Hi all

As title says I'm the new (3rd) owner of a 2006 Copper Red Shinka. She needs some love and i hope to be digging into it soon.

I know I will need to get my post count up before I can used fs/web forum but had some questions on rear subframe rust and whether its worth rebuilding the entire rear subframe or swapping the whole thing in by just purchasing from a wrecked one.

First mods to done:
Deep Clean
NeW Battery (Odyssey)
New Plugs (Supposedly has BHR coils)
New filters
Oil change
BHR Midpipe
Decarb the engine
SOHN adapter (when RRP releases the MKIII)

 

Still in the process of detailing the interior. Seats came out easily and looks like the carpet is cleaning up nice 👌

I think the previous owner used some armorall etc as once I scrubbed the passenger door panel the vinyl looked REALLY dry. I'll be going over the whole car with 303 protectant which should help.

Lots more to do, I've already got 8 to 10 hours into interior detailing and I'm barely 30% complete!

 

I feel your pain. Currently detailing one now I just got. The interior is filthy and the car has been sitting for a year. Its absolutely disgusting.

 

Nice find. More pics to share?

 

Nice.
I like the Shinka Copper Red way more than VR.

 

Thanks guys. I will be sharing more pictures showing a before/after once she's cleaned up. It needs some paint work and I am considering respraying the entire car in the spring! When I set out on the RX8 purchase, I was convinced I was going to get a Winning Blue or Black GT. I love the Aurora R3 but didn't want to spend that coin right now. I had no idea the Copper Red existed but once I saw it both my wife and I were obsessed. I don't typically love reds on cars (can be VERY flashy) but this color is both striking and subdued.

She's got 77k miles, is stock except for BHR coils and the wheels (which are coming off). New 17" RPF1's on order for "winter" high performance tires. Though I won't be driving it in actual snow, I want to be able to have fun on the occasional dry day.

 

Make sure a compression test is at the top of your list of things to do. You really need to ensure the engine is still in good shape. Other than that I like your list of future mods. Good luck with it! Sounds like the car is in capable hands.

 

Yes I meant to do the compression test when I bought it but I had the wife and kids with me and we were running out of time. She seems OK but not perfect. On the original starter and still starts when Hot. My first rotary so I'm no expert. Told my wife to plan on me rebuilding or swapping in the future.

 

Promising if it is able to hot start, likely has at least decent compression.

 

I really like that color and sounds like you've got great plans for it. Curious about the wheel swap, fairly expensive wheels to put on for "winter" (I'm guessing you mean all-season by the quotes?) tires. Will you run them year round or swap back in the spring?

 

I have that one too. That Copper Red is truly an amazing color. 56000 miles on it and going strong. Ive done the oil pressure mod and replaced the sump pan. Replaced the Shocks with Bilstein and rear springs with new oem.. THE most fun car ive ever owned !!
Please post a pic when you get the new wheels on it. Looks like you have the appearance package - Lucky B......d

 

Thanks!! Yes the car is beautiful and a lot of fun to drive. I will certainly take photos once I get it cleaned up. The interior is looking almost mint after my ridiculous levels of detailing this past weekend. Still need to finish the door cards with 303 and I'm waiting on new carpets.

Also ordered an AutoEXE steering wheel as my leather one has some missing finish...lol overkill but I want perfection. I'll eventually take the car to a leather shop to fix a couple worn spots on the drivers seat (really not bad for 14 years old) but need my Xterra to come back from the shop for that.

 

The car currently has ugly and heavy XXR rims. It came with another set of ASA JH3 17" rims that I also thought of running but they are also heavy. I was set on picking up a set of stock rims but the cost for refurb was $650, and I was nervous about them being compromised. Goodwin Racing has a sale on 17x9 RPF1's for $225 each with free shipping. That makes is a ~$250 upgrade over stock, and they're clearly lighter. Coupled with the fact that 17" tires are cheaper (Pirelli SotoZero 3) it was only around a $125 difference all in. I figured no brainer! I will be getting another set of rims (unbeknownst to my wife lol) in the spring with proper summer tires.

I had "winter" in quotes as I don't plan to actually drive the car in the snow, but we do need a third vehicle for when I take my Xterra out of commission for upgrades/maintenance. I also wanted a higher performance winter tire so I can still have fun. I run studded hakks on my Xterra (just upgraded from duratracs) so that thing is a tank.

 

17" works really well for this car. Agree with the decision.

 

Let me know if you want to part with either of your sets of heavy rims. I've been on the fence about whether to run the 8 in winter or not, have considered getting a 2nd set of rims to put snows on. If you are interested you can PM me with what you might want for them. I can't imagine I'd care much about the weight, wouldn't be driving it all that much.

Sounds like you are near Albany, I've had reasons to be out in Albany/Schenectady fairly often lately, so meeting up would be easy.

It's hard to run in winter and not run in snow, if you know what I mean! The main roads might be dry but a side road or parking lot has snow, then a cool evening after a sunny day and roads have freezing slush and some ice. So even though like you I don't plan to be driving around after snowstorms, I'd really want to have snows.

 

Got the 17s currently listed actually! Have like 10 people through FB/Craigslist that are likely to pick them up soon though.

I'll definitely hold off listing the 18s until I ask you first. They have a working set of all weathers on them with decent treadlife. No tpms. Dunno what I'd ask yet first but will PM once I am ready (still waiting for rpf1s to come in)

 

Thanks! From what I've read the 17's are better to mount snows, but maybe the 18's would be good enough. If you have any thoughts on that I'm all ears!

 

17s are cheaper and offer more sidewall for better protection from potholes. If they're cheap rims it doesn't matter as much.

 

I'll be posting some pictures of the interior over the next couple days. The inside is definitely coming together.

New Black mats w/ red stitching (on the way)
AutoExE steering wheel (looks/feels great)
New black shift boot w/ red stitching (original was torn)
New R3/Spirit R Ebrake Leather handle w/ red stitching (on the way) - EXPENSIVE fix for the missing rubber flap at the front of the handle, but now it will match the aesthetic.
New (used) right dash cover (no more cracks)

Oh and as a side note, car seats are a PITA to get in the back, but they fit. I had to remove the bottom cushions for the LATCH style system. Luckily my Xterra is coming back from getting paint touch-up so they will go back in there.

 

Spoke too early on the ebrake handle - backordered with no estimated time! Booooo

 

New S2 fuel pump ordered, as well as new brake parts all around:
Centric blanks, new OEM pads, new SS lines from SakeBombGarage and new/reman calipers.

When I pull the wheels this weekend I will be checking for bad bearings. Hoping to avoid doing these until the spring.

 

Nice find. I have 06 Shinka as well. Production number 713. Here is a drodbox link to production numbers/vin. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n2c3ekazm9b5j2t/RX8_SHINKA_06MY_V2_Searchable%5B1%5D.pdf?dl=0
Oh the autoexe steering wheel looks great. Snap some pictures and give a review when you get it installed.