This particular beauty is listed for 800.
Reasonable condition blown engine vehicles seem to be in the 2-3k range.

In a related note, does anyone have any experience with drivetrain integrity on examples like the picture. There does seem to be a great deal of room after the crash bar to twist the frame without damaging the engine itself and one would think that the carbon driveshaft would break before the transmission is damaged.

 

That looks like there's a fair bit of damage from front than I'm used to seeing or purchasing.

 

Locally (Seattle area) we have multiple decent condition RX8s with blown engines for under $2k asking.


I almost bought one for the core and part out before I found my engine and turbo kit.

 

A dead engine is worth $500.00 tops. A wrecked engine is also a very risky purchase, because there is no way to know if it has good compression or not.

 

I see ALL rotary engines as a "Core". You might as well rebuild it while its out.

 

Yep and I have seen some cores that are completely useless in terms of rebuilding. At least you get some value out of it if you use it as a core when paying someone else to build an engine for you or using it towards a Mazda Reman.

 

Yeah that's the kicker. I was looking for a core to build but that was my scare. What if the rotors or housing are shot.


Since my motor came out of a running and driving RX, chances are good my rotors and housings are fine. Still need to finish opening her up to verify though.


Personally, Id be hesitant to buy the motor out of that wrecked car. However, the car was clearly running and driving and our motors sit pretty far back so chances are that damage didn't hurt it. It may be a good core.


Too bad you aren't closer as I will have a good running motor and full trans for sale shortly!


lol

 

The problem is that the oil coolers and lines are up front. Normally the impact will kill the engine but not always. Also, I went to look at an engine at a local yard once and the iron was cracked where the motor mount bracket fastens, so yeah there are many unknowns. I would definitely not buy one from a salvage yard without a warranty.

 

I’ve purchased an engine in the past from a guy who wrecked his car. However, the front end damage wasn’t as bad as yours. I’m guessing that you can ask $400 tops for this engine.

 

Thanks for the info. I actually have a core sitting on my porch waiting for me to get to it and the compression only current motor checked out fine last month. The tranny on the other hand, has some real problems with fourth gear. I'm mostly looking for a blown engine car I could swap my engine too since the body of my example is beyond rough. The only reason I thought of a wreck would be for the front and rear bumper covers, obviously, not that wreck.

In looking at copart, and iaa sales there are huge numbers of 04/05 whose value makes totaling over minor damage easy. I've noticed a lot of mechanical as well, where the shell looks untouched, but I'm confused about what insurance company would cover that in this car.