R3 FTW!!!! Only thing they lack is a sunroof, but OMG, are they so SEEEXXXXXXXXXXYYYYYYYY

 

I think heated seats get more credit than they deserve... Honestly I can never actually notice the heated seats all that much.. and theres no denying that the R3 just looks fukn hawt.

 

But to each his own... IF I upgrade it'd definitely be an R3.

 

The heated seats [in my Jeep] saved my butt (pun intended) this morning since it sat out all night in 45 degf. Meanwhile my '8 stayed cozy in the garage. She leads a very sheltered existence!

Of course in about a month now the roles will be reversed.

 

To me, who first and foremost uses my RX-8 as a daily driver, the GT either has or has as an available option everything I want, except the urethane filled crossmember.

1. I have a toddler and leather seats are lot easier to clean up if a little one spits up.
2. Like another poster, I already have 18" snows
3. The factory navigation is not even available as an option in the R3

Indeed, my one and only issue with the GT is the bloody sunroof, which I would much rather not have. At most, I open it 3 times a year, and I bump my head on the inside framework of the sunroof a lot more often than that. Unfortunately, it would cost a fortune to have a body shop remove the factory sunroof, weld in a filler panel that contours with the rest of the roof, and have the headliner replaced, so I put up with it; but I would have gladly gotten a GT without a sunroof if they had been available when I bought mine.

 

I think heated seats are worthless.

 

I wouldn't part with mine unless I was getting enough that I could buy another vehicle that had them. Maybe if my 8 was a summer only car, or I lived in the south I wouldn't care, but it is my only car, year round, and they are on from 50f and lower.

 

the only time my heated seats are used is when the gf flips the switch without me knowing to burn the **** outa my *** when its 90 degrees outside lol the r3 is sexy and with the different bumper side skirts and spoiler its already alot of value for only 30 bucks more plus the recaros are worth a ton and youll definitely find someone who will happily swap leather PLUS CASH for recaros im sure ...

 

+1, also the aurora blue is only available on the R3

 

Wow... that's weird. In Canada, the GT is $2000 more than the R3. Must be differently equipped that US.

 

i personally got an R3. i think it looks great, but in retrospect i probably should have gone with a sport.

I will end up upgrading to coilovers and getting different rims, but i do love the recaro seats very much!

 

Ours doesn't come with the Canook-package :D

 

I personally went with the GT. I preferred having all the creature features like the nav, the sunroof, leather seats, auto adjusting seat, heated seats, and the list goes on and on. While I'll admit the R3 is sexy looking they took away too many of the extras that make the Rx8 special. I guess I'm greedy cause I would have bought an ultimate package if one existed..... but instead you have to make these hard choices but now with only a $30 difference i think its a little bit easier. Go with what's more important to you heated seats or Recarro seats + upgraded rims...thats about it really.


^Yeah that's about my only gripe with the car. I too wanted the nice big wing spoiler but they don't come for the manuals and the lip spoiler could be a problem for other aftermarket parts.

 

^all I heard was blah blah blah lol

 

I love my heated leather seats and I live in FL. On those chilly mornings, they are toasty.
The only reason I got the '09 GT was the sunroof and my dealer gave me a good price.
I do wish they offered the crystal white R3 in the US and just not Canada.

 

yeah the white r3s are sooo sexy!

 

Why do you say you should have gone with a sport? I just bought my '09 sport last week and am saying I probably should have gone with the R3.
Any interest in a trade plus cash???

 

haha. is it white???

 

1 white one for sale in the whole state (Florida) as of last week, but it had over 900 test drive miles on it... no way. Wanted white, but settled on the sunlight silver. Actually, saw your car and looking for the blue, not black, plus I saw LA in your location and thought it was Louisiana, not LA... so Cali would be a bit of a stretch from Florida and we both have the "wrong" color. Worth a try though

 

hahaha i wasn't serious, but thanks. i'm happy with my r3! i'll be able to at least make a bit on the parts i sell off of it when i go c/o and different rims.

 

^Man one rule that I really live by is to never settle for something less than what you want. I know when I bought my 8, they didn't have the one I wanted in the Tri-State area so you know what I did. I didn't settle, I called Mazda USA asked them where my car was at and drove 250 miles or 3 and half hours out to MD just to get my ride. Now granted FL to Cali is far but the ride back would have been awesome in your new white 8. There's nothing more fun than a road trip in an 8. I highly doubt you would have regretted the trip. But hey thats just me maybe I'm too much of a fanatic.

 

/\ That's what I did, but it was 80miles away, had a real nice trip back home

 

I flew to Kentucky from Florida about 10 years ago for a car and drove it home the next day, definitely fun, memorable, and an experience. Either I've gotten older, lazier, or less enthusiastic since then, probably all 3. Definitely thought of flying out there and the whole trip, but was done negotiating at that point and took the easy way out. There's always next time

 

The thing is, no there won't be a next time. Maybe for another car, another day, but you missed out on a trip of memories Can't get that back.

3 days ago was my 2 year mark of picking my 8 up in Cincinnatti and driving leisurely back to RI over 2 days. Wonderful wonderful drive. No regrets, but I would have if I had shipped it.

 

No shortshifter for them??? No Accessport??? When will these new models gets some more aftermarket goodies?