Hi,

I have been reading threads of these terrible radio's that come with the 2004 RX8's. Anyway, what other Mazda has a radio that will work in this thing? I know they probably wont look like the faceplate but I figure the connectors are the same on the back of it.

I had a Turbo 2 kit, but that thing was terrible. Had all kinds of problems with HVAC, Clock, and other things.

Any ideas?

 

So you are looking to find another mazda vehicle that has a radio that will work with the RX8? I really don't understand what you are going for here. First off the HVAC controls are separate from the radio, and second, the money spent on finding a mazda radio, and fabricating a faceplate would be money poorly spent.

time to step back and re-evaluate your goals here. Search this forum for the metra kit, as well as any aftermarket car radio that follows standard DIN sizings and your goal will be not only accomplished far easier than what your initial plan was, but also more cost effective.

 

Yes, looking for another Mazda radio with the same connections. I have a Double Din faceplate, that I can modify between a single and a double. The problem lies with the Metra Control unit. The HVAC has to be ran through it.

 

By the way, looking at your pictures. What kind of Radio do you have? And I assume your using the Metra? Looks great!

 

paimon.soror is right. I would look outside the box a bit here. Go for the Metra kit and use any single/double din HU that you want. The connections may be the same, but that does not necessarily mean that they are built to go in or function the same way as they do in the 8.

I would go aftermarket IMO. I got a Pioneer AVIC Z110BT, and its amazing. Just a suggestion on that though

 

If you don't like Metra go with Kanatechs, a bit better if you have auto climate.

 

Other mazda OEM radios will fit. IE the mazda 6, six disk in dash changer. Or you could go with a fancy OEM Mini disk head unit.

 

Yeah because so many of us own mini discs

 

Only the guys that are upset that Mazda is backordered on the 8track unit.

 

Hey now. I've been waiting for my 8-track player for over 18 months. My damn vinyl scratches every time I hit a bump in the road

 

LOL yeah i actually owned a mini disk player back in the day. Mini disks were Very popular in Japan. I believe people are putting the six disk changer from the mazda six and swapping that face plates. I am willing to bet this can be done for many of the current and slightly older mazda models.

 

I know the 6's and 8's headunits are VERY similar, both cosmetically and functionally, but can't say I remember anyone swapping them out successfully on here. Not really sure why you'd want to anyway. Unless your 8's headunit is broke and you're getting at 6's for free or something.

 

If you price out the stock six disk changer for both the eight and the six the one specifically out of the eight normally costs alot more.

 

Meh. Just figured you could get the cheaper single-din metra kit and a cheap single-din headunit and have better sound quality and more features. Even if you're $300 in, you have more control over your sound and an iPod connection. To each their own.