rwp42-- did you test drive the "regular" RX-8 and compare it to the Shinka? Any perceived differences in ride or comfort? Is it that much better looking?

I'd love just to SEE one even if I couldn't drive it. Just for my own perverse curiosity. None of the dealers that I went to even had one.

 

I sat in one yesterday (still shopping for my first 8) ... I was told that there was NO difference, performance wise, b/w the Shinka (seems that, in Canada at least, the dealers just call it the "Special Edition") and a regular 8.

BUT - cool paint - deep, dark Black Cherry - looks pretty good. Fantastic cream leather seats and interior panels; piano black accents inside; and, really great looking finish on the rims (not quite polished, but really "bright" - I wish they all looked like that!).

No sunroof though - weird.

 

I sat in one Sat aswell. I am not a fan of the exterior color but the interior color was great. Didn't seem like a big deal to me at all.

 

I must admit - while I really liked it (especially the rims) ... I'd have a hard time justifying the extra $$ (looked like nearly $2K CAN more) for, basically, rare colours AND NO sunroof ...

 

as far as ive read, the only difference other than being a limited production and the visual items, is the new suspension...for imporved handling.


Does anyone know, is it a tweaked version of the sports suspension we already get or is it closer to the mazdaspeed suspension setup?

 

Hmmm. Isn't it odd how little many of the Mazda Sales guys at dealerships actually know about the products they sell?

If there really are suspension mods on the special edition (or "Shinka"), why wouldn't the salesman menthion this (the spec sheet was missing from the little plexiglass stand too ... so I couldn't just read for myself).

 

Directly from Mazda USA :

""Shinka" means "evolution" in Japanese, and that's what this special edition of the RX-8 represents.

New features include:
High-gloss 18-inch alloy wheels
Black Cherry Mica exterior
Parchment leather seats
Numerous suspension modifications
Available either with 6-speed manual or 4-speed Sport AT automatic "

On the site 2 of the things it points out are 'Foam injected front crossmember, for added rigidty and also the shaft in the rear shock (dampner) is 14mm (up from 12mm) ... there has to be more to it, cause i would hardly call that Numerous.

Link : http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/disp...modelYear=2005

I had a friend that worked at a ford dealer, and he would have to take tests all the time on product knowledge, he told me that most of the sales people would just pay him 10 bucks to take the test for them, since they wernt good with computers.......lol

 

I test drove the regular GT before I bought my Shinka, and I think the suspension differences in ride and handling are almost indistiguishable. However, in the time I was able to spend driving the regular one, I wasn't really able to push it close to any limits. As far as I was able to tell, the Shinka feels only slightly firmer in normal driving.

The interior appointments in the Shinka really make a big difference. The brown stitching in the leather is very nice and the way the seats are leather all the way around, including the seatbacks, is a subtle but noticeable improvement. Also, the stock satellite radio with a free year of service is a real bonus. I never would have considered the satellite service, but now I don't listen to regular radio anymore.

It's odd that you say there is no sunroof. At least in the US, the sunroof is stock.

As for the exterior, the paint is awesome, IMHO. It's the #1 reason I went with the Shinka. At night it looks black, but in the daylight it shifts from purple to burgundy, depending on the angle. And the bright wheels also make a big difference. In addition, all the metallic touches on the exterior and in the interior are brushed-aluminum instead of the silver finish.

As far as the premium price, it didn't seem that much to me, considering all the extra visual touches, not to mention the satellite radio and the suspension upgrades.

 

If anyone wants to see what the Shinka paint looks like-just look at any new Miata with that color. It's the same paint.

 

I also just bought a Skinka this past Monday night and love it. I hadn't test driven another RX-8 in almost a year, so I cannot say if it handles or feels any different than other models, but I am personally very impressed. It's the first sports car I've ever owned and worth every penny I spent. In looking at all the standard features, if I spec'd a car with them, the price would be virtually the same, but for the money I got a unique (for the moment at least on the 8) paint color that I love, a beautiful interior, and as was already mentioned, a free year of satellite radio. I also got a great deal from my dealer, $2750 under MSRP, which from what I've seen is hard to find.

 

I test drove a 'regular' RX-8 (the dealer would not let me test drive the Shinka). Now that I own one, I'd have to say that the performance is identical (as would be expected), but the suspension/handling feels just a bit more 'dialed in' and crisp.

Any RX-8 that has the same packages:

+ Grand Touring Package
+ Appearance Package
+ Rotary Accent Package
+ Rear Wing Spoiler
+ In-dash 6-CD changer (w/300W Bose 9-speaker system)
+ Power sliding-glass moonroof
+ Spare Tire Kit
+ Leather-wrapped shift ****, parking brake handle, and console covers
+ stabilizer bars
+ performance-tuned shocks
+ foam-injected front subframe components
+ Tochigi-Fuji torque-sensing limited-slip differential
+ Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control
+ SIRIUS satellite radio with 1-year free.

would essentially be my Shinka (albeit not in Black Cherry Mica and Parchment Leather).

The weather has not been cooperative to picture taking. When things clear up, I will post some pics.

Richard

 

I agree. Not only did the color do nothing for me, the fact that they put the same "special" color on a Miata makes it seem somehow "wrong". The inside changes are nice, but from what Mazda lists for suspension changes (not much) I am not sure the interior goodies alone justify the extra price.

Dennis

 

I really liked the interior, as well. I was particularly interested in the center console cover(s). They are really nice, soft leather. I would love to replace the plastic ones in my GT with the leather. Has anyone checked to see if that can be done? It should be a simple R&R, unless the covers are somehow different. I also wonder if you can just buy the leather console covers...

Anyone done or considered this mod?

 

What a novel idea ... all leather seats in an RX-8. Why didn't someone think of this before!

Sorry for the vent. I just couldn't help it after living with very expensive "leather trimmed" seats for the past 20 months. OTOH, probably not enough of an issue to make me sell my 8 and buy a Shinka. Very jealous though ....

 

japanparts.com has leather front and rear console covers for $125.65

 

I agree, i was at my local mazda dealership friaday walking around and i guess looked like a new buyer asked the saleswoman about the rx8 she said it was a v8 and they were coming out with lambo doors for 06. I went and talked to the sales manager about this (HE WAS PISSED) as he should be. He said they put them in a two week class about mazda but wtf.

 

First post here but just wanted to chime in. When I bought my Shinka about a month ago my dealer told me that the limited-slip in the Shinka was actually a little bigger. He seemed to know what he was talking about since he used to race an rx-7 (showed me pictures). I really have no proof though other than his word. Not sure what you guys think.

JJ_Starr