ciccone376

Hey guys,
question for the intelligent...

I've been doing some research on the Mazdaspeed products for the RX8 and have come across the requisite pics of the MS show car (the silver one with the full body kit, and 5 spoke grey wheels with the spokes that reach the lip, not the ones in the new MS dealer brochure...I believe this was the FIRST MS Show car). I have also seen a real owners pic of his RX8 with MS springs installed.

the real owners car (in this thread https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=15456) showed a signifigant drop in the rear, but the front still had a noticeable gap.

However, the MS show car seems to have a much lower front ride height (even the one in the dealer catalogue shown here
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...mazdaspeed+rx8)....

the original MS Show car I'm referring to can be found here:
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...threadid=14863


so my question is...do you believe the production MS front springs are different then the ones used on the show car and for pics in the catalogue? Or, is it a visual illusion that the front looks lower in the Cat. pics? The show car HAS to be lower in the front, well at least the FIRST show car, right?

any thoughts?

thanks
Ciccone

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

The show car has adjustable coil-overs, not just springs.

shawrf1

I went through probably the same amount of photos as you did, Ciccone... I don't know if the MS Japan and the MS SEMA car are one and the same (seats are different), but the MS SEMA car's front end looks like it might be lowered on springs, while the MS Japan car has even wheel gap all-around.

Japan:

SEMA:

ciccone376

Shawrf1

thanks for the pics!!

So basically, the SEMA show car (the second pic you posted) most likely uses the same springs you have on your car correct?

I have always ran Coil-overs on my previous cars (Audi A4 and VW GTI), but to be honest as I get older I also loose my patience with dealing with the dealer bull sh*t in regards to warranty related issues. If i can buy the MS parts and have a warranty it means a lot to me.

Shawrf1, can you tell me your wheel specs and do you have other pics of your car?

thanks
Ciccone

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Just remember - wheel gap is not a product of proper lowering on the RX-8.
The rear wheel arches are lower than the front by design - just measure the center of the wheel to the arch lip and you will understand.
Notice how the side skirt is totaly even with the ground even though the front wheels have more "gap".
What you seem to want is to lower the front more to even out that gap and make the car lean forward a bit like an old-school hot rod.
I don't know how that would affect ground clearance or handling.

shawrf1

Maniac is spot-on... if you want to get rid of the fender gap up front, you're going to have to rake the stance of the car... not the greatest setup for handling. If you're concerned more about aesthetics, you may want to distract the eye from that front fender gap with a bodykit.

Wheel specs are: Volk Racing TE-37 19x8.5 +43 front, 19x9.5 +34 rear

ciccone376

Maniac
thanks for the concern, but you couldn't be further from the truth in regards to what I want:-)

Having used only the best products on my previous cars (H&R) and gone through many a tech session related to counter balancing etc, track days etc...I understand that properly lowering a car doesn't mean its even all around.

my question was just that..a question related to whether or not the oringial MS show car had used the same production MS springs seen on Shwarf's car and the SEMA show car.

turns out probably not. not a big deal, as the drop on the silver SEMA car looks fine for me, especially the upclose shots.

*i'm sorry if my post sounds 'harsh', not trying to be*

thanks again guys
Ciccone

mikeb

I have the eibachs
and I thought the back was way lower
til the above points were pointed out to me

syntrix

I know exactly what you are going through, VW/Audi, cup kits, bilstein coilovers, H&R PCS coilovers on them, etc.

I can't say on the springs, but maybe they were custom for the car, as they usually use higher spring rates in japan, compared to the states..... but unless you know someone that worked on the cars, or there is some mazda(speed) documentation somewhere, it will be hard to find out for sure.

On another note, I know what you mean about warranty I still did coilovers on the 8, and I'm actually considering the MS setup and competing in the whole year's autox next year!

ciccone376

thanks again guys for the input, I appreciate it, and Maniac, I meant no harm in my reply to you.

Syntrix...glad to know someone else feels the 'warranty' devil every now and then.

I was president for the Audi Quattro club a few yeard back int he Washington DC area and was heavily involved in aftermarket stuff for the Lexus IS300 when I had that car and also the VW GTI which is my current ride. So I know first hand all the problems that are associated with aftermarket and warranties.

I used to be the biggest proponent of 'f*ck the dealer* attitude and the Magnusson Moss act...then as I kept doing things to my car, Murphy's law kept creaping in It wasn't until my GTI that a place fried my ECU trying to install a chip. This from a REPUTABLE shop and a REPUTABLE chip company. I was extremely lucky to get a new ECU from VW. However, the GTI had so many problems on its own that even having coil-overs almost hurt me...especially when the car needed to be towed.

DO you guys know that AAA and most tow companies WILL NOT tow your car if it is 'modified' because of legal reasons! I had to plead with the tow company.

Anyway..long story short, I'm more then willing to pay a little extra for equipment that is warrantied and installed by the dealer to sidestep the headaches and also add value for resale. Now..wheels, thats a different story I'll buy wheels on my own.

oh well..happy driving.
Ciccone