Mukii

Hey guys i just recently purchased an rx8, my first car was an rx7 i got about 6 months ago, mind you im only 18 lol, didnt know id fall in love with an rx8 as soon as i got into one, what im confused about is why everyone calls their rx8s a Shinka, i did some reasearch on that and i found out that a Shinka is a special edition that comes in year 2005 only with upgraded suspension and so on and theres only 2150 of them made, they only come in the exterior being purple and interior being baige, i was just wondering if anyone knows more about the shinka edition rx8, heres a picture of what it looks like, thanks guys

spence15

iTrader: (3)

yes what you mentioned above is true but the shinka edition was also offered in 2006 as a package.. so you can get any colour exterior and all the shinka goodies (sand interior seats etc.). Like my RX-8 has the shinka package

spence15

iTrader: (3)

and welcome to the club!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, the 2005 Shinka was only available in Black Cherry Mica.

The 2006 Shinka was available in a variety of colors, however only Copper Red was available to the Shinka trim, which prompts some to call this this true 2006 Shinka.

The 2007 40th Anniversary Edition is basically the same trim additions as the prior Shinkas.

There are alot of used car dealers out there that only see "base coupe" or "shinka" in the blue book for 2004 and 2005 model years, and assume GTs are shinkas. This is because the Touring and Grand Touring for 2004 and 2005 were not trim levels, but option packages, and isn't reflected in KBB.


And pics or it didn't happen

ARE-EX-8

Being on this topic, i have also seen black shinkas .. with beige interior. I also have a question, is GT the best/most loaded trim you can buy ? Im looking to buy an rx8 soon. Also whats sport packages? I keep hearing that term. Thanks

Mukii

Thanks guys the only reason i asked this was because i have a 2005 Shinka Rx8 with the black cherry mica exterior and sand interior, and was just wondering if my 8 is rare, i did take it to a mazda dealership and they were confused what model i had, because of the color and i had the 300 W boss system and all of the goodies that a GT has but no sunroof, i will post a picture of my rx8 soon, and i would love to know if theres more 2005 true shinkas around the GTA area, unless im the only one lol

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

A Black Shinka is either A) a 2006, or B) an incorrect dealer label, Or C) actually a Black Cherry Mica and you couldn't see the purple shade and it just looked black. It is very very dark purple, and often looks black more than it looks dark purple.

Sport is generally the base, although it means something different for MT vs AT transmissions. Basically the lowest package you can get for your transmission choice. AT Sport is generally a bit lower on the scale than MT Sport, since AT Sport is the only combination that has the 16" rims and "downgraded" brakes. MT Sport is also the lightest you can possibly get your 8 from the factory, and also doesn't include DSC / TCS, which I believe is entirely intended, since those two factors are ideal for people who buy them with the intention of tracking them. Starting at the lowest weight, and not spending additional money on features you will turn off every time you hit the track. Moonroof is an option for Sport, but since it adds weight and lowers head clearance, which causes a problem with anyone over ~6ft wearing a helmet, most Sport trims don't have moonroofs.

Touring and Grand Touring are identical regardless of transmission choice, with touring adding some of the creature comforts, and Grand Touring adding basically all of them. You can load a Touring up to nearly GT level, though the leather and heated seats are usually exclusive to GT, as only custom swaps generally get them on anything lower. I don't think I have heard of a Sport or Touring with leather and heated seats from the factory.

Regardless of trim level though, there are a few things that are never standard, like appearance package, spoiler, moonroof deflector, navigation, spare tire kit, etc... though obviously these appear on quite a few 8s, regardless of trim, and can't be used as identification.

A sunroof was apparently not a standard item on the Shinkas, but it was rare for Shinkas NOT to have it.

2004 and 2005 model years had Touring and Grand Touring as option packages to the Sport, with Shinka as the 2nd trim available. Starting in 2006, Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring were different trim levels, with Shinka being a 4th in 2006, 40th Anniversary a 4th in 2007, and R3 being a 4th in 2009 and 2010. I don't think there were any special edition trims in 2008.


Black Cherry Mica means you have an 05 Shinka, regardless of anything else on hand. It is a definitive identification. I would suggest the Canada forum, as I believe the GTA area has their own thread, and quite a few owners are there. I want to say I have seen at least 1 other Shinka owner posting in there, but I can't swear to it.

ZumnRx8

^I have a WB GT PACKAGE 04 (first owner), and have been to several meets, and SEVENSTOCK 2 times. Till this day the only Black cherry SHINKA i have seen was at the DEALER back in 04. Ive seen about 2000+ RX8s already and honestly have not seen a Black Cherry... I have seen about 4 COPPER RED and about 3 40th Anniversary.

I regret not getting the BLACK CHERRY... and I could have swapped out the interiors... but then again... the WB looks better at night and in the sun.

To me... Black Cherry is the rarest 8. R3's are new and I thought were going to be RARE but ... I have already seen about 6.

I decided the WB with GT package over the BLACK CHERRY because of the interior... (i wanted all black).

GOOD JOB BRO... let me know if you need anymore info seeing that you are new on the FORUM!

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Hehe, I have seen at least 7 different Black Cherry 8s. I would say that Nordic Green is the rarest of the colors, since it was only available in 2004, and I believe it was the lowest of the production counts. I have only seen one, and it was in passing on the road. Never in person.

R3s aren't going to be as rare as many people though, because it seems there is a large percentage of the total product as R3s, not a majority, but seems larger than prior special edition runs. I think Mazda recognized that the superior (stock) trackability of the R3 is going to attract a larger portion of people that are shopping 8s, and they are only ~$30 more MSRP than GTs.

ZumnRx8

^WWP... i have seen 2 NG's.... so i would say that comes 2nd place. Stormy Blue is also another rare color.

so in 04 ... GT had the sunroof and the navigation.... while the shinka didnt right? (only NAVI?)

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Well, the 04 Shinka didn't exist, so it couldn't have had the sunroof

For the people I know directly, met before or outside of the forums:
- I have WWP GT
- Best friend has Black Cherry Shinka (Blackenedwings)
- Best friend's wife has a Velocity Red GT
- Another friend has Stormy Blue Touring
- Someone at my building has Lightning Yellow GT
- Another guy at my building has Titanium Gray GT

I also see a LY with a MS kit, a Copper Red Shinka, another Stormy Blue, and a Brilliant Black occasionally. Only once have I seen a Phantom Blue, and it was at a meet.

So... how is that for a spread on rare colors vs common in the unbiased world outside the forum?

Not a single one has Navigation, every single one has a moonroof, only 1 doesn't have the appearance package (the LY). Most don't have the spoiler.

ZumnRx8

^im confused.. what im saying is did the black cherry come with moonroof and NAVI? Im just comparing it to GT. (i have everything....)

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

No the Black Cherry did not come with Navi or Moonroof standard. However, most Black Cherrys do have the moonroof, added as the optional package addition. I think the Navi is rare in general, since paying $2,000 for a sub-par navi vs $300 for a good off the shelf one is relatively stupid.

ZumnRx8

^i took my 8 home for $26 out the door.... waiting for the DVD for the NAVI was a BIG BITCH... but when it came it was awesome.. I can say i use my navi everyday. The size of the screen and the actuall program is really neat. I also like the placement of the NAVI control console and THANK GOD it was not a touch screen.

However I do see some benefits of having the NAVI besides it being a NAVI..

Someone can ...

1. Car Pc without the MetraKit and keep the same looking interior and stock radio.

2. Makes a nice pop up if Gauges were to be installed in that place

3. Whenever I get in my car and my NAVI pops up.... people still DROP THEIR JAWS

4. Nothing like having 2 screens (with the METRA kit) which i had.... and everyone really dropped jaws... and was like FAWK "you have two screens in your car>?!!" and "You can watch a movie and still have your NAVI up?"

5. People at night on the freeway stare into your car... wondering how the FAWK you got two screens that close to each other.. showing two different things. THE GAUGES are pretty nice too

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

100% agree. I would love to have the housing, motors and screen of the Navi. Even the Navi itself would be handy, but not with a $2,000 price tag I don't think that getting a Navi in your 8 when you buy it is stupid, I think paying $2,000 for it is stupid. Negotiating to get it for free or less than $200 is smart

I also get a Navi for free from my job, replaced with a brand new top of the line every year, so that might bias me a bit.

One of these days I am going to be doing a CarPC install, and hope to find the housing, screen, and motors for the OEM look. And the primary thing on the screen of the CarPC will be live digital gauges.

ZumnRx8

^i understand you now... for a minute there I took it personal.

+1 on getting it after you already own your 8 is stupid. Metra+Aftermarket is good enough. I dont like the STICKY POD NAVIS... they are SUPER SMALL and Bug me... I cant open and close it like the STOCK NAVI.

+1 on the live gauges...l have seen that and damnn first thing that came to my mind was "GTR"

+1 I plan on eventually replacing my navi with a CAR PC . Nothing pawns all like having a PC in your car

+1 on you being a lil BIAS

ARE-EX-8

kk so if i undestood correctly. It goes like this sport > touring > gran touring > 40th or R3. this is funy cause hearing "sport package" makes you think that the car would be loaded with all the goodies but it really is the lowest trim you can get.

ZumnRx8

+1 on LOL @ sport package..

but this is how the trims really go

sport<touring<COPPER/BLCKCHRY SHINKA<GT<40th<R3<MS series 1<MS series 2

as for the MS's they do exist... but nobody ever bought 1

I rather have a series 1 MS over the R3 and over the Series 2 MS

ARE-EX-8

Same here bro. MS 1 FTMW

Mukii

wow $2000 for a navi is insane, makes sense now why i dont have a moonroof, thanks zumnrx8, and yes the black cherry looks black at night, everyone thinks my 8 is black, heres a picture of my 8 at night and in the afternoon, still pretty hard to tell, il take a picture of the car when its sunny out thats when you can really see the purple

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I believe one of the years (maybe 2 or 3), had an optional package listed that was named "Sport Package", which upgraded the suspension, brakes, and wheels.

This Sport Package upgrade was standard on the Touring, GT, and Base MT. The only way you could not have it was if you had a Base AT, but even some of them have it. It is largely ignored, expect as a way of identifying some ATs right away if you see the 16" rims and tiny brake rotors.

So from an options load perspective:
Base < Sport < Touring < R3 < GT < Shinka / 40th
The R3 actually has less than the GT in "options", however the options it has are different than the other trims, and more track focused. For example, no R3 will have a moonroof, leather, or heated seats, but they all have the appearance package, 19" rims, race seats, plus the front crossmember upgrade and improved suspension that prior Shinkas have. You can also keep adding dealer options to the GT, where I don't believe you can add most of them with the R3.

rx8-druggist

I believe in Canada we don't quite have as many trim levels as in the States - as far as I know our dealer Black Books only recognize GS or GT in the 2004-2008 models (where GT's had the option of adding navi and/or sunroof - leather was standard for GT) and for the 2009's its GS, R3, GT and 2010 just R3 and GT ... my dad is a car wholesaler in Toronto and ive been his jockey for years - we've never seen or heard of the sport package or touring trim level around here at the auctions or dealerships !

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

That is true, Canada does it a bit different.

ARE-EX-8

You have 2 RX8 !!???

Thorrsson

See RotaryGreg's post about our trim levels in Canada

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...61&postcount=9