Hello- some might remember me..

to make this more simplied and clear, i will number each questions.

This is gonna be soooooooo long. But if you have time, and pretty bored..can you please answer some :p thank you!

1. I currently have 05 6 MT leather pack rx8. Is this.. close ( very similar ) as luxury version of current rx8?

2. alot of people say GT ( loaded ) version of rx8 across the thread..and i am confused with current GT rx8 and previous GT, that people are talking about while go. So.. current GT is one that with 19 inch wheel, without sunroof, without power seat. And GT ( loaded ) is same as leather pack version that I have right?

3. GT (loaded) seems to weigh 90lb more than base model, that will be about 40kg less.. however...GT ( current) weighs pretty similar to base model rx8
(referring to mazda.com.au) only difference is minor..like less than 10kg. Does this simply mean bits and pieces + leather + sun roof + power seat makes about 40kg difference?? Can anyone correct me if i'm way off please.

4. Can anyone give me how much does power seat weighs by it self?? I reckoned it will weigh heaps... ( thought it will weigh most and difference with base and leather pack would be more than 40kg )

5. 08 Rx8 seems like it has changed fair abit.. from what i recall...rx8 had 177kw at engine ( but i think it went down to 170kw sometime like lastyear or year before that ), fuel capacity has changed?? now it says 65L tank.. I believe it was 60L or 55L before.. am i right on this? + fog ramp + wheel etc..but only curious on top two questions. ( engine power and fuel capacity )

6. My rear tires are worn pretty badly that i will have to change very soon.
But the front tires are okay.. does this mean I can only change the rear tires and leave front tires?

7. Well..I am unsw 4th grade ( 21 years old ), still uni student, hence lack of knowledge and experience. Thus I go back to Ric Shaw ( luckly his shop is only 5 minute drive from my home!! ) for maintanance and modifications. ( I can't do DIY! in most cases ) Also I have very limited $ to do serious modification. In this long holiday ( I have about 3 month uni holiday :p ), I plan to work full time and get some $ for stuffs like tires.

I am planning on changing;
- ECU remap from knight sport
- tires
- wheel ( optional, if i have enough $ at the end )
- steering wheel + hub
- get rid off my heavy power seat and fit clothed light weight racing seats. ( will this be worth doing it?? I didn't thought about it..but i notice my leathers are wearing out...turning white...lol.. it used to be black.. heavy exposure to sun.. And.. will i have to change two seats at the same time?? Can i just do one...except..it will look stupid, but are there any other down side of replacing one only? )

In doing aboves... again
1.will their be any other ECU reflash rather than knight sport ( cost efficient way...please )
2. Does anyone know where i can source those interior stuffs? like steering wheel, hub and seats. For tires...i guess i can refer to tirerack.com ( but never ordered it...so i'm not sure..is this best choice? )
3. Where can i source those insulation foams or insulating stuffs for noise/vibration? I can find it in my own country ( I'm korean! ), where is like many websites like internet shopping mall for cars, but i'm not sure about australia. oh.. by the way it's just for gear box noise... i was planning to put some foams and stuffs... ( high resistance to noise and heat ) just around where gear **** and stick is. ( inside.. i mean )
Can anyone help me with this?


It is hell lot of writing eh.. Its ok if i don't get any replies... ( except i will be pretty sad and curious.. that i will have to ask Ric about them one day ) But please.. try to answer some of them T-T. I will be much appreciated!! Thank you in advance!

 

Let me try to help you with the questions:

1. Luxury version of the RX8 is the one with the Leather Pack (i.e. leather seats) and BOSE sound system.

2. My understanding with ‘previous’ GT version of the MK1 RX8s (2003 – 2007) only applies to US RX8s. Current gen Australian delivered RX8s have the GT version (2008 onwards), but not before that.

3. I don’t quite get where you are going with this, can you re-word it?

4. Standard seats are pretty heavy, are you thinking of going aftermarket buckets/recliners?

5. From memory, RX8s from 2006 onwards have 170Kw. Fuel capacity only goes up to 65L in the new 2008 RX8. Previous version has 61L tank. 2008 GT gets 19”wheels, the luxury and standard gets 18” wheels. Not sure about the foglights situation, I think only Luxury pack gets them.

6. Don’t be stingy, change all 4 tyres if necessary. And please, go with the good brands (i.e. Bridgestone, Yokohama, Kumho, Goodyear, Dunlop, etc) in the PROPER sizing - factory is 225/45/18

7. First thing first, INSURANCE. Make sure you can afford Comprehensive First Party. Is this your first rotary? Make sure you top up the oil (with Mazda Rotary Oil) every 2nd fuel tank. Warm up properly; don’t turn the engine off immediately after a short drive (i.e. into the garage after a car wash). Go to Mazda for software updates and check on the safety recalls. Taka's stickied thread is very useful.

8. Do the tyres first before ANY other mods. That is the only vital link between the road and your car.

9. Replacing one seat is OK, but it might upset the corner balance. Get these done when you buy the new tyres. Get the wheels aligned too.

10. Tirerack is US based, you might get raped with the current exchange rate (65 US cents to 1 AUD) plus shipping costs (in USD) … if it goes over AUD$1000 landed, say hello to GST from Australian customs.

11. When you say sourcing interior stuffs, are you after mazda original parts or aftermarket?

12. Foam/Insulating stuff – Dynamat. Google it. But this will counter your efforts to go lightweight (i.e. replacing stock seats and all) …. Dynamat adds weight. Be mindful that stock tyres are noisy, you may reduce the cabin noise by simply switching to quieter tyres (i.e. Sumitomo HTRZ3)

 

One more thing, how many kms have your RX8 done?
Spark plugs may need to be replaced too if you have not done so.
Get them from somewhere else unless you like to get stinged by Mazda dealers for about $70 - $100 a plug (you need 4 plugs in total - 2 leading, 2 trailing)

The plug codes are:
NGK Racing plug 6700 RE7CL .048" Leading (OEM)
NGK Racing plug 6701 RE9BT .048" Trailing (OEM)

 

And number your questions properly.
You have 2 no. 5s
And after no.6, you went back to 1, 2, 3 ...

 

thanks!! i just fixed numbers.

and...

3. simply means is leather pack features ( power seat + leathers + sunroof and electronics ) makes about 40kg weight penalty??

4. i was thinking about just changing driver seat only, despite it will look silly. haha

5. just as i thought... i wondered my 06 was 65L as well. because it didn't make sense..:p it was up by 4L then..

6. it will be good to change all 4.. but i'm broke lol.. poor uni student. what i'm not sure with size of tire..but i will do bit of search before ask.


7. been driving this car for 2.5 years now.. but weird thing was i wasn't topping up engine oils that often. ( prolly like very little bit once in two month. like 1~2 cups with out everyday use cup size )

9. thanks for the tips!

10,11 .. after market parts and stuffs like steering wheel ( momo i guess.. it only looks to fit..than others like sparco spw etc.. )

 

I have done about 47000kms. and after 50000k service from Ric pretty soon. been going to Ric for service every 10000kms. never missed in past ( 1.5 years )

O..and insulating stuffs... i was after DIY things i can do to make noise from gear box quiter. not a major thing.... just cup some sheet or foams for insulating noise and put it wherever applicable.

[One more thing.. do you know any internet/off-net shopping place Can you give me like internet addresses? where i can look for those stuffs like steerling wheel + tyres ( as you said exchange rate risk..lol ) in australia?? Thanks!!

 

To answer your questions again:

3. Yes the luxury pack adds about 40kg of weight to the car, but IMHO the luxury options are worth every cent if you intend to resell it later down the road.

4. I don't think it looks silly, I've done the same before to my old MX5. Makes the interior looks tougher.

5. Your 06 will be the same as the first gen RX8s. I thought you said your car was 05 in the first post (and your sig as well)? Does your leather seats wrap around all the way to the back?

6. Do save up for the plugs and tyres, do the other mods later. They are vital to the longetivity and overall experience with the car.

7. You won't be topping up much since you don't clock an average of 300km every week like I do. I usually add anywhere from 400 - 600ml depending on mileage and use.

9. You are most welcome.

10, 11, etc. Replacing the steering wheel might be illegal if you cannot find a replacement with a suitable airbag built into it like the OEM wheel. I know of places where they stock JDM parts, but their prices will reflect the current exchange rate.

Insulating stuff: Hit up the local Clark Rubber for high density foam sheets.
Get them to cut the foam to size. They wouldn't cost much.

Shopping for local aftermarket suppliers online (Google for the following):
Mu Secret, HJC Motorsport, The Tuners Group, NateTune, Royal Garage ...
But they all import and buy their stuff from overseas, their prices will not be cheaper than if you import the parts yourself.

Not the best time to buy or do mods, I reckon.
I'd concentrate on the tyres and plugs, everything else can wait till the FX rates get better.

Tyres: Bridgestone North Parramatta (Jobsons), Jax Quickfit Thornleigh, Tyres and More Silverwater ... which tyres are you after?

 

Andy, you're a far more patient man than me. Well done.

 

It's not that hard when productivity level hits a new low at work.

 

Thanks mate!!

I think i got confused with 06 and 05.

mine is 05 :p leather wrapping up all the way. no plastic. i got confused in one of the replies.

I didn't know replacing steering wheel with no air bag might be illegal? well... i might have to check on that... thanks!

 

Just be mindful that if you change your front seats that you will also disturb the airbag system. The standard front seats have airbags in the backrests. Replacing one or both with aftermarket seats may disable the airbag system.


Cheers... Otto

 

Ottog: Oh yea.. just realised that too. I wonder what insurance company gonna do about it.

Andy: I dropped into bob janes to quote average prices.. got quoted $280-320 for 235 tires.

well planning to spend $300-370 each... and rims if possible... ( only if i can find some reasonable priced ones ) I don't know anything about tires..thus searching through the posts and polls about tires..

basically..not looking for particular tyres yet... just wondering around which ones are good. any suggestion will be appreciated

I am actually lost at the moment in between range of tyres. Heard PS2?? has good grip+ much more durable.. in terms of its life.

I actually used stockies for over 40000kms!

 

PS2? Michelin Pilot Sport 2?
They are good tyres from memory

If you want good value everyday tyres, get the Sumitomo HTR Z3s.
Well priced and it is up there in terms of quality and performance.
Bridgestone RE001s are good, but get the ones made in Japan.
Falken FK452, came 2nd in wheels tyre test before.
Yokohama Advan Sport, best wet tyres IMHO.

 

Yes. Michellin PS2

And thank you for tips!! every night and day. You replies :] very nice of you *bow

I have made few tyres on the list..just have to quote around for price now i guess.

I have lil question on tyres... you know stocks have 225/40/18 .. something like this..

so 225 is width...? higher the number, the wider the tyre is

40...is i have no idea..on that lol.. on some websites...it says something to do with height..but i wasn't clear on it.

18..is inch?

should I get 235 all around? or just rear?

 

Stock tyres are 225/45/18 from memory

225 is the width of the tyre
45 is actually the size of the sidewalls in relation to the width of the tyres (45% of the width)
18 is the size of the rim

If you are planning on changing the rears only, I'd highly recommend you to get the right factory size so that they will match the front.

There were discussions somewhere about why you shouldn't go with 235, I cannot find those threads.
Something about the ABS interrupting or along those lines.
I went with 245/40/18s with my wheels (they are wider than factory wheels at 18 x 8.5 and 18 x 9.5 respectively, factory is 18 x 8.0).
Diameter wise, they are just as close as the factory tyres and you will not get a lot of error with the speedometer reading.

 

Keeping going Andy....

For putting a racing seat in:

You can put a 2k Ohm resistor in the slot that can fool the ECU of the presence of an airbag. You need someone skillful to do that. Taking the seat out will not have a lot of problem with insurance... at least mine did not care about it during a claim. Maybe I am lucky.

 

It is ok to go 235, but it may affect the DSC if you have different sizes for front and rear.

I race in both 235 and 245 routinely. The actual width of each tyre pattern is different even they all marked 235. So as long as they are the same tyres and same size. That will be ok. Hence, I don't mix brands and thread patterns either. Clear? OK?