Hey guys, I would just like to say that I'm going to be entering the family hopefully sometime this summer. I am getting my Grandmother's 8 (Yes, I know, spoiled :P). I want to mod it a bit, and I just had some general questions.

Do you guys install your own parts, or have a body shop do it for you?

For someone who is looking for just looks, and a little bit of performance, what would you guys recommend buying?

Thanks!

 

anything that requires heavy engine mods, i'd highly recommend a shop to tune it correctly. And at that...a KNOWN rotary shop...not just any mechanic.

Body panels are rather easily installed, and as long as you have decent mechanical knowledge, you should be able to do most of it yourself. I installed the full aero kit myself, including removing the front and rear bumpers. I'm just an average joe.

Good luck.

 

A CLEAN tint job and some rims will dramatically change the look of your car and not look too Fast-and-Furiousy.

 

+1

Also, more so for making it a little more fun to drive, AFE/RP Short Shifter.
Clear Corners

 

Turbo
/thread

 

um transam, a turbo might be a tad excessive for the guy who wants a little bit of performance! haha!

i tell any 8 owner to start with suspension mods bc thats where mazda really watered down the car. but since most normaly ppl want all their teeth still in their mouth when going over bumps they ignore me.....

but yeah i do all my work myself, expect for mounting those god awful azenis rt615s they were a total ***** to get onto the wheela nd i gave up after putting 17 scratches on the first wheel....firestone i love u guys.

most work, especially on an rx8 is pretty easy. belts r easy to get to, intake, exhaust, suspension, wheels its all pretty straight forward. look at the starter on an rx8 and then look at one for....any other car......

it pays 2 hours to change a starter on a mazda6 but not even half an hour to change one on an rx8.....apples to oranges, sure, but just making a point.....its all easy to get to.







unless u want to change ur injectors

 

You can never have enough power

 

I wish I could get some tints for my windows, but here in IL it's illegal so I don't think it would be worth it. Thanks a lot guys, you have already been a huge help! When ordering parts, is it better to get them online, or at a shop? Because where I live, there are no real car stores besides NAPA, and those types of stores.

 

I dont know how many states allow legal tint. I mean I am getting 20%... def illegal.
It's up to you, I had 20% on my 240sx and never got pulled over because of it.
Oh yea I live in Pennsylvania.

Parts online is cheaper most of time.

 

Your GRANDMA had an 8?! That's one cool grandma!

 

+1. I've had 20% tint on all windows except the front windshield on ALL of my cars. I live in California, it's illegal to tint the driver & passenger windows any grade here. Just roll down the windows or open the sunroof when you see a "piggy-piggy."

 

Im going to say buy your parts online, search the forums for stuff you like and then look in the Vendors and Group Buys area for those said parts. If you feel iffy about installing something find a shop that has a good reputation even if their more expensive its worth to get it done right.

My .02

 

+1 Parts online are also easier to find. For actual Mazda parts Tommy at finishlineperformance.com is hard to beat for price and good service.

 

I have 5% on my 8, there are only a couple strict cops around here that look for that stuff. Whenever I see a cop or something, when he is sitting next to me at a light, or pulls me over :P I rolled down both my windows...

 

If your Grandmothers' 8 was an automatic, I would look into sell/trading for a manual transmission RX-8. Nonetheless congrats!

 

I really wish I could, but I can't get rid of her car until she dies. I was talking to my parents, and they told me she's really **** about doing that with gifts, but I could do whatever I want (Just turned 18 on the 8th).

 

Tough spot. I totally understand the whole thing about not selling the gift-car. Is it possible to just swap the transmission? I feel like I've heard discussion of that before around here, you might do a search...

 

I was actually thinking about that too, but I really think that would be tough to pull off.

 

I agree, this is the most important part of the thread.

 

She also had a Firebird before this, and she's had a thing for red sportscars.