zerobio

Oh man, the fever it burns ... checking out all your kits and feeling this close to ordering the mazdaspeed front bumper and sides.

Do any of you have this but just stock rear? How does it look like that?

staticlag

I've seen it in person,

front, sideskirts, and wing with the stock rear bumper

Looks great, don't even notice the difference.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

mine is like that with only the factory appearance rear, looks clean to me, and the Mazdaspeed erar seems like kinduva rip anyway since it's not even an entire bumper

zerobio

Awesome! That's along the line of what I was hoping to hear. So close to a decision. I like a few other front bumpers but I'm going to go for the MS if I do this. Still have to get the axis reverbs as well so it's going to be an expensive spring/summer.

eug

iTrader: (2)

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...1&postcount=11

zerobio

^ yes, saw this sometime ago but thanks for the reminder.

Noob question: Does the MS front bumper come with screens? If so, does that have any affect with the racing beat a/c and oil cooler screens i already have?

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

should come with mesh to cover the 3 openings, , the racing beat's and others were just screens used to cover the openings of the factory front, so the mesh acts the same way, you can see it in this pic:

zerobio

Canary,

Beautiful 8!

So if the front has the mesh, is there any way having that mesh and the RB screens would decrease air flow too much? I know the RB screens decrease it a little (not noticeable to me) but now there's another screen layer. Although the openings in the front are larger so maybe it all cancels out.

Also, so there's no mazda badge on the front right? I like that.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

no badge. Having both screens on would be fine.

ocrapitzleon

depends what color you have, if you have a bright color, it's fine
but for black i recommend swapping out the rear

zerobio

Ok thanks Ngo.

zerobio

Really? Is it more noticeably absent in black? Crap, I can't afford the whole enchilada but maybe I could still just get the front and sides and see how I like it and maybe get the rear in the future. I would like to see some pics showing mostly the rear and part of the side.

zerobio

Guys, I need to ask a few more questions about the Mazdaspeed bodykit.

Is the front something like 0.5 - 1" lower than the appearance front air dam? Does your kit get much damage in winter? If it gets some niks and scratches, can you go to a good body shop every few years and have it fixed and painted?

When you need to put the car on a hoist and remove the wheels, do your side skirts cause much problem? How do you avoid damaging the sides?

I'm hoping that a black 8 will look great with MS front and sides but stock rear and mud flaps. In some pics it seems empty and doesn't appear to flow right. I would like to get away without the rear for a while cause it's about another $1000 CDN + install from the dealer. Anyone else with pics of MS kit w/ stock rear to help me decide?

Thanks a lot.

superdon2

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

i would like to know how high the ms front is above the ground as well.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

Jeff's car (MazdaManiac) is exactly how you are describing, MS front and sides and oem rears, his car was featured recently and there's a thread with pictures if I can find it, maybe in the multimedia section? Also the front is about the same height as the stock bumper with the factory lip, if you're lowered it does catch a lot of grief (mine is shredded) but if you're not then it might not be quite as bad. I've thought about repainting mine but since it's my daily I just can't justify it knowing it will just get battered again from all the construction around here and all the ******** who drive trucks without covered/secured loads. Even my oem bumper got chipped prior to lowering etc., it's just a fact of life unless you never drive your car anywhere.

edit: found the thread: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=featured

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

yeah, looks great with just the stock rear. Never been a big fan of the MS rear

SageJMP

I was thinking of doing the mazdaspeed front and spoiler (no sides or rear)

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

you need something on the side or it looks weird. Either side aero flares with front splash guards or side skirts.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

you still need something for the rear. rear aero flares at least.

TurboEight

iTrader: (1)

I have the Front and Side from MS, and deciding if I want to do the rear now.

I say don't go with the ONLY front route, seen it before in person and it looks horrible.

Razz1

Yep it looks wierd if you chose that combo.

zerobio

Thanks a lot, guys.

I am not going to only get the front, no disrespect to anyone who only has that but I don't like the look without the sides. And as many of you have pointed out, I think it does look okay with the stock rear, too. So if I did it, it would be MS front and sides only for now.

But in the last few days I been thinking maybe I'm happy with how it looks with the appearance pkg, lowered, tint, clear corners, exhaust ... it's already so beautiful looking. A full kit would be so nice but for the $4K or so I'd have to pay for the MS and install, I could do a lot of other smaller things. Like I just ordered the AFE short shifter, getting a custom engraved ball shifter from knobmeister, shift boot from Polak, blue LED's from Rotary Rasp. I'm pretty determined to get black Axis Reverbs for the spring. So lots of $$ is already flowing.

I'll keep checking out the kits and ask a few questions. Good luck with anyone who does get the MS or other kits and I'll be a bit jealous.

Rock on!

PS. I so wish there was an online course on rotary mechanics. I know so little it's shameful and I am so loving the rx8. And in particular, this forum rocks. So much coolness. I've come to love Swoope's short, curt replies. Jedi's awesome car. Rotary's GB. Too many memorable people here to list. I spend hours reading up on old threads cause I'm pretty new here and feel like I'm getting a sense of your personalities ... haha, I see people posting the stupidest stuff (like I might have done) and laugh at how you all respond. I get it ... use the SEARCH. Whatever, just thanks a lot for being here.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

thank you Zerobio; you're one of the good guys around here! You're going to LOVE that short shifter!

zerobio

Health bar is back in the green! Thx man.