JRB

Hello,


I'm a new owner of a 2006 Mazda Rx8 with a rebuilt motor that has 40K and the body has 117K, it has an automatic transmission with the paddle shift option. Was told that the Rx8 was a Shinka, but had no proof and didn't say it in the title, so is there any way to tell by a VIN# or something? It's gray on black painted stock wheels with red MazdaSpeed calipers. It's pretty much all stock, but does have every premium feature besides the navigation.
I'm from Connecticut and I'm only 16 years old, so I am new to the car scene, never mind the rotary world. I know some of you may give me **** for picking an Rx8 as a first car, but I did do quiet a bit of researching on these forums before purchasing the car. The only mistake made so far was we did not get a compression test before buying the car and still have not. I do still have questions that are not fully answered if anyone would like to help me out.
With all of that said, the guy listed the car for $8500, KBB said it was around $7000 and we took her home for $5700, how did we do?

Here's a pic:


Thanks!
-JRB

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

What color are the interior seats?

If the engine compression is good, $5700 is a pretty good deal.

If the engine compression is bad, $5,700 is overpaying by $3,500-$4,500. That compression test is pretty damn critical.

JRB

I'll probably do a poor job of describing it, but it's like a 2-toned black leather with a light brownish or coffee color. My car looks exactly like this one: rx8 brown interior - Google Search

Mysterion

Congrats on your buy. I just hope the compression situation works out well for you. As for identifying a Shinka, I have seen them in gray, so that much is good. The following is a quote from a review on Rotary News website and may help a bit in confirming the car's status as a Shinka. Just bear in mind that, as a rule, a Shinka has the GT package plus a few extras and that to see some extras, you may have to crawl under the car's front end.

The RX-8 "SHINKA"Special Edition takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "evolution"or "transformation"and mixes RX-8's sports car flavor with a touch of luxury. Available with either a six-speed manual or the new six-speed Sport A/T, the RX-8 SHINKA Special Edition features an upgraded and uniquely tuned suspension with uprated shock absorbers and urethane-filled cross-member supports for increased performance and ride comfort. In addition to SHINKA's unique leather/Alcantara ® seating surfaces, Mazda added leather to the handbrake lever, upgraded trim on the doors and center console, and revised the finish on the 18-inch alloy wheel. The SHINKA Special Edition also features a SIRIUS satellite radio system as standard, with a one-year subscription at no cost.

Buckshot

Yeah, that's not the right interior for a Shinka. The Shinka interior is sort of an off-white colour, with Alcantara on the seats as well as leather.

http://www.motortopia.com/files/440/...c/Dsc00166.jpg

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, not a Shinka. If it was a Shinka, you would be describing a light colored interior, either an off-white/gray interior, or a parchment/sand interior.


(this is a 2005 Shinka, but I think this interior color was also available in 2006, i may be wrong)




The 2006 Shinka could come in several colors, including grey, so that isn't a determination. The Shinka labels missing on the B pillars is another clue, though not clear proof by themselves.

JRB

Ah okay, well thank you for clarifying that.

I do have a question about the procedure to turn the car off and on, because I know short rides is what kills this car. What does the official Mazda page say about this? For example I had to turn my 8 on yesterday and move it out of the garage 10 ft so I turned it on, let it idle for 5+ mins, moved it and turned her off. Should I have done what these fancy tutorials say like rev it up to 3000rpm and shut it off while my foot still on the brake?

Thanks again guys

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Answered in the New Owner's thread: https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-f...4/#post4533729 (link jumps past all sorts of other important stuff and goes straight to the post that answers your question)

ken-x8

Mazda's official pronouncement on shutting down is covered in the "short trip" section of the Quick Tips manual. Being paranoid, I tend to follow that procedure, or (better yet) enjoy a five minute drive if I just have to move mine a few feet. If you're paranoid like me, then follow the QT procedure. Avoid the loony stuff like switching off while revving before it comes back to idle. Or revving high while still cold.

Ken

JRB

Thanks guys but just an update... My dad went to DMV to register my car and when they plugged in the VIN numbers it came up as a Shinka, does this confirm it's a Shinka?

Mysterion

That looks like a GT interior. If I can figure out how, I will upload a picture of a local Shinka interior.

JRB

Guys are there any ways I can play my music from my phone on my 8? The only way I can think of is by the aux cord and I looked up a kit and it was $100 for a thing to just to convert a cable that goes in the back of the stereo into an aux cord that will go through the gloove box ... $100 seems a bit expensive for this are there any cheaper kits or ways I really want to keep the stock stereo because it looks nice

Drazil

There's a thing at walmart, its like $10-20, usually a little black box in the audio department. You plug it into your phone via the headphone jack, and it transmits whatever is playing via radio frequency. All you have to do is find the frequency with your stereo. Generally you can adjust the frequency the device puts out so that it won't interfere with the normal radio stations that play in your area.

My friends was battery powered so it didn't need to be plugged into the car outlet, but this is the idea.

INSTEN NEW CAR Radio FM Transmitter For MP3 MP4 APPLE IPOD ZUNE SANSA FUZE+Stylus: iPad & Tablets : Walmart.com

Good luck with your 8, be careful this winter. I grew up in RI, I lost the first car I bought to black ice.

JRB

Thank you for the suggestion but not really what I'm looking for! And no worries the 8 will be sitting in the garage and I'll either take the bus or find a beater 4x4

Any other ideas?

JRB

Just an update... Rx8 currently sitting in garage until April (for snow) the only thing I've done to it was change rotors and brake pads and also fixed a gas smell in the cabin. Any ideas what I should do to it?