I will be ordering my car next month and had been struggling with whether or not to get the GT package. The only compelling reason for me getting it would have been that incredible black/red leather! I went to a few aftermarket leather shops to see what my options would be for installing it on just the Sport package car after the fact. I saw a both the Classic Soft Trim and the Katzkin and have decided on Katzkin. The shop I'm dealing with is in Phoenix and his prices are in line. He'll even hook us AZ guys with a 10% discount. They way I'm ordering it should come out to $1,095 before the discount.

Oh, the kit I'll be getting will be black with red perforated centers. I'm also getting the red trim stitching. It should look hot. I was torn as to the RX-8 embroidered logo but it's just not me.

Anyone in my neck of the woods interested can email me for more info. Just thought I'd share.

 

i am also very interested in the aftermarket leather and am located in phoneix. could you specify the shop name please? was it the only phoenix shop listed on katzin's web page? thanks in advance.

 

I think aftermarket leather is the way to go. Better quality and cheaper.

 

If I were to do things over, I would get the sport package with aftermarket leather.

The sunroof is nice and the Bose is okay but the money saved would have been better and the extra headroom without the moonroof would also be well worth it.

Also the car would be a little faster that way without a lot of the extra stuff in the GT package.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

I have seen both the Classic Soft Trim and Katzkin interiors and i love them both. Congratulations on your purchase and you got a great price!

 

A few Uk buyers have gone for aftermarket black/blue leather , oviously not with companies you US peeps can use, but the results were very nice.

Dont get powered or heated seats but who cares.

 

I'm planning on going that route by the end of the year--gotta get the funds 1st; but I am trying to see if I want black/chapparral(sp?) or go with a black/dark green to match the Nordic Green. But all the aftermarket leather I've seen is far superior to factory leather--I don't need powered seats (especially since the GT is only powered driver seat); don't need heated seats in Texas (had them in my Millenias and they just eventually break).

 

Same here..couldn't see the justification in paying the extra money for leather. My previous 3 vehicles had all had leather, but it was usually a sub $1000 option. Does anybody know a good shop in So fla that does this kind of work?

 

I went the route of sport package and aftermarket leather (Classic Soft Trim) and am very happy with the results. I had a thread about my installation and also have a few pics in my signature.
I haven't seen the actual Katzkin upholstery for the RX-8 but before going with CST, I had a catalog with samples from Katzkin. Those seemed to be rather rough compared to the leather CST uses. Hope they improved upon that since then.
Or maybe just the samples I saw were not representative... who knows.

 

LatG,

didn't see ur name on the AZ RX-8 list. Check this thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/west-rx-8-forum-34/phoenix-rx-8s-list-29021/

and join us!

anyway, at the dealership today (Showcase) and the service manager gave me a number of the Katzkin shop that does aftermarket for them. They even had one on the lot! Shop was SPD and I have the guy's name and cel if u need.