any difference between sport and GT mechanical wise?
 

I kind really like having head room and the cloth seats to me are more comfortable. The lack of a sunroof and power seat give about 2 inches of head room back, The stock stereo sounds great and as long as I get the performance package for the manual, I get the DSC and halogen headlamps also.

Now is there any mechanical difference otherwise? suspension? Shocks?

Can I add factory fog lights easily? What about the rear spoiler?

Why am I changing my mind? Simple.. its gonna be a stretch to get a GT and I figure that a lot of the stuff that makes the GT what it is, I can easily live without. Plus I seriously love the silver and I figured that in my other posts, the reason why I was having cold feet was because I was compromising way too much and spending just got out of hand.

Getting a sport model will give me all the performance of a GT without the foo-foo costs. I never use a sunroof. I don't need power seats ( one of the stupidest options in my book/opinions.) both of them take up precious headroom. Leather gets hot, I live in California so I never need heated seats. Stereo sounds pretty good and I can only listen to one CD at a time anyways. The savings are substantial!

Plus I can get leather ( if I ever wanted it) from eBay that is supposed to be exact tailor cut in original styles and pattern for about $550 dollars.

So who has a sport model? How do you like it?

Sorry. No mechanical differences. Only goodies :)

A whole bunch of useless weight.....

Heh, the extra weight is hardly 'useless' :)

My heated seats are worth more than my sport suspension in the winter...and almost the entirety of the reason I went for a GT. :)

I like to have my cake, and eat it too.

No location listed
 

I don't see your location, but if you live in the southern half of the United States, heated seats are about as useful as a borrowed cat. Leather at 105 degrees can seriously equate to suffering if you neglect to put up a sun shield.

Aside from the amenities, leather seats, option for Nav system, the only real significant difference between the Sport and the GT was in the traction control system, isn't there a difference?

Personally I went for the sport because it economically was easier for me to justify buying the car and the fluff options are things that I can upgrade later if I desire, custom leather, and upgraded stereo, fog lights, etc can all be upgraded privately for less dough than the stealership charges for the options. I didn't want to finanace an extra 4 grand for leather seats, bose speakers, fog lights and a nav system that I wouldn't ever use.

And how do I like it? I love it, not a single regret, in fact even though it is the most I have ever spent on a car, Every time I drive it I think to myself that it was the best purchase I ever made :)

the sport and the gt are the same, traction control and all.

the only big differences is the gt has the moonroof ( which gives you 2-4 inches less headroom ) and the gt has the rear spoiler. the gt's have heated seats and mirrors and the homelink rearview auto dimming mirror. The gt also comes with the bose radio and 6cd changer. the gt also comes with the stock leather seats. I think the stock leather seats are crap with the hard plastic back. I had my own leather put in and it's fantastic.

If you want any of that you can buy the parts yourself or have them installedas options. My sport has every option the GT comes with but the spoiler and moonroof now. I even have the nav system when I around to installing it ( it's been a year and a half in my garage.. )

might want to check that. 6 disk changer and spoiler were options even on the GT. touring added moonroof to the sport and GT added leather and heated seats (basically).

I only have the sport touring (non-GT). mine has the moonroof option, the auto dimming mirror option and the spoiler option. guessing your response was a guessing post aseras, versus knowledge...

I love having my Sport model...no fancy gizmo's to distract me! :P

From what I have gathered, the earlier RX-8's had a bit more room in the option department. You could get fog lights on Sport models etc. But I believe that the touring AND GT always had the BOSE, the Sunroof and the DSC.

One very intrigueing idea is to find ( which I have done so) a SPort with the performance package. This adds the DSC and the HID headlamps. All of the RX-8 manuals I have found out have the larger disc brakes, the bigger 18 inch wheels and the Tochigi limited slip differential. Its the automatic "sport" that doesn't get this basic stuff standard.. If you get an automatic you need to get the performance package in order to get the better stiff that is otherwise standard on the manual.

Thank you for your great responses, I have a tough time deciding sometimes what I want and I feel if I don't get the whole thing insofar as "goodies" are concerned, I am missing out. I realize that I like my headroom, the seats are softer with fabric as opposed to factory leather, ( the seats in my MINI Cooper Sidewalk edition are another story .. Mmmmm English leather) and I can get the spoilers, skirts and fog lights later for way cheaper than the factory.

That about sums it up perfectly. My sentiments exactly!

I wonder though, Is there way to add the bose sound system later?

i wouldn't bother - the bose isn't all that great. if you're upgrading you can upgrade to a better system.

Agreed
 

Seriously, quoted for truth.

Here is a link to the MazdaUSA RX8 comparrison page, it has been updated for the 2009 models but I was fairly certain that the 2003 through 2008 models were similarly limited in that the base sport version did not come standard with the DSC/Traction control, it was an optioned upgrade on the sport performance package cars. I might be wrong, anyway, here is the link:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...ehicleCode=RX8

How would you upgrade to a better system without destroying the dash? Looks to me likes it a factory design with lots of weird shapes, dimensions etc..

you are correct. its very hard to find a sport optioned with the performance package though... I did find two of them however..:yumyum:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/confirmed-another-dash-install-kit-coming-147516/

are you looking to upgrade the head unit or speakers? in any case, both can be done and there's a ton of information in the interior forum:

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/

go for the sport model, I have it an love it!

I'm fine with the stereo but I don't listen to it very loud, the DSC/TCS is great, its the 6 port motor, and as far as night driving I do not have a auto dimming mirror and it doesn't glare that much, you can have a spoiler I do (someone on here might even trade a full trunk lid with spoiler for your lid), you don't need power seats how much do you really have to adjust them, and I'm fine with no sun roof.

cloth seats are great even in PA winter I do not mind them at all...just wear a heavier coat if its that cold. Plus my seats are holding up great its an 04 with 47K and no rips or wear patterns.

Thank you kind sir!!:)

Excellent! These are great responses! Much better than I anticipated. Its nice to feel validated

let's keep the thread clear of bitching for now...

When the car first came out in 2004, There was a Base & Sport model. The Sport model came with these items that the Base model did not.
TSC/DSC
Foglamps
Xenon head lamps (Base had Halogen lamps)
All versions came with a sport suspension, with the exception of the Base AT model. It also came with 16" wheels.

Fog lights are part of the Sport package on older 8s and part of the performanc package on newer 8s. I waited until I could find a Sport with the performance package because I'm too tall for the moonroof. I'm adding aftermarket leather (w seat warmer), which is cheaper and higher quality. I'll probably also upgrade to an aftermarket stereo/GPS/mp3 system, which will also be better and cheaper than what was offered on the GTs. I'm also thinking about adding a remote starter, which would be nice in the winter if it also turns on the seat warmer. Still thinking the last one over ... don't want to be too gay.

good plan man. i love moonroofs but it's understandable if you can fit with one in place. definitely go for aftermarket leather and system.

I love how nobody can agree what package came with what