I currently have a 2013 jeep wrangler. It’s not fast, not nice to sit in. But I love it!

I’m thinking I might love a sports car also. So I’m toying with the idea of selling my jeep and getting an rx8. Back before I bought the jeep I was looking at rx8s and got scared of the rotary engine and ended up with a jeep.

Now I’m thinking I might like one again. I know how to take care of a car, I can baby it and tend to its needs. I can also rev the crap out of it.

Now I’ve heard the 2009+ is more reliable. Is this actually true?

I would be looking for one with less than 50,000 Km (31,000 miles)

Any thoughts I DONT want to be stuck doing engine rebuilds and when I find one I like I will make them do a compression test first. Is this a car for me?

Thanks for any tips.

 

Before you purchase, get a compression check of the engine using a rotary specific compression tester.

Read the new and potential owners thread to assist you with further understanding.

 

Thanks.
I started reading the potential Owners Thread. Didn't see it in the sticky at first.

I will read it through and post if I have any Questions.

 

Welcome to the club :-)

Rx8 is very demanding but equally rewarding at the same time.

Its a great enthusiast car, performs very well, comes loaded with good options, with the exception of poor gas mileage, but hey you want a sports car so it is what it is :-)

After you have read the Potential New Owner's thread, ask yourself if this car is for you?

If you have any questions please feel free to post them here, we have a very knowledgeable folks here.

All the best.

 

Here's a funny story about the guy I bought my car from.. He was driving a Wrangler and he wanted a new car, he said he'd always like the RX-8's but just wasn't sure. So he decided to go buy a new R3 and on the way to pick it up his Wrangler flat out broke down.. Perfect timing I guess right? Haha

And yes, the 2009-2011 (Series 2) are more reliable. The engine and car will still need REGULAR care and maintenance. Trust me. But stuff like flooding was pretty much totally solved.

Series 2's still get the same warranty as the Series 1's too!!

 

While the previous members are correct about '09s & up models, to me the care taken by the previous owner is very important.
A 2009 with 50k miles driven by someone who was ignorant about the idiosyncrasies of the Renesis and treated it like a Civic,
(like changing oil every 5-7k, never checking the oil, never refreshing the ignition, never driving in the upper RPM range) could be in worse condition than a 2004 with 80k that was maintained properly by a knowledgeable owner.
My 2¢ anyway.

 

Pros: Fireballs, high revs, excellent handling and braking, safe chassis and crash tests.

Cons: Bad gas mileage, temperamental drivetrain, touch and go used market, BAD gas mileage.