Sport vs GT
 

I had pretty much decided that the Sport trim level was right for me. I drove a friend's GT model and while the leather is nice, it's no big deal to me. I also could care less about the bun warmers. The moonroof is the only part of the GT package that I think would make a difference to my driving pleasure. I live in the Seattle area so I would enjoy opeing the roof on the 10 days per year it isn't raining. :)

I know the touring package adds the moonroof but not the leather but they are quite rare according to Mazda's inventory search website.

Anyone out there who has the GT package want to convince me I can't live without it? Is there some part of the GT package that I'm overlooking the value of?

the rarity is bs I had 4 dealers contact me within two days of my request and each of them had at least 2 touring package cars availble for me. go to www.edmunds.com and go to contact dealers tell them what you want and they will be more than happy to find it for you.

I got the sport and one major issue with the moonroof? Headroom! Plus a moonroof will give trouble down the road as seals wear out, and you DO live in Seattle. Can we say RX-8 fishtank?

I'm very happy without it living in Miami (more than 10 non-rain days a year).

I really can't imagine a car without a moonroof. I have mine open almost all the time, even in cooler weather. However, the RX-8's moonroof is a little far back so you don't get the full enjoyment. On the other hand, don't count out the joy of those bum warmers. I really didn't want to get leather either, but I got too good of a deal and went ahead. No regrets! I'm so glad I did now, the seats sit sooo nice as leather and the heated seats are my favorite invention in a while. Really helps the sore back. Definitely recommend just getting the leather! From someone who didn't want it to begin with, we'll see if I change my mind in the summer :)

All I wanted was an AT with the Sport pkg. Except for the extra HP (in the 6sp) the Sport pkg will handle and drive the same if not better because of less weight. It looks the same from the outside and there are less things to go wrong in the long run.

The Sport comes with all the same fun stuff as the T and GT such as the bigger brakes, revised suspension and the bigger wheels, DSC, TC, LSD and HID's! All the fun driver related stuff.

I found it hard to get the Sport pkg in an AT and in silver because all the cars on the dealers lots were fully loaded and didn't want all the fancy doo dads that came in the T and GT pkgs.

I only paid $24999 for mine so I think It was a hell of a deal!

I like the GT package because I'm enjoying the heated seat. This summer, I hope that I'll switch over from using the seats to using the moonroof all the time (it's not been open yet, except to test it). Like you, I wanted the T package originally, but the dealer I spoke to ordered the only T in my colors in the entire Chicagoland area to his dealership while I sat and waited for him to "check his inventory." He then announced he had the only car that met my criteria and refused to deal on price. I walked out, decided to buy the GT package and went to another dealer 60 miles away - I think of him every time I turn on the seat warmer.

Good luck!

Thanks for the input. The sunroof in my RX-7 has survived 16 years of Seattle weather without nary a drop of leakage so I'm not worried about leaks. I'm 6'2" but I didn't have a problem with headroom in my friend's GT. So, I'd gladly have the moonroof.

I'll also double check on the inventory of Touring models. I didn't see a way to query the Mazda website for trim level (all the trim drop down has is RX-8). I had to guess by looking at the MSRP. Am I missing something. Is there a way to query just for Touring trim level?

If I could have gotten the RX8 with roll up windows, and manual mirrors I would have. Cheaper and lighter is the way to go.

There's not a way to query by package or other options that I know of. When I bought my 8 I used it knowing the msrp of the car equipped as I wanted then spent a lot of time looking at cars with a close msrp.

Don't forget about the 8-way power seat the GT adds especially if you get the MT. I use it daily. I sit closer when I have to clutch a lot and further back when I'm cruising, the change is a quick press of a button. Also, I'm not sure if the non-power seats let you adjust height. This is important! I put the front of the seat quite high to best distance my feet to the pedals, and put the back of the seat very low to maximize head room. I don't think the non-power seats allow for this level of customization (sp).

GT includes over T:
1) Leather-trimmed upholstery, 2) 8-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, 3) Heated front seats, 4) Heated mirrors

I do enjoy having and using 1-4 and did not see 4 - heated mirrors mentioned here. I like having them for those times the mirrors are frosted over or have condensation on them.

Previous car was 15 years old and never had any moonroof issues. I would not have bought this car if it did not have a moonroof.

Good luck,
rx8cited

You just described the car I'm driving now.:D

The adjustable seats do sound worthy of consideration, especially the lumbar support which apparently the cloth seats do not have. Do the power seats take away foot room for the rear passengers?

I couldn't do without the moonroof. I love it.

Moonroofs are ok, I like all the features of the GT package but it does add some weight :p

The GT package is all about the leather.. that's the meat of it. If you want the leather go GT, if not, the T or S is fine. Moonroof is another biggie, but I'd go either way if GT came with or without.

I preordered my car in the Touring because I thought, why leather?? it's sticky and hot. But that was from my bad experience from a previous car that had aged old hard leather and no A/C. YUUCK. Once I sat in a leather upholstered car I changed my mind quick and changed my preorder to a GT..

Aahh, the smell, the feel of leather... Only problem is you need to maintain them to keep the smell and feel. Soemthing you dont have to do with Cloth..

Good luck in your choice.

While it's true that leather requires occasional cleaning/conditioning, it's much easier to clean. Spill coffee or soda on leather and it can be cleaned good as new; on cloth you'll probably have a stain (which you may not notice on black cloth).

Get the GT package, you'll be glad you did. Once you drive a car with leather seats, you'll never be able to get comfortable in cloth seats again. By the way, I'm in Florida and we had a couple of cold (for us) days, and the seat heaters were used with great comfort and pleasure. I owned numerous Mazdas and other car with moonroofs, and I've never had an issue with leaking.

Heh, and I cant stand leather seats myself. My test drive was in a leather car in summertime and I hated it. My girls car has leather as well and I cant stand it. Sport was perfect for me. Got what I wanted exactly.

Wee!

The chicks dig my GT

I took the leather seats out of my SA and replaced them with cloth seats from a base model FC3S. The cloth seats didn't roast my ass in the summer nor were they stiff and slippery in the winter. The cloth also provides more lateral grip for autocrossing and spirited driving in general. I don't think I could go back to leather now.

It's all about personal preference. Hey, I had a car with leather seats. Wouldn't have another one with them. The next person feels exactly the opposite.

For me, the sport package offered everything I needed and wanted. Plus it's cheaper! :D

It all comes down to what can you NOT live without. For me it was the power seat. I have only owned one car without power seat in the last 20 years and that one sent me into physical therapy for a year. If you drive long distances, the ability to change position easily and frequently is very important. I bought the GT because it was the only way to get the power seats!

The lighter the better, imho, at least for a sports car. Every pound of options you don't buy makes the car accelerate and brake that much better, while saving you money at the same time.

I've heard that in some cases, power windows are actually lighter (or at the least, the difference is negligible) than manual crank windows.

jds

My $ .02. I am not an owner but I test drove an RX8. I did not like the fit of the leather seats and I am not a big fan of sunroofs. The cloth seats gave me a better driving position. If I were buying an RX today, I would save the $5K and get the Sport with the 6 speed.

Which is how I bought my car. It seems the base model is not as common, but I have one. I am not a fan of leather in sports cars and the sunroof seemed unusable to me. Everything else just felt like fluff to deter me from my true mission with this car.