I'm finally laying out the roadmap for what I'd like to do with my 8. I was hoping some veterans can offer their input on the choices I'm making. My main concerns are:
- Having a more distinguishable look without looking ricey
- Squeezing a little more power out of the car. I'd be happy with 10-15hp
- Not interfering with reliability, as it's a daily driver.


Here's what I got planned so far:

Wheels & Tires - I'm thinking of going 19", maybe something like what success07 has:http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/e...7/IMG_3972.jpg

Intake - Racing Beat REVi CAI + Ram Air Duct

Exhuast - I'm looking for something with nice low tones, but not too loud. Right now I'm leaning towards Mazdaspeed or Racing Beat

Racing Beat re-flash

Axial flow short shifter - I haven't tried one, but based on what everyone here says, it sounds like a must have.

Clear corners

Shift **** - Either a voodoo shift ****, or the Mazdaspeed shift **** - I can't decide here... any opinions on this?

Rotary accents & Strakes

OEM Air dam


How does that look overall? I'm not sure where to start now lol. It'll probably take me two years to be able to afford these upgrades, so if I could get half done this year, I'd be thrilled.

Thanks for any feedback!

 

Looks good, but id also check into the HKS legamax exhaust. it sounds incredible

 

Not normally my style, but if I had the Lightening Yellow, I'd consider custom yellow inserts/black leather seats.

 

You won't get anymore power out of 19".

You will loose speed and manueverability as they are way too heavy.

 

not just weight, rotational mass is higher as well. it takes a lot more energy to get them moving.

 

Thanks for the tip. I like the way the 19s fill out the wheel well, but I think I'll stick with the 18s then for performance reasons.

That HKS exhuast does sound nice!

 

Check out the Borla exhaust, it has nice low tones as well. As for shift *****, i have the voodoo, and i love it. Just make sure you have gloves, cus it gets VERY hot and Very cold.

 

You may get 10 more hp out of the deal but that is stretching it a lil bit. You are being tasteful with the mods so you won't look ricey. The wheels in the pic look good. FWIW, there was a LY owner who painted his stock rims black and they looked good on the car.

 

That shift **** is good for at least 30 HP at the wheels!

I thought about:

- painting all the underhood covers and the strut bar lightning yellow
- painting the calipers yellow
- Yellow leather inserts in the seats

Then I remembered:

- This is a depreciating financial asset. In 4 years when the car is due to be traded (as mine is, coming up on 4 years old) those mods will be worth exactly zero, and then where will I be?

Anyone want a babied '04 LY with 40,000 miles? 6 spd GT, brand new tires and brakes ...

 

as long as you are happy with the car while you own in. I don't see a problem with mods.]

why buy a house that you are unhappy with just because it will sell better when you no longer want it. if you want pink carpet. buy yourself some ******* pink carpet lol.

happy days =)

 

^So your telling us that you want pink carpet?

 

=P haha no but im just sayin. if thats what you like. then it shouldn't matter how it affects the value of something. imo

 

If you add STP stickers along with Penzoil that combination gives you 25 RWHP

 

Ivory it's ok to come out of the closet. We all know how you truly feel.

 

lol ur a funny guy =P

na i like tacos

 

Not saying you shouldn't. I shared my decision making path.

I keep cars for four years. They are depreciating assets, and any mod money you put into them is instantly POOF gone - it is folly to justify doing it on the basis of affecting resale value. If the enjoyment of the mods is enough for you to justify the expense, then go for it. For me it is not. I find it useless to throw money at a depreciating asset for any reason other than maintenance.

Your house, at least until recently, is an appreciating asset (and in the long haul, will continue to be, current "correction" in prices notwithstanding), and therefore, investments/expenses in improving and upgrading it, are always well worth it.

 

Doing the mods is definitely not for re-sale value It's for my own enjoyment.

I've only got 12,000 miles on mine, so it still has a lot of life left for me to enjoy the sounds of a new exhaust.

 

I compare an RX8 to Burger King, have it YOUR way Its too much money to not completely love what you got. Mine is a daily driver and I just added my CAI and Im so happy with it. Its a freakin 290 dollar intake and it made me 100X happier with the rx8. BC I always complained the car was too quiet and the intake really brought the sound of the rotary to life for me. ANYWAYs the point Im getting too is do what will make you happy and screw resale value, if you financed this car for longer than 36 months youre fucked anyways so just enjoy it

 

I'd forget about the ugly *** strakes.

 

I wouldnt offer my advice on cosmetic ****, the way you want to your car to look is up to you, you will get so many opinions on bodykits, strakes, etc that itll make your head spin. So if you like strakes, do it.

 

I kept my last car for 13, and only sold it to get the RX-8 because I wanted to drive something more fun. And heck, I pretty much got what you're selling. So I intend for my mods to have plenty of time to be enjoyed.

Hmm, perhaps electric motors in the front wheels, like the Supra HV-R, and supercapacitors...

 

looks like a good solid list to go from... make sure you get springs if you get wheels

 

Do your mod and enjoy. Your not going to get your money back but who cares . If your happy thats all that matter...... By the way get the strakes......

 

I got 4 extra HP when I added mine.

 

So did I ..................