Hi all,

I'm faced with this delema:

Purchase a used 2005 black cherry Shinka edition with all the trimmings...or a new 2007 sport which is on a diet.

Now, the price for each with tax & title ends up to be within $1,000 of each other, but... I don't like leather interiors, or sunroofs. This is where the 2007 sport comes in as it has most of the options I want: None. The only thing I'd add factory option wise would be the performance package. Beyond that everything else will/would be either Mazdaspeed or other after market items.

I guess what I'm really wondering is other than the 'luxury' stuff, do the Shinkas have any performance enhancing options on them that were exclusive? Or is it just a luxury package?

Thanks!

 

It's mostly a luxury package. There are foam-filled suspension members, but nobody really knows what they do.

 

get the shinka :p

i know, i know, i'm biased toward the 05 shinka, the color rocks and i have one, but its just a lux pkg... so the only real deciding factor would be if one is AT at which point unless thats what you really really want i say stay away from AT

 

Ditto. Although I did see the Shinka you are talking about and it is a very nice color.

 

I vote for sport with performance package myself. Not sure how tall you are, but I need the extra head room you get with no sunroof! Shinka color sure is pertty though!

 

Red.

 

Sound like the 2007 is for you.

The 2005 still might have some recalls.

 

Some people know what they do...

They decrease vibration, provide for an increase in ride stiffness.

How much decrease and incrase however I am not sure of.


BTW : Here is a picture of one.

 

For me I'd rather not have to deal with cleaning the tan leather seats. Gets too dirty and its too hot for hawaii. I already had leather seats in my old car and i will never go back to leather again. But that's just me.

 

Well, you know what my recommendation is.

 

for me its a NO BRAINER!!

this is what my shinka looks like!!

 

personally i would say the shinka but that's b/c i love the sunroof and if it were b/w the two i would go shinka. but it looks like you don't want any of that so why would you consider it? go newer and go with what you want - no leather, no sunroof.

 

I'd go for the new car. Especially given issues that might be the result of the previous owner's actions, or just issues in general from an older model car.

You'll save quite a bit of weight from the upgraded seats too. I'd swap my seats for lightweight racing seats, but since it cost me $4000 for the GT package... I've refrained.

 

get the 07. it looks like you want more performance than luxury. which means the shinka is not for you. besides, if you ever put in sparco or recaro racing seats, what was the point of the shinka in the first place?

im not a big fan of the leather (cheap), although i have a normal GT, and not the shinka. which has alacantara, which is very nice. anyway, white interiors are too pimp for me. i like sport. i have no intention of putting chrome rims on my car or adding any other sorts of bling.

go for the red anyway. its better.

 

i dont really think you can compare the shinka to the sport as a luxury to performance...the RX8 is a performance vehicle all the way around except in whp..

doesnt the sport have smaller shocks and rims...??
the shinka doesnt have chrome rims...they are polished, an upgrade from stock..
my seats are parchment leather...and definitely dont appear to be cheap...

most of all, the paint is exquisite and its a special edition....

 

The interior of the '05 Shinka is parchment—not white! Sorta the color of vanilla ice cream. Doesn't look cheap or tacky at all! In fact, visually, the whole car—both inside and out—comes across as elegant, refined and a bit more upscale. Subtle, not garish or loud. In terms of performance, there's virtually no difference between the '05 Shinka and other 8s.

 

I have to vote Shinka also. do any onf you know what Shinka stands for.? i think i read on the Mazda web site that it means "evolution" i have a 06 Grey one. and well love it.
they do have stiffer ride than other 8's and the Sand leather is awesome here in SoCal.
if you just want a driver get the sport, if you like the little things that make a car nicer than the rest get the Shinka.

HR.

 

japanese for evolution/transformation

 

does the shinka have the traction control?
how about the sport? - traction control there

 

shinka has TC and DSC both

 

If at all possible, always go new. That way you get all the additional warranties and you fully know your car's history.

 

I have a sport with NO traction control. Now . . I like it that way. If I screw up, then I screw up. But I don't have a computer driving my car for me.

But . . . . .. .

If you want the Traction control . . . get the shinka. If you want the slightly lighter, less slippery seats, more of a true sports car, then get the sport.

 

The shinka wouldn't depreciate in value as fast...depending on how long you plan to keep the car would be the deciding factor between the two. If you are only going to have it for a year or so get the Shinka, if you want a bussom buddy life long pal then get the 07 since the warranty will last longer and it technically should be more reliable later on in the years since it is "newer"

 

btw....the traction control can be turned off...as well as the DSC..

 

of course of course.
Everyone turns them off before hitting the track.

I am just a purist. If the car was available with manual windows, I would have bought that one.