Drecca

hey guys and gals,

I'm familiar with forum etiquette, and I hope this is in the right place. It's half technical, half performance increase (and why not, half just opinion seeking). So I placed this in General.


Anyway, to preface, I already have a fast car. I don't need or expect the Rx8 to reach 500HP. I'm getting to the age where I want to settle down and getting a car that's usable but fun to drive. I'm going for the automatic model since it allows the other half to drive it should it be required, so please. no "lol you should get manual" posts please.

So, I have a great deal lined up for a 2004, barely used and never seen winter. It's a 2004 GT 4 speed automatic, fully loaded except no DVD-based nav.

I've tried the paddle shifters and they felt a liiiittle bit sluggish. Nothing deal breaking. I don't mind it. 200hp is fine for the car as well. I don't need it going like a missile on a highway.

So here are my questions :

Will "chipping" (flashing the chip) on the car help a little bit with performance/shifting and allowing the rpm's to go a bit higher? I read the automatic doesn't rev as high due to limitations, but hey, a question is a question.

Anyone drive this car in winter? I test drove it on dry roads with summer tires. The back of the car was giving out like no tomorrow on secondary roads with snow. With good winter tires, will this still happen?

I'm still getting the 2004 model because it's an amazing deal, but are there any major differences from 2004 to 2010 that I should be aware of (apart from the minor design differences)? Are any of those dyi's or things I can add myself?

Can the "keyless entry/start" from 2006 be backported to the 2004 model?

If anyone has anything to add, please feel free to do so! I'm sure you guys have seen a ton of posts just like mine, and I did much searching and got some information, just not really consolidated, so I probably missed something.

Thank you much in advance!

The Reverend

iTrader: (1)

Chipping will not do anything. From what I have read, guys put on good snow tires in the winter and can get around fine. There are some major differenced between 04 and 10, including how seals are lubricated which SHOULD prolong engine life compared to earlier Renesis', I do not know if we have seen any results on the newer engines yet if it HAS prolonged engine life.

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Okie dokie... first, read this thread https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/new-potential-owners-start-here-202454/
The best way to flash the engine is probably the Cobb AccessPORT, sold exclusively through a member on these forums (MazdaManiac). Read up on it.
Winter tires are mandatory IMO. Search for brands
Differences between the 2 are many. Please research that on your time, as there is just so much to list
Good luck!

jasonrxeight

if you want auto, probably get a 6spd auto?

Drecca

I'd like to, but the price difference from the 2004 to 2006 (I think that's the year of 6speed auto) is about 8,000, which is a lot just for 2 more gears.

One other question I had, what bluetooth devices can I add to the car? I know the bose system doesn't have BT, but is there some way it can be added, or another radio that goes into the rx8 that has it?

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

there is a way. There is plenty of info on this forum that will answer your questions.
Also, sure,the 6 speed is only 2 gears more. but so far, the engine reliability is worth it.

Drecca

There's a way to change it from 4 to 6? Wouldn't that require a whole new tranny?

jasonrxeight

you get 20 more hp too.
6spd auto's have 212hp not 192hp.

lateralus

iTrader: (1)

Yeah. Getting a whole new tranny is the way haha...

The 2004 4 speed auto is considered to be the least reliable 8 out there. They seem to have had a pretty good bit of problems... Soldier is right, you wouldn't be paying for the 2 extra gears, you'd be paying for the extra reliability.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

There's a bit of misinformation in this thread, or at least information/opinions I wouldn't agree with.

Mazda has never been able to do automatic transmissions in RWD vehicles worth a ****, going back to the rx7, 929, and mpv van (which all used the same basic trans). The rx8's auto is the best of all those but still doesn't really drive like a "normal" automatic car. Part of it has to do with mating to a rotary engine that makes little low rpm torque, which is where an auto spends most of it's time...so it makes for a slug. The trans wasn't specifically designed for paddle shifters (to my knowledge) but instead the other way around. They just control the shift solenoids in the trans which were not really designed specially for that, so it's a little sluggish and of course the actual performance of the trans remains the same whether you control it or the car does.

With newer cars there is no "chip", you instead "flash" them via the data port. There are several ways of doing this with varying success, but bottom line you are never going to get a lot more out of it than what it is now. RX8s are (IMO) more about "what they are" rather than "what you can build".


Not many major differences. 09 was the mid generation facelift. Still the same basic car, same power levels, MINOR modifications to the engine that basically affected lubrication only. The 04-08 come in 3 flavors: 4 port engine, 4sp auto trans; 6 port engine 6sp auto trans; 6 port engine 6 sp manual trans. All those engines have the same internals essentially, obviously the 4 port is limited on intake airflow and thus makes less power. The 6 port auto has a lower redline (and thus lower max hp) due to the auto trans.

You'll hear a lot of bitching around here about 04's being shitty and 05-08 being much improved, but the truth is there is no real difference save for a few minor tweaks such as an improved starter motor, different PCM flashes from the factory (which should be updated on the early models anyway) and so forth. You hear of more 04 issues than 05-08 because there were a ton of first year 04 models produced, and of course those are also the oldest and highest mileage models in general so of course those have shown the most problems.

They all have the same essential character, strengths and weaknesses though. The 09+ should be in theory slightly better with engine longevity but that remains to be seen with time and experience.

I wasn't aware any came with remote start? My 04 came with keyless entry and I imagine all of them did...but I'm not as "up" on the exact options and trims as some of the older members here.


I wouldn't call them major differences. A few body changes, a few minor suspension tweaks, a few minor interior tweaks, and the aforementioned minor lubrication change to the engine.

Yes, definitely do your own research on the cobb ap calibration/MM threads before making a purchase decision.

Pioneer F900bt/Premier F90bt (or similar head unit with bt functionality). No stock option to my knowledge. Hell they didn't have satellite radio optional until 05.

See my opinion above about the age/mileage of the older models versus the newer models. The engine internals are identical in terms of lubrication and longevity, between 04-05 4 port and 06-08 6 port auto's. Other than a PCM flash change, there's no reason for the 06-08 models to last any longer than the 04-05 given the same treatment and conditions.

You'd be paying for the extra 15-20hp or so.

And, consider that if you DO decide to open the tune up for more rpm and hopefully more power, the 6 port auto will make a lot more power up top than the 4 port auto. The 6 port auto engine is capable of the same hp levels as the 6 port manual engine, if it were allowed to spin to the same rpm redline.

OF course who is to say how long your auto tranny will live if you do that often.

YaXMaNGTO

Drecca, I think you're so lucky somebody took the time to answer and clarify all that. I think most other forums, you would have been washed out to sea with nothing but "Search noob!!!!!!!!111111!!111!eleventy" posts.

RotaryResurrection, you, sir, are a saint.

EDZRIDE

iTrader: (1)

+1 on that^

Icky Mettle

Didn't the 4 port only have one OMP versus two in the 6 port? Or was it a single oil cooler in the 4 port? Even if either were true, that alone would steer me towards the 6 spd auto or a manual trans.

I think what's going to happen here is that you're going to buy a 4 port auto, bang around in it for about a year, and then trade it for a 6 spd manual.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Oil cooler. I think the auto's always only have the single oil cooler, but I havent seen enough 06+ autos to know if that's 100% true. Regardless, these engines are not failing due to oil temperatures, they are failing due to lack of oil injection volume. I like the dual oil coolers myself and would prefer that all models had them, but I don't see it as a big selling point.

Icky Mettle

Yup. Wasn't in the market for an auto so I didn't even read up on them or look.

Regardless, auto RX-8s deserve to be loved and given homes too. They can't help the way they were born.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Which is why mine underwent surgery to correct it's birth defects.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

I would also say to go with the 06 because of warranty issues. You will extend your warranty to 2014 instead of the engine warranty going out in 2012. So you essentially buying an engine warranty that has more life on it.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Only if proof of previous maintenance comes with the car.

terch1

iTrader: (2)

I'd say go with a manual. Why are you settling for an auto? Is it totally price oriented? If so save some money and opt for the manual! I've driven both and their is a huge difference in my opinion.

PSTNLSS

iTrader: (3)

I own a 04 RX-8 6spd manual, but a bud of mine had the 04 auto.

Major differences.
4 port to 6 port I believe in the 2004 vs the 2005(maybe 06)
4speed vs 6speed. It'll be a difference. More fun to drive.
They problem is the car is 50/50 weight dist so throw some heavy stuff in the trunk in the snow with some good winter tires you'll be good. I had all seasons that got me through a good 2 inches before really going crazy. But after that who wants to drive anyway.

****Careful with some 2004 I believe mid production they replaced the apex seals with a stronger material. So later 2004 productions had stronger seals.

My 04 RX-8 was for sale but she flooded the other day and went to the dealer to find out that well it's low compression so new engine time.


I'd say you're better off with the 2006 RX-8 6spd auto. But drive an automatic vs a manual of this car. It'll be a noticeable difference

lateralus

iTrader: (1)

He said why in his post...

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Can you cite your source for this?

PSTNLSS

iTrader: (3)

I have no solid source. However, I remember about reading it on rx8club at one time. Probably misunderstood.

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, I dont think I've ever heard anything credible on that. The last change in apex seals I'm aware of is when mazda discontinued the old 3pc seals for the rx7s right around the time when rx8 production started (early/mid 03) and went to strictly 2pc rx7 seals. As far as I can tell visually, all the apex seals are still composed of the same material and finish, and look visually identical to the way they always have (except for obvious dimensional differences in the rx8 seals).

daffyduc

when I was looking for my rx8 I started looking at automatics for the same reason (wife hates stick shifts) however after researching it I was hell bent to avoid the automatic at all costs.... not because of the power issue (I couldn't care less about power), but because of the early reliability issues with the automatics...

I picked up a 6speed 06 manual and taught her how to drive it. I would suggest the same to you.... in my opinion if you want an automatic buy something else.... just my 2 cents...

she still does not like to drive it but that just means she rarely steals it :D

happy hunting.