Colorado Chaos

Hey guys first post. I'm picking up an 04 rx gt. leather, heated seats, black. And I'm planning on putting about 2-3 thousand dollars into it right after I buy it. I just need some general advice about how much to expect to pay because I'm 18 and haven't really shopped around for this stuff before.
My list of things I'm curious will cost me:
-18" staggered rims/tires that are more name brand than ebay stuff (black). Along with the cost of having a shop add a light blue lip to the rims.
-Lowered suspension
-Getting the light blue on the rims color matched to high temp paint to paint calipers
-Air intake/exhaust
-Minor engine dress up (steel braided fuel lines ect)
-Custom front bumper (along with paint and installation)

I expect everything aside from the rims to be under $1K but not sure. Any of you guys have some good shopping options?

Slidin8

dont try troll us

Colorado Chaos

No? I'm about to finance and I have $8,000 total so I wanna put about 5 down and use the remaining 3 to buy all the stuff I listed. I'm just wondering if thats enough to cover it.

Slidin8

its nowhere near enough

but you won't listen, most likely you will try to get all that **** for 3 grand and turn a good car into a ricemobile

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

So if the engine goes, you have zero money to fix it. Not wise.

Read the stickies.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...rx-8-a-233937/

monchie

Good luck brotha...

Colorado Chaos

You guys are extremely unhelpful. Alright watch me do it then >.>
-Front bumper= $140 2004-2008 Mazda RX8 Duraflex Velocity Front Bumper (102299)
-Eibach Lowering Springs= $260 2003-2011 Mazda RX-8 Coil Springs - Eibach 5544.140 - Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs
-Weapon R Intake= $200 Mazda Mazda Rx8 2003-2008 Weapon-R Dragon Air Intake by Weapon-R - 802-128-101
-HKS Exhaust = $500 HKS Hi-Power Exhaust Mazda RX8 31006-BZ001

Alright trolls. Like I said. Everything aside from the rims comes to a total of $1,100. Thanks for the help. Already hating the Rx8 club community.

ken-x8

So are you now asking for opinions on those specific parts? If so, that would have been a much better first post than your original "Will someone go shopping for me" post.

Make sure you keep some cash in your pocket to fix whatever breaks (or you discover was broken) in the first few months. You're buying an 8 year old sports car.

Ken

Captain Pepper

first thing i found out when i bought my car was the PO hadnt taken care of the ignition system (coils, plugs, wires) and it threw a CEL at me. Dealership emptied me for 900 bucks on just the parts. I could have saved myself a lot of trouble by doing the necessary maintenance on a used 8.

No one is trying to troll you. They are just trying to show you that you need to have money in reserve because emergencies on this car are sensitive and costly. just my $.02

Bladecutter

Where in Colorado do you live?

Have you had a compression test done on this '04 that you are planning on buying?
If you haven't, and the engine turns out to be low on compression after you buy it, your name is going to have a whole different meaning.

There's quite a few of us who live in Colorado, and we all know that it's a necessity to have a compression test done on a used car up here, because of the high altitude, and how that affects the motor more so than low altitude locations do.

The big issue that the forum has with you so far is you're so focused on modding your car that you aren't even doing any research to make sure you are getting a good car to begin with.

Just typical 18 year old boy behavior, so we can't blame you too much.

BC.

Colorado Chaos

First off, I already put aside $300 to change the oil, replace the plugs, coils and wires. I found out that installing an intake would be pointless. And that to make sure and get an exhaust without a cat. Now all that could have been some helpful feedback. All I wanted was some feedback on the starting mods I was planning. I havent had a compression test done and honestly i wouldn't know what the results mean after I got it. So now my question is, are there any other things I should replace off the bat besides the ignition components? And blade I live in Westminster. I'm new to buying cars and wanted to know what else to include/remove from my budget. I didn't ask to get people saying I don't know what I'm doing. I already know that. Which is why I'm asking for some advice!

Colorado Chaos

And by the way, I apologize if it came off as me wanting you guys to do my shopping for me. I've had experience with car forums that all tend to agree on one specific brand for springs, or exhausts. All I wanted was to find out what the 8 community agreed on what's best bang for the buck.

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

Duraflex are one of the worst fitting bodykits out there.
Yes it's $140 but you're going to need around $400-600 to paint, then for them to attempt to fit the thing probably another $500.

Lowering springs unless you do the work yourself you can expect to pay anywhere from $250-450 in labor.

I can't tell if you're trolling regarding the intake, do some research.
Our intakes are so good for the car that there are only 2 intakes out there that can actually give you more power... AEM/Mazdaspeed (same intake) or RacingBeat REVi.

Save your money, you're going to need it. This is not a cheap car to own.

LifeAfterRx8

iTrader: (17)

You need to stay away from this car. If you cannot even research compression numbers for an 8 to find the bare minimum of Mazda's spec for compression this is not the car for you... I can already predict you're going to be up sh*t creek in this car. '04-'05 models have the most problems with engine compression due to reflash issues with oil lubrication... chances are, your '04 was traded in for a bad engine and the owner just wanted to get rid of it. A rotary can still run with little to no compression, just very poorly so don't use the, oh it runs it's fine excuse you need a compression test.

Save your money because I can almost guarantee you're going to need a new engine shortly and that's around the price of a new engine.

ken-x8

This group rarely reaches a consensus on anything. We do tend to agree that ignition parts are a weak link. And also tend to not like ricey mods. And (biggest consensus of all) pound on anyone who asks which oil to use.

Changing the exaust won't do much for power. It will mostly change the sound. That's a matter of taste. Don't ignore local law enforcement's taste on exhaust noise.

You need to find and read RIWWP's "new and soon owner" thread. That covers a huge amount of basic info. Just don't let it scare you off. And don't let the "This is not a car for 18 year olds" crowd scare you off either.

Ken

Colorado Chaos

Thanks Ken.
Duraflex body kit=bad
Air intake=pointless
exhaust=Catless
Compression test=vital

Thats pretty much the info I was looking to find. Thanks.

RXeligion

Here is another one for you:

Stock rims are probably better than most of the wheels you would consider buying. If you insist on buying cheap wheels for your car, you should read the sticky entitled "So you think staggered wheels are a good idea?" before buying.

I think you got a bad welcoming party because most of what you threw at us was a (widely known) bad idea, so you came off as someone looking to stir the pot. Welcome to the club - don't make us look bad.

Colorado Chaos

Thank you! RXeligion, you have my respect. I just came in here thinking that normal mods to piston engines would be a good idea on an rx8. I guess the 8 is a whole new beast. I didn't come to troll you guys and didnt mean to bring up issues that are sensitive topics. Anything else I should add to my budget when buying an 8? Compression test, new plugs, wires, coils, oil change. Oh and I tried searching but couldn't find anything. what do you think about the slick 50 engine additive? I figure that since lubrication is an issue, slick 50 might help it run much better.

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

I dont know anything about slick 50 but there are multiple threads related to engine premix. read those and you will be on your way, but remember, not everyone here agrees that premix is necessary unless your taking the car to the track.

Beodude

iTrader: (3)

Without getting into the oil discussion, since you are fairly new at cars... Pretty much don't believe anything additive companies say. Normal engine oil does it's job very well, synthetic or dino.

Slick 50 and other engine oil additives - The Skeptic's Dictionary - Skepdic.com Wanted to see just what slick 50 is. Yeah, don't use it.

ken-x8

The rotary is different. Mazda has done quite a job tuning the Renesis, so there's not much that can be done to increase power other than adding a blower or nitrous. That's a whole other world.

As for Slick 50...that stuff is promoted by Bruton Smith. Need I say more? Snake oils in general don't do much for any engine. The better ones probably don't do any harm, beyond the money wasted buying them.

Ken

kevinande

Dont worry about these guys, they do this crap to almost everyone new who asks what they consider to be a stupid question. Above all else on any 8 you may purchase, get that compression test. That is money well spent! Get that test and post those numbers back here and we will let you know if those numbers are good. As previously pointed out the rotary is a whole different animal. I personally recommend an 06 or newer with less than 100k. You still have a reasonable price point and there is still a warranty on the engine core from Mazda. You will actually get to enjoy the car as opposed to having to deal with a dead engine within a few weeks or months of purchase. Read through these forums and you will find folks who purchased these vehicles and they were dead within weeks. Don't be one of those folks. Good luck with your purchase.

xexok

Kevinande I wouldn't consider them stupid questions really but they have been covered a million times. They have been talked about so many times that they actually made 2 stickies that has all the info he needs. Not like they help as the only way people read them is when they post and ask and get linked there.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...t-here-202454/

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discuss...rx-8-a-233937/

Bladecutter

Our advice is to first make sure the car you are buying is in tip top shape, with a high compression motor.

Once you have a properly operating car, then you should start looking at making it ugly.

That's why we have pointed the New Owners Thread to you multiple times.
It explains quite well in that thread what a compression test result should look like, what is passing, what is failing, and what causes a low cranking speed rating.

We've done all the work for you, you just need to read it.

And if all of that fails, you simply have to tell us what the results were, and which dealer you took the car to for the compression test. Yes, it has to be at a dealer, because very few private shops here in Colorado have the needed testing unit to do a rotary engine compression test. Hint - Mazda of Lakewood is probably the easiest dealer to get a compression test done at.

I haven't seen your car, and don't know if you have any check engine lights on, so I can't answer that question for you. For all I know, you could be buying an ex-forum member's car, and its in perfect shape.

I live in Arvada, near 80th Avenue and Wadsworth Blvd.
That makes us neighbors.
That also means that you need to meet emissions testing.

We're not new to car buying, and we're not new to RX-8's, hence why we are trying our best to give you advice to make your purchase as easy as possible.

Honestly, you should remove your whole shopping list of mods, and find out if the engine is in good shape. If it is, then you should check to see what it needs to drive flawlessly (I have yet to see a high miles '04 RX-8 that didn't need engine mounts, a starter, or a cooling system issue resolved).

Let me put it this way:

If you buy the car without a compression test, and the engine is worn out, but you've blown all your money on the other stuff that makes the car look like how you want it to, you're going to have a very expensive paper weight, and feel angry that you bought a bad car.

The engine is going to cost anywhere between $2500 and $5k to replace.
Keep that in mind.

We all want you to buy a good car, and love it for a very long time.
You need to do the real work, not us.

BC.

kevinande

I hear ya man. You know if people don't have anything positive to say or contribute, why post anything at all? Instead there are those who sit behind their keyboards with Internet anonymity, and choose to be rude, and encourage others to do so as well. I just think it sucks, but I hear ya.