Are these packages worth the extra cost? I've been trying to find pics of 8s without both and with so I can compare. But since I'm a complete sports car noob it's rather difficult for me to see any of the smaller differences . Does anyone have any direct pics of this stuff? :o

 

I'm new here too but there are some threads on painting the accents yourself and therefore making buying the package not as attractive.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...y+accent+paint

there's one example.

 

Appearance package includes Front air damn, side aero flares and rear aero flares. Comparison pics included: (some bits on the car are not US standard.)

 

Painting accents is cheaper but also looks cheaper. You are better off going with some knock-off's that are being sold, check the vendor section.

 

Mine came with the Appearance pkg & Rotary Accents.

I wasn't planning on getting the Appearance pkg, but it just happened to be on the one I wanted. I've looked at 8's without alongside mine, and I've decided I like the Appearance pkg enough that I would get it again.

I was planning on getting the Rotary Accents, and I'm glad I did. You can find cheaper alternatives in the RX-8Fun vender forum. I haven't seen them up close but I believe there are a number of positive posts about them.

 

Aaah ok I see the differences in the appearance package. Thanks for the handy side-by-side comparison pics voodoo! It definitely looks better with in my opinion Still not sure about the accents though. Maybe I'll come to a decision once I actually look at the cars while test-driving.

 

The accents are just that, accents.

They don't really jump out at you, but in my opinion they add just a little bit of "something".

 

Here's mine with the appearance package and the accent package. The front appearance package item is the front "splitter" air dam across the bottom. The side items are the side spats in front of and behind the rear wheels.

I also have the spoiler and accents - the accents are the metallic rotor "triangles" front and rear.

I like the whole package except the rear spoiler - the spoiler is too much ... but was on the car so I took it (bought it "off the lot" at a dealership).

Stew

 

Damn that's a nice ride. I don't think the spoiler's too much at all! I'm still deciding what color to get. Titanium Grey and Winning Blue are at the top of my list but that yellow is damn hot! Now I gotta rethink the color again, damn lol. The blue would win out completely if Mazda came out with matching black/blue leather two-tones like the black/red. But I guess I can't have everything I want

 

Thanks! I appreciate the comments. I just love it ... quoth my wife: "Well, hell. If you're going to get a car like that, you might as well go all the way!".

So, unlucky news for you: Mazda discontinued the Lightning Yellow for "Rental Car White" ... if you can find a 2004 at a dealer, you can get it, otherwise ...

On your list there ... go with the Winning Blue with Chapparal leather ... now that's a good look! Winning Blue was my alternative color to Lightning Yellow.

Stew

 

Really? You better go tell Mazda because they don't sell them that way...

 

I wouldn't go any other way on an 8 without the appearance package and the accents. The accents look especially cool on a titanium or a black one (any dark color). I think the 8 looks a little "round" without the package pieces.

 

I wasn't planning on getting either appearance or accents, but the car that most closely matched what I wanted had both options already installed. They're both just purely cosmetic changes. Are they worth it? Not really. Do I like them now that I have them? Yes, most definitely.

 

Yeah unfortunately the blue only comes with black leather, which in itself isn't that bad. I just think that having the same, rich blue in the interior of the car would just make me drool all over :p Chapparal's an ok color but I think I would only get that with the nordic green. Think titanium gray would look good with black/red interior? I don't know if that would look slightly mismatched or not.

 

If you want yellow, look up Open Road Mazda in Edison, NJ. I looked last week from mazdausa.com and they have about 12 yellow RX8s.

ERIK

 

My bad ... I don't remember what comes with what ... of course I thought they had blue leather too ...

Actually, I'd love to take this car in for an after-market yellow accent leather retrofit. Now that would be cool!

 

Walk around the lot and scope out the different packages. There's nothing like seeing it in person and the cars side by side. I went from a "tail spoiler only" guy to a "no spoiler appearance package" guy after staring at the cars on the lot (mine is like StewC625's but sans wing & accents). So many choices.....
You can get after-market leather for less than the difference between Touring and Grand Touring prices. You lose the power driver's seat, and heated seats and mirrors in the deal. Something to consider if you want a non-factory interior color. If I had blue, I'd go with black leather and titanium color inserts.
RIP Lightning Yellow

 

IMHO when I ordered my Titanium Grey 8, it came in with the wrong interior (Black and Red) I didn't like it so they reordered my car the way I orginally wanted it. The other one is still on the lot and I got my 8 in March. :p

 

Yeah, kinda sucks that Mazda didn't come out with the Yellow Leather inserts for the Lightning Yellow color.

 

Titanium Grey with Red/Black interior looks GOOD!!!

I would have bought the blue if it had come with something like a blue/black interior - I really like the blue exterior but I wanted a little extra on the inside.

 

Yeah, it seems like that sort of blue combo would've been a popular item. You'd think they would've done something with it

 

I love the red/black and chaparral/black (my son calls it "catcher's mitt") leather interiors ... agree that it would have been great if they'd have extended to the other colors like BMW does on the M5 ...