The Mazda RX8 gets a lot of love and a lot of hate from the car community.
On one hand, it’s arguably one of the best handling cars under $100,000 — that’s funny because it was only $21,000 when it was launched. On the other hand, it’s extremely unreliable thanks to the Rotary engine.
Today, you can snag one of these for anywhere between $4,000 and low-mileage examples at $20,000. That’s a lot of car for the money. But if you plan on buying one of these, you need to know how to go about getting it insured.
In this article, we’ll address everything you need to know about insuring your Mazda RX8. Read on as we’ll discuss some frequently asked questions, factors that influence your insurance rate, and other tips on keeping your premium low.
RX8 Insurance — Coupe or Sedan?
The RX8 is a unique car. But let’s start with the elephant in the room; two elephants rather — the rear suicide doors.
Unlike traditional coupes, Mazda decided to give the RX8 four doors, but there’s a catch. The car is as long, if not longer than your conventional coupe.
The rear doors cannot be opened from the outside, and rear passengers typically have to wait for the driver to exit the vehicle first before they can.
You can’t even roll down the rear windows, all you get to do is crack it open slightly to let some air in. These quirks serve as a reminder that the RX8 is not a four-door sedan, it’s a quad-coupe.
This begs the question — what do insurance companies think of this? Do they consider it as a two-door coupe or a four-door sedan? Are RX8s considered a sports car for insurance as a result?
Luckily for us, most insurance companies only care about the number of doors and engine displacement.
That means that most companies will look at the RX8 as a four-door sedan with a 1.3-liter engine, making the insurance as cheap as that of a Ford Focus or a Hyundai Elantra — significantly cheaper than other high-performance sports car insurance rates.
However, it has been a decade since this car went out of production. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if some insurance companies charge more.
Does the Rotary Engine Have Anything to Do With Higher Insurance Costs?
That would be convenient, but the rotary engine has nothing to do with how much insurance you get charged on your Mazda RX8.
Granted that repair and replacement costs are much higher, but the chances of that being acknowledged by insurance companies are slim.
Unless we get to a point where the RX8 becomes a rare collectible item and insurance companies have to consider the agreed value and not the book value, we don’t see this happening any time soon.
Is the Mazda RX8 Reliable?
The RX8 made its debut at the North American International Trade Show in 2001, and the production run lasted from 2002 to 2012.
On paper, the car doesn’t look like it has a lot going for it — 238 hp @8500 rpm, 159 lb-ft @5500 rpm from a 1.3-liter engine doesn’t sound fast until you drive it.
It has the engine displacement of a small inline-4, the power of a V6, and the fuel consumption of a V8.
The 13B MSP Wankel (rotary) engine weighs approximately 208 pounds and redlines at 9000 rpm while overall, the car weighs only 3000 pounds.
With a 50:50 weight distribution and a sophisticated suspension system that features a double-wishbone and multi-link combination setup, it handles extremely well.
Install a set of coilovers designed for the Mazda RX8 and you’re set to hit the track.
Even though it won numerous awards and out-handled cars that were five times more expensive, there’s no denying just how unreliable the Rotary engine is.
The kind of enthusiasts who buy this car have a burning passion for rotary engines and will go out of their way to keep it running. They’re not so obsessed with the reliability of their Mazda RX8, it’s all part owning one.
Mazda RX8 Average Insurance Costs
All things considered, the average costs for insuring the Mazda RX8 are as follows:
- Full Coverage: $1,276 per annum, $106 per month
- Liability-Only Policy: $511 per annum, $43 per month
- Teenage Drivers Insurance Cost: $4,664 per annum, $389 per month
If you have a clean driving record, you can get policy discounts and save up to $526 per annum. In comparison to other cars in the same category, the insurance costs for the Mazda RX8 are around $243 less per annum.
These cars range from insurance groups 27 to 34, so you can expect the cost of your insurance to be somewhere in the middle.
Factors Affecting the Car Insurance of a Mazda RX8
There are many vehicle-related and driver-related factors that determine your effective insurance rate.
Insurance companies offer different rates to different people depending on their specific circumstances in order to avoid financial losses.
Let’s take a look at some of these parameters that affect your insurance rates.
Car Age and Trim
Generally, the older models of the Mazda RX8 are less expensive to insure compared to the newer ones.
For instance, the Mazda RX8 insurance cost for a car built in 2010 is around $1,246, while a 2011 model costs around $1,276 to insure.
Driver’s Age
The age of the driver affects the insurance cost of the Mazda RX8 too. A 20-year-old driver will generally pay a higher premium compared to a 40-year-old driver. Here’s what the average age costs look like:
- 18 to 20 years: $4,664
- 20 years: $2,893
- 30 years: $1,332
- 40 years: $1,276
- 50 years: $1,164
- 60 years: $1,139
Driver’s Location
Your location significantly impacts your Mazda RX8 insurance rate. For instance, drivers in LA may pay much more compared to those who live in places like Seattle or Columbus. Here’s an example:
- Los Angeles: $2,182
- New York: $2,016
- Philadelphia: $1,710
- Chicago: $1,684
- Seattle: $1,238
- Columbus: $1,059
Driving Record
The driving record of the driver can affect the Mazda RX8 insurance rates. The cost of insurance for teenagers and 20-year-old drivers are the highest, especially with any driving violations on their record.
We get how this might offend young drivers who drive really well. For those of you out there, here’s a tip — you can take a driving test that validates your skills and use that as a tool to offset your insurance cost. Speak to your insurance company about this possibility and check what provisions they have.
Tips to Save on Your Mazda RX8 Insurance
The Mazda RX8 insurance rate is quite reasonable, If you want to make it even more economical, here’s what you can do:
- As soon as you are eligible for it, apply for your full, unrestricted driver’s license.
- Before your renewal, fill out our quote form to check for a new and cheaper insurance policy.
- If you don’t drive your car for long distances or don’t use your car a lot, then check with the insurance company about low mileage discounts.
- Pay your RX8’s insurance premium upfront as a lump sum amount, instead of monthly.
If saving money on your insurance policy is important to you, it’s also a good idea to avoid aftermarket modifications like:
- brake upgrades,
- aftermarket exhaust systems, and
- non-standard wheels.
Great Coverage for a Fair Price
So that concludes our Mazda RX8 insurance guide. Our goal is to see you with the best possible coverage at a fair price. Use our insurance cost calculator to for an instant quote.
Do you already own an RX8? Was your insurance process free of hurdles? Let us know in the comments below and help our fellow rotary lovers out.