your opinion

[t-rex-arms]

alright everyone, i have a chance to get an 06 mazda rx8 manual with 35,612 miles on it. it would be my first car. ive read into the rotary engine a lot, and ive watched many videos on how to maintain the engine. i wanna know what you think, as in, if i should get it, if yes what should i watch out for, all that good stuff. also it is priced at 13,913 but my mother works there so she can get me a discout(invoice+250) which will be about 11,200. id like as much advice as possible please and thank you. good day!

 

[mpt1981]

1) i don't know if they fixed the issue in the later models but my 04 didn't have the coldest ac system and i know i wasn't the only one with the problem at the time. lived in louisiana for two years with that car and had it in florida two years as well. liveable but not great. 2) i was a freak for letting the engine warm up properly before i would drive the car and never had any issues there. the apex seals are a weak spot in rotaries but a compression check should weed out any problems there. 3) did have quite a few reflashes done during my ownership so just talk to the dealer and make sure they have done, or will do, the most current reflash. 4) synchros for third gear were a slight issue for the 2004 6speed models as well, but again, not sure about later models.

been a while and am not as up to date as i would like to be but hope this helps u a little. check out as many online forums as you can too because there are many years of advice and experience floating around out there on the world wide web. overall i had no real trouble with the car and will own another rx8 in the future once the kids are a little older and car seats aren't a necessity.

 

[solidtrance]

Price is decent for the year and mileage. I agree that you need to be sure that the re-flashes have been done, any Mazda dealership can do this search if you give them the vin number. I am assuming you are not buying this from a Mazda dealership? I would recommend you take it to an independent mechanic to have a standard "used car inspection" done. Most mechanics will do it for less than $100, put the car on a lift and get a good look at all the important mechanical bits. It is worth every penny. If it still looks good after all these steps, then go for it.

Advice on whether or not you should buy this car is more complicated. You say this will be your first car so the insurance will be steep. Gas is expensive right now and these cars are bad on gas. RX8's can be very reliable (I have 105K with multiple cross country journeys and counting on mine and it has never left me by the side of the road) but must be maintained properly. You have to take the time to keep all the maintenance up to date or things can start to go bad in a hurry. I have seen a bunch of local younger people go down the road you are looking at with bad results. Invariably they mod the car without doing any research, don't keep up with the maintenance because they spend all their money on stupid mods and gas, then sell the car after they have some major mechanical (and preventable) issue. Don't be that guy.

As far as what mpt1981 said......Synchro problem remains. Warming the engine is a good idea, just take it easy on the car untill the fluids are all up to temp. AC issue can be fixed with a few DIY's. Compression check is a great idea. Knowledge is power.