RX-8: most affordable rotor for 26 years!
 

Hi,

I was arguing a point on AusRotary just now and I thought you all might be interested in the straight dope[0]:

[pedantic]
The RX-8 is closer in price to a Mazda6 or VZ Commodore Exec than a s1 RX-7 was to a RWD 626 or VB Commodore Exec:

1979
RX-7: $14,875
626 Super Deluxe Sedan: $7,460
VB Commodore SL: $8,452
(that's one of the more expensive 626s, the base spec was $6395)

RX-7 price as % of 626: 199%
RX-7 price as % of VB: 175%

1985
RX-7: $26,451
626 SE Sedan: $19,750
VK Exec: $15,050

RX-7 price as % of 626: 133%
RX-7 price as % of VK Exec: 175%
(this price of the newest, highest spec of the the FWD 626s - there were others cheaper available at the same time, some as low as $12,000 - so the ratio there goes up to the RX-7 being 220% more expensive :shock: )

1989
RX-7 NA: $47,650
RX-7 Turbo: $53,650
626: $25,140
VN Commodore Exec V6 Auto: $22,143
VN Berlina V6 Auto: $26,369
Calais 5.0 Auto: $35,467

(I won't do all the % comparisions...)
RX-7 Turbo price as % of Commodore Exec: 242%
RX-7 Turbo price as % of 626: 213%

2005
RX-8: $54,465
Mazda6: $31,345 ("classic" spec)
Commodore Exec: $33,160

RX-8 price as % of Mazda6: 173%
RX-8 price as % of Commodore: 164%

[/pedantic] ;)

The RX-8 is as comparably afordable in 2005 as the RX-7 was. :D

[0] Yes, that word is just me trolling :D

Very interesting - thanks Saru.

Or, if you were to compare against average weekly earnings, you'd probably find the 8 (along with all cars) similarly much more affordable....

...what was the point again? :confused:

It arose (as it frequently does) with someone saying that Rotors used to be much more affordable.

AHHH HA...maybe the "rotors" were cheaper and it's all the other bits that were expensive...or i could be talking crap.

I reckon Taka is doing a pretty good job of taking out of the affordable zone, it's like trying to keep up with a welsh choir!!!! (ie about 25 Jone's at once!)

Nah, the old rotaries just looked cheap!! :D :D

Doesn't change the fact that Mazda Auatralia always have been & still are ripping us Aussie customers off

How about this statistic for the same car but different countries. No, its not import duties, or luxury car sales tax etc etc. Its plain & simple profiterring

1990

RX-7 - Japan = $28,000
RX-7 - Aust . = $63,000

1995

RX-7 - Japan = $48,000
RX-7 - Aust . = $89,000

2003

RX-8 - Japan = $36,000
RX-8 - Aust . = $63,000

I knew I'd get a bite from you, Dave!