Hello, im new here. Ive been autocrossing for awhile now and have to buy a new car. I was watching Bstock at the Walnut Ridge pro/tour weekend and really was impressed. i guess i never really paid attention to them. My name is Joe Silva, im in Gstock this year.


long story short, my car was stolen, so i have to buy a new autocross car, but its gotta be able to daily drive and haul kids. Presto.....RX8, my second choice was a STi, but that was alittle more $$.

My questions are really about finding an autocross candidtate. I have heard rumors that all the RX8's work GT/Touring/grand touring for "the" Bstock setup? What are some quick tell signs of what im lookin for. I have found alot w/sunroofs, big weight difference? Do they all have LSD? Im sure i'll have lots of questions in the next couple of days as i have to buy one soon. I have no car as of right now!!!!! Thanx for any help, i throw myself before this forums wealth of knowlege.....

 

They all work just fine. Personally I would go for an '04 base 6-sp as they are the lightest, but the "Sport" option is nice to have - xenons and dynamic stability control.

The GT package sucks if you're tall, because you won't fit. I'm slightly under 6 feet tall and I don't fit comfortably in a GT with a helmet on. The car also feels claustrophobic to me when just driving it around due to the sunroof.

Good luck.

 

Stay away from the GT... Like John said you will have headroom issues, also the leather seats are slick and it weighs about 80 lb more than a base. The sport is ok and only adds a few lbs.

Here are some with all the parts:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8s-sale-wanted-43/fs-az-04-ly-6sp-%2416-800-a-114547/

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-racing-25/fs-04-mazda-rx-8-autox-package-116044/

 

ULLLOSE.
Are you sure the gt gives up 80 lbs? I had heard 50. Time to go on a diet and find some 10lb wheels. all thing being equal, what do you suppose 80 lbs gives up on a 60 second course?

 

I think that is what we came up from mp5's GT. The weight might be a few tenths if you as a driver can get it out of the car.

 

I reccomend a non sunroof car, I'm 5'11" and didn't fit in a sunroof car with a helmet on either. I have a 05 sport, just get a car that was well maintained. All the manual transmission cars have LSD.

 

what they say...just listen to the champ.

Like you said, depend on where you are, you may have a hard time finding a non-GT car. I know I can't. And like you, my old car was breaking down so I NEED something. So if you need a car quick, you may have better chance with GT.

I will add this though. 80lb is some weight, but I found those weight make the car a little more enjoyable for my everyday use. The leather is slick, and I never really like leather in cars, but the heated seat is a welcome feature, especially when I see -20 in the winter. Don't care much about the power seat, especially when it doesn't have memory. And since I can't convince my wife the S2000 is a good everyday drive (can't event convince myself to drive it in snow), sun-roof is the least I can do. But then I'm only 5'5" and weight south of 140, so the weight penalty is less and headroom isn't a concern.

Good luck.

 

You can get heated cloth seats. Don't need leather for that!

 

make sure you have lots of gas card credit ...

 

Buy a Base model or a Sport Package (Performance Package for '07), but stay away from the GT. Another 5'11" guy here, and I have to slouch in the seat of a GT to fit with my helmet wedged against the roof. Very uncomfortable. Mazda's leather tends to be very cheap quality as well.

The Sport/Performance Package gets you some nice goodies for the street (HIDs, stability/traction control, foglights) with maybe a 10-lb weight penalty over a Base model, based on what my car ('04 Sport) weighed versus Jason's car ('05 Base) on the scales in Houston. Just remember to turn the damn traction control off.

 

Or buy a 1.6 miata to drive to work

 

Guess I'm the odd ball here racing a GT...but again, that's all I can find a the moment.

 

Nothing wrong with the GT if you fit... it's just extra money to spend that you don't have to.

 

hey I love my sun-roof and it's used, so not much more...

...so yea, get the base/sport if new, or just pick the one in best shape if you're buying used like I did. don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

I got one word for y'all...Shinka

 

RECOVERED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im gonna now wait to buy something else. I honestly didnt think i'd get my car back in this condition, Perfect.


the perps smoked my already tired clutch and couldnt propel the car any further than three streets away. All that was lost was my sense of security in my small town of manhattan Ks, and all my CD's. BTW, The eye witness that saw them, and called the car in, said they rolled down the windows before walking away from it knowing it was gonna storm like hell. I have a flooded interior, but i got my baby back!

the car is in perfect condition, besides the water flooding my interior

 

Good for you!

I had the same type of experience a number of years ago...some perp(s) stole my modified '89 Mustang 5.0 coupe (trunk) right in front of my house...in a very safe neighborhood

The police found it abandoned in a town about 25 miles away, in an industrial area. The thieves had pulled the distributor cap and wires and left it...evidently, that was so no one could "steal" their stolen vehicle before they could come back and strip all the hard parts off of it

Anyhow, good to hear you got your car back

 

Good to hear.

Tell them to steal the car in my drive way...I'm trying to get rid of it for some cash.

 

GT here too. Heated seats get used, even in florida. With the right helmet, i fit. the leather wasn't too bad until I got the Kumho's. Now I also have a harness. I guess SSR's are the next buy. I'll still be overweight, oh well. Regionally, I do ok. Huntsville will kick my butt, that I am certain. Who is this Carter Thompson guy anyway?