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I suspect old RX8s will be remembered the way old English sports cars from the 60's are remembered now. Old Triumphs and such. Light and small and fun compared to the other offerings of the time, reasonably quick, horrible depreciation & reliability, and still not worth that much.
Yeah my buddy in Houston had his 2010 R3 up for sale for almost a year with no serious bites and his car is perfect with brand new Pilot Sports, under 30k, etc. he was asking 15k and just decided to keep it.
It fluctuates greatly, cars get hot and prices jump up and then they fall on their faces. And in ten years you won't even be able to rebuild a Renesis since all the new housings will be gone and the rest will be ruined.
It fluctuates greatly, cars get hot and prices jump up and then they fall on their faces. And in ten years you won't even be able to rebuild a Renesis since all the new housings will be gone and the rest will be ruined.
If there's a market, there will be parts.
Some entrepreneurial Rotor Head may start replating and refurbishing housings.
IF there's a market, someone will figure out a way to profit.
This journalist from Automobile Magazine thinks both the RX-8 and Lotus Elise are future collectibles, and I’m inclined to agree. (Also, while it’s true that any classic car - a Gremlin, Pacer, Edsel or Nash Metropolitan - may be considered “collectible,” the RX-8 and Elise are different. Unlike those decidedly mediocre cars, both were widely loved and respected by automotive journalists the world over; the very folks who spend more time in more cars than anyone else.)
“It’s too bad that you can’t buy a new car with a rotary engine or one that weighs less than a ton (save for the Smart ForTwo), but when good cars can’t be bought in dealerships, they trade in a market that values them as more than cars. Prized by dedicated enthusiasts and collectors, they ascend to a legendary status. Even if the Lotus Elise and the Mazda RX-8 aren’t quite legends yet, their retirement certainly puts them one step closer.”
So yes, our 8’s will, indeed, be collectible at some point. And for all the right reasons.
Last edited by New Yorker; 01-12-2018 at 11:06 AM.
If there's a market, there will be parts.
Some entrepreneurial Rotor Head may start replating and refurbishing housings.
IF there's a market, someone will figure out a way to profit.
There has never been a real market for aftermarket housings on older rotories and replated housings have always been a fail. IIRC you can't get 12A housings anymore at all, or refurbed.
There has never been a real market for aftermarket housings on older rotories and replated housings have always been a fail. IIRC you can't get 12A housings anymore at all, or refurbed.
So how do these rx7 engines keep running? Hell, there's still plenty of them to be bought. I know the RX7 didn't use the 12A...but the last vehicle produced that did was made in 1989...Almost 30 years ago. It hasn't been even a decade since the last renesis was built, hell, they are still building them, aren't they?
Last edited by Killawatts; 01-26-2018 at 11:45 PM.
The last model year that the RX7 used 12A motors was 1985. From 1986 until production stopped in 1995 Mazda used the 13B engine.
You cannot get new 12A rotor housings. Mazda stopped making them maybe 10 years ago. There has been a few people that have tried to come up with a way to rechrome the housings but so far no success.
All current rebuilds of 12A motors either use used 12A housings "not a good idea" or they take 13B housings and machine them down to use in 12A motors. Atkins Rotary I believe does this.
Funny, just finished a nationwide search for a unique S1, or, an R3 in ANY color. But, with a limited budget I was willing to grab early S1's 2003- mid 2005- the ones with all of the problems, 'factory swapped' engines, etc... with full knowledge of a probable rebuilt in my near future. Wasn't even looking specifically for Shinka, 40th AE's, or, clean later MY S1's, because they were all very common colors: Silver, Black, Red, Blue or white (not preferred due to seam visibility). Was working a Nordic Green with Chaparral interior, but, was too late to the frenzy.
So, when I came across an '08 40th AE with 67k miles, 3 owners & no accidents that was well over my budget, I tentatively opened a dialogue with the owner. In the end, I offered every dollar set aside (still, it was worth more), kept my fingered crossed hoping he understood I wasn't trying to lowball him, but, that I went over my budget, but, really, really wanted his car. He countered, and, while I was considering- came back at my price! I was struggling with -borrow money for a project car? etc... They had a lease coming due with a total miles concern, and, I think his wife was the voice of reason...
However, I bought the car- sight unseen- and, I'm trying to get a flight to the Midwest, meet him, get the car & drive 1,000 miles east. It's Winter and snows in all areas between him and I, and- I can never, ever get the needed time to fly out, grab it and drive home. Awesome road trip which I'm looking forward too! It comes mounted with fancy, 18" chrome basket weave 3 piece wheels (great looking!) as well as the OEM model specific wheels (riding shotgun with me), has a 1 year old battery, nice cross drilled & slotted rotors visible through the wheels, and, was certainly well owned by the last owner. The low coolant sensor just failed in September (indicating low coolant), and, it'll need an oil change when it gets home- but, I think it's a good value.
You can't get any great 'sports cars' for $5,500.00: well owned, with no accidents, modest miles, clean paint, never driven in winter. That come with 300W Bose steroes, heated power leather seats, power everything, a moon roof, and well done piano black accents. Perfect balance, great shifter, confidence inspiring handling. Nissan 370Z's, Honda S2000's, Porsche Caymans, BMW M3's- at least vehicles that you would actually buy- start @ $15,000 to $18,000, and, really well owned ones start at $20,000+. Are they 4 times as good as my 10 year old Mazda RX-8? Can I afford the maintenance- the replacement ECU, the 'special sauce' required for the gearbox, let alone the unobtainium parts?
All but the S2000 have power, but, you wouldn't drive 1,000 miles in day or so, and be smiling at the end of your journey. Stiff rides, cramped quarters, darty steering & exhaust drone will leave you exhausted. But, at the track, you'll find the RX-8 on your bumper everywhere but the straights. All great cars-in their element- but, adults can actually get in & out AND ride in the back seat (not very long, tho!). Much to love, 'Japan built' build quality & QC- everything still works 10 years later- but, the risk of owning a not pretty paperweight with ricer tail lights puts lots of buyers off. Whodathunk? Lots of people have heard about all of the engine problems, but, almost no one has heard about Mazda's effort to reduce the risks. Higher CCA batteries, several ignition coil revisions, heavy duty starters, thicker wires, several ECU program tweaks later, and the series 1 motors are a little longer lasting. Late 2005 - 2008's don't fail as early, nor as often as the very early motors did, so, they 'seem' less risky. At such a discounted price, a fancy shop rebuild could be an excellent investment in long term value... But, honestly, I just want to drive it like its rented- every time I think about it. Advertised as "Never seen snow, stored for winters" I feel bad, every car oughta know just how much fun snow can be. Don't worry, I'll broaden it's horizons a bit.
I bought it as a group 'project car' for me and my my 4 children, so, I'll only get it when it needs: gas, oil, service, or "Dad, the Arena light came on. Bud? What's the Arena light? I dunno know, but- it's yellow and looks like a football stadium. OK, thanx." (Low Coolant Warning) But, now that it's a future collectible, I'll do... Just what I promised the kids. If it's frickin crazy AWESOME, I'll buy an R3 and hide it from them. Apparently, it handles better than cars costing 3 times as much, (Note: all above listed cars cost 4 times as much, therefore, handle much better than my cruddy Mazda)
01-11-2018, 10:31 AM
