Alright, so I have an R3 with 30k miles on it. I bought it almost three years ago because I needed a car, I wanted to try a rotary, and the R3 was always a really cool car to me. My dream car has always been the 3rd gen Rx7. I have always wanted one, but never had the money or technical confidence to own one. Now I have both. I can only keep one sports car though. Has anyone sold their Rx8 to buy an Rx7 and been severely disappointed? R3's are hard to find and my favorite looking of the rx8. I am afraid I will regret selling it.
I know this topic has been covered, but people mostly complain about not having rear seats on the Rx7, which is not an issue for a childless bachelor like myself. I just want a car I can enjoy driving.

 

I'll trade you my RX8 for your RX7 for a few months and I'll report back with how I feel in the spring

 

I've never driven a 7.
If it was me I'd DD it for a week or 2, then DD the 8.
Or take a long road trip in the 7 and see how it feels.

I used to rent new cars for 2k mile road trips & a lot of times I didn't notice things for the first couple of hundred miles, but then after a while certain things would annoy TF outta me.
A Subaru had the parking brake lever rubbing against my thigh.
A VW center console tapered up and out rubbing against my knee.
A Ford had huge blind spots.

Couple of years ago I made 3 of those trips in 1 year in my 8, and it was just as comfortable and enjoyable as any I rented.
Quiet cabin too.

 

Clean rx7's are going for 20-30k, clean rx8's are going for 2-3k, what do you think????

 

Rx7s are overpriced and Rx8s are a bargain .....................

 

your concerns are actually warranted for a few reasons:
1/ fd is way more expensive, even though your r3 is still worth >10K you will still be spending 2.5-3x as much to find a clean rx7 and then replace the older parts that are/will inevitably be worn out.

2/ the driving dynamics of the rx8 are surprisingly better. This is due to the updated suspension and layout (engine mounted further back and lower etc). Dont get me wrong though the fd is so much more hard core, feels lighter, sharper, more direct and of course smaller...

3/ comfort- hands down the 8 feels like a luxury sedan compared to the fd with any of the stiffer suspensions..

Overall Id say keep the 8 unless you have 40K ready to drop on finding a pristine low mileage car plus the additional parts and mods you will end up doing... if money is no object then get the fd you wont regret it because it has everything the 8 doesnt have. Even though I drive my r3 much more often, the 7 is just such a special car.
It's also way better looking in every way, one of the sexiest cars of all time.. just budget for a nice set of BBS wheels on the fd and you wont miss the r3 wheels.

 

Ive owned both. Two totally different cars and driving dynamics. The FD RX-7 is hardcore--in a good way. Its brutal ---in a good way. The RX-8 is an all around drivers' car. It does not do hardcore but its a great, balanced car. What to keep ? I guess it depends on you and what type of driving experience you are looking for. Both are wonderful cars.

 

I've had my R3 for years, and this summer purchased a 1994 FD. The FD had been my dream car for as long as I can remember so I had to own one when the opportunity presented itself. Now that I have both, I kinda think the R3 is the superior car. Sure the FD is an amazing sports car, but the R3 is way easier to drive. I think ultimately what I would like is to have an REW swapped 8, that would be the best of both worlds IMO.

 

Sentimentality for the RX-7 aside, the 8 is the superior car overall. Benefits from years of advances in automotive/engine design & technology, and it shows.

That said, the 7 is more the pure sports car. And the 3rd gen RX-7 is the most beautiful Japanese car I’ve ever seen.

 

Rx8

is daily driver my 5 s1 rx7 are my pride and joy

 

Gorgeous 7! I think if you're just going to have one car as a DD, it's hard to beat the 8. I actually sold my S2000 for my R3 because it was too harsh on a day to day basis. Never been in a 7 before so not sure how NVH is compared to s2000.

 

I don't have an FD, but comparing my FC (convertible, turbo-swapped, roughly 300hp at the wheels I'd guess) to my '09 RX-8 sport, the RX-8 is the better car overall, and most likely in the handling department as well. It's surprisingly roomy inside when compared to my FC or any of the FD's I've sat in (including no-sunroof models), isn't as fast outright but is so much more comfortable, but still grips so tenaciously that I have a hard time upsetting it, even on the track.

Reading between the lines a little bit, if you bought the RX-8 because you "needed a car", then I'm assuming its your primary mode of transportation and you rely on its' reliability. For that reason alone, I would not suggest that you sell it for an FD because even if the FD appears pristine, all the engine, drivetrain, suspension, brakes etc are all at best 24+ years old - it'll never be as reliable as an 8-10 year old car, and state-of-the-art in 2009 (or even 2004) has advanced quite a bit from 1993. If you have the cash to get it alongside the RX-8, then by all means sample the two, address any issues with the FD, and if you love it (you most likely will), sell the RX-8 but get a 5 year old Camry or something for reliable transportation when you need it.

 

RX8 is better all around for sure. For fun, looks, and best driving experience, then keep the 7.

If you don't have another beater or daily use car I would sell the 7 and keep the 8. You'd get more money for it. If you have a beater, def keep the 7.

 

Thanks for the replies. I bought a 95 rx7 two weeks ago and am trying to sell my R3. Most of what everyone has been saying is accurate. The rx8 is many ways is a better car and it makes me sad to see it go. I have even contemplated selling the rx7 and keeping the 8, but I think I will stick it out with the 7 and see if I cannot improve the handling. If the bills on the 7 end up getting too high I'll sell it and buy another 8.

If only Mazda were to put a rotary in the new miata....

 

Good luck with your choice! I agree, I'd love to see another rotary but don't think it's gonna happen.

 

Know this is an old thread in a way.. but wanted to point out this was the best answer. If anyone is looking for an Rx7 later on. The FD is great.. the Rx8 actually is a bit like the FB if you can believe it. If you ever get to a point where you're able to have both cars.. I'd highly recommend it.. They are both great but for different reasons.

 

If I have the money and/or skills to modernize and retrofit the FD then it would be an awesome car to have. The exterior is timeless, but I can't deal with 90s interior. Too old for my taste.

I once saw a C3 Corvette that was retrofitted with modern rear disc brakes and a navigation screen inside the car. Super cool stuff.

 

I bought an 05 6spd Sport off of lease in 08 and had it for four years and absolutely loved the car. It was near brand new. I regret that I had to sell it because I loved the car so much, but I don't regret it in a way because it enabled me to buy my house. I do miss the car though.

 

Ah, buy a rotary engine and drop it in a Miata then..guys do it all the time.

My RX7 was a sports car. My Z4 is a sports car. The RX8 is...sporty, but doesn't give you the same feel. I blame it on Mazda getting rid of the fastback for rear seats.

.......still miss my 7 though. That was a fun car to drive.

 

I have read that Z4 is more of a Grand Tourer than a sports car, at least in stock form. In fact, this is said to be the biggest difference between Supra and Z4 now: Supra is a sports car, Z4 is a GT.

As for the RX-8, it can be considered a GT in stock form as well.

 

Driven all 3 Gens of RX-7, and have the most miles wrapped up in an FD.

All 3 RX-7s feel much more organic and natural, Mostly just due to their age, and "lack" of refinement. The RX-8 feels much more like a normal modern car. It feels slightly synthetic and maybe even clinical to drive day to day which has it's pros and cons. It takes alot to feel fatigued from driving one, very comfortable and easy to drive, handles nicely, rides is quiet and well behaved, handles even better.

The RX-8's refinement and suspension makes it the best one in the corners hands down, but I would hesitate it to say makes it the most fun.. There is just something the RX-8 lacks, I Feel an emotional connection to my 8 when I'm out pounding around on my favorite backroads, but it's a slightly dry connection, and is just not quite as satisfying like the nostalgia performance goodness I feel in the FD, NSX, and 3000GT, even if they aren't quite as "Good"

 

I looked into some FDs to add as a weekended. I always loved RX7s. Had 2 FCs in the past. Apart from the exterior, I absolute didn't like the interior. It completely dated the car in a profound way. There are some car interiors that aged well (ie Miata, Golf, mk TT, Z3) but the FD's plastic fantastic and bulbous curves for whatever reason turned me down. Driving it was great in a 90s JDM sort of way. It was raw. Like a JDM GC8 STi feeling. That FD mystique was blown apart when I climbed in. But what a beautiful body it has....

 

You are correct. The Z4 is considered more of a GT car than sports car. But I replaced 99% of the suspension. I've done powerflex bushings in all suspension joints but the swaybar bushings. I'm running Bilstein/H&R combo as well. This is a sports car now. When I got this car it felt lose all over the place. Also replaced the steering components as well. She's very fun now. Got a set of OZ racing wheels I'm refurbing and going to be putting them on the car.

But I mean I also love my RX8. Even though it's been leaking coolant from what I thought was the reservoir tank. I'm suspecting something else now. I bought for $600 out of a junkyard. Came with lightweight Motegis, Tein Coilovers, and a Racing Beat Exhaust.

The question that needs to be answered is would I trade it for am RX7...well I don't know. The RX8 has backseats and the dogs fit back there where the rx7s prior were only 2-seaters. But I did love that feeling....thats why I have the Z4.

Gotta have one dependable car right?

 

I did trade an 80 GS for my 04 Nordic Green GT. Both were equally rusty whereas the 8 needed and engine and the 7 ran and drove fine other than needing brakes, tires, oil leak addressed etc. Honestly I don't regret it. I miss that 7 but I love my 8's and had wanted a Nordic Green RX-8 since they came out in 04.

 

I like my RX8 6spd auto for it's smoothness, and even quiet.
With my weak feet I can just floor it and hold for amount of time I need.
Cars with torque like my BMW get outta hand when floored.