Kittleson44

So I’ve been in the rotary game since about 2015, I’ve had an 85 GS Rx7 and currently own a 93 Rx7 that I’ve done a bunch of work to. But with all things I’ve started a family and was considering selling the FD and getting the Rx8 to make as a fun weekend/track car I can take the wife and kids out in to meets and such. I am just looking to see what year Rx8 I’d want to go with and pros and cons of each one. I am familiar with the rew but not the reni so any input or advice for selecting which one would be appreciated. Also on the lookout for a rew swapped one would be amazing

Loki

iTrader: (1)

rx8help.com to get you started. Or the New Owners thread here.

For pros and cons of the 2 series.. there aren't that many changes. It's mostly down the earlier years being older and having spent more time in the hands of owners who weren't properly educated in rotaries.

If you're looking to stay stock, an R3 makes the most sense, but if you're planning to mod it anyway, then whatever one you can find in good condition is the best one.

Consider finding a good body with a blown engine and getting a new engine for it so you're starting with a clean slate.

Petscar

I might be selling mine. 05 with 48k miles. I am in Colorado. Very well maintained. Where are you located?

Kittleson44

Thanks I’ll check those out and I’ve been leaning towards an 09+ R3 but I haven’t decided yet. I’m currently in NC but moving to NM next May.

TKJimmy

I'm also trying to sell my 07 GT with 27k miles.. There was recently an R3 that went FS that you can take a look at. Personally, I'd say test drive one first. My first and only manual daily driver is an ND Miata. I hyped the RX-8 to be a better ND with the rotary but I really don't like it that much. It doesn't have the same playfulness of a Miata. A bad decision on my bad haha

BluSpectre

The 2009-11 "Series 2" has a plethora of improvements that, for many people including myself, make it a lot more desirable to pick up rather than the older "Series 1" RX-8s. I would like to toss out there that everything "better" about the Series 2, aside from the third oil injector and the updated smart key sensors, can be modified onto the Series 1 with varying levels of effort and fabrication, so targeting exclusively a Series 2 for the improvements in the long term may not be worth it sometimes. I absolutely love my S2 GT, and I want to get a turbo RX-7, maybe an FC T2 or an FD3, as a side car. If you're actually planning on selling your '93, I would be interested in how much you want for it and where you are at!
Supposedly the RX-8 handles better than all of the RX-7s, boasting superior chassis rigidity, G-loading, suspension geometry, reliability and fuel economy than any and all of the RX-7s, but I have never driven anything other than an old FC S4 NA for a single test drive so I couldn't tell you. Perhaps all of those "upgrades" are just marketing. What I can tell you is an improvement is casual cruising quality, as the RX-8 is indeed smoother than the FC and supposedly smoother than the lighter FD.

Cyryllys

I am also trying to sell my RX8 in Colorado, but I am trying to meet the ten post requirement to make a thread. I am not sure how to quote the OG Coloradan, but where are you taking your car to get compression tested? I'm in the four corners area and nobody will do it here.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Welcome to the forum!! What color was your 85 GS? As for selling the FD...well if you do, you may find that it will cost more to buy another than what you sold yours for. The prices are on the rise and the car will only gain value.

As for RX-8 ownership, well it's a blast! I have multiple RX-7's and they're completely different animals. Both extraordinary vehicle but there's something about the 8 that I just love. And it can hold a couple of my kids. It's really a win win!

SleepeR1st

iTrader: (2)

To me there really is no other car on the market that fits the niche of the rx8, a 4 seater mildly raw sports car that looks and sounds unlike anything on the road.

wahsogoot

I too am looking into getting a series 2 RX8 R3 or GT. R3 would be best for keeping stock, but I'd probably be wasting my money if I got that since I plan on doing suspension mods anyways. Upon researching non-stop and calling local rotary experts, it seems like the series 2 would be an "easier" car to take care of in the sense that premixing doesn't seem to be as big of a must than a series 1. There may be more updates that I'm unaware of, but that seemed to be the thing that stood out to me most.