Saw this advertised on my local craigslist in B.C. from a local dealer. Odd looking with all the decals?

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rd...673260074.html

 

oops - make that a 2011 rx-8 r3

 

$31k? No thanks.

 

Doesn't look too bad. But just because it has a whole bunch of "Pace Car" stickers doesn't make it a real pace car.

Is it a "Dealership-made special edition"? (Kind of like the Hotwheels theemed/ "Pace car" corvettes)

Or do they have a history of the races this particular car "paced" in?

Either way, $31K is brand new price for what is, for all intents & purposes, a used car (1100Miles) that has potentially seen track use within it's "Break in period" (if it is a true pacecar)

I'm also curious, as to the absence of the specialized equipment used on real race pacecars (strobes/flashers, yellow beacon on top, fire extinguisher inside)

Was the car modified, & later restored to stock, or is this just a "sticker package"???

Info doesn't seem to add up & the car (very nice as it is) seems overpriced.

 

Good points I don't know the answer to. There is a local track where they have races occasionally - maybe the dealer "donated" the car and added the decals to try and help boost the "value." Just guessing though.

 

What is it about?

Things that belong in my garage 101.

 

dont forget that this car is located in canada, hence the markup

 

You're forgetting the car is located in Canada. They're a lot more expensive in Canada than in America. A used '09 goes for around 19-21k in US, CA is around $31k. They're roughly 41k new.

 

WOW! I didn't know the RX-8 was marked up THAT much in Canada!

It is actually a decent price for a used one in that location then. (My other concerns still stand though. )

 

Yeah I drove my black R3 to Canada last year and people were in awe like it was a Porsche. These cars cost a lot in Canada.

 

its not just about markup, its exchange rate too.

 

How so?

41k CND is about 42-43k US. (CND worth more than USD)

 

Actually, the exchange rate for most of this year has meant a stronger Canadian dollar versus u.s. dollar, which means these cars should actually been cheaper in canada. This has been a big source of frustration in canada - identical products are cheaper in the u.s. than canada even though the exchange rate is very close to par. Hence thousands of canadians go the the u.s. each week to buy stuff there. Lots of people bring cars up to canada - save money even considering extra tax, exchange rates, etc. I bought a 2009 rx-8 one year ago for 32,500 canadian (had navigation) and probably could have got it cheaper in the states but didn't want the hassle to find it, and liked the all red seats in this one.

 

I was unaware of that. I just always remember seeing things like $5 USD $8 CAN

i stand corrected!

 

Yeah it's flip flopped over the last couple years with the weakening American dollar.

Not blaming anyone cough Obama cough.

As for importing cars from the US to Canada...I have done it but it's not fun. Daytime running lights and higher impact bumpers make modifications to most foreign cars a requirement to get them across the border.

Most Ford/GM etc are built to be imported rather easily.

By comparison an 09 with low miles and nav is about 21-22k stateside.

 

They should proudly donate it to me!

 

I just can't seem to fall in love with velocity red. If it were blue or black R3 it be super sexy.

 

It was the pace car for our local race series here in BC. Mazda donated the car to be used...and is now selling it

Kudos to Mazda for the Pacecar and helping out motorsports in BC

 

Kudos indeed! That's very cool of them.

If they make a list of the races the car paced in & maybe have the track owner, or better yet the race winners, autograph it they could turn it into something REALLY special.

 

No famous racing around here

 

Famous racers are rarely born on world circuits to factory sponsored teams. They are usually hometown heroes that, if lucky (and copious amounts of hard work and dedication), get noticed by someone in a position to make them famous.
IF even one of those people WERE to autograph the car THEN become famous... now, that would make the car something special.