Advice on mods pls...
 

Just got my MM 6MT not too long ago and I'd like to get the mazdaspeed exhaust on - anyone using it at the mo? Whats the peformance increase like (if any)? How loud is it?

Also thinking of dropping the K&N short ram intake (Typhoon kit) - again does anyone use this intake? Whats the peformance increase like? Does it affect exhaust noise by a lot?

Lastly I'm aware that there are front/back stabiliser bars which minimise roll and improves cornering speed - anyone using em and what are your thoughts?

Thing is I want the peformance increase but am not too keen on having a loud, boy racer type exhaust noise as I drive to work everyday.

Appreciate any input you can share.

Cheers

It's all been discussed many many many many many times. yeah, many times. Do a quick search on any of those products and you'll see all the answers to your questions.

Just registered today dude...but thanks for telling me anyway.

Just for the benefit of our new member, I'll give you some very quick and blunt answers and point you in the right direction so you know what to search for.

Mazdaspeed exhaust - There are very marginal gains from aftermarket exhaust if you are just going to change your exhaust muffler alone. You will only see decent performance gains if you intend to change your entire exhaust system from head to tail + tuning which gets pretty expensive. If you just want to change it for "shiok" factor, then go for any brand that is LTA legal, but stay away from Trust Titanium if you want to keep it quiet. My advice, just stick with the stock exhaust.

K&N short ram intake (Typhoon kit) - Many people have tried it and results aren't good. Some experience idling problems, most have to sacrifice some low end, and it's LOUD. One of best intakes is the Racing Beat REVi intake with duct. It's not cheap, but definitely improve performance and quiet too. If too pricey, then just get a drop-in K&N filter into your stock intake. Stock intake is very well designed for performance. As for gains, I think I posted a long time back, just do a search.

Sway/stabiliser bars - Actually, I just assumed you are talking about sway bars and not strut bars. Personally, I'm using Whiteline sway bars. They are solid bars (not hollow) and very rigid. By far the best value for money handing mod you can buy. My advice - get solid sway bars. Cheers to Morgan.

I was thinking of the whole deal - what I did not know was that the Mazdaspeed was just the muffler.

I see. Thanks for letting me know - when ya say expensive for the Revi...what is that exactly? Where can I get em?

Yup. Engine bay already came with a strut bar and so yes I meant the front and rear sway bars. Again how much did you pay for yours and where?


Thanks for the info bro.

When you said MazdaSpeed, I assume you are referring to the one that MM is selling for SGD1,374? If so, that is just the muffler. For the 'whole deal', you are looking at about SGD5K, converted from yen prices in the RX-8 "bible".

The Racing Beat REVi intake + duct will set you back about SGD1.2K. You can get the REVi at Monster Garage, but gotta check with them for availability and exact pricing.

Whiteline sway bars cost me about SGD550. Friend brought back from Australia.

All prices are approximate (and old). You may not get the same prices now, so don't quote me on it.

I would recommend the Knightsports Exhaust. It is sporty yet quiet. Only slightly louder than stock and there is performance gains for the 6mt. Alternative, you could get the Fujitsubo muffler which is also quite quiet. As sq mention..you need about 5 grand +- to have a complete system.

For sway bars, I am on autoexe. Frankly..I dont feel much diff until I added the chassis brace from autoexe as well. Maybe I have a thick big butt. You might want to try racing beat sway bars if you are ordering the revi system.

Yup was planning on doing those mods in stages but will prob go for the sway bars and Revi intake first as they cost less.

As for the complete exhaust system - I'd like to come to a few club outings and hear them for myself before I commit 5k+. Thing is I dont wanna make it sound too boy racer as I do fetch my UK based bosses / clients around from time to time and shallow as it may seem - appearances matter. Thats why my ride has absolutely no bodykit and isnt lowered. Only exterior dressing I have are 18" Vernerdi Chrome Rims.

I agree with SQ. Can't go wrong with Racing Beat REVI and duct. Definitely much better than the K&N Typhoon, unless you just want lots of noise, then the Typhoon is great at that.

Am also using Whiteline sways, thanks to Morgan as well. And its good stuff. Its heavier than your stock sways, but it is alot better. And although our car comes standard with strut bar, can always change it to an after market one for even better performance. Some of the favourites amongst the members are Cusco and Autoexe.

As for exhaust, I think this is the one item where you have the fewest member agreeing on which is the best, and probably one of the most talked about topic in the forum. Do a search on it. Some swear by HKS, some says it sux. Some swear by Knightsport, Tanabe, Autoexe, Trust, etc. You get the idea... In fact, some say that the stock exhaust is the best and aftermarket exhaust won't give you any additional HP, the only benefit of changing is the reduction in weight and a nicer exhaust note.

Hope this helps.

And bro, if you plan to join us for rounding, its best you get yourself a walkie talkie. You'll enjoy the rounding sessions alot more. I have some walkies for sale ;) Heheheh. Excuse me for peddling my wares :fingersx:

Thanks bro :D

I will be getting the REVI intake for sure, just need to wait a month for it till Monster gets some new stock in. A little bummed about that as I dont like waiting heh.

As for the sways, gotta get that soon as the last time I took a corner hard as this Accord Type R was chasing me (dont know why they bother to be honest lol) and though I was in control the whole time - still it did not feel as assured as I would have liked it to be.

So gonna get the sways and the intake done first - the exhaust can come later.

Will get a walkie talkie at some point when I join you guys for a bit of fun - buy from you then lor!

If you want to improve your cornering feel/assurance, can also consider Autoexe under carriage brace. Those who have it love it! I won't recommend changing your suspension since you ferry your UK boss/clients from time to time. I doubt they'd like a hard bumpy ride. But if you really want to change your suspension, you might want to consider those that have electronic controls so you can change your damper hardness on the fly. If I'm not wrong, only Tanabe, Cusco, and Tein have it.

For Autoexe, Cusco, and Tein, check with MG. They carry these brands.
For Tanabe, check with Eric from Jeep Chee (opposite MG).

revi, theres stock.

However im puzzled as to y u wan to change ur sways first when our rx8 has sway bars in it?? to improve cornering, sways shldnt be the no.1 u shld be looking at. Suspension and under brace should be ur priority. All the more so becos stock rx8 already has sway bars, so for that, change only when u have nothing else more to do.

Nah I dont intend to change the suspension but I'll keep them in mind though just in case I change my mind ;)

I rang MM this morning and was advised that my warranty would be void if I installed the REVI intake.

I insisted that it is a bolt on and as such does not alter the integrity of the engine but they were adamant.

Gonna hold off till I can get some firm confirmation in writing as I still have two years left on my MM warranty...this really sucks as I was looking forward to it. :(

then u got to spend 3 yrs being stock before u start doing anything to ur car.....

Just wondering if the exhaust has been changed to LTA approved (Knightsports) from stock, will the warrenty be voided?

Guys, basically MM will always say that anything you do to your car will void the warranty. Including not doing your servicing at MM or Mazda Authorised Service Station. So if you have done your servicing at anywhere else even just once, they can void your warranty. But seriously, if they start voiding warranties left and right, they will create such a bad reputation that people will just buy from PI instead of MM.

tats true...
so.. most guys here who bought their cars from MM are no longer on warranty?... hehe