https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...icle/759653109

When running the vin, it shows up as a Grand Touring, which I think is incorrect, because there's no sunroof. I think it's a genuine R3.
If it has excellent compression, then I suppose it's on the upper end of a fair deal. The seller conspicuously does not mention anything about compression. History says there was minor front end damage over a decade ago.

It also looks like it's lowered too much to go over speed bumps, and I would have to fly there to pick it up and then drive over 1500 miles home.

Ideally, I'd want to get at least 30k miles out of it before it fails and swap in an LS, and then drive it another 100k.

 

Looks like an R3 to me. It looks lowered about the same height as my car and speed bumps are not difficult.

With 80k miles it wouldn't surprise me if its at/close to low compression. It should still start and have life left, I'd bet you'd be ok if you're looking to swap in 30k miles.

 

steeper price, but only 10,000 miles in CT

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/20...grand-touring/

not sure why the link states GT on this one too …
.

 

Some of the prices on finished auctions on that site are insanely high. I wonder if the deals aren't always completed. Also, that R3 is red, and it's 2500+ miles away from me.

This one is more similar in value, but people didn't bid up to whatever the reserve was. Nobody was willing to go over about $10k https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-mazda-rx8-r3/

And then there's this blue r3 that went for $20k with 86k miles. But then again, it comes with an extra spare renesis, haha https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2009-mazda-rx-8-10/

 

The lack of a sunroof doesn't preclude the Grand Touring trim level. Order a vin lookup at https://carfast.express/en/vin_decoder to confirm the actual trim level and factory options. If the seller doesn't list the compression, that's a red flag. Without a confirmed compression test and inspection, I wouldn't count on the 30,000-mile warranty.