General RX-8 Questions
 

Hey all! I'm a newbie to RX8Club, so don't bash on me too hard ;)

Well, I'm considering purchasing a used RX-8 over the summer, manual transmission. However, I would like to purchase some cosmetic mods for the car. So here's my question: What are some /cheap/ but nice body kits available for the RX-8?

And as another question: anybody got links to proper maintenance and a noob's guide to the RX-8 on here or something? xD

It's been a close one between the RX-8 and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe (please don't hurt me). The RX-8 is such a damn beautiful car, and I don't care about the extra maintenance needed. I live near Chicago, so I know I'll have to be extra careful, but whatever, anything is worth it for such a nice car.

Thanks!

-PolishDemon

P.S - If this is in the wrong section, please let me know :D

for maintenance info check the stickies in the Tech Garage etc. subforums.

For cheap kits you probably will have to go for a replica lip and other replica parts, just be careful of fitment

Sweet stuff, thanks! I'll also take any other responses. Gonna go check out that subforum now!

For proper maintainence, you can go to mazdausa.com and download a owners manual.

Check vendor websites for bodykits available, you get what you paid for. If you wanna play it safe, get the Mazdaspeed kit, it comes prepainted and fit nicely and looks clean. I had replica's before, its just a waste of money imo, am using the kenstyle kit now, the rear and side fits perfectly but the front end suffers from the same common problem like other kits, the gap for the side markers will never fit perfectly unless you get a really good bodyshop to fill it up nicely.

I don't believe they come prepainted anymore.

Wow not pre-painted anymore , that's a rip off then

Don't apologize for liking the Genesis Coupe. It's a very nice car.

since your near Chicago you should invest in snow tires- the traction control doesn't do to much when it comes to nasty weather like snow.

As far as body kits for the 8, remember you get what you pay for- people that have gone the cheap way usually pay extra for the fitment problems so the costs usually equal out.

Maintenance - follow the service schedule religiously - follow schedule 2 from the owners manual.

Good Luck hope you get what your looking for

Thanks for the heads up on the kits. I just want something that'll make the car look nicer than stock, but maybe I'll be lucky and find an 8 with a nice kit from Mazda or something already on it. Snow tire? Definitely.

But here's where I'm still confused. I've pretty much chosen an RX-8 already...but what should stop me from the Genesis Coupe? xD

Not much....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i-QqjLLjO8

I was looking into the Genesis before I got my 8.
They are nice cars.
Very nice.

I don't know why that embedded twice.
Sorry.

Mod Edit: Fixed alnielsen

hey polsihdemon, i sure hope you got the rx8, as much as i think the genesis is a nice car but i find the market f so saturated with them, every where i drive i see one, reminds me of cavaliers every where you look you see one lol.. i just find the rx8 has its inclusiveness and makes it more special to own one.. im up in ottawa and i think theres only like 70 rxs and we have 1.2 million people.. and i recommend the speed bodykit it is pricey however in case you get in an accident you can always claim the kit aswell as its a factory mazda accessorie.. i did that when i got reended a few weeks ago..

p.s poland rules. had to add it as im a polak

The thing that keeps bringing me back to the RX-8 are its looks (and its engine, but that's a given). Speed_8, thanks for that! I love the exclusivity in owning one. I also appreciate the recommendation for the body kit. Hidef1080 - Thanks for the video!

Truth be told, this'll be my first car, and I'm gonna have quite the chat with my parents this summer about purchasing a car for me. The RX-8 is exactly what I've been looking for, but the Genesis is always an option. I'm extremely excited to see what an RX-8 has in store when I get to drive one, if I get to drive one. I'll *probably* buy an RX-8 from a Mazda dealership, unless you guys have any other suggestion.

P.S - Speed_8: AWESOME. I love being Polish! :D

hey polish demon, i recommend buying from a dealership because they usually check the car over very well.. if you do find a good deal from a private seller make sure its conditional on a compression test, and take it to a dealership to do so.. make sure you ask him lots of questions... did he add oil to the engine when needed. some will lie to you so look for how fast they answer your question.. and how knowledgable they are.. ask if he has ever flooded the engine.. ( that usually shows if they took care of it and so on ) im yet to flood it and i have 15000 miles on mine and its an 06 never winter driven, i will post some pics soon.. drive wise you cannot compare the sound and smoothness of the engine and shifting will make you wanna cream your pants... but do drive the genesis.. maybe you will like it more and fall in with the rest of the crowd :P

good luck on your search let me know if you need help.

@Speed_8: Thanks a lot, but I think I'll stick with the 8. I've fallen in love with it, even if it is just through the internet as of yet...haha. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go for a dealership purchase, but make sure any upgrades Mazda called for are taken care of...

Thanks to all!

right on, excellent choice you will not regret it.. now i recommend a vis fron end body kit with mazdaspeed rear underspoiler and sideskirts... awesome set up look it up online.. whats great is that insurance companies see the rx8 as a 4 door :) well they do here in canada

set of steelies and winter tires.

Or snows on the stock rims and summer rims/tires. I live in the burbs and get by with all season tires. I'm going to transition to snows for next winter.

Yeah, that's the tough thing. Two sets of tires...hmm...maybe I'll start off with all-season tires first, throw some new rims with them I guess. Then, see how that goes, and if not then get separate set of tires for Winter, and then the other seasons.

It's funny how I'm planning all of this out WITHOUT even knowing I'm getting a car for sure, let alone an RX-8! :P

for the winter get the best winter only tires you can find cause you will need them, otherwise you will be slipping sooo much... extreme grip lol

Good stuff errbody.

I really dunno much about cars, but a rotary engine is intriguing. Makes me have to *think* about every possible thing about this car.

Here's a new question: I've been reading up on debates b/w non-synthetic and synthetic oils. I've heard Castrol GTX, and I've heard Mobil1, and all sorts of jazz. What do you all /personally/ suggest?

Sorry for a double post, I could edit, but nobody would really notice ;)

Well, here's my question. This is sort of dumb, but here goes.

So the RX-8 had an engine recall, correct? If I were to purchase a used RX-8 (non Mazda-dealership), take it to a Mazda dealership to have them check the engine and whatnot, and have them tell me that it's under recall, would they swap it out free? Or any charges whatsoever?

Also...besides the engine, what is best to have put in new if purchasing a used RX-8?

Have you read all the stickies? Used the search function? There are many posts about oils. Mazda has their recommendation. Many disagree with that. They have logical reasons for their disagreement. However there is no testing to back that up. At the most there is preference, sometimes backed up by observation. Then there are shops that write tech reports like this one: http://www.good-win-racing.com/mazda...ml?id=evpTAgoU

The engine was not recalled. The warrenty was extended, on the engine, to 8yrs/100K miles. http://www.racingbeat.com/pdf/rx8warranty.pdf

they would swap the engine for free if it has a defect depending what year the rx8 you buy the ones made in 04-05 have a recall on the starter i think due to bad cold starts.. and regarding your synthetic or not, do NOT use synthetic as it is too thick and gunk will build up in the engine and eventually blow it same with ethanol no more than 10% mixture better yet avoid it as much as possible.. same will happen build up and blow.. make sure you redline the engine once in a while to burn away any carbon build up that forms up.