RX8 without service history
Discussion
I test drove a lovely RX8 today but I'm a bit wary due to no service history whatsoever. Don't know whether it just hadn't been done or if the history was lost.
Car is at a main dealer (not Mazda) but as a p/ex car. It's a 2004 (53) plate car with 42K miles and they want £5K for it. In addition they have offered a decent price on my p/ex.
Car drove well but there were a couple of issues I would appreciate other owners views on. It started easily and rev'd smoothly to the redline but did feel a little lumpy in tickover, also a slight hiccup as the rev's were brought up from tickover. Is this normal? The oil was on the bottom of the dipstick and the dipstick had a 90 degree angle hook on the end of it?
Also couldn't find a trip computer - does it have one? Will it play MP3's?
Dealer has said it will get a full service by their service department (ie not Mazda) but they will use genuine parts and do all as needed. Also will get 3 months warranty.
So should I go for it or run a mile?
Car is at a main dealer (not Mazda) but as a p/ex car. It's a 2004 (53) plate car with 42K miles and they want £5K for it. In addition they have offered a decent price on my p/ex.
Car drove well but there were a couple of issues I would appreciate other owners views on. It started easily and rev'd smoothly to the redline but did feel a little lumpy in tickover, also a slight hiccup as the rev's were brought up from tickover. Is this normal? The oil was on the bottom of the dipstick and the dipstick had a 90 degree angle hook on the end of it?
Also couldn't find a trip computer - does it have one? Will it play MP3's?
Dealer has said it will get a full service by their service department (ie not Mazda) but they will use genuine parts and do all as needed. Also will get 3 months warranty.
So should I go for it or run a mile?
Edited by smartie on Tuesday 13th July 20:44
The dip stick should not have a 90 degree bend at the bottom.
The trip computer is on the instrument cluster. The trip is located on the same digital panel as the mile odometer. There are two. You select them by pressing the black stalk on the left sticking out of the instrument cluster and a quick press cycles between trip A and trip B. Hold the button down to clear whichever trip is selected at that time.
The lumpy idle would suggest that it just need its oil topped up.
If you can find one with a tape deck you can play MP3s or you can buy one of those FM transmitters. There is no input for the stereo as standard but it is possible and a bit complicated but you can fit one.
The trip computer is on the instrument cluster. The trip is located on the same digital panel as the mile odometer. There are two. You select them by pressing the black stalk on the left sticking out of the instrument cluster and a quick press cycles between trip A and trip B. Hold the button down to clear whichever trip is selected at that time.
The lumpy idle would suggest that it just need its oil topped up.
If you can find one with a tape deck you can play MP3s or you can buy one of those FM transmitters. There is no input for the stereo as standard but it is possible and a bit complicated but you can fit one.
Edited by sherman on Tuesday 13th July 23:59
Silent1 said:
It's not a rare car so it's not worth it.
i agree, theres plenty out there and values arent that strong due to high fuel and oil consumption and high tax brackets, i say keep looking and find a nice one with a comprehensive history. the rotary engine should be super smooth, i say walk awayswannynhb said:
Silent1 said:
It's not a rare car so it's not worth it.
i agree, theres plenty out there and values arent that strong due to high fuel and oil consumption and high tax brackets, i say keep looking and find a nice one with a comprehensive history. the rotary engine should be super smooth, i say walk awayI think the OP is right to be around the £4k mark for it to be worthwhile, but the engine not being smooth would put me off.
nottyash said:
swannynhb said:
Silent1 said:
It's not a rare car so it's not worth it.
i agree, theres plenty out there and values arent that strong due to high fuel and oil consumption and high tax brackets, i say keep looking and find a nice one with a comprehensive history. the rotary engine should be super smooth, i say walk awayI think the OP is right to be around the £4k mark for it to be worthwhile, but the engine not being smooth would put me off.
Yes they are cheap to buy but not to run or fix if they go wrong.
The RX8 service history is logged on a computer system. They dont have service books, so you need to call up Mazda and find out about its history.
As has been said £5k is a good price for this car but only if its in perfect condition with full service history etc...
If it's a early model then the engine will probably need work come the 60k mile mark - The revised this in the latter models and the engines are good for 100k miles, supposedly.
As has been said £5k is a good price for this car but only if its in perfect condition with full service history etc...
If it's a early model then the engine will probably need work come the 60k mile mark - The revised this in the latter models and the engines are good for 100k miles, supposedly.
Diablos-666 said:
The RX8 service history is logged on a computer system. They dont have service books, so you need to call up Mazda and find out about its history.
As has been said £5k is a good price for this car but only if its in perfect condition with full service history etc...
If it's a early model then the engine will probably need work come the 60k mile mark - The revised this in the latter models and the engines are good for 100k miles, supposedly.
I called the local Mazda dealer and although the above may be the case now, I was told this car was too old and all he could tell me was whether it had been to that particular dealership, which it hadn't.As has been said £5k is a good price for this car but only if its in perfect condition with full service history etc...
If it's a early model then the engine will probably need work come the 60k mile mark - The revised this in the latter models and the engines are good for 100k miles, supposedly.
There are absolutely loads of them to choose from, and private owners are being offered piss-taking trade-ins from the dealers. They're really good value, it's a buyer's market, but there are plenty of dogs out there. I wouldn't touch one without full service history.
I'm pretty sure mine had a book full of stamps, too, not just an electronic record.
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