So yea...

This coming semester I'll have some spare cash sitting in my bank. Needless to say, I wanna be spending it on the car!

I have a few ideas:
-Cobb AccessPORT + Midpipe that's already in my room
-Double-DIN head unit
-MazdaSpeed wing..., not sure about the price this will incur. I want the real deal, no replicas. Any ideas?
-GT "Appearance Package" stuff. i.e., aero flares, spoiler and such, minus the front air dam, which I think looks weird. The car currently has NOTHING on it.
-Cooling parts..., for HPDEs..., not sure if I'll be pushing hard enough to warrant these though... It's been a while since I last saw some track action

 

Depends what you want from your car. Personally your car seems a little "naked" to me, but I only think that because when I bought my RX8 it came with the GT package. Only performance mod I have done is an AEM cold air intake. While others might scoff at it, I really like it. It puts a smile on my face to see something other than funeral black every time I open my hood. Sounds a little better and you do get a small performance increase. Supposed to be better on gas mileage but I never recorded mine while it was stock. Its basically a flaw free mod and relatively cheap compared to others. I don't see why anyone wouldn't have a cold air intake. Thats just me though. Again, depends what you want.

 

I dunno about a CAI. Costs like $300 with no recorded performance gains whatsoever..., at least when recorded by users.

I already modded the stock airbox to create that "CAI noise", so if it's just butt dyno, I already have it. :p

 

Other than for sound/decoration, aftermarket intakes for the 8 have no advantage over the stock, so save urself the cash.

I say get the appearance package for sure. Makes the car look much better IMO. Something not on that list that would make a big diff is springs and window tint (both you can get for the amount of the worthless intake). I would spruce up the exterior first, then start in with the performance.

The MS spoiler is stupid expensive and wont quite flow without a kit. If i were u i would keep it without the spoiler or at most go with the stock spoiler, you can get em on Ebay cheap and they are surprisingly good quality (at least mine is). GL!

 

I'm currently leaning on that appearance package really..., I'm just not sure if I should buy them through the dealer, or if I should get some aftermarket options...

I'm thinkin a spoiler, the rear aero flares, front aero flares, and front mud guards... It'd look sick!

 

Even if its just a placebo effect, my RX8 feels faster than it was stock :/

Whatever. No bolt ons will make a huge difference as far as performance goes. Notice any difference with your Mazdaspeed exhaust? I've heard countless times thats a mod that gives no recorded gains.

 

Fixed, he he. Yeah they will give it a much more aggressive look.

 

AccessPort. Gives you the most room for improvement, unless FI is a consideration.

 

What are the gains for the AP? They say ~14 horsepower but I've never heard if that was naturally aspirated or force fed.

 

Restores the car's power output to the original JDM spec 250HP, from the EPA castrated 232HP.

And you can set the car to "economy mode" whenever you're not gonna be needing too much power.

 

I think in and around 10bhp was being discussed, but it's more the lowered fan trigger temps, inc oil injection, altered redline, and ability to have a fairly customized tune included.

 

I always wondered if the AP and the fact that JDM RX8's were rated at ~250 horsepower were connected. Thanks much. It takes me FOREVER and a day to save up mod money (only 19 and no help paying for my car). I was looking at the Agency Power eccentric shaft pulley since its the cheapest power mod and thus I could get it the fastest, but the AP seems to be a much better mod...dunno if I have the willpower to make myself wait that long though...

 

can you use aero flares and mud guards together? dealer or ebay?