And finally I did. I just got the Tein S-Techs and Koni shocks installed. So far I love them. Lowered just enough but not too much. So far haven't noticed any major difference from stock as far as ride or handling. But only drove it a few hours today after the install was done.

Koni's are from Driven Performance Equipment. S-Techs are from mazdaparts.com.

Now tomorrow I'll attempt to install my Hymee screens and next week have the strakes gold plated to match the emblems. Next big purchase will be wheels, if I can only make up my mind.

Please disregard the fuzziness behind the front wheel. I didn't realize until I uploaded the pics from my camera that I had a smudge or something on the lense. I'll take some better pictures tomorrow. Also it's been a few weeks since she's had a bath so she's a little dirty. :o:

She' slowly making progress. :)


UPDATED!- The first three pictures are BEFORE the install from my thread I posted here last year. The last two are AFTER the install. :)

You have gold emblems? Did they come that way?

Yeah! Click on the link in my sig for more pics. I think it was a dealer add-on.

Cool. I like it but think it would look terrible on my blue. It's going to be here in about two weeks. Yay!!!!!

That same dealer had a red w/gold and a white one. Didn't look as elegant as the black though.

I wouldn't think so. I have seen other white cars with gold and don't care for it. I have seen a green car somewhere with gold and it was only okay. It looked really nice on a dark midnight blue kind of a color, though.

Congrats on the drop, every 8 should have one.

gold on red doesn't sound too good. I really cant imagine it working for anything but black.

And finally I did. I just got the Tein S-Techs and Koni shocks installed. So far I love them. Lowered just enough but not too much. So far haven't noticed any major difference from stock as far as ride or handling. But only drove it a few hours today after the install was done.

Koni's are from Driven Performance Equipment. S-Techs are from mazdaparts.com.

Now tomorrow I'll attempt to install my Hymee screens and next week have the strakes gold plated to match the emblems. Next big purchase will be wheels, if I can only make up my mind.

I didn't post any before pics cuz I figured most of us already know what a bone stock 8 looks like. ;)
Please disregard the fuzziness behind the front wheel. I didn't realize until I uploaded the pics from my camera that I had a smudge or something on the lense. I'll take some better pictures tomorrow. Also it's been a few weeks since she's had a bath so she's a little dirty. :o:

She' slowly making progress. :)


more pics after 500 miles when they settle!!!!!

looks good, very good.

beers :beer:

Thanks swoope! I'm pretty pleased with them so far. Yeah I'll have to see how much it settles and maybe post some more pics.



woo hoo! my 1500th post! :ylsuper:

damn,
i am 2 posts ahead of you,, this is ON!!!!!!

any way, who is going to do the alignment????


beers :beer:

They are. The guy ownes and operates a Tuffy here in Orlando. He's good friends with my boss so I got a great deal on the install. I was kinda hesitant at first but after talking to him for awhile I felt more comfortable about it. Other than taking a little longer than expected they did a great job IMO.

pm me with info. if thats cool.. i really dont want to do the springs till i get shocks, but if the price is right i would be happy not to do the springs till i get shocks.

beers :beer:

pm me with info. if thats cool.. i really dont want to do the springs till i get shocks, but if the price is right i would be happy not to do the springs till i get shocks.

beers :beer:


Will do. Yeah I had the springs in my garage for a few months and wanted to find some good quality shocks to go with them. A little birdie told me that there was a group buy coming up here so I waited and bought them through DPE for 520.00 shipped. If I were you I'd wait and do both springs/shocks at the same time. Probably save some bucks(and headaches) in the long term.

I'll be able to give you a better idea on how the S-Techs and Koni's work together the more I drive it. I'm sure somewhere in here someone's got the same setup but I'm too lazy(not to mention buzzed) to search. :)

what you did is a great combo. i just am going a different way. but would love to lower now!!!!

i want to be able to adjust all shocks with little effort, not elec, but no removing of shocks.

check flrx8club.com

beers :beer:

what you did is a great combo. i just am going a different way. but would love to lower now!!!!


Ah I see. I remember seeing a post here that some member got something like 20,000 miles on the stock shocks after installing the S-Techs before he started seeing the car get a little bouncy. Saw another post that someone only got 10,000 with the same set-up.

i want to be able to adjust all shocks with little effort, not elec, but no removing of shocks.

Exactly. The fronts on these are adjustable on the car, the rear are only adjustable off the car. But from the way mine looks now I don't see any need for the rears to be adjusted. I think their perfect right now.

check flrx8club.com
beers :beer:


will do!

ahhh,
now you see grasshopper,
yea i had konis on a tbird sc many years ago.


beers :beer:

Damn... If that is dirty, then shit I can't tell... lol

You gotta know how anal retentive we black 8 owners are. At least I am anyway. The slightest bit of dust on it drives me nuts. If I washed it as often as I wanted the car wouldn't have any paint left on it. :)

looks good!

Have you enjoyed the gold accents? They look cool, but I wouldn't want them on my 8.

Have you enjoyed the gold accents? They look cool, but I wouldn't want them on my 8.


I have. It's something different. Makes my 8 stand out a little from the rest. I've got nothing but compliments on it. :)

Tiggerlee,

How much did all that set you back? And how much of a drop is that from stock? I also have a black 8 and looking to do the same with tastefull rims.

JB

Tiggerlee,

How much did all that set you back? And how much of a drop is that from stock? I also have a black 8 and looking to do the same with tastefull rims.

JB

Tein S-Tech-160.00
Koni Shocks-520.00(shipped-group buy)
Install-275.00 approx(incl. alignment)

You may want to contact Phil at Driven Performance Equipment about the shocks. He's a vendor here. He ran a group buy awhile back. He was selling just the shocks as well as shock/spring combos(Koni $ S-Techs). Or check here in the vendor section for any other deals.

Is it just me or do those rims look white? Which is it?

Okay I went back and looked at the first picture but, the second does look different. That black is clean too Lee.

Thanks Kride! Well the wheels are probably the cleanest part of the car. I'm constantly cleaning the brake dust off them. Just can't stand dirty wheels. If you look at Jedi54's thread (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=84302) his look white as well.

Thanks man

You gotta know how anal retentive we black 8 owners are. At least I am anyway. The slightest bit of dust on it drives me nuts. If I washed it as often as I wanted the car wouldn't have any paint left on it. :)


My neighbor has a black car and I see him outside regularly with his face practically on the car staring intently looking for dust and dirt and then waving one of those dusting things that looks like a puffy tail attached to a wooden stick over it. He's even worse in the summer. I have seen him doing that literally for hours at a time!!!!!

^yeah that sounds familiar. lol


UPDATED! I had a couple PM's requesting before pics. So I added some before pictures to the original post from my other thread from last year. I hope their sufficient.

how about posting your koni settings??
i plan on getting them too & would like to know how u set it up & what kind of driving you're doing... thanks!

How many miles have you put on them? Are they settled in already?

Oh, and THANKS for that thread you started for me a few days ago .

Hasnt had a wash? Looks shiny to me!!

Don't RX-8's come with Koni's stock? KelRx8 mentioned that was what he found when he changed his wheels on his 04. Maybe not aftermarket version but Koni brand he said...

I'm not sure, haven't look under covers of my 06 Shinka yet. But Tein's are a must fo shizzle.

Time

how about posting your koni settings??
i plan on getting them too & would like to know how u set it up & what kind of driving you're doing... thanks!


If I remember correctly we set them about a 1/2 turn up from full soft. Phil at DPE gave me some suggestions based on my driving habits so I wouldn't have to do anymore adjusting once they were on. As far as driving, just daily driving around town. No autox or anything. Very nice set-up overall. Better ride than stock and improved handling.

How many miles have you put on them? Are they settled in already?


I think I've got a little less than 1000 miles so far. The springs have settled a little more since the install but not much. I've been carpooling to work a bit more lately to try and keep my mileage low on the 8. I'd still like to find a good DD so I can baby the 8 even more. :)

Oh, and THANKS for that thread you started for me a few days ago .

np Jorge! You deserved it. Even though I was a little late :o:. Hope you had a good one.

Hasnt had a wash? Looks shiny to me!!

Don't RX-8's come with Koni's stock? KelRx8 mentioned that was what he found when he changed his wheels on his 04. Maybe not aftermarket version but Koni brand he said...

I'm not sure, haven't look under covers of my 06 Shinka yet. But Tein's are a must fo shizzle.

Time

Mine had Tokico brand for stock shocks.

bringing this thread back from the dead!!
I'm highly contemplating going with this exact setup and even though your 8 is gone ( :tear: ) I just wanted to see what you thought of the setup as the months / miles went by.

lookin good..

I was gonna get me some Tein - s also. but my Evo bud's were like, "oh, those are horrable!! Get the Swift's , those are WAY better, blah blah blah.

not sure if thats the case only for the Evo's or the ex8's too.

I been reading reviews and the s - techs dont seem bad at all...

Jedi . . you are the resurrection king

Jedi . . you are the resurrection king
The Dark Side allows me to bring things back from the dead. Now if only my buddy Tigger would see that I've resurrected his thread... :)

TL,
Bronze rims/powder coat would finish your car off nicely, IMO...

TL,
Bronze rims/powder coat would finish your car off nicely, IMO...
He doesn't have his 8 anymore... he's got a new badass GTO! (which I hear needs a Stereo Upgrade ;) )

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=96401

He doesn't have his 8 anymore... he's got a new badass GTO! (which I hear needs a Stereo Upgrade ;) )

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=96401
WTF? See, I hate it when I don't read the entire thread and end up mow'ded! :mad:

Thanks for the heads up, Master Jedi...

He got a GTO? What . . . the RX8 didn't get bad enough milage for him? I heard those GTO's are guzzlers

Jedi . . you are the resurrection king

Yes he is.


The Dark Side allows me to bring things back from the dead. Now if only my buddy Tigger would see that I've resurrected his thread... :)


Your powers are strong. Besides how could I miss the title "Git R' Done." :cwm27:

bringing this thread back from the dead!!
I'm highly contemplating going with this exact setup and even though your 8 is gone ( :tear: ) I just wanted to see what you thought of the setup as the months / miles went by.


I liked the set-up,unfortunately the only thing I can compare it to is stock. Didn't have it long enough or drive it enough to make a concrete determination on the combo.

I can tell you the ride was a tad bit stiffer than stock but not by much. Handling was improved,and the drop was right-on.Not to mention the great price.

For comparison ask swoope about his Tokico D-Specs,I hear he's pretty happy with them. And he drives his alot.

He doesn't have his 8 anymore... he's got a new badass GTO! (which I hear needs a Stereo Upgrade ;) )

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=96401



Thanks Jedi,
I do sometimes wish I'd kept the 8, but oh well. I really bought the GTO just to prime me for the new Camaro. ;)


Got new wheels,tires and suspension for the goat,should be here in a week or so. And to top it off,a tuner shop here in Orlando is going to give me an estimate on a SC install.:rock:

May not have enough left for the stereo upgrade.....just maybe. ;)

He got a GTO? What . . . the RX8 didn't get bad enough milage for him? I heard those GTO's are guzzlers


I didn't really consider MPG when I traded. I'm seeing worse than the 8 but not by much and most of my driving is in the city so it's to be expected. Now if I go the SC route I'm expecting maybe 8-10 MPG on a good day. :ylsuper:

I didn't really consider MPG when I traded. I'm seeing worse than the 8 but not by much and most of my driving is in the city so it's to be expected. Now if I go the SC route I'm expecting maybe 8-10 MPG on a good day. :ylsuper:
I didn't think mpg was a factor. I just like the fact that some other cars are just as bad as our 8's. Got a buddy with a GTO. He loves it. But he also works for a tire shop.
So you gonna post pics of your toy here? Or have you already posted them and I missed it?

Some here in this post. (http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=1481220&postcount=25) These were taken right after I got it. I have some better ones now. The only difference is I applied a GTO inlay in the rear bumper.

I debated awhile about the color,never had a yellow car before. But the longer I have it the more I like it. It really catches your eye and much easier to find in the parking lot. The clincher was the price,it's an '05 and only had 1700 miles on it when I got it in Aug.'06. Only 792 made.