allstate

I am trying to decide between the base 6 speed package at $27,200 or adding the sport package for $28,300. Since the sport package only adds the xenon headlights, fog lights, and DSC I am trying to decide if it's worth it. My main question is does anyone know if you don't get the Xenon head lamps will they visually look any different? Are they worth it? The car at the dealership had the Xenon head lamps and they looked really cool. I noticed you can add the fog lamps seperatly at the dealership. This is what I'm considering doing...getting the car for $27,200 and just adding the fog lamps (that is if the regular headlamps don't look any different)...any comments?

BillK

If all you're concerned about is looks, it may not be worth it.

If you actually drive at night, IMHO HIDs are very important. After having driven cars with HIDs it's very hard to go back to halogen headlights, they're that good...

JerryR

I don't know how they differ in look, but I can say that I love the xenon lights at night. They illuminate a wide band off to either side of the car, making it immensely easier to see any lurking pedestrians, deer, etc, much further in advance of where I could see them with the headlights on my old car.

allstate

Actually, what I mean is do the lights look visually different from the outside...like looking at the car? Can you tell by looking at the car what type of lights they are?

umpuck

only at night, they have a blueish look to it....it's pretty neat. I can't wait to get my car so i can see the diff at night :P. But so far the only time i seen xenon lights out here are on bmw's.

allstate

And actually while we're at it...could you have xenon lamps installed afterwards and save $1,100?

BillK

Maybe.
You can often have HIDs installed after the sale, but the HID package from Mazda includes auto-adjusting sensors, so for example if you have passengers in the rear or heavy cargo in the trunk your headlights won't point off into the treetops. Any aftermarket install won't include the sensors or the servo motors that reaim the headlights.

Whether this is important is a toss-up and depends on your driving style and how you use the car, but it's something to keep in mind...

ReX-8

I think someone in another thread mentioned you can install it aftermarket. But first, as Billk said it won't include the auto-leveling sensor thing. Also most of the aftermarket xenons (such as Philips) cost about $500 just the kit.

Xenon


Halogen

Pete

i got the gs and it has the fog lights ?

jdl

If that's a serious question, then you have an excellent picture of your fog lights, sitting below the headlight clusters, one tucked in each oil cooler intake space. Kind of hard to miss, actually...

By the way, excellent color choice! (I'm waiting for my own yellow

Cheers,
-jd.

Pete

Thanks jdl,

Congrats on your yellow rx8

chinx

you can't tell just by looking at the *outside* of the headlamps...with the lights off. the headlamp assembly should be the same; ie w/ or w/o HID the car looks identical. if you look inside the engine bay by the lights you'd be able to tell. also with the lights on, even in daytime, you can tell. and IMHO HID looks way hotter than halogens. i'd get it

allstate

Hey, thanks too all who put in their comments on this thread. I made up my decision today. I placed my order on a 6 speed base package Titanium RX-8 for $27,200. That will keep my payment where I want them and still get me an awesome car. Even though I won't have fog lights, xenon head lights, or the dynamic stability control, I am still moving up from a 1992 Mazda Miata. I kind of decided I just had to look at all the great features the car came standard with and not look at the three things I wouldn't have on the car. The dealer said that the production day is August 1st. He also said that delivery could take up until December??? What's up with that? This was a dealership in the Dallas/Ft Worth area where they are getting plenty of 8's.

meat

Great choice on the package (identical to what I got, and I love it...)

A lot of us on this board ordered a long time ago (I ordered January 13th, and received my car on July 19th), so that is right in line with current expectations...

allstate

That is good to hear. I am also conidering having the dealer install the fog lights as it is listed as a dealer installed option in the brochure. I'm not sure how this works though as far as controls inside the car...would they be the same as a car that came with the fog lights already installed? Also, one day down the road I may choose to install a post-production xenon kit. This would only leave me with out the DSC which I do not care about.

OmegaBob

(not trying to highjack this thread but...)

I hope this is NOT true b/c I just received my vin and I know (by calling the 800 #) that my car isn't built yet. I really can't wait until December (my est was end of Aug or Sept)! My dealer is getting a gray one in ... maybe I'll ask to switch to that one.

As for the headlights, I think I read that they are self-leveling (if that's even the correct term). What exactly does that mean?

eccles

It means that there are two small actuators on the front and rear suspension, which detect any difference in ride height beween the two ends of the car, as would happen if you loaded it up with passengers and groceries, for example. When you first turn on the lights, they automatically adjust to ensure that the beam is still horizontal, and thus not blinding to other drivers.

wakeech

...exactly as it sounds: the headlights, whether you hit a bump or a dip in the road, or take a Dukes of Hazzard jump off the canyon ridge, the headlights have motors which adjust the projectors to emit the light from the car at a constantly "level" trajectory to avoid burning retinas via rear view mirrors at night...

OmegaBob

Wow! Very kewl sounding! One day even I may get to experience them in person lol.

I betcha that they'd be expensive to replace.....

allstate

[QUOTE]Originally posted by OmegaBob
[B]

I hope this is NOT true b/c I just received my vin and I know (by calling the 800 #) that my car isn't built yet. I really can't wait until December (my est was end of Aug or Sept)! My dealer is getting a gray one in ... maybe I'll ask to switch to that one.

When did you place your order? I just placed mine on July 26th.

OmegaBob

Allstate: long story short - I placed my order at the end of May from the dealer allotment. The reason I just got my vin late was b/c they never added my name to the Mazda database. When I called the 800#, the rep said that there was no info on my car which prob meant that it hasn't been built. He est that I would get it by the end of Sept at the latest. I read in the dealer/ordering thread that some of the European cars might be diverted to the US (which could mean that we'd get out cars sooner); however, other than that post, I haven't seen anyone (esp our UK forum members) confirming this.


Everyone else: three more questions about the headlights:

1 - Is the self-centering mechanism motorized or not? Like if it was based on a gyro or something.
2 - Is it expensive to replace the bulbs when they burn out?
3 - Do they last longer than standard halogen bulbs?

Thx =)

Texrican

I was quoted 229.18 per xenon bulb by the Mazda dealer.

RMZ290

Depending on the bulbs they are $40 to $100 on ebay, depending on brand/type. HID bulbs last 4000+ hours, I think halogens are usually less than 800 hours. The self leveling feature is motorized, when you turn it on you can see it work. I thought it just level'd them when you first started it up. Not sure about that.

The HID ballast is the expensive part.

Element

I was going to respond, but then realized this thread is 5 years old...

valpac

iTrader: (2)

DSC/TC alone is worth the extra money.