Soloseven

Since the RX-8 stopped production I would think Mazda would release figures on the total production run of the RX-8. Does any one know how many RX-8s where produced world wide? I have been keeping track of the total RX-8 sales in the USA and I can list the sales figures as soon as Mazda releases the RX-8 sales for Dec 2011. For the last few years sales have been pretty sad!

USA RX-8 sales (up to & including Dec 2011)
2003 - 12,346
2004 - 23,690
2005 - 14,673
2006 - 9,343
2007 - 5,767
2008 - 3,368
2009 - 2,217
2010 - 1,134
2011 - 759
Total USA sales 73,297

zoom44

rx-8 production hasnt ceased yet

zoom44

Production numbers for all rotary powered Mazda cars through end of November 2011

Thanks J

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Is that worldwide?

zoom44

yes total rotary engine production to date by Mazda

Prophet

Not many 8's out there when you think global. Makes me happy to have such are rare car, that's not ungodly expensive.

monchie

It's really a rare car indeed. I'm keeping my rx8 for a long time.

dmorales

Crazy to think they made more Rx-2's and Rx-3's

Raivynn

I only know of one other 8 in my town. And it is a different color. Seems like sunlight silver is unpopular.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

u never heard of "the curse of silver" do u ? it explains why silver is "rare"

Agent XY

iTrader: (1)

Is there a good place to find info on the production of color codes? I have searched the forums a few times but the only link I have found does not include phantom blue.

zoom44

mazda doesnt keep track of production numbers of various colors. so you wont get that info from them

carrrnuttt

What about R3's and other limited-edition models as well? Anyone have numbers for those?

I'd like to think (selfishly, I must admit) that my version of the RX-8 is one of the rarest (Brilliant Black R3) besides the Spirit R, since it is a limited edition trim in a color that was only used in one model year during its run. Then again, I don't know how rare other trim editions were, since I'm relatively new to RX-8's.

zoom44

there are lists/counts of the of the Shinka editions so there probably is for the R3s. you should email mazda and ask for it

bse50

I wonder how many 13A engines are still around... It would be nice to experiment with their narrower housings and modern injection systems. The other differences are interesting too
200,000 cars or so is a huge number anyway. That's a good thing... it won't be hard to find replacement parts in the coming years.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Agreed BSE, that would be quite interesting... *steps off to take a look at some possible sources*



carrnutt, all special editions are possible competitors. The copper red shinka in 2006, the black cherry mica shinka in 2005, the 40th AE in 2007 are also ones that fit that same criteria (only year the color was used, special edition trim only). I'd even say that several other colors of the normal trim are possible competitors for low count, such as Nordic Green 2004s (only year) and Lightning Yellow 2004s (only year, though I suspect there were more of those than Nordic Green).

carrrnuttt

Great suggestion. I just sent them a note about it using this: http://mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/emailMazda.action

I hope that gets a response. If anyone has a better contact point however, I'll take that too.

carrrnuttt

I suspected this as well for these other special edition runs.

It's just that since I bought the R3 last October, I have ran into about 4 other RX-8s being driven in the Metro Phoenix area, and not a single one of them was an S2. So if S2s in general are that rare (at least in my area), then a special edition S2 is even more rare. Add in a limited-run color, and (my) perception is, the car is exceptionally rare.

I did see one S2 though, and it was at the dealership when I was getting my car serviced. It was a GT.

Raivynn

Haven't heard the "curse of silver" ...

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

http://www.google.com/search?ix=hcb&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=curse+of+silver#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=site:rx8club.com+curse+of+silver&pbx=1&oq=site:rx8club.com+curse+of+silver&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=7286l10976l0l11144l23l18l3l0l0l3l172l2055l7.11l21l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=2f0b188327e19041&biw=1270&bih=824 has Quite a few threads on it.

The main one: https://www.rx8club.com/lounge-4/curse-sunlight-silver-15070/

Though this is another: https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/curse-silver-164326/

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Back in about 2005, someone noticed a high number of posts about "Sunlight Silver" RX8 in accidents. Much higher than all other colors. The myth was born. And Titanium Gray is Sunlight Silver in French.

Raivynn

Well ... nice. I do have to say I drove my silver MX-3 for 8 years with no accidents. That's not to say there weren't opportunities for them -- I did notice that an uncanny amount of drivers would pull out in front of me. I was "almost in an accident" numerous times. I do have to say this though: I've been driving for almost 13 years, and have never (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!) been in an accident. My red Toyo MR2 seemed to have the same problem as the MX-3 though -- it was small, and most assumed it was fairly slow. (Most 1.6 I4s are.)

But ... I am going to agree that silver is a hard color to see during inclement weather, and also around dusk and dawn, simply because it reflects and refracts colors around it and fools the human brain. >_<

Why does silver have to be my favorite color on a car ?

zoom44

silver is the only color 8 to be run over by an Abrams tank. take a look around the forum for 8s that have caught on fire- silver. i could go on...

Speed_8

now now, lets not bad mouth the silver, however I do wish my car was a different color.. say black or white... lol

Raivynn

Black was too common a color for me. White looks great when paired with smoked headlights/tail lights/dark tint/black rims......

Silver was the color of choice for me.