A friend just got a good running, low mile, slightly damaged (easily fixed) 2005 low option model for a ridiculously low price.
Looking around in my area there are some 2004s going for $4k with 100k miles on them. I know the car has issues with engines, but out of the box they just perform so well and if compression checks out then there isn't much to do other than blast the car around a track or autocross.
I'm kinda regretting selling mine.
Manual trans only!
I thought there was an auto trans available? Pretty sure I saw one on CL recently, but perhaps I'm imagining things.
They have gotten ridiculously cheap though, I've been seeing them under $5k with regularity. I wonder how much tire can be easily stuffed underneath one? Seems like an ideal LS swap candidate 
There is an auto but you lose 40 hp and those are the ones what have more engine trouble. Something about not seeing redline enough if memory serves. Also they come with smaller brakes on the older ones.
SPG123 wrote: Manual trans only!
Oh definitely, don't touch the auto with a ten foot pole. Still finding manuals out there quite a bit.
Too bad they get total crap for fuel economy, and apparently require you to drive them in a way that gets even worse fuel economy to make the engine last (LOL), or I would probably be daily driving one right now.
If you need a daily that you put miles on I'd be hard pressed to recommend an RX-8 for reasons of fuel economy, but at the same time it's still a bargain as a part time driver autocross toy.
If your commute is short, the mileage penalty isn't so bad.
Depends on what your fuel economy reference is. Lots of people drive SUVs and trucks daily and never haul more than one or two people. I've been driving by dad's truck lately ('06 Chevy 1500 extended cab 4.8 V8) and I've been getting 15-16 mpg. My RX8 on the same commute gets 17-19. If you look at it from that perspective it gets great economy! 
In reply to tomtomgt356:
If I'm going to drive something that gets that bad of fuel mileage, it damn well better make more than 160 lb-ft of torque. This is why rotaries are stupid.
I saw a salvage on on Rapid City Craigslist for $500. Needed a hood and bumper and and engine. I had bad thoughts about an LSx swap for Challenge money.
In reply to Furious_E: Apparently haven't driven one in anger. Blast to drive and that 9200rpm redline is fun. My RX8 is quicker that my Miata and my wife's V6 Sonata. I know not saying much but keeps up with bigger engine cars.
I look at the MPGs as tomtomgt356 puts it. Terrible mpg's compared to a car but better than a full size truck. Unless talking about a diesel or EcoBoost.
I love rotaries, but they don't seem to be able to keep up with the Frisbees in the STX class.
Do they drink the expensive stuff (premium)? Or do they run okay on regular?
These are on my to be LS'd list of rides. Great chassis, unique styling, actual backseat, and new enough to be a solid daily.
wlkelley3 wrote: In reply to Furious_E: Apparently haven't driven one in anger. Blast to drive and that 9200rpm redline is fun. My RX8 is quicker that my Miata and my wife's V6 Sonata. I know not saying much but keeps up with bigger engine cars. I look at the MPGs as tomtomgt356 puts it. Terrible mpg's compared to a car but better than a full size truck. Unless talking about a diesel or EcoBoost.
I've never driven a rotary period, so take everything I've said with a huge grain of salt, but on paper they really don't hold much appeal to me. If someone wants to let me drive their car to try and change my mind I certainly won't complain
But comparing the fuel mileage to a full size truck is ridiculous, serious case of tallest midget syndrome. I think a more fair comparison would be an S2000 - similar power/torque/redline/purpose, but easily average mid 20s in MPGs and won't blow up at 100k. I guess that's why they go for at a BARE minimum double what an RX8 does nowadays. And that's honestly being conservative.
Not trying to knock the rotary lovers, to each his own, there are just very few advantages I see in that configuration.
Yes, as a secondary car they are a fantastic bargain...And will probably continue to be into the forseeable future. They will definitely also make great swap candidates for people caring less about the price of entry than about the end result.
Compare the power, weight, and size of a truck to the RX8, and the fuel economy still looks abysmal.
Furious_E wrote:wlkelley3 wrote: In reply to Furious_E: Apparently haven't driven one in anger. Blast to drive and that 9200rpm redline is fun. My RX8 is quicker that my Miata and my wife's V6 Sonata. I know not saying much but keeps up with bigger engine cars. I look at the MPGs as tomtomgt356 puts it. Terrible mpg's compared to a car but better than a full size truck. Unless talking about a diesel or EcoBoost.I've never driven a rotary period, so take everything I've said with a huge grain of salt, but on paper they really don't hold much appeal to me. If someone wants to let me drive their car to try and change my mind I certainly won't complain
Yeah, you need to drive one before you continue commenting on their performance. Magazine racing the thing never makes it look good.
Harvey wrote: ...Looking around in my area there are some 2004s going for $4k with 100k miles on them... I'm kinda regretting selling mine.
You are definitely rolling the dice with a 100k on one. A new motor will be at least as expensive as the car.
Great car though.
Furious_E wrote:wlkelley3 wrote: In reply to Furious_E: Apparently haven't driven one in anger. Blast to drive and that 9200rpm redline is fun. My RX8 is quicker that my Miata and my wife's V6 Sonata. I know not saying much but keeps up with bigger engine cars. I look at the MPGs as tomtomgt356 puts it. Terrible mpg's compared to a car but better than a full size truck. Unless talking about a diesel or EcoBoost.I've never driven a rotary period, so take everything I've said with a huge grain of salt, but on paper they really don't hold much appeal to me. If someone wants to let me drive their car to try and change my mind I certainly won't complain
So you're putting down a whole engine that you've never even experienced based on some MPG numbers, and a torque rating? Okay. How many books do you poo-poo just by the cover art?
The early ones are bargains for a reason. If I had to do it over, I'd just spend the money and go right to the second generation (2009 and later) car. I'd probably still own one if I'd done that.
Too much emphasis is put on torque ratings for high revving engines, without factoring the torque multiplication from the typically shorter gearing. The amount of torque at the ground, not at the crank, is what you feel.
Okay, the title of this thread isn't "Hey the RX8 is the best bargain priced daily driver econobox out there!" Just an FYI for those on the whole MPG issue. If you drive anything like you stole it then the mileage isn't going to be good.
aircooled wrote:Harvey wrote: ...Looking around in my area there are some 2004s going for $4k with 100k miles on them... I'm kinda regretting selling mine.You are definitely rolling the dice with a 100k on one. A new motor will be at least as expensive as the car. Great car though.
Test the compression before you buy?
Are there engine swap conversion kits for the 1st gens?
Harvey wrote:aircooled wrote:Test the compression before you buy?Harvey wrote: ...Looking around in my area there are some 2004s going for $4k with 100k miles on them... I'm kinda regretting selling mine.You are definitely rolling the dice with a 100k on one. A new motor will be at least as expensive as the car. Great car though.
Certainly, but I believe that will tell if it's effectively dead, not if it's about to die.
Rotaries are great, but when they go, they can go fast.
(someone else can confirm this, I am not a full expert on rotaries)
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