Sport or Touring Package (Bose or no Bose)?
 

I’m thinking of buying a 2005 RX-8 and I have read much on this site in regard to the dissatisfaction of the Bose audio systems. I don’t really need a sunroof, thus I’m thinking I should go with the sport package (no Bose). How do the “non Bose” speakers sound? Can I upgrade these easier than the Bose. I don’t want over the top base, I want full accurate sound, that’s it! I plan on having Sirius and MP3 options installed at purchase (this is probably irrelevant).

On a similar note, is the sport package worth it (xenon & fog lights, traction control)?

Thanks for the advice

Options...
 

I recently bought a 6sp with GT and Bose single-CD.

I can say the following: yes, Bose sounds a little different -- you need to boost bass and treble. All in all, nice though, at least for me ear. Speakers can be equally changed in either configuration (Bose or no Bose).

I do recommend at least the Sport option because of DSC/TCS (traction control, etc...) These are things you can "turn off" if you like, but for most of your time driving, they will be on and useful. I have a SUV also with traction control and I am very impressed by how it helps in daily driving. I expect the same with the 8. I got Xenon lights as well -- yes there are brighter, yes they are cool, but I would not pay extra from them.

I really like sunroofs. I just makes the cabin "happier" to me for those sunny days, even though the cabin is pretty cool already. The GT also gives you leather, that's a personal choice, I've never had a leather car, now I do.

Another angle of how you can look at it is the following: get minimum now and you can add later. You can change the sound system, you can add leather later, you can even add a sunroof later but I would highly discourage an aftermarket sunroof. You also cannot easily add TCS/DSC later.

This at the min I recommend TCS/DSC and maybe sunroof. That's pretty much a sport package.

I can babble some more and say if your going to spend 28k or so, adding another 1k or so is not going to make a huge difference.

Spoil yourself! :)

Id getit for the sunroof ---but I have heard the Bose stereo and definitely think it sounds worse than the stock one but thenagain thats not saying too much either.

NO Speakers cannot be changed in BOSE! trust me--my last 3 cars had Bose sound and you cannot change the components without rewiring the system--if you do change the speakers out without rewiring you will either have shitty sound or the setup will not last. Bose operates on a non-standard OHM. You will save more money and have a better sound system if you forget the touring package and change out the base speakers. The speaker change is fairly easy. I specifically did not want the BOSE system, didn't care about sunroof, but wanted leather--so I got the sport package, added aftermarket leather, and changed my speakers to Infinity. Oh--don't forget that when a BOSE speaker goes out it is $$$$$$$$$$$ or has to be rebuilt. If you are an audiophile that likes to jam in the car-forget BOSE. If you are content with the BOSE sound and aren't that demanding go ahead--you can always add an amp and sub to the BOSE--but not change the Bose components easily.

I got the touring pkg for the sunroof, not really for the Bose, it does sound very clear when volume is turned up to like 25 though

My sentiments exactly. That's what I did and am very happy with the result.

Yea--the leather is better and the sound is better, weight saved and headroom spared from no sunroof--don't need heated seats I'm in Texas.

The sport package is probably worth it, I wish I had the Xenon lights. I would definitely not get the GT package, though, it's a lot of jing for a mediocre stereo and a big hit on headroom (personally, I'm 6'2" and have a relatively long torso, and I don't fit in a GT 8 without my hair brushing on the ceiling. The stereo is a bitch to upgrade one way or the other, I am going to fab a new panel to hold aftermarket stereos and make $$$ one of these days. Currently I am using speaker-level adapters with the stock MP3 head unit, but the sound is not ideal.

The speakers themselves were easy to replace - I put Infinity 4x6 components in the front, and there was a nice bracket to mount the crossover to (assuming it was for Bose xover) and 6x9's in the back, all fit stock with no issue. Sail panels do aim the tweeters very badly though, still trying to motivate to install the swiveling Infinity mounts.

That said, good luck with your purchase and hopefully, welcome to the family!

i have a touring, and am very disappointed with both the sunroof and the bose. I'm one of the few to have a lemon sunroof, works only occasionally. But the bose just doesnt impress for a stock premium sound system. the quality of the stereo in my mid '90's GMC yukon was way better. It's decent mind you, the bose will play songs, but the bass is unimpressive and it takes a lot of volume for the songs to come through clearly.

If I were to rebuy an 8, I'd get sport and upgrade the speakers through an aftermarket audio place

Do you plan on keeping the 8 after four years? If so keep in mine the bose package always seems to sputter when you can't get it fixed for free. It stoped working on my 93 rx7, and my wifes 01 miata. Maybe i just have bad luck with bose.

-i have the bose, its a full acurate and even sound, i love it
-i have the sunroof, and im 6' 2" good headroom, love the open roof, great in summer
-i have the xenon lights and fog lights, i love the xenons hardly use the fog lights..but theyre there if i need them
-the traction control is a god send, i live in wisconsin with snow lol, and if its off im all over the place, with it on its normal! GET IT
-i have cloth, and i wanted cloth. sick of leather
---HOWEVER, i do regret not getting the navi, didnt realize how damn cool it was

Rather surprised that so many people dislike the Bose system...I do hope people aren't judging it by how much bass it's capable of putting out. :rolleyes: I personally think it sounds pretty damn good myself once tuned correctly...not as good as the systems put into Toyotas, but definitely not bad. To put it into audiophile terms, the Bose system has a clear, crystalline sound to it, mostly concentrated on clear treble and tight bass with a flat midrange, whereas the stock system sounded much warmer, more midrange, but the bass was nowhere near as sharp and defined as the Bose system, and the treble sounded quite cut off. Probably depends on where your taste lies. Just don't tell me it doesn't have enough bass, or I'll laugh at you and call you a dum-bass.

And for the record, I have a $2k+ headphone system sitting right in front of me as I type, and I have owned Stax Omega I and II headphones along with the Sony MDR-R10 headphones before (look these headphones up sometime for kicks...costs more than most car mods), so I do have a good idea of what sounds good and what doesn't. ;)

The sports package is a must have, IMO. There is no way in hell I can go back to normal headlights after owning Xenons. This is a must have for me from now on for any future car I get. Cars that I used to think had great headlights now look pathetically dim in comparison. Upgraded suspension is also definitely worth it. You also get the 18" rims. I've seen an RX-8 with the 16" rims and it looked ridiculous.

The style of the 16" wheels aren't that bad--but its just that we are used to seeing 18s and up nowadays--remember the 3rd Gens OEMs were 16"s and they were light weight. Most second gen guys would switch to those for auto-X; but I digress--My problem with BOSE isn't Bass--thats rememdied easy--I added a Pioneer IMPP 12" sub and crunch amp to my Millenia S and that rememdied the 'lack' of bass. My problem with BOSE is that it cannot be changed easily--and mainly you cannot replace parts easy when they break (which they will). The speakers/amps will have to be rebuilt, bought from Mazda ($$$), or found from a parted out vehicle. On top of that I had all kinds of issues with the BOSE headunits in both my Millenia Ss and my 3rd Gen--they would just spit out the CD. In my RX7 it depended on the CDR Brand--in my Millenia it just crapped out--I got an FM Modulated changer to get around paying the $280 for a new shitty headunit.

The speakers in the RX8 system with the exception of the 9" woofers, which are .5 ohms, are either 2 or 4 ohm, which is standard in car audio. In the rear, the 2 and 4 ohms are wired in parallel which the amp sees as 1.33 ohms. You can verify this with a simple volt meter set to measure resistance. But if you are gonna add anything, you can basically add a sub...anything else requires you to toss everything. I havent heard the factory audio system, but I have heard better and worse Bose systems. The Acura RSX has a crappy system.....the one my moms Acura TL is much nicer and has much lower response in the rear dash mounted woofer.

I agree. I have always been into audiophile quality equipment and I have some rather pricey, but great sounding home audio equipment. I agree you could put a bettter aftermarket system in, but the the soundstage and presence of the Bose system in the car is quite good. There is a difference between clear and clean sound vs. loud and distorted. This is a general observation, I am not saying this applies to anyone who has posted here. I like deep, low end bass around the 40-50hz range, but I never expected the 9" woofers in the car to do this. They do have excellent flat response...but we all like our music one our own way. I do hate that car companies are making it increasingly harder to put aftermarket audio in. I got the bose because I knew I couldnt put anything better in for my head unit. I would love to put my Clarion Pro Audio Touch screen headunit in from my old car...instead...its gonna go on Ebay
:mad:

I am 100% satisfied with my Bose system :D