As a previous owner of several RX-7's (79, 82gs, 85gslse) I'm looking at an 07 RX-8 6 speed manual with 177k miles for $4000. The car has a completely rebuilt engine with 500 miles, new clutch and brakes. Body, dash, and interior are excellent. Am I looking at a bargain or a high mileage money pit? I realize the suspension and steering components, bushings, etc. will need attention. I'm wondering about the longetivity and reliability of the gearbox. 177k is a lot of miles. I'm getting ready to retire and want to treat myself with another RX to play around with. All opinions and advice will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks much, Sam

 

Welcome Sam.

Read the new and potential owners forum and absorb as much info as you can.

Ensure you get a compression check before committing.

If it passes, I'd say it's a good deal. But that's me. Only you can say what you're comfortable with, as far as maintenance goes.

 

To have that many miles on an 07, I'm guessing it's mostly highway miles, which means there wouldn't be too much stress on the transmission, but regardless you can pickup a used transmission pretty cheap.

An '07 with lower miles would run you around $8,000-$10,000 realistically, I've seen for sale for more, but I doubt they'd get it so you're basically saving around $4k due to the mileage.

My '07 I've owned for a while, and besides engines, 3 engines, and I have 87k miles, (crazy that Rx-8 owners say that) the only real problem I've had is sensors, coolant sensor, o2 sensors, but the engine reliability is not like your old Rx-7s.
Whatever you decide, make sure maintenance has been completed or it will be a money pit for a car not worth much at this current time.

 

Thanks for the advice. I drove the wheels off my 12A and 13B SE RX-7's (Roger Mandeville was my neighbor at the time and a very bad influence) with no problems other than the occasional weeping water pump and sticking points on the dual point distributors. One literally couldn't kill them. If memory serves Roger only lost one engine during the 1980 season and that was a qualifying hand grenade he built for Daytona. As such, the reliability problems I've read about on the Series 1 Renesis engine come as something of a shock. I'm undecided as to buying this high mileage car or holding out for another with fewer miles. The owner claims a fresh rebuild but who built it and what parts were used is unknown to me at this time. I do think I'll go have a comprehensive test drive and inspection of it Monday. I've missed my RX-7 SE since the day I sold it but I needed a back seat for my son's car seat at the time.