I know most of the differences but is the leather/Traction control etc worth it. Im planing on turboing the car and possible tracking it. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great.

 

Weight
Well, the magic traction button saved my *** a couple of times... So, I think it's worth it.

 

If you live in an area with mild weather year round then go for the sport. I think cloth is better for spirited driving, and the lighter the car the better. However, if it snows or rains a lot where you should get an RX-8 with traction control. The same goes if you're a young driver IMO.

 

not having traction control is like not having it at all?

 

Why not just get the Touring model? Best of bothe worlds.

 

For what you are planning, get the sport. I have the GT, and I like it, but I'm not adding the turbo or putting it on a track. I cruise it more than race it. I have leather, but the cloth looks better to me, unless you get the colored leather.

 

Huh?

How old are you, do you have much performance dirivng experience, and where do you live? That info should make the choice clear.

 

haha georgia 18 and out of my mind

 

sport is lighter. thats all i have to say.

 

Get a touring model...

 

Eh... the sport does have traction control. At least my 2004 does.

 

Listen to the man, if you're not ABSOLUTELY certain, get a model with DSC. I had mine step out on me unexpectedly a couple times and I've even had a decent bit of racing instruction/experience. I don't think it would have gotten away from me even if the DSC was off, but I don't think you want to be taking chances like that with your daily driver.

DSC can be disabled if you absolutely must, but for 99.5% of your driving, it will never interfere. Really, if you're just straight out road racing, I don't know that it would even interfere at all. It allows quite a bit of yaw to occur before yanking you back down to reality. Maybe at those speeds it will freak out, but it's been my experience that it only intrudes when bad things are happening.

 

I have a fully loaded GT... I don't slide around in the leather seats as they grip quite well... they look great in all black.

The traction control is well... great in any weather... accelerating out of tight corners without traction control and you'll slide the back end out easily meaning you'll have to let up on the throttle. I turn off the traction control when i want to have a little fun.

 

I think it's optional with the performance package, (that might not be the right name) it comes with HID headlights and DSC.

Oh, and the leather really sucks if you're trying to blaze through corners in an actual race...nothing like being perched up on the door's arm rest while trying to make a right hairpin at 50.

 

You're right, I just checked and they made it optional. Back in 2003 when I bought mine, the sport was actually an option package which did include DSC/TC, HID headlights and the fog lights. Now it seems there is no base car, so the current "sport" is the base? Hm.

 

Yeah, I guess it was the base that didn't have DSC and traction control.

 

Traction control and DSC- must haves!
Especially if you live in colder climates and will drive in winter.....

 

I would absolutely get DSC and traction control, no question. Hey, you can always turn it off.

 

Ge the sport, you need the dsc/tcs and you can disable/enable it by a button/restart of car, and the sport is a good deal lighter thatn the gt, and even lighter than the touring.

 

I think Karen Welles (OP of the "fast drivers" thread) would like to hear from you.

 

http://motortorque.askaprice.com:80/...-0-finance.asp

 

LMAO +1

 

I think all rx8s (even ATs) come with TSC and DSC regardless of trim, except for the sports on 06 and 07, this is just off personal experience of the rx8s that I have seen, I might be completely off here

 

In street driving, my DSC has only kicked in a couple of times when I really pushed it. But for autox or the track, it's definitely off. Having the DSC suddenly awake in mid-turn is not good. One place in particular is the banked "karussel" at Summit Point Shenandoah Circuit... the DSC goes haywire.

But in street driving the DSC can definitely bail you out of an otherwise bad situation.

 

Yep Paul is correct.

Get it. And make sure it's off when your on the track.