spectre6000

Production on the RX8 ended June 22, 2012. We're coming up on the tenth anniversary of this tragic event. In 2012, the aftermarket for the S1 was hopping, and the S2 was just getting started. Parts were readily available, and prices were still quite high. A few years later, the aftermarket for the S2 caught up a bit, but still heavily favored the S1. Parts were still readily available. From the amount of time I've yet had to dedicate to researching the subject, it seems the S1 aftermarket has died out a fair bit to where they're about equal, and neither are great. Mazda rebuilt engines are still available, but it seems every part you could want to rebuild one yourself isn't necessarily available for either generation.

So what's the state of the 8 as we approach the ten year anniversary of the end?

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I can tell you as someone who regularly browses used 8s online, their value seems to have gone up at least 25%.
It could be an anomaly as used cars are in demand right now, but running ATs were regularly going for $4k or less a few years ago and now there are very few if any that cheap.

spectre6000

It's definitely the used car market. Anything DD-able is sky high, but coming down slightly. Special interest cars (classics, exotics, etc.) are trying to ride the wave, but ultimately are less affected. Doesn't stop sellers from trying. RX8s are firmly in the special interest camp as far as I'm concerned, at least for this market. Anything RWD gets a penalty, and the rotary mystery/mystique another. I used to see them all day long locally in the $1-2.5K range with a few optimists reaching for $10K. The floor now is around $4k, but nothing is moving.

There's one nearby at $17K, but that guy is smoking crack in any market. "Fresh rebuild" that he's so proud he did himself and is trying to mark up like crazy for it. Something like $10K or something is what he thinks that's worth (Mazda remans are ~$4.5K without looking). The paint is messed up in a few places, interior's trashed, etc. Delusional.

One thing I think will be interesting to see long term is how the pandemic used car bubble will affect residuals. I used to buy/sell a lot of cars, and one big no-no if you don't want to lose money is to not buy anything still falling down the depreciation curve. RX8s didn't have much lower to go in a lot of respects. This could represent an inflection. It might be buy time!

What's the state of parts and such? I'm not seeing a lot for sale on websites as "NLA" for obvious reasons, but what parts are unobtainium? S1/S2 respectively?

Ditto aftermarket? It looks like the once thriving S1 aftermarket is just a shadow, and nearly everything I can find for S1 has an S2 analog. This used to be a strong vote in favor of the S1, but if that's not a thing any more, the S2 becomes the preferable option.

BigCajun

iTrader: (1)

I haven't done a lot of aftermarket shopping.
I have a 2004 LY GT awaiting a new engine, and a '04 WB GT for my DD.
The things I've needed I've had no trouble finding. A taillight gasket was the last dealer item I bought.
I recently got a Sohn bundle. Other mods like the BHR midpipe & clutch pedal, SakeBomb ignition kit, as far as I know they're all still producing products.

Some of us prefer the look of the S1.
Less pronounced smiley face grill, and fender vents.
Some people have put R3 wheels on them.
There are lots of body kits and accessories still.

delhi

Buy the best manual transmission specimen of RX8 you can find regardless of S1 or S2.

Variable_Ian

Luckily it looks like we will continue to get support from Mazda with the recent fuel pump seal recall, the upcoming 2022 MX-30 getting a “rotary” engine in it as an internal range extending battery charger, and all the teases of concept rotary cars for the future. So at the worst, we will still be able to buy new engines from Mazda even if it is way less cost effective than a rebuild.

RastaRx-8

im really hoping a running rx8 will be worth 40k soon like the FD :P

spectre6000

Nahgunna happen. I'm convinced that the reason for the disparity is because the previous iterations of the rotary were much more easily modified to make big power. Mazda crippled the big power potential in the interest of trying to prolong the overall life of the rotary engine as a whole. They optimized the RX8 so much that there's very little potential left, so the modification world doesn't have much to go on. The car itself is fantastic. Super fun, capable, and extremely well balanced. You're just not going to be able to get an easy 500hp out of it. Combined with low production numbers, there's very little aftermarket potential. If you're like me, and appreciate handling in real world scenarios over straight line speed, it's pretty much perfect out of the box. Eventually, that may be appreciated, but it will likely be too little too late.

As someone who lives in one of those epic canyons you see in car videos all the time, I think it's tremendously undervalued. As someone who has bought and sold dozens of special interest cars over the last decade or so, I fully expect it to stay that way.

peloponisios

Price hike is anomalous right now. Nevertheless, 8s being sold now in Greece got a % up in price. What sold for 4.5/5 k euros, goes for 6 to 6.5k now. We're talking 05-06 s1s.
There aren't so many rolling 8s here. A lot of them got scrapped during the financial crisis and as time passes by, the number is shrinking, Germany, UK number of registered 8s going down. Strange times.

UnknownJinX

Unlikely.

FD is the only generation of RX-7 asking for ridiculous money. FB and FC are a lot cheaper.

FD has a combination of factors that made it expensive, including its timeless appearance. JDM from the 90s in particular are all pretty expensive, but outside of that they aren't worth big money(other than maybe AE86 thanks to Initial D).

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

7s mostly the fd will always bring more money than than an 8. the extra doors turned a lot of people off. the renny (most powerful n/a rotary) is still viewed as a **** engine. overall the 8 is a fun good car with a bad rap and very few will fork over a big pile of cash for one (maybe in 20yrs)

peloponisios

An fc sold for 63k at bat recently.

RastaRx-8

yep ive seen many FC over 10k that are cars i bought for 2k-3k before... and now i cant find a running rx8 under 5k and i saw a completely stock rx8 for 28k last month!!

just glad i have an FD and an rx8 :P

spectre6000

I've been watching the market here trying to find a good buy. Plenty of '04s running for under $5K. Not running under $2500. I think I saw an inop auto for $1K. That said, there's also an R3 S2 (in much worse shape than the seller is willing to admit) for $17K. There are extremes on both ends of the spectrum. That's all private party. Dealers are always stupid and a waste of everyone's time and money, but right now... Wow. If you ever needed convincing that the entire dealer system needs to be flushed, that's where to look.

UnknownJinX

In garage queen condition with under 5k km, then yes maybe. There are obviously exceptions for extremes.

Anything modded or regularly driven, nope. Buddy bought a built FC with race engine (supposedly can handle 450 wheel but detuned to 300-ish so my buddy can drive it without killing himself), race clutch, a roll cage(not installed) for CAN$15k in August, so FB and FC aren't that bad compared to FD, where a very beat up one my other friend bought with a damaged front bumper, damaged intercooler, busted A/C, and peeling paint can go for at least CAN$20k+.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

ive passed on a few 7s i regret not buying. two different r1 fds from the same seller who is local to me and a 10th annv fc turbo 2 100% oem and pretty much in show room condition i could have stolen for ~10k

peloponisios

It's getting more weird every day. There's an fd sold right now in my area, for 48k euros.
https://www.car.gr/classifieds/cars/view/316447855-mazda-rx-7?lang=en
An r3 for 20k.
https://www.car.gr/classifieds/cars/...309-mazda-rx-8
I don't like where this is going. Even Miatas are getting out of hand.

spectre6000

There's an FD for sale near me for $10K USD. It's formerly auto, conversion in progress, and looks like it was wrecked. The left rear fender looks to be bare metal and in the process of being bondo-fied badly...