Let me start by saying I am aware of the issues the car has, and that I’m currently looking around and have found small mods that help increase the reliability of the car.
I’m looking at a red 2010 RX8 with only 20k miles on it. It had one owner, and was garage kept for its entire life. The only problems are the price, ($16,000) and the fact that the car is 250 miles away from me in New Jersey. Which means that if I buy it and have it driven down to me. It’s mine. I can’t take it back, and I have no way of having someone look at it before I buy it, which is a huge problem obviously.
You see, this car is going to get me in trouble. When I was younger I was really into them, and despite knowing their flaws I can’t really escape my fixation.
I’ve just always wanted one, and this is the only time I’ve seen one even remotely near me that wasn’t completely destroyed or driven into the ground.
Any help would be appreciated, because my question to find a fun first car is just filled with potential money pits / new cars.
Like the other cars I’m eyeing up currently are a ‘96 vette and the 2021 Mazda 3 turbo hatchback.
Clarification: Is this going to be your daily driver? How many years and miles do you want it to last you?
I was looking to use it as a daily driver and a fun car. That’s more or less what I’m looking for in a car. Something I can drive daily, but also let loose and have some fun in.
1. An RX8 is not a good first car. The rotary engine has unchangeable, inherent design flaws that no easy mod is going to fix. I've worked on and been around plenty of those things. Yes, there are easy mods to make it theoretically last longer, but you still have all the design problems inherent with a Wankel engine. For $16k, absolutely no way. If you want a fun daily, in that price range, look at a Civic SI or older Type R.
2. I'm around Corvettes and wrenching on them on a near daily basis. All I'll say is this: Do not consider buying a 1996 Corvette for daily duty, or at all really, unless you know about all the problems that come with it. Electrical issues plague all Corvettes, but when you are talking about the C4...older wiring, aged plastic dashes and door panels, digital gauge clusters, flip up headlights, old brittle weatherstripping....it'll wind up on Craigslist in 6 months after you buy it because it will drive you INSANE. Some of those cars....they've had me sounding like Doc Brown from Back to the Future by the time I cracked the problems.
3. I wouldn't personally buy the Mazda 3 Turbo myself, but they are better made now than they used to be. They also aren't giving them away either.
all terrible choices for 1st car
Ohh..
If you know how to make an RX8 reliable, 1) you probably know more than most around this forum, and 2) you’ve obviously given this a lot of thought, so you must be passionate about it, so if so, get the car.
(And PS: you do have someone who can look at it. They’re called Lemon Squad. And if they find any significant problems, you might be able to use the information to get the price down)
Lemon squad?
It’s an inspection service. They have experienced mechanics who do prepurchase inspections. They charge a flat fee based on the type of vehicle (usually a couple hundred bucks). They are a national company and have mechanics everywhere.
There are other similar services in various locations, so you have options. But LS is familiar and has a pretty good reputation.
As a first vehicle to be used as a daily driver (I presume?) and at that price, I can’t recommend it especially after watching what my friend who owned one (albeit he had model year 2004) went through:
https://carkiller.com/scottykilmer/postid/110180/
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/a-more-reliable-mazda-rx-8-could-be-a-small-modification-away/
