I was driving today when another 8 pulled up next to me with no clear corners, and I thought...doesn't he read the rx8club forums?! :p

I just feel like the OEM side lights really clash with the car, and I can't imagine I drove around without them for a few months. Surely more people than not find the clear corners more attractive (my guess, no proof to back this up :p ), I wonder why Mazda doesn't install them standard. Maybe I'm alone here, but i think its amazing such a little change can make such a huge difference!

 

Depends on the color of the car IMO. I think it'd look really strange on silver for instance, and thus never even thought of getting clear corners for mine. I prefer to have some color offset instead of having the corners practically blend right into the car. On a blue or black though, I could see getting some.

 

Yeah they make a big difference.
I was wondering if anyone knows how to wire the clear corners to double as turn signals?

 

In Japan and New Zealand where i am from the car comes standard with clear corners. I think it is something to do with US law

 

How much HP do they add?

 

I think it depends on the color of the car as well. I think the factory corners look better on every color except for white.

 

i gotta say, i don't mind the amber side markers on my black. plus, i consider "white outs" (term i coined back in college...the opposite of black outs, ie, clear) to be a little Race Inspired Custom Exterior. i'm not ragging on anyone's car or saying it looks bad...(it looks a lot better than "white outs" on most cars out there). that's just my opinion, and my reasoning why i won't put them on my car.

 

Yes, but for copyright reasons I can't reproduce the instructions on this forum. Just follow this link for the answer: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...rkerflash.html

Haven't gotten around to doing this myself yet - was waiting for a warm weekend (now that ski season is over) with enough time to do it carefully.

Wanna guinea-pig it for me? :D

 

Didnt you read!? The clear corners are shaped slightly different than the ambers. They protrude a bit from the fender, causing airflow to redirect outward instead of along the car thus decreasing drag! The low pressure area between the airflow and the car increases fuel economy.......... :p

 

Yeah, 2 things:

1. They have to illuminate amber on the front. This can be accomplished with amber bulbs in clear lenses.
2. They have to reflect amber on the front. Haven't seen a clear lens yet that can act as an amber reflector.

So, for reason No. 2, no factory clear corners in the US.

 

I guess I could maybe this weekend. And if successfull I'll let you
know or post a DIY. I've thought about this for some time but wasn't sure. Thanks alot for the link.

 

oh, well in that case...

 

I care either take it or leave it for clear corners on a V red car....when I see them I don't think they look any better.

 

I put clear corners on my Nordic Green and it looks a LOT better. But to each his/her own.

There was a previous thread on the issues of clear corners complying with vehicle codes in the US and I believe the "reflect amber" is not hard and fast for all states. Someone copied the CA vehicle code stating that "side markers" can be amber or white. But don't quote me on this - do a search. Better yet, check your local State regs.

Bob

 

I'm sorry but I can't see anyne having a valid argument to support the clears being rice in the RX-8's case. What it is is taking the factory side markers that come on every 8 except in the US and putting them on a US spec car. Replacing a factory part with another factory part to bring it in line with what the car is originally meant to look like from the factory can in no way shape or form whatsoever be considered RICE.

I also have to say that anyone that thinks the amber markers look good must be blind. I can't stand seeing an 8 with ambers and when I show my 8 with clears to people I know hate the way the 8 looks, they always like the way my car looks "for some reason". I have front air dam, strakes, and clears, all factory parts. These 3 things make the car look "right" to these people.

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you put any color 8 with ambers next to the same color 8 with clears, I bet 10 out of 10 peoplr with no prior knowledge or bias would pick the 8 with clears as better looking. Thats probably why Mazda intended the 8 to look that way, and is wh it is spec'ed that way everywhere but the US.

 

yes, i'm quite sure you coined the term "white outs."

 

Personally, I like the amber on the winning blue. So, I haven't changed mine and don't plan too. Provides a nice bit of color/contrast.

 

Someone should do a poll. I think it would be interesting to see what the consensus is
here on clear corners vs ambers.

 

Really Aesculpus? I personally find that the ambers clash most with blue.

WB + amber - clashes the most!
VR + amber - can go either way and matches to a degree
SS + amber - sticks out
Titanium + amber - similar to SS
BB + amber - clashes
LY + amber - matches as well but I prefer clears
NG + amber - similar to BB
White + amber - yeesh sticks out similar to SS
Shinka + amber - similar to BB

 

Amber Side Marker + Velocity Red Paint = BARF!

 

Amber Side Markers are HIDEOUS...I trust mazda designers...this was NOT a design decision but a wimpy NA Mazda decision....seriously that is the ONLY required mod to our car make it like the Mazda G-d's intended! :D

 

Friends don't let friends use clear side markers. (just kidding)

I would never put them on my Nordic Green, I think that amber looks perfect and clear is silly or dull.

I bet if US models came stock with clear then there would be a market for amber. Everyone likes to be a little unique but it is impossible to be different if every one likes the same thing. So each to his own.

Now if that thing about increasing air flow, power, mpg, etc is true then maybe I would go for it.

 

Won't change them and don't like the clears. Didn't some in Japan have a thread about getting ahold of the amber ones from the U.S.? What if clear corners were not an option. Are you really saying the 8 would look hideous if amber was the only chioce? I highly doubt you would sway from buying it because of the corner lights.

 

Mind you ambers are a North American phenomenon. I know in Canada the legislation says that reflectors are REQUIRED to reflect amber and also to emit amber light. I think in some provinces it's ok to emit amber but have clears (ie Ontario). Sadly not in Alberta so I'm such a bad *** by breaking the law. So unfortunately, NA Mazda is forced to conform with legislation. We are the minority and the rest of the world has clears.

I'm sure other countries have screwy legislation ... like what's up with that little reflector piece in the clear corner (Japanese legislation?)

It'll be weird to see people from other countries wanting to make their cars NorthAmerican spec with ambers! Hell, I'll supply my ambers to them.

 

What he said, with emphasis on the "personally" part. It's all opinion, people.