when maintained correctly will last as long as any piston popper out there. Other than that, it has the same little quirks as any other car. The good part is when you drive that baby down route 56 past Massies Mill. You'll know you made the right decision ... guaranteed!

Thanks guys!!  Good info here. I am sure I will more questions. Hopefully at the next meet, one of the 8 owners will me sit in their car to check out the fit again. My only question there is seems last time I was in an 8 I felt the ceiling was a little tight with the sun roof, but don't think I adjusted the seat for me.

 

Fred, you can adjust the drivers seat up or down, (down in your case).  If that's not enough you can sit in mine just to see the roof of one without the sunroof.

Thanks David. I know I fit fine in one with out. The black one Lynchburg Mazda had parked out front did not have a sun roof, and I fit like a glove in that. I noticed a lot of them for sale seem to have the sunroof feature, so want to be sure I can adjust the seat for my comfort.

I'm 6'1" & have the sunroof.  My head is jammed against the roof when I wear a helmet.  Next time, no moonroof for me.  You do realize you'll be under 200 RWHP in an 8?

I'm 6'1" & have the sunroof.  My head is jammed against the roof when I wear a helmet.  Next time, no moonroof for me.  You do realize you'll be under 200 RWHP in an 8?

-g-rex

LOL, yes I do know I won't have that amazing power the 3 has. I do not race now, probably won't in the near future. The power I have in the 3 is great. I love it and it will be missed. But I get off on handling, and no matter what I do, how much money I sink into the 3, it will never out handle an 8, probably with half the money spent on handling. I have just wanted the 8 since it came out, my wife too. Didn't give it much thought when buying the 3, just didn't think we could afford it and I was dead set on owning a new car once in my life. Well now I have. Next in line....the 8 :)   Thanks for the info...will definitely try to avoid the sunroof feature..coming in at 6' 3"(for now...haven't started shrinking yet!)

OH, and if any of you know of someone wanting to step out of an 8 and into a turbo car, send them my way, maybe we can work out a trade and cash deal of some sort.

So you're spending all day today on autotrader.com right?

So you're spending all day today on autotrader.com right? [image]

-vr8

Hahaha....yes and craigslist too.