voyager18

Good day to y'all RX-8 owners!

I'm from Malaysia and is considering getting a '03 RX-8 "recond" from a grey importer (naza). For RM 205K, i'm looking at a Type-S with about 5-6k km registered, fabric, Audio unit with Nav but NO CD, manual adjusting seats, bodykit and the standard Type S equipment. Here are some questions i like to ask you guys, and hope to get some sound advice from you experts:

1) Speed Governer- I'm thinking of removing it. Have any of you done it, and if so, which is the best brand to go for?

2) Audio unit - Since the model i'm looking to purchase comes with the NON CD playing headunit, so my choices are to buy an entire new Audio unit to be ordered from Mazda Japan which costs about RM 3,000 (S$1300). Do you think i could order or replace that in Singapore which could be a lot cheaper OR i just buy other brands to ADD ON to the existing unit? If so, the drawback would be i won't be able to control the audio unit from the steering and all...What do you guys think?

3) Engine Oil - What engine oil would be best to use for the RX-8? And since you guys have serviced your RX-8, how much is an average service in Singapore? In Malaysia, for a service (at Naza), they charge about RM 300 (S$130) for oil change.

4) I was actually considering an AT RX-8 Type E, with Sunroof, Leather, Elec Seats and all for the same price, but after going through this forum, i was thinking twice since most of the RX-8 MT owners say they're two different cars, with the MT having loads more power and all. Well, for me, living in KL with the traffic horrendously miserable, an AT would be real practical, but after driving both AT and MT, the truth is, MT is so much more fun to drive. It reminded me of the MX5 i used to own! Now i would like to understand from the AT owners in Singapore, how's your car performing?

I think the Singaporean RX-8 owners are such a great bunch, and you guys are really helpful. I've been looking for RX-8 Malaysian owners for some feedback on purchases, services, mods, etc, but they're really non existent (unlike the EVO malaysian club), which worries me on support and all. Well, i've already decided to get an RX-8 and hopefully i get more news from Malaysian RX-8 owners.

Cheers,

Voyager

downshift

You might want to pose as a potential buyer (which is not that far from the truth) and call these people up to see where they service their cars and such: http://star-motoring.com/classify/se...hButton=Search

So far, I haven't seen a Malaysian owner on this board, so consider yourself a lucky bastard. :P

boonyloh

voyager 18 i'm an owner of an 8 in malaysia too i got mine from naza as well. just a word of advice make sure you check the engine number and the chasis number before you buy the car and after it is bought do a puspakom check on the car after delivery straight away and also check for the spare tyre repair kit as well they are a fav for naza to miss out. i've seen cases that they switched engines without telling you... i experiance it 1st hand and now i'm still settling the prob with naza so just beware. otherwise if all is in order then get it

the cd player you can get one straight from the suppliers from the US Naza sells at 3k but u can easily get one for around RM1500

as for the speed governor its not practicle to remove it as it is almost impossible for you too drive up to 200km/hr in KL lol but if you are in sepang u might actually need it. maybe you can get a hks speed cut defenser or something like that. otherwise 200km/hr top speed is not easily acquired in KL traffic

rchao

Just curious, does the official Mazda dealer in Malaysia sell the rx8?

If not, how will you service your car? Cuz I feel that rotaries are an entirely different engine type and it might be a problem servicing them.

There are also grey market importers here in the PHilippines and I'm hesitant to get one unless its officially brought in here by local Mazda cuz of this reason.

thanks!

voyager18

Hi Boony,

Did your RX8 come with CD player? Or did you get yours from the States as well? Can you point me where to go (website, contact no, etc) to get the unit from the States? Thanks!

boonyloh

there are a few sources where u can get the cd player it depends on which one u want, 6 disc in-dash, mp3/cd or just normal cd. have a look at this link

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-classifieds-private-sales-only-dealer-ads-prohibited-42/
there are a lot of vendors that sell them

Rosenthal
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...lectrical.html.

Trussville Mazda
http://www.trussvillemazda.com/parts...ex.cfm/results

i've got mine mp3/cd from mazda australia for RM1500 when i was there.

jetblast

yo bros

if you were looking for a tuner or mods try
links dyno
30 jalan PJS 11/3 bander sunway 46150
petaling jaya
603 5636 9901

boonyloh

thanks jetblast
i've already got that in my address book

boonyloh

voyager: there is an RE club in malaysia they are quite active especially in KL there are tons of seven and some 8s there too
heres the link http://www.zerotohundred.com/forums/...howtopic=26085

voyager18

hey boony, thanks for the links, i'll go check it out! so since you bought your car from Naza, do you go back there for oil change/service? now that you told that the Audio unit can be bought in australia, maybe i'll get my pilot friend to get one back for me! is the unit big or is it just a component? did you have to pre-order it?

Cheers,

Steven

chinamann

Guys, how do we ship the CD Player back from Australia? I am keen to get one coz i can't be driving a car withtout tunes for 3 hours a day, and in KL the damn jam would've killed me! Not like I can enjoy flying it around. Also, what about after-market stuff? Anyone of you checked, coz I still have my amps and speakers lying around in my house.

In regards to the engine and chasis number, I am really worried, are you sure these things happen to you? I got my car from NAZA as well, and thought the were credible. Tell me more about this boony, coz I can speak to someone to help you fix this (i know someone who's very close to the boss and buys bunch of cars from them every couple of months...)

boonyloh

still waiting for their replies and documents of the current engine in my car but we are getting there...... they are giving me a 1 year warranty due to they are the defaulting party. they have all the parts fixed to pefection though. don't really wanna make a big fuzz outta it thanks for your concern chinaman

i got my mp3/cd player from Oz when i was there lol but it is still at home though might wanna trying fixing it on myself when i have the time

chinamann

Ok cool, boony. Can I get it sent over, coz I got cousins there and stuff. Also, ever heard of anyone installing after-market audio system? I am thinking about it, but the problem is, the faceplate is attached to the audio system, if I ever do anything I need to purchase another faceplate.

Anyway, I tried Singapore and a few sites you have recommended above, Singapore Mazda turned me down.... So gotta try the Americans.... It's about USD300....

boonyloh

Chinaman if you are looking for aftermarket stuff
this might be of much help
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=21086

but the controls on the steering might be useless after you fixed that

If you are getting from Oz by post why not get it from the states... i 'm guessing it is much cheaper

voyager18

hi boony,

i spoke to one of the sales guy regarding your car and he told me that apparently, the original owner purchased the car, then found that there was something wrong with the engine, so he traded the car BACK to naza and purchased another car (aside from the rx8) from them. as a result, they had to order a new engine from mazda japan and fix it onto your car...that would explain why the engine no. do not match the no. on your registration form. i guess the sales guy who sold you the car from naza should have explained to you carefully before selling you the car...in fact, one of the reasons why you got a deal on that car was because it's traded in (cause i was telling them a friend of mine just got a black rx8 for RM 200K flat as a bargain precedence)....

chinnaman... how much did you get your car from naza...? what are your specs? MT, leather, sunroof? how do you find the car so far...? care to meet up sometime?

cheers!

wootwoot

ermmm just came back from KL went to Genting & PJ area during chinese new year... & during the duration of ride there... only manage to spot 1 black RX-8

voyager18

that's good sighting wootwoot...i've only see THREE in the past month! one mazdaspeed, one pearl white, and another black... i'm beginning to question if anybody bought this car at all in KL!!! i think the price has been tagged too high...for RM 200k (~US 55k), buyers are open to a number of choices and with mazda not having such a prominent brand here, everybody goes for either a BMW or other turbo cars such as the EVO 7. Word out is that the RX8 is too expensive for a sports car that's not in the ranks of the sports cars in that price category.

sgrenesis

you have to like the car what it is, besides, would a gal rather ride in 8 or a satria.

if its speed is that important might as well get a motorbike

boonyloh

there are around 5 rx-8's in penang

1 driven by a young lady ( must be auto from the sound of the gear change)
1 mazdaspeed
1 red one and 1 black one....
the only black one is mine :D

so far i've seen these around...
hope to see more around when i go to KL next month

chinamann

Hi Voyager, if I tell you please don't go up and tell them about it coz I got it very cheap, let's just put it this way, if i sell it now i will still make about 5-10K. I got it unregistered 2004, with about 240KMs on it. It's leather but without sunroof, manual trans and got it off from KLANG port.

I really need some help on my radio and CD player, I was thinking if we could just add a changer at the back of the car and hook up using PIE connector as auxilary. Would that work? Have not explore it, but thinking of trying this out.... Anyone care to investigate?

We can meet up but not this month as I am extremely busy travelling outside the country, ca do sometime early march.

Just so u guys know, mine cost me 195K.... I have pretty good contact in there...

voyager18

hey chinamann...god, u got a damn good deal!! what color is your RX8? you sure have very good contacts...the unit i'm getting has about 1000kms on it and they've agreed to throw in the AM/FM booster, white lights for the fog lights and nicer license plates...

Yes, i heard you can add a changer at the back of the car and hook up using the PIE connector, cause the sales guy told me he did that for one of his RX8 clients. For me, i'm ordering the CD/MP3 unit from the Mazda site from the States...its only US 300.

ARe you in KL, if so PM me, we could meet up with boonyloh as well when he comes down next month...

nhk

hee hee, if u consider Penangish who owned Rx8, there is one here in california.

wootwoot

lol... next time when i travel up to KL i'll let ya guys know again maybe meet u guys up there... anyway who lives ard PJ Damansara Jaya area? AKA Seapark.....

voyager18

hey wootwoot...seems like u come up to KL enough to know this place well (trust me, i've met s'poreans who's NEVER or have only been to malaysia once/twice in their lifetime) enough... i live in the PJ area (Gasing area, if u know where it is)...when r u guys planning to come up? i'm actually looking to drive down to s'pore to get some stuff (ECU, body accessories, etc)...

boonyloh

yeap a tt would be good... keep me posted!!