Petscar

I am an old fart as well, but a newbie to the RX8. Purchased an 05 with 26k miles. It is a blast to drive. I haven't had a speeding ticket in over 10 years. I am currently anticipating getting one or two in the near future. Fortunately, I found this site and have become familiar with the do's and dont's of the car. Hopefully, it will keep it alive. The original owner did not red line or pre mix leaving the compression on rotor 2 a little !ow. For the moment, I red line several times per trip. I'm hoping it will help preserve some longevity.

Petscar

Just my 2 cents regarding other cars, I test drove the 350Z and was not that impressed. I also drove the Miata and didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the 8. Plus it was too small for me. I did however enjoy my Mercedes CLK which I lost in a hailstorm prior to buying my 8. It was a different experience in that it was sporty and handle'd well with more comfort and luxury. But the 8 is more fun to drive.

RXeckless

iTrader: (5)

I too test drove the 350Z just before I purchased my 1st 8. The 350Z had more power but not the handling was what sold me on the 8, it felt like it was on rails!
The only other car for me at this point would be Lotus Elise SC which I had a chance to drive on a track, just crazy fun to drive. Impractical as hell!

Petscar

The Lotus looks awesome, but I'm not sure I want to know the price. While the 350Z specs make it a faster car, to me it really didn't seem faster when I drove it. There is something about the 8 that makes it feel faster than it probably is. I suspect the handling, the sound of the rotary and the 9k rpm top end that gives the perception of being faster. It was also a more exhilarating drive than the 350Z.

New Yorker

All things considered, I really do believe the RX-8 is a classic in the making. Time will tell.

UnknownJinX

Didn't consider 350Z because it packed back seats. It's good to have them for occasions.

Also heard that 350Z interior feels very cheap, which is a problem with Nissan cars in general. My friend who drove one said you can scratch off the black paint of the shift **** very easily.

Elise is rare, expensive and feels a bit extreme unless you track it often. The interior is bare bones to save weight. Also, it uses the 1ZZ-FE engine, which is reliable, but not very powerful.

Okki-Jakarta

Since having a kid, it's hard to make time for the 8 but i do go for spirited drive at night twice or once per month. when i first bought it, it was a challenge and a love hate relationship, more to hate side as parts are old and needs replacements, but after a bunch of aftermarket parts, it's all love now.

I dont really drool at other cars because i know the 8 is a one of its kind now with the rotary engine, and i love how raw and light the car is.

It's been roughly 4 years now, and i feel that i have lesser and lesser time for it and the traffic in my country is so bad that so many 8s overheated.

Just dont know what to move on to if i ever sold the 8, might go with the new mx5 rf but the mazda dealers here are only selling the automatic transmission, which i dont think it's that fun to drive compared to the 8, and it costs 780.000.000(Rupiah) converts to USD 52.000. which means i have to add a wholesome amount after selling the 8 (market price is roughly 10k-15k USD).

delhi

I am one of the few original owners. Bought mine brand new back in spring 07. Then and now I've had other cars from Mazda's to BMW's to Subarus. Through it all the 8 remained constant. Compared to the 335i, x28i, mazda6, WRX...the rx8 stand apart in driving engagement.
Reliability? Try owning a n54 BMW. I've come to appreciate the simplicity of the Renesis. It really is a simple engine in comparison. Heck my WRX puke coils too. And my 8 never cared about oil brand nor fuel grade. Dino oil.... Cheap 87. No problem.
After all these years still sexy to look at. No sloppy shifter like the 335i and WRX. Sure it's not as fast. But who cares in these days of sub 4 second electric cars. For me it's back to the joy of driving...and my 8 delivers smiles.

New Yorker

UnknownJinX

So I know I may not be the kindest in terms of judging the 8, but man, today's test drives made me appreciate my car a bit more.

I test drove a 15 Ecoboost Mustang 2.3T and an 18 Mazda 6 2.5T with a friend, both in automatics.

All I can say is that while the 8 is slower when taking off than both cars, what I love is how the response is instantaneous, no turbo lag, no transmission guesswork. You press the gas pedal and it goes. Reminds me again why I chose to pick up driving a manual. The Mazda 6 6AT isn't bad by any means, but I still would prefer a 6-speed just because I get to call the shots and paddle shifters just don't cut it.

The 8's power delivery is also more elegant. You feel it going faster and faster until that beep. It feels really natural. It also sounds much better than most 4 cylinder engines. I still think it's kinda embarrassing for a Mustang to sound like my old Corolla since they are both I4 engines.

The Ecoboost Mustang's interior also felt quite cheap TBH. It's built for a lower price point, so I guess that is to be expected. The 8's interior still feels pretty nice especially given its age. It feels more like a Grand Tourer.

And I agree, if you want a fast car, just go for an EV. Really can't beat instant torque in terms of acceleration.

Petscar

EV meaning electric vehicle??

UnknownJinX

Yes.

In terms of straight line performance, Tesla has already showcased what can be done and it will only get better.

But at the same time, EVs are more expensive, less convenient for those without a garage, and heavy as bricks due to battery packs, so a light sports car still have advantages when it comes to handling.

7andan8

In reading this thread from the beginning, because I've been away from the forums for a while, it's nice to see articulate, well thought out responses. Doesn't matter which side of the isle you're on for RX-8 support, it's just not the type of conversation I thought I'd find after years away from "forum life". Thanks to you all. Especially the ones that reminded me of the feelings I had when first driving my Rex on the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina so many years ago. I had conditioned myself that a return to the RX-8 Club forum would require me to flip through endless posts of 18 yr olds trying to find out the best way to turbo their 8. I'm sure those threads are here. But it's nice to find some of the 8 drivers that simply enjoy the drivability of our cars. (No disrespect intended to all the teenagers. Boys will be boys)

For context, I have a '04 GT with 94k miles. Bought it in '05 with 13k, stock. Engine was replaced around 40k miles because EVERYONE was going to Mazda in those days "checking" their engines. My dealers mechanic told me my compression numbers were "close enough" to ask for a replacement. So I got a new motor. I never thought the original had any issues, I just had it checked, because …. Currently it provides a daily chore, getting to work and back. But don't take it on a long trip or ask it to run around town with multiple stops and starts. Power is okay when cold, starts to show it's compression failure as it gets hot. No biggie for the moment, but I'll need to find a reputable rotary mechanic in the near future. As for it's unique spirit and handling, I can't imagine trying to replace it for a reasonable sum of money. With a simple Tein Basic coilover set and a few other goodies, it's an orgasmic car to drive.

ch604

dang... i wish my MIL would have driven the heck out of hers when she got it rather than 'maintain it as a classic'. nobody will ever want to pay top dollar for an 04 with 40k miles! just use the dang thing!

northzone

Hello Everyone

I am also a relatively new RX8 owner purchasing an 07 with under 25K km (18Kmiles) 6 months ago and it was purchased to be a fun weekend driving car on my days off and I am sure glad I did. It really does put a smile on my face when I drive and even when I think about going for a drive in it which unfortunately will not be until April or May now. Winter The information available on this website and the owners that posted it all were a big part of the decision to choose the RX8. Most of the people that post here come across as people I would like to have as friends and neighbors, they point out where to find the information on the website and will go out of there way to supply assistance when asked nicely. Other factors were of course the look, the handling and the price, while I did look at many other cars but they just didn't create the same emotional rush that the RX8 did. There is a business group trying to build a track in my area so hopefully sometime in 2020 I can really try it out like so many others write about on this site.

Thank you all and keep up the good work.

Greasyman

I don't see many RX8s around, but when I do they aren't riced out, most are stock or maybe have some wheels on them. I did see one that had a lot of mods being driven sort of douchely, but it looked pretty tasteful, I have to admit.
I think the RX8 will become a minor classic someday. It'll never be a very expensive car, something rare and in demand, but it's a good car to drive, and a unique car, and a mechanically interesting car, so it will always have its fans. They won't sell for $100k at Barrett-Jackson, but they will eventually go for $25k on BaT.

RX0004

Every car eventually gains value given enough time, and becomes sought after by someone. This usually happens once good clean examples become hard to find, and parts to repair or rebuild running cars become harder and harder to come by. It's just the nature of the 'car game'....

For the RX8 this is a while away. There's still plenty of running cars about. There's an abundant of cars in the classifieds to choose from, and there's plenty of cars in wrecking yards for parts. In fact where I'm from many wrecking yards aren't interested in buying RX8 wrecks as their current stock of cars are extremely slow moving - the market simply isn't there.

Give it another 10 years and things might be different.

skc

I purchased my Rx8 in 2003. Its done over a 100 track days.

The engine has been rebuilt around 15 000km ago with better seals and porting to exhaust. I also run Tien Monoflex suspension and Rx8 Performance aluminum motor mount so it drives on rails without too much sacrifice on comfort.

I am planning to strap the Hymee supercharger back on and run more boost soon.

I think a 300hp Rx8 will be a killer.

Greasyman

I haven't been around RX8s long enough to know if the aftermarket has gotten bigger, smaller, or stayed the same, but I don't have much concern about an eventual lack of parts availability. Once the parts are designed, I think it's fairly easy for makers to knock off a few pieces now and then. As for stock parts, I'm sure the day will come when some parts are depleted, but as with any old car, they can always be found, stashed away somewhere. If they truly no longer exist, there are often hardcore enthusiasts who make them in sheds, garages and basements. You can still get just about any part for a Hudson, or a TR3 or Bugeye Sprite, the RX8 shouldn't be any different.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

well,

i got mine new in feb 05. it is an 04. first motor came out at ~60k miles. it was running fine, but recall.. so free motor.

second motor came out at 130k miles, running pretty well, because i got a deal on a ots pettit motor that had 3k miles on it.. thanks 04green.

well i had a coolant hose fail while on track. so my car is in time out right now.. but never have had the car fail me that was not my fault!

i am at 13 years into this project, and 145k miles, my regrets are almost none. and the ones that i have are my own fault.

beers

40thAnniv08

The bottom line of my opinion first: I think RX8s will go up in value simply due to the economic principle of scarcity value:"Scarcity value is the economic factor that increases an item's relative price based more upon its relatively low supply. Whereas the prices of newly manufactured products depend mostly on the cost of production (the cost of inputs used to produce them, which in turn reflects the scarcity of the inputs), the prices of many goods—such as antiques, rare stamps, and those raw materials in high demand—reflects the scarcity of the products themselves." (Wikipedia--best source I could find in a quick search)

I've added nothing new here because numerous previous posts have stated the opinion that the increasing rareness of RX8s will push the value up. But, as a guy with an economics degree, I decided to dust off something I can remember from my education. Of course, all rules were meant to be broken and it's certainly possible the shortcomings of RX8s will outweigh the relative attractiveness created by shrinking supply. But, in my biased opinion, I think scarcity value will win out with the RX8.

That said, I don't care if my RX8 goes up in value. I love the looks of the car and the way it drives. I'm proud to own one and I'll drive, rebuild, repeat for as long as I can.

skc

I love going to the track and beating most exotic cars especially if I am on a tight winding track the Rx8. That's when the Rx8 is in its element

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I've had my LY GT for over 6 years now, 90k, of which 75k are mine.
The engine is slowly dying, but still runs great, and I still turn around to look at it, and still get occasional compliments on it.

remzi91

i am watching germany - austria- switzerland markets since 2 years. i have search alerts on everywhere. prices already start climbing in here. before there was all over broken rx8's under 2.000€, now it will gone in few hours if its 6MT. LHD r3`s almost impossible to find. 17-20k easily. i saw one LY 33k miles sold for 13k etc.

not sure about S1 but r3 rx8 really rare cars. we are talking about max 3.000 LHD in the WORLD. comparing to fd rx7: min. 15.000

UnknownJinX

There were only ever about 17000 S2's ever produced, so 3000 for LHD R3 could be a guess.

That said, I have seen a bunch of R3 S2 locally, but only one GT ever(I was able to tell from the open sunroof).