If you have the RB Gauge Panel Kit…
 

How do you like it? Anything you don't like? I realize you lose the ash tray and A/C outlet, but are there any other annoying little downsides that you weren't aware of until you installed it and used it for awhile??

Thanks.

I didn't use RBs gauges. Didn't quite realize how large the gap was going to be between the pod and the gauges due to the curve of the pod.
Other than that I love it.

NewYorker: I have the tray but went with digital Nordskog gauges and LOVE this mod. One of my favorite things I've done to my car.

Here's my thread on the guages / install: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/diy-rb-gauge-pod-nordskog-digital-gauges-133938/

^ Thanks, Jedi. What you did looks really cool; you obviously gave it a lot of thought. I'm still on the fence. I do know the worthless fake gauges in the 8 make me want real analog gauges with real moving needles.

I still can't believe that Mazda's "solution" to owner complaints about early Miata's oil pressure needle moving as RPMs and temperatures vary – as, of course, it should – was to replace 'em with fake idiot gauges, rather than simply adding a paragraph to the owner's manual explaining how it's normal for readings to vary, so long as they're within a certain range. Sheesh.

I have the dual vent pod but I am thinking of going this route as well since I want Fuel Press, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp (possibly two from two locations), and EGT.

NY: Right around the time I got my RX-8 (late '05) I drove a buddy's MX-5 and I'm pretty sure that had a functional oil pressure gauge.
I was a bit jealous and annoyed at the same time.

I prefer the gauges up on the dash where I can see them out of the corner of my eye, but thats just my take on it.

doc: typically I would agree with you but for me it came down to what gauges I mounted as to whether they needed to be highly visible.
If I was monitoring AFR on an FI car, then absolutely I would want them on my dash.

realistically, oil temp, water temp, and even oil pressure aren't things that need constant monitoring which is why I find the RB pod to be the ideal location for something I just look down at every now and then for a quick glance.

It would be a lot easier with a gauge that has a warning indicator. I have seen ones that will go from Red to White and so on that way you don't have to watch them.

I like the look of it... now that it's installed.
I thought the way the lines were routed was a bit 'ghetto' but it works just fine.
I agree that the gaps are a bit bigger than I expected but the finished product looks great and the lighting nicely matches the dash.

I forgot to mention that mazdaspeed actually makes one for the car.

http://www.japanparts.com/db/parts_d...=29&submit.y=7

^ That looks fabulous. Too bad it costs one seventh of what my car is worth.

Im sure with a little research you can find them cheaper. That site charges well over 350 dollars for the illuminated shifter, but I found them for about 140 shipped and have a thread on it. A little research can go a long way in a wallet.

I also have the RB pod, but with Prosport gauges and I love it! Definitely worth it!

Which is also why I love my prosports. The prosport gauges not only flash when the threshold is exceeded, but they also emit a loud (and sometimes annoying) beep. Very good for when you're pushing the car and not able to look at your gauges every few minutes.

The pod itself is great and you can fairly easily fabricate your own brackets if you don't buy the full RB kit.

Keep in mind if you go with LED lighting that you're going to need a separate LED dimmer as the single wire LED leads from gauges like AutoGauge will actually dim and brighten opposite your ashtray dimmer (don't ask me how I know that).

Mine works and looks fine with GlowShift gauges, with a couple of reservations. First, and I think this is a common problem, the mounting tabs closest to the shifter are "warped". That is with the left tab screwed to the console, the right tab is still 3 mm or so away. If one screws it down anyway, it will likely work for a while, but eventually break off from mismatch. (I've seen a few broken off this way.) A couple of washers under this tab takes most of the stress out, but means the shifter cover doesn't fit quite right. The other reservation is that it's rather a PIA to lose the ashtray since cubby space in our cars is rather lacking. One might consider a single multifunction gauge located in a VentPod, or perhaps in the minidisc cover, or use a GoodBox. In any case, these installations are tedious, and unless you're careful with grounds and get "lucky" with senders, the readings can be quite inaccurate. Check the calibrations with the gauges and senders wired into the car before you believe them.