rz-jacks

Hello everybody. Just wanted to introduce myself to the community and share my "plan of ownership" if you wanna call it that.

As of monday I am the proud owner of a black 2008 RX-8 Touring! My only fear was the gas mileage this car gets but I absolutely love how this car drives. It is worth the extra $ in gas money. Plus after some SENSIBLE mods I hope to get everything working perfectly and increase the mpg's up by a lot. Here are the mods (in order of importance) that I plan on doing.

- Race Roots clutch pedal reinforcement bracket
- LS2 truck coil swap (hopefully increase mpg)
- Cat elimination (midpipe)
- Revii Ram air intake and maybe later the cold air intake (I've heard the stock airbox is as good as any aftermarket kit except its actually quiet so I don't think I'm going to change it, any input appreciated tho)
- Finally, Cobb access port

Let me know what you guys think and if you have any heads up. So far I know about all the engine maintenance peculiarities and that the gearbox in normally noisy in neutral (freaked me out when I first noticed it and thought there was something wrong ). Thanks guys! any input is appreciated.

8upbad

iTrader: (3)

First of all, let me be the first to welcome you. Second, push the catless midpipe to the top of that list. I was at 16.5 mpg and got almost 20 after the cat delete. Thirdly, coils and an air intake make burning gas easier, sure it makes the process more efficient but you are burning more fuel faster. So if you are driving like a grandma then you will save fuel, if you step on it (which is what are cars are made for with a 9+K redline), then you are losing millage/gaining performance. That being said, the Cobb will help you a lot as tuning is most important, but are you going to tune for racing or fuel efficiency?

Dirt_Nasty

iTrader: (2)

Welcome to the addiction.

rz-jacks

I'm not looking into tuning for racing, just for better fuel economy/performance and well, drivability. I don't plan on modding the car a lot because I have to sell it in 3 years . Wish I could have it for longer, then I would s/c it and what not but given the circumstances I only want to do mods that will basically turn the car into what it should be from the factory. Like: a reliable clutch pedal, good quality coils, and other stuff that is not going to completely change the car but rather perfect the stock version hahahahah. Thanks for the input!

BTW, is there any difference in the different midpipes available from BHR, RR etc? like ones have double resonator others one. I just want something that will free up the exhaust but not increase the sound level too much. I know obviously the noise level is going to increase by a little bit but I don't want the whole campus to know that I'm out driving . and the PO-lice is annoying as it is, I can't imagine NOT being pulled over if I redline around campus having a straight pipe

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

A noob that did his research, WIN.

To my knowledge, BHR single resonated and Racing Beat Dual Resonated midpipes are currently the most tame sounding midpipes while providing none of the exhaust flow drawbacks of a catalytic converter.

rz-jacks

thanks for the tip. Although, is the BHR really worth the extra money? or will it be the same as the RB midpipe? also which of the two would you say has less rasp (I hate rasp, makes it sounds so ricy) (with stock catback?
Thanks

Roidz

Welcome.

cbmmm3

congrats. now lets please see some pix or we are going to think that it never happened.

Razz1

Welcome!

paimon.soror

iTrader: (15)

Congrats and welcome

rz-jacks

I'll post some picks as soon as I can, wich will be next week :s I'm leaving for thankgiving and I won't be able to see the car. I promise I'll take some picks after I finish detailing it. Hopefully it won't be snowing.

DocBeech

iTrader: (1)

I agree pics or it didnt happen

DarkBrew

Welcome and congrats!

I'd add an AFE short shifter to your list
Consider a Sohn adapter
Also synthetic trans and diff fluid

Great list BTW

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Welcome!

See my sig. Plus, if you aren't getting ~18mpg city and ~22mpg 100% highway, there is something unhealthy with you car or you have too much lead in your foot!

Very few mods affect mpg positively. Alot of them affect it negatively.

My opinions here, but:
1) Mazda has increased the warranty on the OEM clutch pedal assembly to 100,000 miles. Just go get a new one from them, which was revised, and should hold up better. I can't take advantage of that warranty because mine was clearly modified....since I drilled the holes for the Race Roots bracket.

2) The BHR ignition upgrade is already all together in a kit, and most of the people that have done the custom upgrade have admitted that they see the clear value of the kit to save them the hassle. It is also the only mod that people consistently see a MPG increase from, although BHR does not market it as a mpg or power mod.

3) Midpipe comments below

4) The only real reason to add an aftermarket intake is for looks, and/or to make getting behind it much easier than with the stock airbox. The stock airbox is quite a pain in the *** to deal with, I will certainly admit.

5) 100% a good choice.

Consider adding the fuel pump upgrade and the SOHN adapter as well. Two other weak points.

BHR midpipe sounds completely stock at low load. It gets a bit louder when you stomp on the Go pedal, but not annoyingly so, and not to the point of non-8 owners noticing the difference. It is also not raspy or droney at all. I am up to almost 15,000 miles on their midpipe and 100% love it, including 8,330 miles around the country in a trip with passengers. No rasp, no drone. Just pleasant noise when you want it. If you get a cat-back exhaust, it will keep the tone of that cat back that it would have if you still had an OEM cat on. I've heard the RB ones get raspy, even the dual resonated one. My opinion is that you can buy other cheaper midpipes, but you will eventually run into issues, or get irritated, etc, and end up buying the BHR one anyway.