rx-8 model and years
 

whats the differences between 04 05 06 and 07?
which year is best (in your opinion)
why do ppl buy the GT model? they only give the navi, heated seats and stuff rite?

I have an 04 built later in the run. As long as the car has been serviced well and has all updates (TSBs) then there really isn't any difference. The biggest exception is the 6 speed auto vs. 4 speed.

I'm not sure where you're located (you didn't update your profile) so I'm not sure about model choices but around here there are only GS (cloth seats, Halogen) and GT (leather seats, HIDs)

No serious difference unless you plan on buying an AT.

06's have keyless start and entry which is pretty damn neat.

+1

There are only some minor differences. In '04 the key came with a keychain alarm. In '05 and I think '06 there was a switchblade key. In '07 it has the credit card key. There are some color changes, but other than that, they have been pretty much the same.

Always get the newest model year

It has all the fixes from the older model, plus some features u will never be able to get in older models (like credit card keyless start, 6sp AT, etc)

IMHO, the '06 has the edge. By then all the major upgrades had been applied, including the condenser stone guard (not a freebie) and the white washer reservoir. It has the full four year bumper to bumper warranty, plus the extended power train warranty. Mazda reduced their warranty in '07.

If you're buying new and find an '06 still in stock, it should be a bargain. If you're buying used, I'd be suspicious of an '07 on the market this soon.

As far as why people buy the GT model...could be anything from the package being exactly what they dreamed of all their lives, or it being in stock and available when they dropped into a dealer with an urge to get new wheels.

Ken

My 06 Shinka came with keyless-credit card.

+1 my 2006 GT. I bought my MTGT because it was either that or a Sport AT. Even if I had other choices...I think I would've still got the GT because after all the rebates they threw at me...It was actually less than the Base/Sport's MSRP and I like the heated seats/mirrors, keyless CC key, power driver's seat, etc. But to each their own.

Seems logical but it doesn't work that way with a lot of cars. In fact 3 of the cars I've owned ended up being a better choice because they got "worse" in later model years. Though that's not the case with the RX-8. If you're buying a RX-8 the wisest thing to do seems to be to find a leftover from the previous model year.

I believe some of the Shinka sales literature claims that model got an extra dose of a foam injection in parts of the frame moldings which add some additional torsional rigidity and stiffness to the chassis. There may also have been some claims made the also contribute to sound dampening as well. I'm not 100% sure my memory on this is correct, but perhaps someone with a Shinka edition, or access to the Shinka sales brochures can check and verify or debunk this.

Ah, here we go. A search on "Shinka + foam + something else" provides a link to this old thread:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...a+chassis+foam

which seems to support some claims the Shinka chassis might be preferred for other than simply cosmetic reasons

whats a credit card key -.-?? i have an 04 GT with navi and i really love it but i guess the 04 has the most problems probably because its like only the 2nd year the rx8 was out. but all the other rx8 owners i know (only 2) have 04's but we dont usually have that many problems.

so i shud look for a new 06 rx-8?

basically.. or get the 07... the newer the better...

IMHO, the cars all provide basically the same performance and reliability. The newer models have more amenities and contain the small engineering improvements done along the way (many of which are retrofitted via Service Bulletins). The caveat with older models is to make sure they are still under factory warranty in case you need to get a Service Bulletin fix applied (it's free).

The only exception (as noted earlier in this thread) is that the US-Spec 2006/2007 AT 6-port engine is a dramatic improvement over the 4-port delivered in 2004/2005 ATs.

The big issue is price. I would suggest you do not buy new because the resale value drops like a stone. In general, buy the newest and lowest mileage car you can afford. There is nothing wrong with a 2004, but if you can get a low mileage 2006 at near the same price, go for it.

The only reason to buy a GT is because there is an option (like leather or power seat) that you really want to have.

didnt they slightly tweek the suspension in '06?