I am on the fence, so I put this out to GRM
I have a 1992 1.6 Miata, it runs and is nice enough, the con part is my wife is (seriously) claustrophobic and can't ride in it. That's ok except when I want to be with my wife, yes I am weird in the fact I want to be with my wife of 22 years. So like an ice cream run has happened once, top off and windows down and she was mostly ok. Not exactly what I envisioned for my toy car and fun with my wife.
I have always wanted, wait for it, an RX-8. Yeah I know, bad engines, bad fuel economy, etc.
I stumbled across one at a local shop, bad motor. Shop owner found a "good" motor (jdm?) and had it shipped in but doesn't have time to put it in, things like customer's vehicles and about 10 other builds are in line ahead of it. It's been sitting for a long time. Its clean with a couple of door dings, paint is in good shape, hankook tires with good tread. He wants $2000 for everything. Battery is dead after sitting for months but they drove it to the shop. Clean title.
I have to sell the Miata to get the RX-8, would you do it?
And yes, I am asking the GRM crowd would you sell a running car to get broken one.... I have thought about where I am getting advice on my addiction.
Make sure your wife will be okay in an RX8. If she is, then I see nothing wrong with it. You lose a considerable amount of enjoyment if your best friend can't be a part of what you love.
Are the renesis 13b really a bad engine?
Do eeeeeeet! If all goes to pot, LS- swap it!
imgon
Reader
7/28/18 10:00 a.m.
I'll second having the bride at least sit in it to see if she likes it. Japanese cars are not known for their spacious interiors. Otherwise as long as you don't mind a bit of a project, that seems like a solution.
yupididit said:
Are the renesis 13b really a bad engine?
Lots of them die, but it's an enthusiast motor that needs special care. It needs to be wrung out and lubrication needs attention. If you just putt around or hammer it cold it will die from abuse from what I have read. Mind you if I buy it, it will be my first rotary, I have just read (quite a bit) about them.
I will say its a manual transmission, I wouldn't think about this for an auto. It also looked like they tried to use good parts and take care of the car. The engine compartment looked completely stock. Dead battery meant i couldn't get the mileage. The interior is really clean and not worn too bad.
My only experience with an RX8 was riding in the trunk. Felt fast enough though. Plus magic spinning doritos. And I firmly believe you don't get the full rotary experience unless the car is inop. at some point of ownership.
Consider yourself enabled.
accordionfolder said:
Do eeeeeeet! If all goes to pot, LS- swap it!
You are horrible, encouraging my addictions! 
Besides I know your ulterior motive, you want to track it when I get done!
In reply to Bent-Valve :
That’s basically the same scenario(minus the claustrophobia) that (partly)led to me selling the Vette & getting 1-3/4 Miatas to replace it.
Definitely have the wife sit in it first. I have a Miata and an RX-8. While the 8 has more space than the miata, it's not exactly cavernous. Do you know anyone with an 8, or is there a used car dealer with one you can test drive so she can get a feel for it while driving?
I do it all the time. Done right you make $$$
After thinking about it I am going to sell it and get the RX-8 if she likes it.
If the "new" motor is bad also I'll think about a swap or using the 2 motors to build a good one.
I would gladly trade my '02 SVT for any non-rusty manual non-running Z32 I mean you're probably going to have to re-do the Z32 so it might as well be bought cheaper non-running and then I can have fun restoring it. I hate the idea of selling any vehicle however even the SVT. 
If the 'new' motor works out, I may be interested in working out a deal for the old one, especially if it's the usual 'oops I blew out the apex seals'. I've no qualms whatsoever in rebuilding a rotary engine and it's one of the two engines I'm considering for an upcoming engine swap...
8valve
Reader
7/30/18 11:23 a.m.
I wouldn't sell the miata for it. Sounds like for you its what you want tho..
Toebra
HalfDork
7/30/18 4:08 p.m.
I think you meant to ask would I sell a running car to buy a broken one, again.
There is a formula to calculate the advisability of this idea. Most of the time, the amount of rust is sort of a crucially important metric for this calculation, so we will need to know this to plug in the numbers. In your case, the wife is the over riding factor. I don't see how you have any choice but to get the RX-8. It is a move you are forced to make out of love for her, what else can you do?
Bent-Valve said:
would you sell a running car to get broken one
...Wait you're not supposed to do that? I was under the impression that's what we did here. That's basically why I hangout here.
In reply to Toebra :
I see you too have convinced yourself of questionable purchases in the past :)
I sold a perfectly functioning and super reliable 2005 Ford Ranger (4 cyl manual) for a 1973 jaguar XJ6 with a poorly executed SBC 350 swap that barely ran when I bought it.
I won't lie - some days I regret it, like when I wish I had AC or heat. But it's still fun and I'd probably do it again. Now that the Jag is running and has functioning brakes, it seems a little less stupid in my mind. Non-car people all think I'm crazy though!!
RX-8 has a bad reputation with many people. The engine doesn't last here in the states, but from what I have read it MAY be due to using a lighter oil (5w20) to meet mpg requirements. In other parts of the world they tend to last longer IF what I read is true, (using 10w30) **NOTE -- I have not had time to verify these statements yet.
So with many dying around 100k miles the price on the S1 has dropped, if you notice the S2 (2009 and up) are not cheap. Mazda did some work to make the engines last longer.
Tomorrow after work and Saturday morning I will be getting the Miata put back together if my RockAuto shipment gets here, like a goof ball I forgot to check and see if we (GRM) had a current discount code....
If the 'new' motor works out, I may be interested in working out a deal for the old one, especially if it's the usual 'oops I blew out the apex seals'. I've no qualms whatsoever in rebuilding a rotary engine and it's one of the two engines I'm considering for an upcoming engine swap...
You might not want it, there was metal in the oil, also Matt knew the car and said it smoked pretty bad. I have no idea how bad it is hurt. It may have usable parts though. I plan to keep my eyes out for spare 13Bs myself. if I come across any I will keep you in mind.
Ok course Matt volunteered to help put the "newer" motor in. Then we discussed porting prior to .... crap, I am sunk.
Not quite selling one yet, but didn't want to start a new thread.
Would you buy this?
https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/d/saint-joseph-2003-lincoln-ls/7009038015.html
For a daily driver/beater or would the miles be a reason not to get it?
I think at $1300 plus front end it might be on the road easy and quick which is what I need.
The Lincoln LS isn't worth it lol
i'm the only person who likes the lincoln ls, but..."has a front noise" could mean literally anything lol
yupididit said:
The Lincoln LS isn't worth it lol
Why? Is it like a yugo with defects like locking seatbelts that don't lock?
This isn't a like it or don't like it question. I'm wondering if there are mechanical issues with the design.
At say $1600 alll in if I drive for a year it's like a $130 car payment, not counting recoup.
But if it is one of those cars that something breaks on all the time the price goes up.
