Shinka Pics
 

Took a few quick pics yesterday - it was a overcast and raining. The color is really hard to capture in pictures - previous pics have caught the "purple" extreme - much like Nordic green can be photographed as "forest green" but in person looks more like charcoal black.

I would say that "black cherry" is the most accurate description of the color - even the Mazda USA web site has made the car look too purple. We did have one sunny day here this week and I really liked the way the color looked.

Will need to upgrade my camera soon...

Really enjoying the car - fantastic to drive

More pics
 

Hope you enjoy it - looking forward to more Shinkas being delivered soon.

I would love to see that in person. Very nice.

Awesome man, I am even more jealous now. Looks great.

Beautiful!

Congratulations for finding that car!

Background
 

TopGear...

Do you live in Vancouver?

It looks like Stanley Park in the background.

Topgear...awesome!!! Simply beautiful. No you own an 8 that is the rarest of them all!!! Are planning any mods? First thing is to throw some clearcorners on there!!

Congrats!!

- Irish :cool:

Shinka
 

I almost forgot...

The color looks great TopGear.

The Tan leather interior is sharp.

Is that a rear lip spoiler? Looks good.

Post some more pics brotha.

just noticed the spoiler! looks very nice. like irish said...get some clears! i really like the interior too.

That's one BADASS car. I personally like the cream/tan colored interior. Slap some clear corners, strakes and accents and you'll be set!! Get some pics in the sun!

did it come w/ MS front and rear strut tower braces? Also, can you take pics of the front and rear center console covers. I heard they are both leather. thanks

Welcome TopGear

Love your SHINKA!

Clear Corners! :d

I almost think it is like my black car until some light shining on it.

Nice - it is like a metallic black. :D

Nice... :)

Nice, I would love to see that color interior on my black 8....that would be sweeeetttt...

Very nice, CONGRATS AGAIN...thanks for the pic's

Some more pics of a RHD Shinka
 

Found a pic of the interior from a pdf showing specs of a Japanese RHD Shinka - helps show some of the features. The text must be translated, it is a bit stilted.

Funny how the park brake stays on the right side of the console on the RHD version - must get in the way of driving.

Catching up on some questions - I live in a suburb of Vancouver - not too far a drive to go get some pics in Stanley Park. The attached pic shows the same interior as mine - dark leather on the console covers, "black piano" finish on the steering wheel and sides of the console. There is a subtle rear lip spoiler - I like the looks of the optional one a little better, but this is okay.

I plan on
Clear corners (haven't researched where to get them yet in Vancouver, advice appreciated)
Window tint - back and rear doors at least, hearing conflicting opinions on doing the front doors, some say cops will stop you, others say light tint it is okay.
Want to research a tower or rear brace, will be looking for opinions on those. The car did not come with them. A front brace really helped the cornering in my Z3 but the Rx-8 is corners way better stock than my Z3 ever did - would they help?
Strakes - might pop down to the US to get them - dealer prices on those are lower there.

I'll try to borrow a better digital camera and take some more pics - hopefully we have a sunny day soon, it has been raining for weeks!

I was very lucky to get this car but I know I would have been just as thrilled with the Brilliant Black I had signed up for. All these little extras and having something a little rare has been a nice surprise. Looking forward to group drives in the Pacific Northwest this spring and summer.

Have a gr8 day.

coud we buy the ebrake in leather and add it to our none shinkas?

I thought...
 

so.

TopGear...I spent the majority of my childhood in Vancouver.

Beautiful city!!!

You have the 1st Shinka eh? Nice.

I wonder if the lip spoiler can be purchased?

I have the factory spoiler...and would prefer the Shinka one.

I went to my local Mazda dealer today to look at RX-8's cause I'm going to be purchasing one soon, and the dealer had two of the Shinka additions. I really couldn't tell at all at first until I saw the interior. Basically, the color is a black color from far away but then you can see the interior color and you know it's not a basic RX8. It has to catch the sun just the right way before you can pickup the "Cherry" color to it, but when you do it's pretty elegant. I agree, it looks as if it's a purple color online, but it really isn't anything like that. The "tanish" interior is absolutly luxurious, I love it. Has a little logo that says "Shinka" on the b-pillar on the outside. Pretty nice car, but you're basically paying for the interior change of leather. Wouldn't mind having it though.

i love the interior! i want mine white ! anyone want to trade for black ?

Shinka upgrades - worth it?
 

Hi Hardhitter -

If you like the exterior color and the light color interior I'd say go for it - there are a couple of nice upgrades beyond the interior. The wheels alone would have been $3,800 CDN, the suspension is upgrades would likely be $500-$750 if they were available plus a front air dam and mud flaps are included. The rest of the upgrades are minor cosmetics but put together make a nice package. I think the car is also supossed to come with a satellite receiver - as the service is not available in Canada my car did not come with one. I will try calling a US dealer to see if they might be able to include one.

The only downside in comparison to a GT is the lack of a sunroof, one could go aftermarket if desired. I'll see how hot it gets in the summer, then decide.

I'm also hoping the resale value will be a little higher, that won't be known for a few years.

Good luck with your purchase - hope to see your new Rx-8 soon in whatever color you like, you'll be happy with or without the Shinka edition.

Thanks TopGear.

Yeah, I probably won't be purchasing the Shinka edition. Although it adds to the "exoticness" style the RX-8 has already, I just don't think I can shell out that much money. I think I might go with either a Grand Touring package or just the touring package and adding aftermarket leather a little down the road.

I really do plan on doing a lot with the RX-8, tinting, billet grill, clear corners, appearance package, etc just to make it really nice on the exterior, but there's not much you can do to upgrade the interior, that's why I would really like to find a GT around my price so I'll already have a nice interior.

whats the big deifference on the wheels? can't really tell by looking at them.

I think they are the black chrome rims sold by Mazda. They are definately shinier than ours but not too blingy.

Nice car TopGear! Definately got a great deal on it.