Ok I feel like i'm forgetting something obvious. So i'm basically in the mind set to upgrade my 8 for the best driving experience possible (within a budget of course). I started with Tein Basic coilovers (like i said i'm on somewhat of a budget), they made a HUGE difference. Then i got a set of Enkei RP-F1's w/ 255 Bridgestones and they made an even bigger difference. I had planned on my next steps(real soon) being Progress sways because i've heard they are pretty much the ****. Then the Axial Flow short shifter for the same reason.

I like buying things for my car that are very butt-dyno-able. None of this placebo effect $1k for 1 hp between 4-5k RPM crap. For some, just not for me. Things that make a significant difference to the feel/performance of the car. After the sways and shifter am i into the nitty gritty of modding for results or is there something i'm missing that is an obvious choice for my next mod?

I know thi s is pretty open ended but i'm up for any opinions.

Oh yeah btw, i use my car as a daily driver. But i love ripping through windy mountain roads whenever i get the chance. I might track the car some day but not any time soon.

Thanks

 

Suspension and brakes are going to be the two major areas you'll notice daily and also are good bang for you buck items.

Sways and the axial flow SS are two very awesome items which you will enjoy. I can't comment on the progress bars as I have the Whiteline front and rear bars with adjustable endlinks. New sways work great with coilovers to really give you confidence in turns.

I also have the axial flow, made the shifter go from regular to like firing a bolt action rifle. Well worth the money. I would couple this perhaps with a tranny fluid change to enhance the experience. There's lots of info on different types, myself I'm using the heavyweight shockproof from redline.

If you get into brakes, you don't need to get super crazy. Look for some packages which have slotted rotors, pads, upgraded fluid and stainless lines. The lines will made your pedal feel more consistant. Slotted rotors improve performance with better pads and look great too!

You can usually find a total brake package around $600 retail, axial flow I've seen for $250.

Those items will make your daily commute or weekend trips much more fun!

 

There are a few things that pop into my mind as worthwhile mods:

K&N Drop In: Mostly a convenience item. Last the life of the car with regular cleanings and may give you 1 HP. You can also remove the 2 baffles in the intake box for a slight increase in sound. Price is around 50-60.

Cobb Accessport: Tune the car to be the best it can be. Lean out the AFR in the upper RPMs for more HP and this will also net you a couple of MPG more since you will be using less fuel. Can also turn the cooling fans on sooner to help keep the engine temps down. Price is 700 (Get it from MazdaManiac as he will also provide custom tunes for your car)

Exhaust: Not so much for power, but sound and looks. Just having a nice sounding exhaust makes the car that much more fun to drive. I have an RP supercat and RB exhaust and it sounds great. Price is probably around 1000 for both. It is pricey for just a sound increase but I don't regret it.

Ignition: Factory ignition coils are crap and usually only last 30k miles before dying. BHR Ignition uses LS2 Coils and will last longer and provide a better spark too. They aren't out yet but should be close to release. Price is 375 Shipped (PM Charles R. Hill)

 

jantzen, i think i saw your rx8 last week at sunny's no#7 teriyaki restaurant on bridgeport.. i passed by and thought it was nemesis8 but it's a bit out his way..

but back to the actual topic of the thread: good clutch/flywheel combo will help out too.. not much by way of hp but you can most definitely feel the difference.. that plus everything else previously recommended and you will have a lovely setup..

 

That was me. Sunny's is the best Teriyaki around if you ask me. It's got nothing on Teriyaki Madness in Kirkland though, which i'm convinced is the best teriyaki in Washington.

As for the clutch/flywheel combo i really want to do this but i think i'm going to wait till my clutch wears out. I have a slight problem with my clutch (I think). But it's not enough to justify replacing it yet. Plus I dont think i would want to install it myself so wouldn't this turn into a pretty spendy operation?

Juice -

K&N: I actually already have this. I just forgot because the previous owner installed it. Not sure about the baffles though.

Cobb: I think i do want Cobb. Last time i looked into this it was still in it's baby phase and i wasn't sure if it was worth the $700 price tag. It can definitely do some cool stuff though.

Exhaust: I think the stock is fine. My previous car i had exhaust and it got really annoying. We'll see, i swing back and forth on this, I may change my mind in 6 months or so. I was thinking Greddy though. I like the sound. Not too much, not too little, just right.

Ignition: Meh, not now. Maybe later.

Flashwing -

Brakes: I think the stock brakes are insanely good, but i do want to upgrade them. I've heard good things about making a few tweaks to the braking system for some great results. The only thing (and I haven't looked into it very much) is that i could probably install the pads and rotors myself but the brake lines would be a different story. Is this incredibly difficult or should i have a mechanic do it? As for a $600 brake upgrade, which kits? I'm sure i could find them but any suggestions?

At this point I'm thinking

1) Brakes
2) Cobb
3) Clutch/Flywheel.

In that order. I'm still open to any ideas though. Keep 'em coming.

Thanks

 

Brake lines are easy. Though I'd suggest completely flushing the brake fluid when you do it. Just bleading the brakes doesn't leave me with a lot of confidence. And make sure you get speed bleeders. That way you don't need the friend screwing up your front seat postion.

Unless you've noticed brake fad, I wouldn't worry too much about upgrading the rotors. You can do the brake duct mod to help cool them, but if you're not tracking, it's the rare road that will actually work them hard enough to justify the expense. I've looked at the Racing Brake kit just for the unsprung weight savings, but haven't pulled the trigger, yet.

I don't know about the ignition. I finally swapped my coils at 75K mi for good measure (the updated parts were free from a friend who got the Mazsport upgrade). The original coils were still fine, and I abuse the hell out of the car. at least 75% of the miles were run above 5K RMP, and most of those at WOT.