thunderberk

Rx-8's are different design lines and scratch when you look at classical cars always be friendly designs not a modern look. Also Classic cars always need in future to produceable cars like SLS Mercedes Benz or Mx-5 Retro designs etc.. In my opinion Rx-8 has this honour in future with only its door designing ! Designers need little tips, Rx-8 has lost off abilities to write on the desk..

nate1162

Only had my 8 for a few weeks now and have noticed it turns a lot of heads. I came out of walmart yesterday to find a quite elderly gentlemen circling my car. I gave him a peek at the interior and under the hood and of course he wanted an explanation of how the rotary motor operates (I hate trying to explain it). His wife finally got tired of waiting and drug him off. Moral of the story, the 8 carries with it a sense of intrigue that is not going to fade with the cars age, thats what makes a classic.

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

You know what i think, i think we should all start up an anime cartoon about rx7's and 8's in another decade or two and focusing on how great the handling is and the suspension and having that the main focus. If so, we may revitalize the awesomeness of it like Initial D did to the AE86.

Leonheart

True that, even where I live at I'm one of the only ones in the community driving an 8, had a ton of locals look at my car and many turn heads. It's amazing how these cars arent well known. Kinda like Bruce Lee's teacher Ip Man

j9fd3s

that actually did work, the 1989-1991 Turbo Rx7's went WAY up in price, they went from the 4k range to over 10k for low mileage white cars.

after the cartoon wore off they are back to the 6k range.

i dunno about the hatchi's, although we happened to get milk tea on friday earlier this year and the parking lot was full of them, and it wasn't in 2002...

Chibana

I get a ton of looks and compliments on my RX-8, too. Nothing else looks the same, and it has exotic car design (unlike the new BRZ/FR-S, for all their great handling capabilities).

911SC

Is a 30 year old RX7 a classic? A 30 year old RX8 won't be either.
What it will be is a miracle if it's still running. JK

thunderberk

Like your nickname do you believe 911SC become a classic, 30 year oldu FB/SA22C is a classic.. This is the way how you look cars and know cars

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

A classic, yes. A collectable, no.
A classic has it's place in history due partly to it's uniqueness. Almost anything with a rotary engine will be a classic. The RX3 wagon, less so.

Jims5543

iTrader: (1)

I suspect the RX8 will be a unique car that will pique the interest of other car people. They will be collectible to enthusiasts and it will be a rare non enthusiast that will seek them out.

Example would be Jay Leno, a car guy for sure, he restored an old Cosmo. I would say due to the rarity of the Cosmo it is a classic.

Cosmo Jay Leno* braptv Mazda Rotary Videos

There is a NSU in Tampa Florida that gets street driven, he hounds to collector to sell him some of his other cars. I went to the car museum a couple of months ago and was delighted to see an old Rotary there.

911SC

ghost9light

[QUOTE=boothguy;419597]
I don't have it in front of me, but I think the current Sports Car Market Buyer's Guide gives the RX7s an appreciation rating of 2 out of a possible 5, reflecting it's status as primarily a niche-interest marque.
[QUOTE=boothguy;419597]

I dont agree with that, due to the fact that the Supra from 98 commands 25-30k to this day... If I'm not mistaken they barely cost that much brand new.
Plus our cars do reach out to more then just rotory lovers. **** half the ppl out there think i have a four banger in there... till i stomp on the gas and get the "OH ****" bit. But girls think they are "cute" or "sexy", we appeal to the whole Fast & Furious crowd (they almost chose the R-X8 over the Supra to be the main car in the 1st movie), we are also listed as one of the must "Drive before You Die" cars out of one-hundred.
I believe that our cars will live with collectors, **** even david letterman has one. :P

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

[quote=ghost9light;4377888][QUOTE=boothguy;419597]
I don't have it in front of me, but I think the current Sports Car Market Buyer's Guide gives the RX7s an appreciation rating of 2 out of a possible 5, reflecting it's status as primarily a niche-interest marque.
What? Low mileage MKIV TT Supras are fetching $35-65k depending on the condition. When they were new, they cost over $60k in today's money value:
"Sticker price of my 1995 Supra was $51,205

Assuming it was first purchased in 1994, that would be equal to $74,744 is 2009. "


You can't compare the Supra to the RX-8. Not even close to the same market. To the RX-7? Yes, absolutely. The MKIV Supra TT had about 9000 units in the US. the RX-8? MORE than 10x that. Not to mention the Supra TT was a monster back in its days and still is to this day, much like the RX-7.

David Letterman doesn't have an RX-8. Jay Leno has a 40th anni RX-8 and a 12A swapped Cosmo (along with other cars worth tens of MILLIONS).

JR RX8

I bought my 2005 GT new and have 37.5K on it. It's Ti Grey and pretty much stock inside and out as well as almost cherry. I will take it in after this winter to have it "re-conditioned" to bring that "like new sheen" back to the outside and inside. Few minor mods like Bilstein pss9s, billet grille work, 1 + size tires and some tasteful brushed aluminum pieces here and there without it looking tacky. She's a class act.
1) Every person I know who sees my car for the first time remarks on how good the car looks and most think it's a new car (that’s a testament to it's styling and how it has endured for the last ten years when compared to new styles) 2) Many people, until they see the badge or ask me, can't even tell what make "she" is. (another testament to the styling of the car. It's unique, has beautiful lines, and still, in my humble opinion, sexy while still being a bit aggressive) 3) Every time I go down to the garage to take the car out for a ride, I always get the same feeling of satisfaction I got when I first saw the car. I literally will sometimes stop for a second or two to just take in the overall look of the car, and it always makes me good. I never feel like I’m looking at a 10 year old car. It always feels and looks new. 4) The feeling I get when I get behind the wheel is the same as it was 10 years ago. I simply love this car. It feels good when I slide into the cockpit, I feel good when I'm behind the wheel. 5) People STILL give long hard admiring stares when I’m stopped at a light. Some still give me the thumbs up. 6) Newer 'hot" cars still pull up behind me or to my side while on the highway looking for a game of cat and mouse ;-). (I'm not saying if I take em on but I will admit to have driven it over 130 numerous times, sometimes alone, sometimes not 7) I won't and don't have to go into the handling and driving experience since those of you who have one and are drivers appreciate its road and handling prowess (and once again in my opinion, its minor faults) but the bottom line is I still get the same thrill driving this car as I did when I first drove it. I make it a point to take it up to the Catskill Mountains a few times throughout the year for some serious canyon carving and she never fails to deliver. 8) I can go and on, but the bottom line is this: in my eyes, this car is already, and has the makings of a classic car. It’s a one of a kind, and yes it's not for everyone, but for those who appreciate what this car is all about, I think you will agree, once this car gets under your skin, it stays there. I have never had anyone get in my car and NOT comment on how pretty she is, how nice it feels to ride in it, and I can tell, secretly envy its owner. : D
To me, that already makes it a classic car. I sometimes see newer cars coming out, newer concepts, and being a car guy, start to desire them, and think, maybe it's time to switch up, but then I get in my "road warrior" (I car it that since I live in NYC and it's managed to take on and survive the pot holes and ruts and taxis and everything else the city has to throw at it and feel just as bad as the guy sitting next to me at a light in his hew Merc or Porsche or FSR, or whatever (not comparing them, just sayin,) and I think NAH!! I'll just keep it another ten years. I maintain it like clockwork, and fix anything that needs fixing right away and I figure as long as I keep doing this as long as I have it, I don't ever see this car letting me down on all counts. It's still got the zoom - zoom factor, it's fun as hell to drive, it's great to look at, and it’s a serious driver when I want it to be and daily driver when I need that too. I don't know what makes a classic a classic, I'm not that smart or sophisticated perhaps, but I DO know how it makes me feel all around. I love that people still admire it. I love that it's still a hoot to drive. I'm impressed by the passion this car still inspires in me and for me, THAT makes it a modern day classic, which has the potential to become an antique classic (25 years = antique). I 'd like to add that I'm almost 60 and have owned and driven in some "classic “cars when I was younger. Even my first car (1959 sky clue mint Buick Invicta ) didn't inspire the feelings in me that my 8 continues to do today. Zoom-Zoom.

Gravey

iTrader: (3)

Interesting thread, thanks for bumping it.

I think that the main thing people need to consider on this topic is that the idea's and attitudes of what makes a classic car today will not reflect what is considered a classic 30 years from now. You need to take into account the mindset of the audience, and what motivates them.

Nostalgia definitely has a factor in driving it. People want the car from their youth that they loved, whether it be from pop culture or what they had when they were younger. When this generation grows older part of the pop culture influence will come from the Fast & Furious series, like it or not, it has had a huge impact on this generation. Who's to say that the RX-7/8's, Supra's, Skylines, Z's and any other Japanese sports cars that have a very heavy presence in those movies won't make the list.

JR RX8

Gravey- I guess I would agree. What makes a classic is all subjective to the whomever the audience is. However afterd doing some research I came up with this:

Merriam Webster dictionary defines "classic" this way,,

1) used to say that something has come to be considered one of the best of its kind (well since these cars are not "one of kind" one could argue that they are the best of their kind. so that puts them in the classic category)
2)used to say that something is an example of excellence ( I think most of us who own these cars would agree that they are excellent at what they do. They perform and they look excellent too. ergo ,"classic")
3)used to describe something that has been popular for a long time ( 7s' and now 8s are very popular amongst their fan base = "classic")
4) characterized by simple tailored lines in fashion year after year = classic ( the lines of the RX7 speak for themselves and I personally believe the lines of the 8 follow suit)
5) historically memorable ( the RX7 is definitely a part of automotive history and the now the RX8 is joining the ranks as well due to it's unique engine and other attributes)

So if one were to go by the actual definition of the word classic according to the dictionary, as my examples show, one could argue that not only has the 7 become a classic, but the 8 is, if not already in some areas, on it's way to becoming a classic.

gwilliams6

51 Coolest Cars of the Last 50 years - Special Feature - Road & Track

Just one mags' pick for the 51 coolest cars of the past fifty years. It includes race cars so that takes up lots of spots on the list, but interestingly two rotary Mazdas and a piston Mazda made the list and other rotary Mazdas were mentioned in the copy.

Yes being a classic is in the eyes of the beholder. I have owned seven rotary Mazdas since 1973 and looking back I do consider my RX3, two RX4s and all three RX7 generations I have owned as being classics. I wish I could have kept them all, right alongside my current 40th Anniversary Edition RX8, which I will keep forever as a classic.

Whether or not they will ever increase in value as collectables doesn't matter to me. What matters is what unique, innovative and fun cars they all were ,and still are ,in automotive history.

911SC

Thanks for bringing this thread back. I guess my 911SC has done Ok in the last two years. Values have gone up @ 50%. What was a $10-$15K car is now a $18-$22K car. So not only is it a classic, it's becoming collectable.