Is it really worth repairing my 05 Rx8?
 

My Rx8 went down about a year and half ago, I was pissed that it happened and just didn't want to do anything with it. I now only owe about $3k on it, I believe an apex seal got stuck between the housing and rotor. The car was misfiring and I heard an audible "clunk" which then the car shutdown. It no longer turns over after that day. I really just want to move on and sell it, I'm willing to pay to repair it. It is a manual, black, and the transmission/chassis has 61k miles on it. I haven't been paying attention to the Rx8 market lately.

Suppose it was an apex seal and you need a new engine. Say you can get one for $5k installed. You still owe $3k, so you're 8k in the hole. 8k for an 11 year old car with a new engine is pretty high, but I think attainable if the rest of the car is MINT. Chassis mileage will make a big difference. Say you end up selling it for 6-7k... you lose 1-2k total - but you tied up $5k in the new engine until you can sell it, which may take time.

If you try to sell it as is, you might get 1k, so you're out 2k total, but no money is tied up and you can buy another car, rather than an engine.

Scenario 3, you get a used engine, with due dilligence that it's not also dead, for 1-1.5k. Maybe 2k installed. You should be able to sell that for 4-4.5k, which is getting close to break-even, but you spend a lot of your time finding a good engine.

But before all that, at least verify that the engine is actually dead. Sometimes simple fixes are possible.

I appreciate the response, are blown motor/low mileage chassis really going for that low lately? I've been out of the scene for awhile.

Probably scrap value in Indiana. There isn't a lot of demand for the cars when running. Even less in the boonies. Supply>demand for rolling chassis, because swaps are still atypical. You might do better to part it out. What color is it?

You can get a Mazda reman engine for about $3500 shipped ($3k for engine, $250 shipping, ~$250 return shipping for core).

Swapping an engine with a friend really isn't that hard and there's a good write-up.

I've done it twice now, and while it is not too hard, it is not trivial either. For the first time doing it, and taking some care, I would estimate 1 day to take it out, 1 day to transfer all the pieces over from the old engine to the new one, and 1 day to put it all back together again.

This is all good input, particularly that last part ;-)

My point was that it doesn't take special skills. Just patience, and the standard toolbox that most car guys have (or at least a HorribleFreight nearby for those single-use tools).

The one time I've done it so far we got it out and undressed in about 12 hours and then took it even more slowly reinstalling in about 16 hours. This
was using an engine hoist out of the top in my buddy's attached garage.

I've made a new friend that teaches automotive tech and has a fully-furnished repair shop and I expect it will take far less time when/if I have to do it again.

Agree with everyone - yes it is worth it if you have the money to repair the REnny engine and a spare DD car. However you need to love the RX8 in order to recop the repair mentally and physically.

Thanks for the replies, hopefully repairing it will make me like the car again. I'm in talks with someone to check the motor out and everything.

I would suggest installing another engine. My 04 died a little over a year ago and sat in my garage until this February when I bought another engine and installed it. I never lost interest in the car while it was down. I was discouraged a little, but being a rotary owner for the last 18 years, I knew what I was in for when I bought the car. Replacing the engine was not terribly difficult and for me, getting rid of a car or parting it with such low miles would be a crime. I am all for restoring these once loved cars. I am trying to buy two more of them this week with dead engines. Its sad when people part them, but a part of me understands. I hope you can get your car back on the road in short order and you will fall right back in love with it!

If you like rotary engines like I do, and most over here, the answer would be definitely worth it.

You mention your car has 60K miles. Not much. If you took care of it, it is a good body and interior.

A new motor will bring back life and performance.

There are people who are into business, and not into affection nor taste for any particular car. Under that overview, most cars would be a loss.

But for a car enthusiast, and brand (plus engine in our case, other cars share pistons, we do not share rotors) fan, let me tell you, an investment of less than 5K will give you a sports car back.

If you were to sell it, you would get very little, not because it has no value, but because sharks always circle the weak link, and a broken car is a perfect kill for the entrepeneur.

With whatever money you would get from selling your RX, you could buy a cheap mountain bike.

I do not think you would like that, specially when "Bent Axle Bob" passes you in your RX8 with an engine he rebuilt himself and cost him less that 3 K !

And if you go over for a decent RX8, it will cost you some good money, and it will not have a new motor.

I say fix it !

What happened?! Did you fix it/sell it/replace it?

Just finished the engine swap on mine, I sourced a 43k mi long block on ebay for under 2k. The swap was pretty easy. Just make sure you find out all the specialty tools you need to get it done. That's the most frustrating part for sure.

I swapped mine with a reman. reman was $2800 and I also swapped a SII trans.


I thought it was pretty easy, takes time obviously but wasn't tough. started first time and everything works great.


I do have a lot of experience with rotaries and taking things apart and putting them together, so if you don't have any experience at all I could see how it might be daunting and more difficult.

oh well