fstfwd

Background:
Just bought my first rotary in November. 2004 RX8 GT (MT, Brilliant Black). Drove to Houston to get the right car and trade in my 1995 Impreza at 215,000 miles. This is the first financed vehicle I've owned; everything up till now were "throw-away" cars including my first three cars that were of the 280Z series (which all had electrical problems).

Current Status:
Love the RX8. Has been the best thing that has happened to me lately. I've got questions though, more directed at the other RX8 owners in the Corpus area.

1. Do you know a good tint shop? Would like to smoke them all someplace that has more of a selection than the "take-it-or-leave-it" approach.

2. Do you know of a good detail shop? I've taken it to Ricks and to Absolute Detailing (which sent me to Rhino Linings on Saratoga). They both do a nice job, but am looking for something better. May wind up doing it myself.

3. Are there events with other rotaries around Corpus Christi? I know there are at least half a dozen other RX8 on the road in town, just not sure if you're here (speak up!). Would like to get involved if there are. Would prefer not to travel for hours to events, as my baby has already picked up several paint chips from Houston and RGV.

Thanks in advance. Am still trying to get a feel for the car in a (short-lived) drift, but otherwise she's done everything I've asked of her.

KWarner04

Hey...congrats on the car! I live in Dallas now, but am from Corpus. I had my car tinted down there when I was home for Christmas. I took it to Far Beyond Tint & Alarm. It's on Everheart. If you're heading down SPID and exit Everheart, turn like you're going to Best Buy and it's in the shopping center that's right there after the Best Buy entrance. It was $200 and I was really pleased with them. They offer a lifetime warranty on their tint, so if it ever starts to bubble/tint/anything, they'l replace it.

As far as detailing, I recommend taking and getting it just cleaned, nothing fancy. Then, do the detail work yourself. I've never done the whole Zanio treatment, but I've heard its the only way to go.

As far as other RX-8s in Corpus, the only one I know of is my mom. Sorry, that doesn't help any at all.

fstfwd

Thanks for the quick response. Will give Far Beyond Tint a look in the near future. Just waiting a couple of weeks for the tax refund to get here.

I've seen a silver, another black or two, a nordic green, and a red or two RX8 running around town the past couple of months. Seems to be a fairly popular choice in that regard, and the dealership seems to have a clue about servicing the car and general customer service. Now if I can just take care of my baby to 215,000 miles like my previous Impreza then I'll have it for another 15 years. Hehe.

fstfwd

Scheduled to have Far Beyond Tint install Madico Wincos 30 front/20 rear on Monday. A bit more than I'd anticipated spending ($320) since it was a step above the metallized Onyx ($200), but I expect it should turn out well. Seems like a more professional setup at that location than the other couple of tint dealers I've visited.

Also ordered the stainless rotary accents for the front and rear spoilers, which I expect to arrive late next week. Pics to follow installation of tint and accents, I expect.

KWarner04

Congrats...I just went with the metalized onyx with 30 front/5 rear. I can see if I can snap a few pictures tomorrow to let you see.

KWarner04

Sorry...I got busy with work and didn't get to take any pictures. Let me know how it goes!

fstfwd

All is good. Yesterday I got my tint done in the morning. The shop was a bit generous with the window cleaning, so now it looks like my baby has been crying and she needs another bath... but I'd rather they had done that than not getting the windows completely cleaned before applying the tint. I don't expect any issues with it being too dark on the blind spots, etc. Am pleased with their work.

Also picked up what is probably best described as a chrome border for my license plates. There's also a license plate backing you can get from AutoZone or Pep Boys that you can replace your front backing plate with. The stock backing sits on the body paint at the top; the replacement doesn't, so it looks a bit cleaner. Tried a black chrome plate cover before the straight chrome one, but it appeared bronze on my brilliant black car so it doesn't match the paint or the chrome.

My chrome rotary accents for the ground fx came in yesterday from rx8strakes.com too. They don't fit as snug as I expected they would, but it seems to be okay for the moment. Was a bit surprised by how fast my order got here.

Will get newer pics of the car once I get my baby washed again (Thursday?).

Do you know of any paved tracks in/around Corpus? Looking for somewhere to play without getting in trouble with the cops.

KWarner04

Yeah...when they finished mine, there was definite streaking on the car. Ohh well...they did a really good job so I can't complain.

As for the license plate, I just took mine off the front. Never liked the look of front license plates. Technically, you can get a ticket for it, but if you pull the whole bracket off, you can just keep the plate in the car and tell the cop you don't have anywhere to mount it and they'll let you off with a warning. I ran my other car for 6 yrs without a front plate and only got asked about it once.

There aren't many open tracks in Corpus to run. Sometime they open up Cabiness Field for track days, but it's pretty sporadic. You can usually open the car up pretty good on some of those back roads out behind the airport. Some are in much better shape than others, but they can be fun to drive. Luckily, they're quite open and flat so you can easily see anything coming at you and keep things safe.

My parents are in the process of selling their house, so I'll most likely be headed down that way in the near future. I'll let you know and maybe we can hang out a bit.

fstfwd

Did a Google for Cabiness Field and came across this link, which should help:

http://www.stbrscca.com/

Curious to know if the term autocross also includes drifting. Not that I'm remotely close to a drifter, but the occassional intentional oversteer I've induced hasn't been as controlled as I'd like. I'm still trying to get a feel for when the car breaks loose and grabs again. Just thought it'd be easier in a more controlled environment such as a track or other area where I'm not likely to get in trouble.

At any rate... let me know before you come this way and we can meet up somewhere.

suay

You guys wanna do a south texas meet. Everybody does a North, North East and west meet. I say we try to put one together. What do you think? PM if ur interested.


Thanks

Fellow rotar Head

suay

Oh yeah and how the hell do I see "my posts". They suddenly have disapperaed from the Icons!!!???? We have a autocross meet here in the valley. It is run by RGPCA.ORG It is the porsche guuys but they allow everyone. Thank once again

fstfwd

I would like to attend a meet, but at the moment I want to keep away from longer road trips until I get a clear bra or something. I've picked up several paint chips from previous trips to Houston and RGV, and would like to avoid making that worse.

Still haven't done those pics I mentioned yet. My B-pillar applique came in a couple of days ago, so I'm gonna try to get my car detailed and those applied in the next couple of days then pics.

4motionTT

Hi im from laredo and would be down for a south tx meet

I ordered my atkins rotary tune up kit with k&n intake filter other than that no mods though
Too busy with the 5 speed swap on my Celi

suay

I reccomend this shop in mcallen, tx called OJ imports. Stop going to the dealership he hooks it up with prices. He does engine rebuilds too. Specializing in rx-7 and rx-8's,. He did my stage 3 mazsport set up and brian from BDC motorsports does my tuning.


Oj imports
Omar Mena
956-537-1279
956-7396362

Thanks

fstfwd

Finally got some pics done. Will upload a few in a few days after I get them back from photographer. Here's one I thought was an interesting natural lighting blur.

KWarner04

Nice picture...is that down by the ship channel? I bet you could find some really cool shots down around there.

I may be coming down to Corpus the second weekend of April to help my parents move, so maybe we can look at getting some people together...or nothing else, grab a beer. I'll let you know when I have more definitive plans.

fstfwd

Yeah, it's on the museum side under the bridge. I've got one coming that shows the bridge too that looks pretty sweet, but my photographer has it at the moment. We spent a couple of hours out and about trying to get some good shots at the marina and under the bridge. Will upload them when I have them.

fstfwd

Link to recent pics of my 8:

Pics

Myardor

iTrader: (7)

fstfwd
suay
4motionTT

How about you guys?
Are you going to join us at the 3 Sisters run Meet?

fstfwd

What, when and where? If things are normal, I'll either be working or avoiding additional paint chips from longer drives.

Myardor

iTrader: (7)

When:
May 15th - 17th, 2009

https://www.rx8club.com/texas8-171/%2A%2A2009-rx8-texas-statewide-event%2A%2A-168225/

Where: Kerriville about one hours drive the other side of San Antonio
What: Twisty roads fun run, ie 3 sisters,