Hey Guys,
I am 31 soon to be 32. I owned an FD back in highschool and foolishly sold it.
Since i am not able to post in any-other thread due to being new. I thought i might ask here. I am now at a point in my life where i can afford a new project. I have been wanting to do a little dailyable drift build. I have put the RX8 in my list of options. I am not familiar with the RX8 other than the 13B is a bit different due to emissions and somewhat worse than the 13B in the FD. My question(s) are, What should i watch out for? What year model should i stray from and what year should i put my focus on searching?

Mod/Owner,
If this post in unacceptable, I apologize.
Thanks,

 

RX8help.com should have all the answers, check it out. Written by one of the members here.

 

Stay away from the S1 2004-2008 model years. Look at the S2 2009-2011 model years. They have an upgraded engine. All S2 regardless of trim have the same engine so if you're going to gut one to build from the ground up, I'd look for a Sport model. If you want the performance version, with Recaro seats, upgraded suspension, look at an R3.

 

The generation makes very little difference. A fresh engine in an S1 or an S2 is the important part. If you're going to modify it heavily I would go with an S1. Cheaper, more upgradeable

 

All depends on budget. A good series 1 RX8 6 speed manual can book out at half the price or less than an R3. The Series 1 is also more mod friendly and make the same power as the series 2. I've always had series 1 RX8's they are absolutely reliable and easy to care for if set up properly. I also think the S1 looks better than the S2.

 

I have to disagree. I've owned both series and the S2 is just as mod friendly as the S1. The only thing it doesn't get is a Sohn adapter, which it doesn't need anyway.
as far as looks go, the S2 is definitely prettier. Steering wheel, gauge cluster, piano black trim, if you have them, the recaro seats. The HIDEOUS taillights on the S1, fake fender vents. The only thing prettier than an R3 front bumper is the S1 Mazdaspeed bumper.

 

Fair enough, good points. The question then becomes is it worth twice as much? I just don’t know about it. You can score an S1 with great compression numbers and save so much money over an R3, it just seems like a better deal to me. I’m fully expecting if I buy a car for a drift build there is a higher probability I’ll crash and lose the whole car at some point. Easier to recover if your costs are low. Again, comes down to budget but if I’m putting the money out for an R3 there’s no way I’m drifting it haha.

 

All depends on purpose. Not being able to run a Sohn adapter could be a strike against if having oil flexibility is part of your race setup. Not being able to use an AccessPort could be as well. Likewise, buying an R3 only to remove all the R3 parts and replace with aftermarket makes no sense.

The rest is taste, even the taillights

 

Agreed on all counts. That's why I mentioned if I were to build a car from the ground up I'd go for an S2 Sport. The R3 "value" is in it's rarity. Only 950 sold in the States so I guess that's where the difference is. The only thing of value in it over other trims are the seats and wheels.