I've been looking around and it seems that there are several difference between what you can buy in different countries.
I'd like to make a definative list. Here is the start of it (I'm only including options and standard fit gear, not accessories). There are also differences in standard kit too. I'm only interested in what you can and cannot have.

UK and Europe:

No cruise control
No automatic transmission
No electrically folding mirrors

US:

No manual transmission 190hp version
No climate control
No puddle lights
No rear fog light

 

Uk and Europe are 2 different areas, but both with similar cars.

UK:
No 16" wheels (all 18"), No smaller brakes. No Black/tan leather.


Japan have the 6 speed 250bhp car and a 5 speed 210bhp car. Xennon HID's dont come with washers. Does come with folding mirrors.

 

the US also has no headlight washers that the Canadian ones do

 

are they worthwhile to have?

 

Legal requirement in Europe if you have xenon HID's.

There quite powerfull and do clean the glass some, stops to much scatter glare.

 

maybe not to pay out-right for as an over priced option, but as just as a stock feature its good. They do have there uses (albeit minimal) as it will help combat glare... during winter time your entire car gets crap all over it, including the headlights.

 

All Canadian cars have 18" Wheels, headlight washers, no TPMS


There are 2 trim levels:

GS - Cloth Seats
GT - Leather seats, homelink transmitter, DCS, XENON lights

Sunroof and NAV are options.

 

My mom's SLK has headlight washers--they are heated as well; we are in Texas so they are virtually useless. I like them as a novelty though, I use them just for kicks. Most U.S. spec cars put headlight washers and wipers in a Cold Weather package along with heated seats and what not. I believe the Range Rover and a couple of Volvo's are the only ones with wipers now--most have switched to washer jets.

 

if they are what i think they are, little wind screen wipers on the light, like the ones u see on the Volvos, then that is an option i would rather them not have as standard, bloody fugly IMO...

 

Headlight Defrosters... oooo snuggly.

Wish the RX-8 had programmable seats... powered seats for Passengers as well. (Was wondering if anyone tried putting a right driver side powered seat to the Passenger cars in the US spec cars?)

Auto light on when it gets dark.

 

They're not - they are high pressure washer jets, that pop up from the bumper just in front of the lights.

Regards,
Gordon

 

The Euro spec car has a defeatable passenger side airbag, something I wish I could get here.

 

US: no daytime running lights. Canada has them, not sure about the rest of the world.

rx8cited

 

Let's not forget the ECU map for emissions which limits hp outside of Japan:

high power version:
Japan: 250 ps/247 hp
US: 241 ps/238 hp
Europe: 231 ps/228 hp

 

Call me stupid, but what's PS as opposed to HP?

 

PS stands for pferdstarker, which is German for horse power (hp). However, it's measured slightly differently. In Japan the RX-8 is rated at 250 ps, many people simply equate this to hp, but measured in US hp it actually translates to 247 hp.

So for the US model, one could say 238 HP (as advertised) or 241 PS.

 

There's actually 3 commonly used standard hp measures - the US uses SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), Europe uses DIN (Deutch Industry Norm), and Japan uses JIS (Japan Industrial Standard). All 3 are measured slightly differently, so, as you say, 250 JIS hp is not the same as 250 SAE hp is not the same as 250 DIN hp.

Regards,
Gordon

 

In New Zealand, we have 2 models: 247hp 6MT and 231hp AT.
Our cars are specced from the factory with: 18" Alloys, DSC, HID Lights, Foglights, Headlight Washers, Leather Interior, RX-8 Mats, 6 CD in dash, free servicing and 24/7 roadside assistance for 3 years. NZ$62,000

 

231hp AT? Now mazda are pulling numbers out of their ****. US is 210hp auto right?

I know NZ has verry loose emmisions laws, do your cars have CAT's on and if so for how long? How high does the AT rev (is it a 4 or 6 port engine?)

NZ$62,000 - spec and price are very close to the UK, except we dont get leather or free servicing. But I assume/guess average income in NZ is lower than UK so making it relativly more expensive?

(off to NZ next year for a month , hope I see an 8 there! Anywere to rent one..?)

 

the U.S AT is a 1.3L 197 hp 4-speed tran engine and the manual has a 6-speed tranny 1.3L 238 hp engine.

 

In Australia we get two versions....Leather Pack includes:

• Leather Seats (Power Drivers Seat)
• Aluminium Pedals
• Xenon Headlamps (with washers)
• Bose
• Front Foglamps (not rear)

Or the Poverty (Pov) Pack......cloth interior, none of the above.
Both come with 18's, DSC, Space Saver spare, Gnd Illum lights (puddle lights).....we don't get Nav, Sunroof, TPMS.......(Australian Design Rules apparently don't allow sunroofs in cars without integral "B" pillars)
Man 237hp......Auto 189hp

$56,170 for the Pov Pac.....$62,610 for the dead cow. (6spd prices)

Gomez.

 

NZ is very loose on emissions. We have a different flash spec for the EMU - apparently different to the Aussie version. The auto is the 4 port version - from the NZ website: 141kw. So, my mistake - that is less than 200hp. The avge income in NZ will be less than the UK - but our cost of living is MUCH less. Because NZ is small, we only get the top-end choice rather than get the options. The market can't sustain a ton of options.

 

Almost forgot - all Canadian RX-8s, Base and GT, get the in-dash 6CD changer standard.

Regards,
Gordon

 

what are these?

 

Which US packages come with DSC?