I am buying a new 8 this week and am debating to buy the base 6 speed or one with the sport package (dynamic stability control with traction control). I live in Rochester, NY and am planning on putting on snow tires for the winter. Is the DSC and TC worth it?

 

Theres been a number of people who think disabling them will save fuel economy. Also there's been a number of people who then slide off of roads and into trees because the once stable and easy to drive car no longer can be tossed around without knowing how to drive.

I'd say it's worth it unless you were ONLY going to track with it and never need it.

 

I am thinking the DSC and TC are a no brainer for the winter in NY. I am not planning on racing, too much.

 

IMO, its kind of like asking about ABS, air-bags, or even seatbelts. its a very effective safety system (but not infallible), and if you do take it to the track, you can disable it.

 

DSC is one of those things that you don't need very often, but when you do need it, you need it very badly. I highly recommend the sports package.

 

Get the one with DSC, that way you get to choose when to have DSC and when not to have DSC.

 

Read the DSC saved me threads. There are quite a few. It's kind of like airbags...I've never needed them, but it's nice to know they are there. I have needed the DSC before, though, and I'm glad it was there.

 

Yes get the sports package, not to mention you get the HID headlights which is far superior to the crappy halogens.

 

Thanks for the input, I think I will spring for the sports package, the fog lights and the HID headlights are an added bonus. I discovered this website last week and am loking forward to reading all of the past threads. I can't wait to park the black on black 8 in my garage.

 

Base models are actually pretty tough to find, so why bother? Any cash benefit from skipping the sport package can be attained with some shrewdness with the dealer.

 

Actually, I can get my hands on a galaxy gray base 6 speed, or a black 6 speed with sport package. The Black one is on my dealer lot and the gray one is ~1 hour away. I am going to call on Monday and take the black with sport package. Also much easier to avoid the dealer trade.

 

I would get at least the sports package, everything else is really just fluff...

Base

Halogen lights
no fogs
16-in wheels
100 watt am/fm/cd stereo w/6 speakers


Sports Package
Self-leveling Xenon headlights
Fog lights
Dynamic Stability Control with traction control
Tochigi Fuji Limited Slip Differential‡
18-inch wheels and 225/45R18 tires‡
Larger front brakes‡
Sport-tuned suspension‡
‡ standard with 6-speed manual


Touring Package
Sport Package
300-watt Bose® 9-speaker audio system with AUDIO PILOT automatic noise compensation technology
Power sliding-glass moonroof
Auto-dimming mirror with Homelink® system


Grand Touring Package
Touring Package
Leather-trimmed upholstery§
8-way power driver's seat with lumbar support
Heated front seats
Heated mirrors
Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry and Start System


"SHINKA" Special Edition Package
Grand Touring Package
SIRIUS Satellite Radio System with 1 year subscription (N/A Hawaii/Alaska)
Urethane foam injected suspension cross members
Unique combination leather/Alcantara® seating surfaces
6-Disc in-dash CD changer
Bright-finish alloy wheels
Leather-wrapped parking brake handle with bright tip
"Shinka" B-pillar applique

 

You really need DSC and TCS for the winter IMHO. DSC/TCS saved me from going into a ditch after a snow storm 2 years ago.

 

DSC/TCS is cheap insurance to keep your new car/*** in one piece. Dont skimp on insurance and please, leave it on.

 

Your insurance rate will also be less with the DSC/TCS, so it pays for itself over the long run.

 

yeah .. get it .. the press of the button on power on isnt too much of a hassle .. that is on nice days of course .. on cold or moist days youd probably prefer to leave it on

 

list corrected to apply to only manual transmission RX-8's, since that's what he's getting.

the 'Base' listing originally listed was for a base automatic RX-8....

 

I see a lot of DSC praise on these forums, so I thought I'd voice a contrasting opinion.

I have a base 6mt in central Jersey, and it's fine in the winter w/ proper snow tires. The car doesn't have enough torque to engage DSC unless you do something wrong. Keep the car in one higher gear than usual and you'll be ok.

I'm 18 years old. The RX8 is my second car; my previous car, an Acura TL, didnt have traction control either. it was FF though.. (and scarier in the snow with just all seasons.) I suppose if you've never driven without TC, then DSC is something youll want.

As for the price concern, I got my leftover 05 w/ 8 miles on the odo for 22k back in November (and it was on the lot). Couldn't have done that with anything greater than base. My money is precious .

 

I agree that the Rx-8 can be driven without DSC, my previous car was a 1991 Miata that I was driving every day for 3 years (proper snow tires during the winter) and that worked fine.

But... the DSC on the Rx-8 sure saved me from a visit to the repair shop this winter!

Boring story alert:
I was driving on a 3 lane street that splits up in 2+1 lanes in the city while it was snowing a lot (yes I have snow tires), I was in the middle lane behind 3 cars that was driving very slow (10-15 MPH), oki I though, the guy at the front is probably hesitant between going straight (the 2 left lanes) or heading for the single right lane. I switched lane to the left most lane and started pass - then I see the that the Genius in the Silver Audi A3 at the front starts to turn left - from the middle lane and against the traffic into a one way streets for buses only! I swerve to the left to avoid adding to the silver curse for Audis but not with much hope, then it feels like a troll is fastening a magic rope to the left back wheel, jumps of the car and nails the rope to the ground and the car turns to the left pivoting on the left rear wheel (to the katjonk-katjonk sound of the DSC using the ABS system to brake the left rear wheel). I pass the confused DKW... sorry Audi, driver and are now faced by the steel and concrete divider that divides the road from the meeting lanes after the one way street, same story again, but now the troll has switched sides and we stay clear of the divider. I will not attempt to quote or translate what, in vain, yelled at the Audi in the my review mirror.

But I do recommend the DSC in a heartbeat!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions on the DSC/TC. I have never had a vehicle with it before, but then again, I never have had to drive a sports car in winter before. I am definetly getting the sport package. I had not thought of the insurance advantage either, I will look into it.

 

you don`t need a lot of torque to get into a situation where DSC/TCS would be a good thing to have.

 

i never had dsc/tsc until this car and i love it. it's saved my *** a few times - and hindered me a little at the autocross (but probably kept me from spinning out as well in my virgin run). yet i must say, when the car wants to go sideways, even with dsc/tsc on, it will go sideways. i loaned my civic to a co-worker a few months back and one day it snowed before i went in for work. i was on a highway entrance ramp and sure enough the back end decides it wants to be up front and i'm staring at a guardrail thinking "oh **** i'm about to wreck my new car." luckily i knew to countersteer, and i got control back and saved it. dsc/tsc didn't do anything for me then. still i stand by them 100%, but like the manual says, they will in no way compensate for bad reckless driving; however they will help correct a mistake.

 

The DSC is not very intrusive when driven spiritedly and can save *** when you went over your limits by too much.

 

Definitely get it. Worth it in both winter and wet weather. Plus, like someone else said, the HIDs look cool.

 

I would definitely get the DSC, and snow tires. I have DSC, and intend to buy a set of tires this summer before tire-rack raises their prices for the winter.

BTW, I'm in Rochester too (not too many 8's around here). We drove a miata with snow tires for the past 2 winters and that was a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to getting the 8 out in the snow.

Which dealer are you gong with? I got dicked around by John Holtz for a while before buying an '05 GT through Autobarn in Chicago. Holtz wouldn't even come close on price (about $3k more), and offered me a crappy trade on the miata ($5k - we sold it privately for $7k). Neither Ontario or Vincent Mazda had the GT in the color I wanted (silver/gray).

Best of luck with your purchase.