xenon headlights and base radio
 

I have the 2005 RX8 with the sport package which includes xenon headlights and also has the base sound system. The lights seem to project a wide bright screen in front of the car at eye level, with a definite cut off dividing the pitch black above with the light below, in a straight line. every bump you go over the whole image goes up and down. Is this normal. Also, anyone have the base sound system. It absolutely stinks, the fm sounds like am and the am sounds like shortwave. CDs sound awful too. Can't believe they put such a piece of crap in this car.

Never heard the base audio system, but I love the xenon lights. After driving my car, output from regular halogen lights is almost non-exsistent.

I kind of like the way the lights bob up and down with bumps. IMHO, it adds to the zoom-zoom ambiance. The leveling system does cut down on some of that, but leaves enough so you still get the effect.

The sharp cutoff makes the fog lights superfluous. Haven't driven my 8 in fog or snow yet, but in the past I used to pay extra money to add lights with that kind of cutoff for fog and snow.

My sound system sounds pretty good. Have you adjusted the bass/treble/balance/etc?

Ken

It does that so that it will not blind oncoming traffic.

The cutoff is so that it its below the level of incoming traffic and the rearview mirror of cars in front of you. You'll also notice the left light is slightly lower for this purpose. I really prefer these lights to regular ones, they do a great job. So what if they bounce?

Sport package came with xenon lights? Hm.. Odd. I don't think mine did.. Mines an '07.

My '05 Sport came with Xenons, it took me a while to get used to the "cutoff" aspect, but I don't really notice it anymore.

I've also driven in a Mazda6 GT that has the Bose system, and to be honest I don't really notice much of a difference. I'm mostly used to driving junkers from the early 90's so any car with more than 2 working speakers sounds good to me. Then again, I also adjusted the equalizer to increase bass & treble so it sounds better than the default settings. Give that a shot.

Bose lol

The Xenons are a option that can be added as mine were when the car was bought.
The quick spec sheet listed the additional parts added, front chin,areo flares rear wing, HID lamps. ect.

yuh,

no. not a dealer installed option..

beers :beer:

Swoope, sorry bout that, I didn't mean that the HID's were dealer installed, but that it is an available option when the car is ordered {part of the Sport Pkg}.
Correct me if I am wrong. Thats why I do it.

that is correct..

beers :beer:

07 "sport" is really a base RX-8. To get Xenons and Fogs, DSC/TC. I believe you need to opt the performance pkg on an 07. 07s are now in trim line form, sport, touring, grand touring. which replaces what used to be packages.

However the sport pkg on an 07 is not equivalent to an 04-05 sport pkg equipped RX-8

Previous RX-8 versions did not have specific trims (only pkgs) 04-06 sport PKG included Xenons, fogs, DSC/TC

Hope that clears things up a bit. :)

good note.. odd they did that..

beers :beer:

The Bose is clear, but it doesnt sound good at all.

The GT's sound system isn't even that good. That's been one of the few complaints I've had about my car. It's not bad, just not what a "premium" stereo should be.

It must be his/her first time in a car with xenons.

This is my first car with Xenons and yes they do suck. But coming from a 2000 Eclipse they are not bad at all. However HIDs are the shit and after spenind money on PIAA Xenons yes HIDs will be my next mod.

and you said what?

beers :beer:

I'm not sure about the base system, but teh BOSE system STILL leaves a lot to be desired, so i couldn't imagine what a base would resound.

and the HID's, i've gotta say that I love um. Mine for some reason don't have the leveling lights option, which sounds odd. My first car with HID's, and I can't say that i've even come close to complaining once.

Didn't see that coming.. Oh well. I can always add them.. :Freak_ani
Hmm.. What is DSC/TC btw? Haha..

when i bought my car i took it back to have the speakers looked at i have the bose system i too think fm sounds like shit i only listen to sirius now in my car because it comes in clearer and i in general just sounds better...i do know i need to adjust the setting on the radio but i dont really care to much about the radio aspect. i was wondering about the headlights too, i noticed the left light slightly lower and i was gonna see if i needed to get it adjusted but then i thought it might be made like that and now i know and dont have to go back to the dealer because i hate the place i bought it from.

How do the PIAA compare to the stock xenons? Brighter? Diff. color?
The stock ones are as good as any I've seen.

I can't believe you guys are saying negative things about the Bose system. It is one of the best sounding stock systems I've ever heard, IMO. Previous to this car, I always upgraded my sound system (Infinity Kappa speakers, components, amplifiers, etc) and NONE of my previous sound systems matched the clarity / overall sound of the Bose in my RX-8.

I don't understand what people are complaining about....?

Really? What year is yours? Maybe they're better after '04. Mine with the Bose just isn't up to par. It's not bad, but I've heard SO much better systems, including in my dad's 93 Taurus SHO. I'm starting to wonder if it's just Bose that is so overrated, because when we were testing speakers for our surround sound at home, the Bose in-wall stuff was just awful. It sounds muffled or something. Which is my complaint about my car, too- just kinda muddy.