Ok i have had my 8 for little over a month now. I am trying to decide what to start with. I know that the first 3 things I want to get done are, Rims, Springs and exhuast. Problem is I dont know what to start with. I like the factory 18 inch rims that my 8 has. I have enough for the exhuast I want becuase that was the first thing I wanted. The rims I would want are the 18 inch SSR comps. Do you guys think I should get the exhaust first and then the springs and then the rims. Or continue saving, get the rims, springs and then exhaust. I think the factory rims should hold out. What do you all think? Thanks.

 

exhaust+springs first... then save up for the comps what exhaust do you want?

 

probably the espelir.

 

anybody else?

 

Springs and sway bars first. Rims are to each person's taste but I wouldn't replace them until I had to. I think they look great. Exhaust is a pretty penny when you realize all you paid for was a different sound with little to no additional power as a result. This has been tested over and over again. See racing beat's write up.

 

Me? I went with the following order:

1.exhaust
2.rims
3.dumpage

 

Mazda made a fantastic handing car and you guys wanna screw it up ? Kids... LOL

 

I'd do the suspension first. It's the only one that you'll feel when you drive. I've never been too worried about exhaust noise and with no substantial HP gain, I wouldn't customize it. If you like the wheels (I love 'em) I'd change that later, once you get a little bored and want to alter the look of the car.

 

He didn't mention thicker sway bars. The people here and even a guy I talked to from Racing Beat say you will feel an instant difference as far is body roll around a corner.

I think he should get the sway bars done along with the springs/shocks.

 

G-rex is right on the money. Don't waste money on exhaust (unless you just want it louder-hey poke holes in your mufflers LOL), sway bars will help a bunch, and I LOVE the rims too, and don't think I'll ever change them. If you like them, don't drop a wad to change something you may not really want to change.

 

I have read that shocks arent really that necessary since the espelir or Tein's wont drop the car that much. I was told that the shocks under normal and fun driving should last about 60,000 miles. Who makes the best sway bars?

 

Oh and also, Do strut bars accomplish the same thing as sway bars?

 

No, I have the Racing Beat sway bars w/front sawy bar endlinks, springs, and Mazda Speed strut bar. The sway bars really helped the handling much more than the strut bar. I would start with the sway bars & springs before doing the strut bars (they only improve the handling a little bit, but it looks cool though). With the RB suspension package, the handling is way better than stock. The handling is tighter, the steering is almost telepathic. Every millimeter of input translates to change in direction.

Shocks like the Racing Beat aren't meant to drop the car that much, as they work with the stock shocks. They "tighten/stiffen" up the suspension, and improve handling. If it's looks than go for, and dropping the car more the .75"-1" then you may get some very strange handling behaviour, not to mention you might hit the bumpstops of your car (and have to cut them down later.

I like my RB exhaust, make the car sound much more aggressive.