I have owned RX7's since back in 95. I just recently got a 05 RX8. I was asked if it was a Shinka or a Grand Touring....I've seen a Shinka badge on a RX8 once...but didn't know what it meant. Maybe you guys could help?!

 

its in the mazda site, its explain it. THe only battle between the two is the leather quality!!

 

and if you want foam filled cross members and a stiffer suspension set up.

 

The Grand Touring was the highest option package starting with the first RX-8 in '04. Two-tone leather seats, sunroof, 18" wheels, built-in GPS nav—and more.

The first Shinka appeared in '05. It had everything in the Grand Touring package (except nav), plus it was a limited edition (about 1,800?) and came only in dark Black Cherry Mica, with cream-colored parchment leather seats, a bunch of nice little trim upgrades, 12-months of Sirius satellite radio, and foam-filled suspension members, I think. (No one really knows what they do—it's a mystery.)

In '06 the Shinka was slightly less special. Copper Red with alacantra seats—and the package was made available in more than just one color. Others here will know more…

 

theyre filled....with FOAM! jeez man, 755 posts, you'd think you would know the gigantic benefits of FOAM! ;-)

 

I like the GT better because I have more colour choices not into the burgundy red

 

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ghlight=shinka

 

so does that thing use different spring when they are swaping out stock for aftermarket?

 

The foam is suppose to give more support to the frame, thus stiffer.

It helps upon impact in an accident.

It deadens the noise from the freeway.

Besides you can say "where else can you get foam filled fun?"

Zoom foam Zoom

 

The '05 Shinka was killer because the Black Cherry was the fastest, best handling, and its exhaust smelled like lilacs. After that, the copper red was nice, but the Shinka was no big deal. I'm just saying!...

 

Hey! Don't diss my foam...

 

i use it for my morning coffee

 

basically the shinka is the grand touring with a few differences like the sand/alcantra seats, polished *****, sirius radio, and the b-pillar appliques. i have the shinka. i liked the combo of the seats with the leather and suede which was the main reason i got the shinka package.

 

plus it uses 14mm shocks instead of regular 12mm shocks. Thats just for 05

06 I think they change it back to regular shocks and no utherane in the Front cross member.

 

According to Mazda Japan's Paper, the utherane was "suppose" to lower the body roll by around 20%. compare to the ones that dont have it.

Plus the Shinka(sports prestige edition) reinforced some parts on the PPF. (its all on Mazda Japan's papers.)

I can see some of the foam stuff when I took my mud guard out couple days ago.

 

I have a GT package and compared to the shinka's its pretty much what everyone was saying...i test drove the 05 shinka cuz i was in the market to buy back then and i noticed it felt a little stiffer but it wasnt enough IMHO to pay that little extra and I personally hate that parchment color interior (no offense to any shinka drivers here) the black leather looked nicer once again IMHO but i wish they had a two tone blue interior T___T

 

I dont really like the parchment color either.

After a year something almost 2 of *abuse* the leather got really dirty and its a bitch to clean something that looks *white*

damn it.

 

Well there it is then....Shinka it should be.

I love polishing my ****....don't you?

 

^ +1 i would change the interior if i have option for it..

 

Actually i dont remmeber the GT pkg having std Navigation, and also with leather, you could also get just black leather on the GT pkg......(two-tone wasn't necessarily on every GT pkg RX-8, Some RX-8 with the GT pkg had pure black leather, no red/black leather combo or tan/black combo.


Other things that let you know its a SHINKA is also the Shinka badging on the B pillar doors & polished alloys...has a dark silver tint to it.

 

I'm in the minority, but I like the parchment leather. (Funny, but I've noticed the black cherry/cream color combo is also on the Dr. Pepper Black Cherry soda label!) Yeah, you have to clean the parchment leather a lot, but it lightens up what would otherwise, for me, be a too-dark interior. (That was my problem with the all-black leather. Some cars—like Beemers, for example—just seem TOO dark with a black interior. Plus I'm used to convertibles and GTI's with no top or big windows and lots of light.)

If I hadn't found the Shinka (wasn't looking for one, and it was a bargain price!) I'd have gone for silver or black with the red/black leather. Or Winning Blue, where I'd get custom blue/black leather for not a lot of money!

 

^ +1. The parchment leather was a significant reason I picked the Shinka.

 

Yeah. Why come they couldn't do a blue/black colorway?! That've been nice...

 

Foam FTW! Do a search there have been a couple of big threads on this if I remember correctly. I like the leather and Alcantara combo myself so that was one of the reasons I got it.

 

i have a 06 Shinka. its totally way better than GT. its the highest package 4 RX-8s.