California is amazing; I don’t care what the haters say. But you do pay the price for all that sunshine and sushi. The gas prices are mind-blowing, the rent is out of control, and JDM cars are going for a fortune.
Even with a ton of cursed automotive regulations out here, car culture is still huge. And the most popular car communities in SoCal are lowriders and JDMs. But that popularity comes with a price. A high one.
Even NA Miatas have seen a massive price increase. You’ll see a bunch on Facebook Marketplace for $8,000 to $10,000. And you’ll constantly hear people saying, “I remember when they were just a few thousand bucks!” I don’t know when that was a thing, but probably not in Los Angeles.
The growing JDM trend in the United States had YouTuber SAMMIT heading to Japan to see how much a Mazda RX-7 goes for.
The state of RX-7 prices
SAMMIT headed to a Japanese dealership known for having a collection of RX-7, Garage R. What he found? The third-generation FD RX-7 has seen a massive price increase.
While walking around the dealership, the YouTuber saw a wide range of models. This included an FC RX-7 with 75,800 miles selling for $15,000, which made him want to buy on the spot, and FD RX-7 models going for $46,000.
“The jump up is crazy,” he said, noting that he saw similar FD RX-7 selling for $13,000 in Japan years ago. “It’s crazy just how much these have gone up in value.”
Despite the crazy price hike, SAMMIT admitted that he was still tempted to buy an FD RX-7. The only thing really stopping him? He’s 6′ 3″ tall. But it just goes to show, even at nearly $50,000, people are still contemplating the RX-7.
RX-7 popularity continues
The Mazda RX-7 was a huge success even back in its day. About 811,000 RX-7s were sold across three generations, from 1978 to 2002. The 1.3-liter twin-rotor Wankel engine was part of its appeal, but later led to its discontinuation. They were basically unreliable gas guzzlers that couldn’t pass emissions tests.
However, the RX-7’s popularity lives on, especially the FD. It’s considered one of the greatest sports cars ever built thanks to its lightness, perfect balance, and timeless looks.
The FD’s Wankel engine was part of a twin-turbo system. The smaller one kicked in early, and the second kicked in for high-RPM power later on. This made the RX-7’s engine high-revving and smooth, with an 8,000 RPM redline.
This was paired with even weight distribution, a lightweight chassis, and advanced suspension for an exciting driving experience. The RX-7 is nimble, great on corners, and feels like it moves forward effortlessly.
If you know me, you know that it takes more than good performance to really win me over. But the RX-7 has the looks department covered. Like the Miata, the RX-7 blends sportiness with cuteness, featuring a curvy, low-slung body and pop-up headlights. To me, it sorta looks like the Miata’s edgy cousin.
If you don’t want to pay $50,000 for an RX-7, you could wait for the possible return of Mazda’s rotary-powered sports car. But who knows if that will ever happen; it’s just a concept for now. And a weird-looking one at that.
