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  Nov. 8, 2011 8:18 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Maybe I'm not looking in the right place...

  Aaaaanyway, I'm still driving my wife nuts because I'm still car shopping, and one of the cars I keep coming back to is the RX8. Yes, I know rotard's RX8 just got a new engine and given my ability to make mechanics say "funny, I've never seen this part break ever" this might not be the best choice but still I keep coming back to them.

  Only there aren't any rather new ones for sale at places where you don't have to douse yourself in salesweasel repellent if you're going within a block of the place. Which means I haven't got a chance to drive a new or newish one to see if I like them and then go order one (we're Costco members and the price for an R3 is actually pretty decent if ordered that way, but I'm not going to spend over 30k on something I haven't even had a chance to drive around the block).

  Nearest dealers with cars in stock are > 3h away, so that might not be the easiest way to get a test drive.

  Am I missing something obvious here? I've never shopped for a new car in the US and I think the last time my wife did it was over 15 years ago so we have no clue how to approach this.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 8:25 p.m. RexSeven SuperDork

  The RX-8 was discontinued this year. You may be able to find some leftover new 2011 cars, but you'll have to go hunting for them.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 8:26 p.m. mw HalfDork

  For a 30k purchase, I'd drive the 3+ hours, but I've got a fair bit of spare time.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 8:35 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Well, part of the issue is that all of the cars that are available are base model cars, and if anything I'd want an R3.

  Unfortunately one of my problems it that I might have the money - well, the credit - for a $30k car, but I don't have the time to fly around the western US to track one down.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 8:48 p.m. JamesMcD Reader

  I thought they were anxious to get rid of them.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 9:04 p.m. mndsm SuperDork

  http://www.morries.com/detail-2011-mazda-rx~8-4dr_cpe_man_grand_touring-new-636849...

  This one is local to me. If you're interested call there and ask for Jesse Howard. He;s my guy. Tell him Tom from MNMazda sent you. They can probably track an r3 down for you if there;s one left..... they can find some RARE stuff.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 9:05 p.m. M2Pilot Reader

  Does Mazda's website have a function to search for a particular model? That might be useful if it does.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 9:15 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  The Mazda website does have that ability, but they can only show you stock within a 250 mile radius of your/a zip code. That's how I know where the nearest ones are according to Mazda.

  Actually it turns out there are two R3s down in Vegas according to Autotrader (one CPO, one new), that might be an option but the appeal of the Costco pricing was the "no haggling" part and I'm not sure I can get that down there.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 9:15 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  JamesMcD wrote:

  I thought they were anxious to get rid of them.

  That's what I was thinking, too.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 9:48 p.m. skruffy SuperDork

  Call ahead to the dealer that has the car, give them your realistic offer, if they accept go buy the car. If it's a dealer that won't work numbers over the phone you didn't want to buy a car there anyway. Keep in mind that there probably isn't more than a grand or so between MSRP and what the dealer paid for the car, so don't go offering something stupid and then get all mad when they won't take a huge loss on the car to sell it.

  I'm a car salesman, we aren't all scumbags.

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  Nov. 8, 2011 11:59 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  @skruffy, I know that, and I do like dealing with a good salesperson. The problem is that the only late RX8s I could find up here are/were at dealers with a certain reputation for unpleasant sales experiences.

  The main problem is that I've never driven an RX8 - I've owned one of every generation RX7, but only seen RX8s from the outside. So I don't really want to buy a car that's 500 miles away without driving it and then start regretting it on the way home.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 12:34 a.m. rotard Reader

  Why do you want to get a new one? Depreciation is most definitely your friend with these cars.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 4:51 a.m. SVreX SuperDork

  There's a clean used black one for sale down the road from me for $9500.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 5:07 a.m. dj06482 HalfDork

  BoxheadTim wrote:

  The Mazda website does have that ability, but they can only show you stock within a 250 mile radius of your/a zip code. That's how I know where the nearest ones are according to Mazda.

  Actually it turns out there are two R3s down in Vegas according to Autotrader (one CPO, one new), that might be an option but the appeal of the Costco pricing was the "no haggling" part and I'm not sure I can get that down there.

  Sometimes you'll see the mileage distance as part of the URL when you search, I've spoofed the GM search by changing the number to 2000 or so and then enjoying nationwide searches.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 9:20 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  rotard wrote:

  Why do you want to get a new one? Depreciation is most definitely your friend with these cars.

  Because there only seem to be very few newer ones for sale (like 2008 on) and most of these for prices close to what was listed as the Costco member pricing. I can find a ton of 2004 ones but if I get one I want one with the warranty as long as possible.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 10:31 a.m. rotard Reader

  How long do you realistically plan on keeping it? I'm afraid that I can't recommend one for the "long term."

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  Nov. 9, 2011 11:49 a.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Ah. I have the suspicion that my wife would apply for a Nevada quickie divorce if I went vehicle hunting again in the next couple of years...

  I'm still trying to find the right sort of S2000 or similar that I can keep for a 100k or so, that would definitely trump an RX8.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 12:37 p.m. Gearheadotaku Dork

  BoxheadTim wrote:

  ...douse yourself in salesweasel repellent if you're going within a block of the place.

  LOL! I love it.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 1:26 p.m. ArthurDent Reader

  You can't find a used one to test drive - I can't imagine they'd be that different than a brand new one ...

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  Nov. 9, 2011 4:49 p.m. rotard Reader

  I know where you can get a nice 2006 with a new engine for a song ;)

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  Nov. 9, 2011 5:26 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Yes, but you're on the other side of the country. It'd have to be a fairly short song .

  Anyway, shoot me some info in a PM...

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  Nov. 9, 2011 6:41 p.m. Mazdax605 Dork

  Forget the 06 get an 09 or newer with the R3 package. Better looking and the engines are much more refined. Plus they look sexy in the R3 colors black,red,and blue.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 11:16 p.m. rotard Reader

  Eh, the looks are a matter of opinion. None of the Series 2 colors compare to Phantom Blue. The performance between a Series 1 and a Series 2 R3 is pretty much a wash, with the Series 1 usually being faster due to less weight. More refined engines? They redid some of the oiling (third oil injector), along with a lot of little changes, but didn't fix the root problems with the Renny. The sacrifices we make for emissions, right? lol

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  Nov. 9, 2011 11:20 p.m. rotard Reader

  Also, if buying one used (or maybe even new), insist on getting a compression test done at a Mazda dealership. It's different than a compression test for a piston engine, and the numbers are worthless if you don't do it properly.

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  Nov. 9, 2011 11:21 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

  Yep, I'm aware of the compression test procedure. Had a few rotaries before .

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