Up until recently I was certain that I preferred the SI over the SII in pretty much every aspect. There was not even a thought in my mind that I would be looking into a SII RX8, it just wasn't what I had pictured in my head when I thought dreamed RX8.

I'm not sure what happened, but I've started to really take a shining to the SII. I've found a really nice 2009 GT with about 50km that I can't seem to get out of my head.

For the last year or so, I've been reading just about every thread to come up in the new members, general, tech, troubleshooting, and performance sections in the SI forum. I've learned a lot about maintenance and troubleshooting just from reading, to the point where when I read a new thread I could offer some pretty good advice to other people without even owning one of these things yet =/. I'm hoping I can carry most of this knowledge over to the SII as well.

There are a few other threads out there about SI vs SII, most coming down to saying they're essentially very similar, but the edge would go to the SII as an overall better car.

I'm not sure what I want out of this thread, just looking for thoughts, comments, or any discussions regarding the two cars from the people who know best.

 

Series II has some mechanical improvements over Series I, in particular the third oil injector in the engine. In general, the newer the car the better off you'll be. Unless you're into buying beaters and getting the last few miles out of them.

Buying a used car isn't like going into a showroom for a new one, where they're all pretty much the same and there's another one in stock. If you find one that you've fallen in love with, and condition/price are up to snuff, the time has come.

Sounds like you've gotten over the fact that Series II ruined the RX-8's styling, so that's not an issue.

Ken

 

+1 for S1's

 

I have an 06 S1 but I like the S2 as well. Both cars are great, just buy the best one you can afford!

 

Remember there is no COBB tuner for the SII... Can't go too crazy with mods with it and get an inspection.

 

You know what, I never used to like the SII look either. I was completely happy wanting an SI over an SII even without considering the money I'd save. I dont know how it started to grow on me

I was never planning on modding too much, maybe an intake and midpipe which seem like pretty standard mods. I haven't looked too much into whats available for the SII.

The scary part is, I'm going to be out of the province for the next couple weeks...have to cross my fingers and hope its around when I get home.

 

True there is no COBB but there is Mazdaedit which is a full ECU flash and can turn off DTCs (although it's not nearly as plug-n-play as the COBB).

The series 2 has quite a few changes which you can find in that sticky/post. The more notable ones being the 3rd oil injector, fuel pump, and 4 fuel injectors instead of 6. Also I believe the rotors had a coating that the series 1 rotors didn't to prevent carbon build up?

As for looks... I like the S1 side strakes but I don't like the tail lamps getting fogged up. The S1 stock front looks too squashed up with that little smiley face, I love the Mazdaspeed bumper though. Also the R3 rims are quite nice =)

Also I notice you're in Ontario. Get an R3 if you do get a series 2. In the US they were only black, red, or blue. In Canada you can get R3's in pretty much any color (assuming you can find one for sale). White and metro grey R3's look particularly nice!

 

I've had my '09 S2 GT for about a year and a half. Although I preferred the styling of the S1 at the time, the mechanical improvements and a great deal on an S2 won me over.

Since I've owned it I've come to prefer the styling on the S2. The larger grille and side-grille openings look more aggressive and modern. The simpler double circle LED taillights are hands-down more attractive. The lack of the over-the-top rotary accent shapes in front and rear are an improvement. I think the S2 looks better in person than in photos as well. The S2 is also a rarer car.

I will always love the S1, but for me the S2 worked out wonderfully. The S2's styling might grow on you as it did with me.

 

SII styling has won me over as well, but I would only buy it if it's an R3 in red, white, blue...or black. I would have to agree on how the SI's styling is a bit too squashed up also without the appearance package.

I bought an eBay lip kit, got it color matched, and had it on for a good four months or so. I recently got rid of it because I couldn't deal with the sagging issues. As soon as I popped it off, I stared and laughed at my front bumper because it looked "naked". I ended up settling for a Shine Auto Burnout replica and I'm not planning to remove it anytime soon.

 

The one I'm looking at is actually a GT with R3 body kit. It was the manager's demo car at a local Mazda dealership around here. Sparkling Black Mica (i think...they call it 'charcoal' on the listing) with tan interior. I'm hesitant to post a link, like I said, hoping to keep this one quiet until I return back home but a picture may work

http://azr.cdnmedia.autotrader.ca/8/...pg?w=800&h=600

I still get chills when I see a BB SI RX8, I don't think that feeling will ever leave me.

For those that had mentioned they own one, does the SII have folding rear seats? That would be a huge bonus...I'm a hockey player, drummer, golfer, snowboarder...and a rotorhead. A little extra trunk space wouldn't hurt .

 

At first the Series II mustache put me off a bit (part of the reason I wanted a black RX-8 to make it stand out less), but I've gotten used to it. And I prefer the headlights and especially the taillights of the SII over the SI. The taillights of the SII are seriously cool. All of the mechanical/reliability improvements make it a no-brainer to me.

 

Def +1 on the s2 taillights improvement. those were the single biggest styling fault I have with the s1

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

 

I completely agree with this. Personally I didn't think ANY of the visual changes were improvements. Don't get me wrong, still a really nice looking car. But I prefer the series 1 any day!

 

Passing emissions is a joke on an obd2 car even without a cobb or any tuner at all.

 

Youtube, Google, and this website's search have all turned up blank - does anyone know if the rear seats on SII's are collapsible? Some trunk pictures seem to look like it.

 

FWIW, the S2 mustache is less noticeable in person than in photos. My mind still drools over the Aurora Blue S2 R3 I saw at the Detroit Auto Show years ago. I love my S1, and the only cars I can imagine having in place of it are a Series 2 RX-8 or a 40th aniv (2008).

I like the changes to the oil cooler intakes and tail lights. Plus the engine changes seem like good ideas. I don't like the front fender decorations as much as the S1 vents, but they aren't ugly or distracting. I do like the S1 interior more, but I test drove a S2 and decided it was a lot nicer than pics made it seem.


Posted from Rx8club.com App for Android

 

Does anybody know if the rear seats on the SII fold down?

Also, the 8 I'm currently looking at has the rear lip spoiler. Since it has the R3 bumpers/skirts I would love to add the R3 spoiler as well. I understand from this picture that there will be some holes in the trunk from the lip spoiler.

Can those be filled and touched up somehow? Sorry - not much of a body guy here so I dont really know what that would involve, just curious.

 

They don't fold down