Why are RX8 s so cheap?

So Im on CL and there are lots of them! Most of them can be had for challenge money.

Why are they so cheap and what to look for when buying one.

http://elpaso.craigslist.org/cto/4716131856.html

http://elpaso.craigslist.org/cto/4685481027.html

Holy schmoly, those are half the price of similar cars here. I have really been thinking about getting an early RX8. Maybe a fly and drive is in my future.

Why?

A combination of fear and ignorance generally.

For one, it needs works, spinning triangles are magic. The other is a 2004 and is still making payments?

The second one wants you to take over payments. Sketchy.

In reply to GVX19:

FYI, the second link is $1500 + take over payments.

Other than that, low gas mileage, needs an extra 100hp and 150ftlb, burns oil (by design), engines don't last if you don't know how to take care of them, check out any rotary rant thread for more, etc.

The ones I see for less than $4000 usually need an engine or have an automatic. An engine rebuild is ~$1500 assuming the big pieces are fine and you replace all the seals. You can sometimes get away with less if the hard seals are within spec but there is a reason it needs a rebuild and its usually not cheap.

This would be my best guess, at least if internet lore is to be believed.

The spinning triangle is an unusual engine design that needs special care that most drivers don't want to bother with. For heaven's sake, normal drivers often can't even be bothered to replace coolant and brake fluid every 5 years. The RX-8 rotary doesn't seem to be able to last as long as the ones from the RX-7s. I haven't heard about people needing to replace those rotaries in 60-80K miles. Low torque and low fuel mileage also deters plenty of people from buying them, including car enthusiasts.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: ...Low torque and low fuel mileage also deters plenty of people from buying them, including car enthusiasts.

I honestly find it hard to be non-enthusiast are concerned with torque.

If you have driven one of course, you will realize, that although the torque number is low, it comes on so quickly, if you didn't know any better, you would not call it a low torque motor.

Not really a curve at all really, more of a line!:

HappyAndy wrote: This would be my best guess, at least if internet lore is to be believed.

This is the answer. As a car enthusiast you know too much and KNOW it is going to blow up, or as a civilian you know nothing about them and are AFRAID they will blow up.

I have to say though, for the prices I see listed for clean cars, a guy who is not afraid to wrench could buy one and have a spare engine on the shelf and enjoy a very nice car for a lot of years. As a hobby car it would put you into a much more usable car for the same money as say an MGB or old Fiat.

Fashion and rumour. Buy one, enjoy it, fix it when it breaks and sell it when you want to try something else. You won't have a lot tied up and will have a great experience at low risk.

Those are cheap compared to around here. Maybe people around here know how to work on them or something

Same reason 350Z are so cheap.

edit: Was thinking you found them for like $7000 not $2000 wtf?

Stupid owners lead to dead cars, snap one up, learn to fix it, and use it like the dirty girl/guy it is.

I don't see 350Zs for that cheap most of the time. They do seem to be coming down in price, however.

In reply to aircooled: Non-enthusiasts may not think they care about torque, but they know the engine doesn't throw their body back in the seat when they stomp on the gas. I think you're the first person to say that the Renesis isn't a low torque engine.

Those ads gave me El Paso flashbacks. Ahhhhhh.

here's one mid-1jze swap http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/4724880882.html

Here is one a friend is looking to sell....

here