I'm REALLY thinking hard about an RX8. I test drove one the other day and it was a ton of fun.

My curent car...I modded. I got sick and tired of all the hassles I ended up with due to my mods....if you mod cars..you know what I mean. stuff doesn't fit just right, or it rattles, or you get warranty beef with the dealer.

I plan to leave my RX8 stock. *BUT* if I just cant' help myself..and have to mod something....which deep down I know might happen.. I'd really really really like to AVOID ANY warranty issues.

I'll probably lease the car..so I really don't want to put money into mods on a car I may turn back in in 2-3 years.

But if I DID do mods, wouldn't the mazdaspeed mods NOT void my factory warranty? like a MS flywhee or a MS intake or exhaust. they cant' void my warranty i the cars engine blows up and I ONLY have MS mods that the dealer put in... right?

do the MS mods really do much for the car? if they were cheap enough, I mightr consider buying them at the time i buy the car and roll it into my finance/lease payment. maybe an intake or exhaust... maybe the flywheel.

but ONLY if they really do much. and don't cost an arm and a leg. any of you run them and can attest that they did make ti run better?

how about the warranty issue?

thanks.

 

if you have them installed at the dealership they won't do anythign to your warranty, there are certain restrictions on installing them yourself i believe. someone else can answer.

I have the AEM intake (Mazdaspeed is exactly the same) and it makes it sound great. add power? not so much. You would really only notice a difference if you are really used to the car before they put it on. I believe the same goes for the exhaust, but not positive. Flywheel I have heard good things about and does help free up some hp.

 

^ I have the MS flywheel mod, a noticeable diff. It won't void your warranty, just remember MS parts are only good for a 1 year warranty, vs. 4-5 years on powertrain.

The biggest issue with mods - people forget - is with your insurance. In Ontario anyways, if you don't disclose performance mods you'll run a really high risk of not being covered in any type of claim. If you do disclose mods, only high risk insurers will take you.

 

It really depends on your dealer if they'll hassle you about it or not. Just because it's Mazdaspeed doesn't mean they won't try to deny warranty claims.

As for actual gains, all the Mazdaspeed stuff is pretty basic mods. With exhaust, flywheel, and exhaust you're not going to gain much, maybe 10 whp if you're lucky.

 

Your dealer can't void your warranty for any mod regardless of the manufacture. The only benefit is that a MS part will be covered for a year and any problems it may cause within that year. For example lets say you get a non ms flywheel, two weeks later your flywheel breaks and wrecks your tranny. At this point you are screwed, no warranty its void. Now lets say you have the MS flywheel and the same thing happens within the one year warranty your tranny is 100% covered regardless of who installed it unless they can prove the installation was jacked. If the same happens with the MS flywheel after 1 year you are screwed because the part is only covered for 1 year. This is the same for all MS parts except for suspension parts which are covered for the full length of the new vehicle warrenty if installed by a Mazda dealer if not then only one year warrenty. Yea, I did my research on this subject. I decided to go all MS because I found that if you give your dealer the business as far as having them install the parts and buy from them they will give you a break. For instance I have the MS sways, I broke a bolt while installing it. I told my dealer and they fixed it for $25. Normally it would of cost close to $100. They hooked me up because I give them lots of biz. OK that enough writing.

 

what about a cai? will that void your engine warranty?

 

Warranty voiding... Depends on the dealer honestly.. Also depends on the modification. If your cat dies.. I don't think an aftermarket intake could be to blaim.... Just an example

 

i would just take it off before i go to a dealer or something,

 

1. You will pay out the **** hole for Authentic Mazdaspeed parts
2. It will not affect warranty ONLY if the Mazdaspeed part is installed by dealer
3. Minimal gains are to be had; like Ike said, 10 whp at the MOST
4. Did I mention you're gonna pay out the ***?

 

Honestly don't even bother with the MS flywheel, it's 15 pounds, 2 pounds less than the stock flywheel. It's not worth the money, seriously, other's costs about the same and they weigh about 9 pounds (for example BHR or Fidanza).

I wouldn't mind getting the exhaust but remember, look at the stickies and read the one for ALL MODDERS, they can only void the warranty if they can prove it.

 

Also, you are going to pay a Premium for those parts and I would rather get others. Honestly best hp mod, other than FI, is the Cobbs accessport or the BHR ignition kit, which when you think about, is basically a "reliability mod" and a horsepower adder.

Remember, just look around the site and you'll find out there are many alternatives. But the only bad thing about this car is that Mazda already pretty much maxed out the engine from the Factory, so if you put like 4grand into the car, you will only see 50hp~ at max. But if you go forced Induction ( Supercharger, Turbocharger) then you will be able to see 300whp easily.

 

Your better off keeping the car stock and getting the Access Port from COBB.
Then when its time to turn in the lease you unintall the software and sell the AP.

No hassels

 

Hey what happened to Ike?

 

all of you fail for not realizing this thread is 2 years old and yer still addressing the OP.

 

^Uh I was asking where is our resident troll. I know it's a 2 yrs old thread already.

 

yeah i kinda did it because its funnt to see old threads pop up

 

Doh!

 

not funny..