If you really want an 8, buy it. Don't even think about re-sale. If you can let the gas prices not get to you, you can do the same for the re-sale. I like the RX8 a hell of a lot more than the Legacy and I know if I got the Legacy instead, I'd regret it, A LOT. Also, the 04 is fine. Don't worry. I love my 04, no problems.

 

If you have to worry about it maybe buying a car like this isn't the best financial decision for you right now?

 

You've just cited two important factors...pleasure and up front cost. When I bought my 8, those were my main considerations. Had to have a sports car. Rejected the BMW Z4 and Honda S2000 partly because of their higher up front cost. With the Z4 costing twice what I paid for Zoomy, resale value wasn't even a blip in the analysis.

Ken

 

man rx8 will make you go broke!! hahaha jp jp its a great car but do your research.. if you like modding its not one to be so rewarding.
also what ive liked about it is that mazda dealerships ive dealt with have always tried to take care of me. (Most of the time) that is. i hear the new camaros, also the pontiac g8, or mabe even the new hyuandai genesis are prety nice. i love rotary engines. If you do a lot of highway driving youll get ok gas mleage. but its in the city where it will suck.

 

No brainer.

Rx8 is the cheap 30 dollar exotic, with the bulletproof reliability of a budget japanese sedan.

You are going to save money compared to more expensive exotics which require more maintenance and higher dealer fees.

Lots of time saved since the rx8 won't be in the shop all the time, means that the resale loss balances out even.

 

^+1

 

At 10k I really don't see the resale on a 8 hurting that much more 2-3k in depreciation is nothing over the course of 3 years.

 

Thanks for all the help guys. I've decided to go with the Legacy GT, and get a 2nd Gen TII (my first love) on the side. From '95 to '05 I had several RX-7's, including a 10th Anniversary and a '90 TII. I think I need another one to stroll down memory lane, and satisfy the rotary itch at the same time. Now THAT will be a tough search, trying to find a really nice stock TII. I went to SevenStock a couple of years ago, it was surprising how few really nice stock 7's are left.

 

An excellent point was made that you'll have already realized relatively low up front costs. The RX-8 is considerably less expensive than say a Boxer, Cayman, Z4, Audi TT, Crossfire, etc., and the insurance is lower as well. Not to mention the parts are cheaper and the vehicle easier to work on yourself. This offsets relative rapid depreciation/resale. You can't have everything.

But all the best JWink in your decided course.

 

I'm sure some RX8 owners would disagree with your statement, atruerx8racer for one. "Bulletproof reliability" come on, really?

 

Say what now..?

 

^^^lol. A car is worth what the owner believes it is worth. I have driven these expensive European machines and enjoy the 8 A LOT more. My 8 is worth more to me than those vehicles, in my mind. Sinces it a Shinka it kind feels pretty luxurious too.

 

Who cares what the percentage value lost is, what matters is the cash that represents. Just picking numbers here, but a $25k RX8 losing half its value is a better deal than a $55k Boxter losing 25%. When you figure in the different costs of insurance and such, it's even better. On the used market, you can make a relative killing. My 2006 lil black RX with every option and 9100 miles was $16k - no way to come even close with any similar highly regarded sports car that I know of. I aim for less than $0.10/mile capital cost after I eventually sell the car. (It's gonna be tight with the 8, but we'll see). I paid $11k for a 3 yo Solara and 105k miles later, it's still worth $4k, so I'm ahead of that 10 cent mark (as I have been for every car I've owned since 1975.) My record is probably the Audi 5000 I bought for $1500 when it was 10 years old, then drove for another 150k miles: capital cost of 1 cent per mile. I missed out on the deal of the century though by junking it 6 months ago - otherwise I'd have done the clunker deal resulting buy for $1500, drive for 12 years, sell for $3500 and a net profit!

 

Who cares what the percentage value lost is, what matters is the cash that represents. Just picking numbers here, but a $25k RX8 losing half its value is a better deal than a $55k Boxter losing 25%. When you figure in the different costs of insurance and such, it's even better. On the used market, you can make a relative killing. My 2006 lil black RX with every option and 9100 miles was $16k - no way to come even close with any similar highly regarded sports car that I know of. I aim for less than $0.10/mile capital cost after I eventually sell the car. (It's gonna be tight with the 8, but we'll see). I paid $11k for a 3 yo Solara and 105k miles later, it's still worth $4k, so I'm ahead of that 10 cent mark (as I have been for every car I've owned since 1975.) My record is probably the Audi 5000 I bought for $1500 when it was 10 years old, then drove for another 150k miles: capital cost of 1 cent per mile. I missed out on the deal of the century though by junking it 6 months ago - otherwise I'd have done the clunker deal resulting buy for $1500, drive for 12 years, sell for $3500 and a net profit!

 

The resale goes up once gasoline peaks, because then we're all riding around in hydrogen converted rx8's.

 

so like I bought a mx-6 2 years ago, for a daily... for 700......

so I only pay 350 a year to drive it and it will only go down

but I love my rx-8!!!!!

 

Careful... according to some around here, with that kind of thinking you're probably not financially secure enough to own a car like the '8.

 

Here is another data point if anyone is interested.

I had my 2004 RX-8 appraised by Car Max last night.

Details:
2004 RX-8, 6 MT
75,000 miles
Sport Package
Appearance Package
Clean

They offered me $6500 which is about $1500 below KBB trade-in. This was at a store in SE Wisconsin and sportscar season is over here. I paid about 23K for the car new.

 

sports cars always have shitty resale sadly, especially now in a recession since people prefer something else, i dont mind though

 

I've had one issue with my 04 and it was fixed under the 8yr/100k waranty that all the 8's have. New Engine and New Cat(Cat covered under federal law 8yr/80k). Maintenance is key.

 

^ +1 on that....my 04 has ran beautifully for 74k miles...grant it only 20k are mine but I have had no issues with it, no CEL's or anything

 

Get a beater, u cant afford anything else
think and re think it.
with ur mentality u can't really afford anything else, no matter whats in ur accounts.

PS
wanna see who has the most in accounts? the one with the least gives it all up to the other? i am game if u r.

 

$9,632.74 - Bills, sister's wedding in mexico, gf, and a bunch of **** I want to buy for the 8 and it will be half that in no time

 

It's a car, it loses value.

 

My solution to the 8's shitty resale value: not planning on selling for a long time.

What the hell would I replace it with in a similar price range, anyway? a Cobalt SS? *sarcasm*