I am looking to pickup an RX-8 for a graduation gift. I want to spend no more than $28,000 on it. I know I most likely will not be able to pickup a 2005 version for under that much, so I will hopefully be able to find a good price on the 2004 that are still avaliable.

Anyways, what I am debating is that should I find an RX-8 with the options I want or find one bare stock, and then use the spare money to purchase all the options seperatly? For example, I want to mix the OEM front air dam with Mazdaspeed side skirts and OEM Spoiler. From Trussville Mazda, that will be probably around $1500-$1600 for them, and then I have no idea how much it'll be to get them installed... or maybe I'll try and do it myself if it isn't hard. Clear corners and fender strakes will be around $270 or so. Around $200-$250 for tinting windows. RX-8 door pillars around $60. And then later on in the future, I probably wouldn't get them right away, but the OEM 18" chrome wheels, thought I saw someone post that he got his triple plated chromed for $550 on here.

All in all it would be a total of ~$2800 for all those options. I think that the RX-8 would look really really nice on the exterior with those options, however, it wouldn't quite mix with cloth seats on the iinterior. Does anyone know how much aftermarket leather would be to do a job like that? I thought someone on here got a two tone black/silver interior done and it was around $2000 for the complete job.

What are your opinions about this and my debate.

 

You could use the $2800 for a turbo kit too!

 

how about insurance?

 

My aftermarket two-tone leather was $1130 out the door, tax included. I got it at Classic Soft Trim.
Instead of buying the OEM strakes, you could get a set from DLS Customs (a vendor on this board). Clear corners are $56 shipped from JT-Imports. These two items should be considerably less than $270.

 

So do you guys believe it would be a better way to buy it bare stock and then add everything or what?

 

Depends... on how much you value time and convenience. Definately cheaper getting stuff aftermarket though. Some people like to piece their "project" together. Others like it done all at once which explains the convenience of the dealers loading up cars for more $. But you are probably stuck with what's left on the lots anyway but you will get a great deal anyway.

 

Is this graduation gift for you or someone else? I ask because a lot of people enjoy adding their own mods. Lets them feel the pride of having done it all. If it is for you, then I would buy the car pre-loaded. Anything you want that it already doesnt have, you can add piece by piece later, or as money becomes available. Who knows, what you want now, may change as more aftermarket items become available.

 

Yeah, this graduation gift is for myself. I love to work on cars as it is a hobby for me, but I have yet to actually do something to do with an actual car itself, like body kits and stuff like that. The only mods I have done is car audio systems. I build and install and I do it as a side job for my friends, but other than that, I don't know how hard it'll be to install like exhaust or body kits and things like that.

 

I like your mix of the exterior mods, but I'm going to have to say you should AT LEAST get the leather interior. I truly appreciate....no, love the rx8's existing interior design. It's just hot.

Unless you can get oem-style seats, with the rotors in the headreast, etc you should definitely go for what mazda makes.

 

This looks close enough to OEM style to me... :D

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=10156
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=10157
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...chmentid=10158

 

also depends on what you're looking to save on. The sport package is the best way to go without going overboard with the total amount and would suffice in terms of features. But if you figure you're going to get a body kit just buy the base model and add on the stuff you want. Bottom line the base is a mod ready version, versus the gt package is probably more like for people that want to keep it the way it is.

 

I would also vote for getting the sport package, because the options included with that are good ones and IMO important too.
Also, there is no difference whatsoever between the sport and the base car as far as the exterior goes, so regarding a body kit it doesn't matter if you get either version. What you probably thought of is the appearance package and that is optional on the base and sport package-equipped cars as well.

 

My aftermarket leather was a little bit more at $1300 via Katzkin--black/tan leather. I really like the aftermarket leather more than factory as well--the factory sidebolsters are not 100% vs. the aftermarket--the reason for this is durability.

 

To answer your question, NO, it would not be easier to buy this way. The easiest thing to do would be to buy specific factory options and leave your car that way. With the number of accessories, you can get a pretty custom look.

It would definitely be more economical to buy base (I would recommend the sport package), and add on only what you really want. You can also get a more personalized look this way by mixing and matching body kits, suspension bits, and whatnot. If you're serious about doing this as a hobby, buy the sport version and customize it yourself.