We have been long time lurkers and have followed many threads with delight. We have a 2004 Winning Blue Sport Package MT RX8. My wife refers to her car...it's hers...as Roxy...

So anyhow, I am interested in a 2006 Shinka. I DO like the color; I am curious if the new Shinkas can still be ordered and if so, is Navigation available?

I understand there are some folks with quite a bit of knowledge. To that end, I would have you know that I have tried to find out on my own if 2006 Copper Red "Shinka" RX8's have or can be ordered with Nav. I have not had a confirmed and verifiable response to my question from my local dealers. From the Mazda North American website, it seems that Nav is not available with the 2006 Shinka.

If the new Shinkas are not going to have Nav, I may still buy one to park beside my wife's blue. Have we had anyone buy a 2006 MT Shinka? ( I ask because I have seen a 2005 Auto Shinka....OMG what a waste....).

If you ask why Shinka, I can only reply with...why not? I like the blue color best of all, but we have one!

So please, any solid information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all very kindly for all you have contributed on this forum. And thank you kindly in advance for any information passed on to help me.

nSane

 

It is my understanding that you still can't get navigation on the Shinka. Mazda's website hasn't let me add it in when I was playing around with building one and my dealership said it is not on their order form for navigation on a Shinka or Shinka package.

You're right, blue is the best-looking color!

 

Don't let the lack of navigation stop you from getting one, there's plenty of aftermarket GPS thingies that you can always get for less.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/calling-all-copper-red-shinkas-86434/page3/

 

I think you should just get another blue one and have twins.

 

I don't see what people see in the blue, it's probably my least favorite color. But the new Shinka copper, now that's a color! Go for it! I have the '05 Shinka, with its inexplicable lack of nav, which was a minor bummer but not anything to make me regret the decision. Besides, its a fun car to go get lost in.

 

No... it was pretty scary!

True story, I am station in Ft. Polk, LA and my dealer is like an hour and a half drive IF you know where you are going. So right after I got my new WB 8 off the lot and heading back to base, the sun starts to go down. I was new to the area so that doesn't help. Long story short, I end up spending 4 hours, almost all of my gas (with no gas station in between dealer and post), and 400 more miles I don't need on my new car...

I guess now you know why I need to get one with a NAV... I will see if Mazda is willing to put a NAV in an custom order Shinka, but that looks unlikely.

Sheep

 

I found a Shinka, loved it, but really wanted nav. I bought it anyway, figuring I'd compromise and buy a portable GPS. But now that I've done some research, I'm actually thinking the aftermarket stuff might be better:
1) High-end GPS goes for $500 - $900, over 1K less than OEM. I still haven't bought one, but so far I like the Magellan 960 and the Garmin 2620 (or their soon-to-be-released replacements) best. TomTom stuff looks nice, too.
2) Can take the unit out and use it in any car.
3) Easier and probably cheaper to upgrade maps/software.
4) Can program routes in the comfort of your house before your trip.

Yeah, I'll miss the coolness of the OEM nav—but, for me, it's no longer the slamdunk choice I thought it was.