WTB: RX-8 for Project Car
 

Looking for a "cheap" RX-8 to use as a winter and a project car. Unmodified is a requirement and I want to personally do an engine compression test to make sure the engine is good to go.

Basically want to convert it to turbo and see what it can do and then maybe later sell kits but thats only if it turns out well. I tuned a turbo RX-8 a few months ago and was not happy with how it turned out so I want to try doing things my way.

Looking to spend $10,000 or less. Not really interested in low mileage or leather seats (cloth is actually preferred), just the basic model as long as the engine still has high compression and theres nothing wrong with the car. Oh, and the last requirement is it can't be red :)

thewird

10,000$ Canadian? I duno about 10,000 my friend got one but it definately wasnt a good engine. Good luck though we need some more FI options.

But Velocity Red is the fastest. :) Oh, and I think you will want the Sport (Touring, GT) for the bigger brakes, LSD, etc.

There are plenty of cars selling for that range on kijiji even from dealers. If you can get it at the auction, would be even cheaper. I'm just hunting for the best deal since my only interest is in a perfect engine. Don't care about mileage, perfect paint, packages etc.

I didn't realize there was mechanical differences between the packages. I thought it was just cosmetics/luxury. Is there a package that has upgraded LSD and brakes but not leather seats? I really hate leather seats lol.

thewird

Yes the basic RX8 six speed with the Sport package has everything but no Bose stereo, sunroof, leather, nav, etc. etc. But they did change a little over the years and I believe you also get HID's too.

Is there any way to tell if there is a sport package since its not labeled on the back?

thewird

Cloth seats, no moonroof, no fog lights, MT, and 18" wheels is your best indicators. It still might be a stripped down touring, but no sport will have fog lights, moonroof, or leather seats, and being MT it will get the upgraded brake package immediately. No DSC / TCS though, have to go touring for that, not sure if that matters for you as a winter car.

Is there any information about the upgraded LSD? I can't find any anywhere.

I don't care about traction control. I would just turn it off if I ever tested the car on the track anyway.

thewird

US guys should stop offering model advice in canadian threads. we never got the lame smaller brakes in ANY model in canada. even a base with an auto has the full size brakes up front. and the only way to get an open diff is to buy a base (GS) auto.

first off, all rx8s in canada came with foglights. not that it matters, but i'd just like to point this out. also, they all have headlight washers and none of them came with TPMS. the two different models are refered to GS or GT in canada. GSs have no options other than auto or manual and colour choice. They all come with grey and black cloth seats and no DSC/TC. GTs have the same lack of options as well as having the option to add Nav. all GTs all have leather and DSC/TC. most are just black leather, but TiGreys had the brown/black two tone and some VRs had red/black leather. An automatic GS will have the lame Red marked swaybars. everything else gets the yellow marked "sport" swaybars front and back. note that all GSs have different springs than GTs. the GSs ride higher. i cant say if they are more softly sprung though. it feels more or less just as tight as any stock GT. but i dont imagine that matters much to you anyways...i'd guess you'll be uprgading. all this applies to 04/05 models mostly as those are the only cars you'll find in that price range if you are lucky enough to find one that cheap at all. later models have minor changes in options, mostly regarding interior trim choice. the basic option/suspension packs remain the same for GSs and GTs across the year range though. there were shinkas in 05 and 06 that are bascially GTs with facny interior and bilstein shocks. there was also a "performance pack" offered as a dealer option on all newer models (i think it was 07 and 08 when they came up with this) which is just mazdaspeed wheels, mazdaspeed front tower brace and a mazdaspeed intake slapped on at the dealer.

Anyways, thewird, you'll want a GS 6spd for sure. you will save alot of money and a bit of grief. the headlight level sensors are a huge problem on GTs in canada. when they go bad, they default the lights to the lowest setting so your zenons point at the ground about 10 feet infront of your car. the sensors are expensive and not normally salvagable. The rest of it is just luxuries really....leather, heated seats, sunroof. dont need any of that on a winter/project car. as for the LSD, as far as im aware, there is only one LSD in all the rx8s. its either open or comes with the limited slip. when you look it up in the compter without a vin number, there is only one part number for the entire LSD unit from 2004-2008.

I'll keep an eye out for you at the dealership for any that come in. any questions or specific info you want, just PM me, i'll do my best to help you out. I'd be very anxious to see what you can do to an rx8. Im completely in love with your 7. saw it in the spring at that show at the mall and we were at a trackday together in the rain a while back. one badass 7. and whats wrong with VR? lol.

So the only options in Canada are GS and GT then; and the cheaper GS manual still has the upgraded brakes and diff?

Also nothing wrong with VR, I just never liked red for a car. Just a personal taste thing hehe. Thanks rotarygreg for the clarification on the Canadian RX-8's.

I won't be going as overboard with this one as I went with my 7. Basically my goal is to get as much out of it while keeping it as close to stock feeling as possible and worry free (as worry free as a modified turbo rotary can get anyway).

thewird

Well, looks like a found my car. A silver 2005 with 71,900 KM for $12,000 currently sitting in my driveway :D

thewird

oh no! not silver! obviously you havent red about the curse of the silver. :SHOCKED:

i kid though. congrats. GS, GT? nav?

Whats the curse about silver lol?

Got a basic GS model, no navigation. I'll post some pics tomorrow since its night now.

On another note, stock suspension is surprisingly more stiff then I thought it would be. Maybe I won't have to change that.

Now I need to get some winter tires...

thewird

its kind of a joke that around the forum about it. it just seemed like (at least for a while anyways) any rx8 that got in an accident was silver.

really? the stock suspension has to go man. if not for the ride, at least for the ride height. lol. no sports car should ever ride that high, 4 doors or 2. its just not right.

when i bought my 8, i fell in love with the suspension. it handled 10x better than any of my other cars so i said i'd never change the suspension. felt sporty and firm, yet comfortable and forgiving. then i went to the first rx8 meet and saw how high it sat comapred to even a stock GT. its all i could look at from then on. then, the winter came and i blew a strut. perfect excuse to replace all 4 and get some springs too, for good mearsure of course. It cost a bit, but i dont regret it at all. the car feels way sportier and it handled conciderably better and more confidently.

just to help hit home about the ride height, the springs i have (swift sport mach) claim an inch front and back. i can only assume they mean that for a GT because when i installed them on the car and they were all settled and the appropriate bushings preloaded, i was 2.5" lower in the front and i think almost 2" in the back. and the car doesnt look slammed at all. it looks just right.

however, i do switch back to stock for the winter, you'll find with a decent set of winter tires, a stock GS can be a champ in the snow. the extra ride height means that it takes quite a bit to get beached (which i've heard a few GT drivers got caught out last year this way) and the lack of all the gizmos (TCS/DSC) makes you keep your head on right and drive smart.

After my experiences I would advise you pull the engine apart and fit Esmeril seals before you even start - will probably save you money in the long run .....

If I were to do that I would put 3mm NRS ceramic seals. Besides the whole point of this is to create something for the OEM engine as it sits. Rebuilding it with ceramics would defeat the purpose. I'm going to be experimenting with tuning as well, I want to create something that is reliable and drives like stock. That means a proper wideband and dual EGT's pre-turbo.

thewird

fair enough - "just saying" lol

So you are going to put an EGT sensor on each side ex port ?- sounds like a good idea

Yes, I'll be putting a probe on the front and rear runners. I don't think putting one on the center runner would be useful since its merged exhaust other then for curiosity. Although I might end up doing it anyway just to be thorough lol.

thewird

pics!!!!