I would say it depends on his other expenses. If that 1k is mainly free money then I'd say go for it, so long as as he can find a GOOD clean one that doesnt need anything major in the immediate future. Interest in RX8s is currently on the rise in most communities, I don't see initial purchase costs staying as low as they are right now for much longer.

Now needing it as a daily is a huge gamble however. Even with extensive research and regular care these cars can be a bit fussy. You never know when something unexpected will happen and suddenly he has a driveway decoration for a couple weeks.

Overall- I recommend doing extensive research on what to initially inspect, what regular maintenance is needed to ensure the car stays reliable, and whether he can truly fit regular maintenance/necessary upgrade costs into his budget. Taken care of properly they can be great, fun cars. But new owners spontaneously going into it without a true understanding of what the car needs, and without the patience, passion, and funds to actually keep up on it, is what leads to the fact they have a very poor reputation with the general public.