Hi guys,

First post here, not an owner yet. I've had several RX-7's over the years, but haven't had a rotary for about 5 years now... I'm getting the itch again, piston engines just aren't cuttin' it. I'm contemplating buying an RX-8, looking at the Subaru Legacy GT also.... and ::gasp:: even the Legacy n/a... but I don't really want another piston engined car. I'm crunching the numbers in terms of gas costs, purchase price, and resale value. I've looked at a couple of '04s RX-8's, about $10,500 each.

My main question is this... If I sell the RX-8 in three years, how much do think it will be worth then? I'm guessing about $6500 or so. I know I'll be paying out the butt for gas, but I'm hoping it'll hold its value better than a Legacy. Any help is appreciated!

 

If you buy mine I'm sure you'll be able to sell it for a good price in a few years still

 

the value goes down a lot..

 

Like a cliff.

 

dont buy a car for resale value. Ever. Certain cars, are investor cars, those cars are usually cars that are one of 100 or 1000. RX8 doesn't fall into that category.

 

^^Cars are a liability not an asset.

 

i don't think he's looking to *invest* in his car, just wants decent resale value and there's nothing wrong w/ that

honestly, it will not hold its value better than the legacy. first of all, legacies are relatively rare and these days in decent demand; legacies and subarus in general are not the weird little known car of yore. if you're getting the wagon, it'll hold its value even better. the 8 has not been holding its value well; it's a sports car and demand isn't terribly high, it's a bit of a cult car, and the gas mileage doesn't help. it's not a car the general public buys, whereas the legacy is. the good news is that you can pick up a good 8 really cheap, they're GREAT values as used cars, especially great if you've always wanted one. 6500 in 3 years might not be a bad estimate, but just in general don't expect to get a lot of money back when you sell

 

i left my crystal ball in my suitcase at home. i'll have to check it when the man is done keeping me down.

 

If you're only looking for a sports car for the next 3 years, then you might as well get the RX-8 if you are looking for a rotary.

All sports cars today depreciate pretty steeply, with the possible exception of the new camaro's.

If you're looking to go fast and yet not lose too much on reselling it a few years down the road, look for a clean, unmolested Lancer Evolution, the demand for used Evo's are so great that I've seen plenty of 04 examples still going for 20,000 plus.

 

Honestly, I'd say give it up, get a beater. If you have to labor over wheather a ~$10G sports car purchase is worthwhile..... and worse and are worried about how much it's going to depreciate in 3 more years...you probably aren't financially well off enough to own any car but a beater at this time. Like I said, don't stretch the budget, get a beater and throw it away in three years (or trade in w/some new $ 4 clunkers program).

 

Resell value? What resell value?

 

First, I would stay away from the 04's. Too many issues.

Go for an 05 or better yet an 06.

I got an 05 shinka loaded with 51k miles for $12000. At that price and age, it has already gotten the major depreciation out of the way.

It's not an investment in terms of dollars, though I consider it an investment in terms of FUN.

 

.......What he said.......

 

Good to hear Mike. So, my '05 Shinka now at 23k miles still hasn't lost 50% of its [what I paid for it new] value.

I never consider resale when purchasing a vehicle as I tend to hold onto them for a long time. But to the OP I would say that the mass market cars always hold their value better. Niche cars only do well once they become collector cars and we're a long way from that distinction, if ever.

Same here, it was and continues to be for me an investment in FUN.

 

kbb might say you haven't lost that much on your car yet... but the trick is finding someone who will pay that much.

 

again with the people saying stay away from '04s. i just don't get it - as long as the TSBs have been done and it's MT, there isn't a whole lot different. of course newer is better for anything but if your rationale is that you're now buying it with more depreciation having hit, the '04 would be an even better option, no?

 

Exactly, that's what I was asking in my post. Thanks for your other comments as well.

I just see it this way, cars cost a certain amount of money over the time that you own them. This includes the purchase price, tax at time of purchase, insurance cost, gas cost, resale cost, etc. Most people only think of one or two of these items. The fact is that each car has its own total cost PER YEAR of ownership.

Here's a couple of examples, ONLY looking at resale value. "Joe" pays $20,000 cash for a Hyundai and keeps it for 5 years. He then sells it for all he can get, which is $7000. Over 5 years, the car lost $13,000 (cost Joe $2600 per year). "Steve" pays $28000 cash for a beautiful Toyota 4Runner Four Wheel Drive and keeps it for 5 years, then sells it for $15,000. The 4Runner lost the same $13,000 over the 5 years, and has the same yearly cost of $2600. Which would you have rather owned, the 4Runner or the Hyundai?

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have picked a car and an SUV as an example, because actually I would rather have driven the car for 5 years...lol. But the point is many people don't consider resale value, only up front cost. Those people often lose a ton of money in the process on their "bargain". In my case, I like both the RX-8 and the Legacy GT the same... I've always loved both of them, so total cost of ownership is an important deciding factor.

That's pretty funny. I have enough in the bank to buy 10 of either car, and part of the reason I have that much is because I think about things like this.

Thank you to everyone else for your comments!

 

Total Cost of Ownership (aka Lifecycle Cost) is a very important consideration, unless you're buying a sportscar, which is mostly based on emotion (and instant-gratification fun).

Cudos (I guess) to the OP for trying to apply some sound fiscal rigor to his decision, but really, if "future value" is a hurdle for you then you'll be happier elsewhere.

 

Imo Subaru has one of the best resale values of what i have seen, not neccisarly sti's but the regular impreza and the legacy because of the AWD and they are acctually pretty well built cars.

 

you're so cool and so rich....can i be your friend?

 

Ok, but only because you have a 1st Gen... and only if you'll let me drive it. I debated on responding that way before, but it just irritated me that he would say that I could probably only afford a beater just because I was thinking about the resale value.

 

I hear ya... I do tend to over-think things, maybe I just need to listen to my heart and get back where I belong, in a rotary.

 

^go for the 8 can't go wrong you already said you wanted a rotary and the 8 is the perfect choice...why are you looking to sell already anyway? who knows u might want to keep it after u drive it for a few years.....

 

And I hear you as an over-thinking frugal Yankee type myself (which is why I've analyzed FI to death and still not gone there).

Yup, sportscars = go with your heart.

 

My 04 has had 0 issues in 5 years. You're right...that's just too many

The only problems I had were the ones I caused myself (exampe: pulling violently on the e-brake and snapping it).

If you can get an 04 that has been kept in great condition, save the money you'd waste on an 05 or 06 and get it. There are no performance differences whatsoever.