San Bernardino monthly Mazda meet and drive.
03-13-2009, 02:58 PM
#6401
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I don't think the R3 wheels would be that exciting in an 18 inch size. Part of there excitment comes from the sizing and the low profile tires. There are a couple of wheel designs out there already that are close copies to the r3 wheels...and the smaller the wheel gets, the worse the design looks.
Part of the same reason why I don't personally prefer 18 inch wheels with lips on an RX8. the wheels end up looking like 17s. Denward had 17s with a lip and those suckers looks small.
Last edited by kwescott; 03-13-2009 at 03:04 PM.
03-13-2009, 03:00 PM
#6402
IstanbulNotConstantinople
did I miss something?
03-13-2009, 03:02 PM
#6403
T-29 years and counting
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Since everyoen is in here i thought i would remind everyone of a suggestion i heard. the 4th installment of Fast and Furious comes out the first week of April. Are we all still planning on going to the drive-in to see it?
03-13-2009, 03:17 PM
#6405
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I've never seen a movie at a drive-in.
03-13-2009, 03:24 PM
#6406
Bigboy in a little car!
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Drive in sounds good to me! 
Keith.... tomorrow.... installs.... whats to miss?
(didnt we make plans last Friday for this Saturday?.... we were suppsed to due it last saturday but had to wait on parts. they SHOULD be here today I will know tonight about 5:00 if they are here in time.)
dork
Keith.... tomorrow.... installs.... whats to miss?
(didnt we make plans last Friday for this Saturday?.... we were suppsed to due it last saturday but had to wait on parts. they SHOULD be here today I will know tonight about 5:00 if they are here in time.)
dork
03-13-2009, 04:01 PM
#6409
127.0.0.1
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I know it can be hard jonathan, coming from an RX8 that looked great from the time you bought it...the previous owner did a good job in picking out the interior, grill, wheels and drop. I know how hard it would be to drive a stock Accord, after having the 8.
Don't get burned on a suspension install (It is not that hard, just time intensive)....I'm sure Casey and I would be willing to help you out at a fraction of the cost, as we are always looking for ways to add money to the miata fund.
Don't get burned on a suspension install (It is not that hard, just time intensive)....I'm sure Casey and I would be willing to help you out at a fraction of the cost, as we are always looking for ways to add money to the miata fund.
if you guys decide to help me out, that'll save me some cash. i'd pay you guys or buy stuff for you
. i'm a bit mechanically challenged when it comes to taking things apart and putting them back together. oddly though, i know how things work, lol. it'd be just for the suspension part, but everything else i'm sure i can figure out myself.oh, and since my car is already 9yrs. old, would you guys consider for me to look into getting bushings for my car's suspension as well?
03-13-2009, 04:10 PM
#6410
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I don't think you want to go down that road man.....talk about time intensive and expensive. I would highly suggest not. It was an extreme improvement for Speed's Miata, I can't even start to tell you the differences that it made....but for a street car, again, I don't think it is worth your time and money. Full bushing sets are pricey, and the cost for installing them is rediculous. I remember when Speed told me the price he got quoted for the install, it was worth it to both of us to figure out how ot do it, rather than pay to have it done. It really wasn't that hard with the right tools and the blowtorch......but took forever, over a days worth of work.
Give Casey or I a call when you have a spring in mind and we can find a time and come up with a good price. But before you call, go ahead and get some quotes first from shops near you that you want to have the work done at....and make sure to clarify if the quotes include, or do not include an alignment.
Give Casey or I a call when you have a spring in mind and we can find a time and come up with a good price. But before you call, go ahead and get some quotes first from shops near you that you want to have the work done at....and make sure to clarify if the quotes include, or do not include an alignment.
03-13-2009, 04:24 PM
#6411
幹他媽!
the wheel gap totally makes sense. but, what i heard was that due to the modification in gear ratios of the 09 rx-8's, the 19"s work better. our gear ratio is kinda mushy, so a bigger wheel & tire supposedly means less pull? i dunno, but that's just what someone told me when i was discussing it at the meet.
you'll probably find yourself adjusting your driving a bit with the new wheels...parking ina different spot when you have the chance...parking in a stall that doesn't have a curb..being careful when parallel parking, etc. If not, I'm sure we'll hear when you get your first curb rash.
I don't think the R3 wheels would be that exciting in an 18 inch size. Part of there excitment comes from the sizing and the low profile tires. There are a couple of wheel designs out there already that are close copies to the r3 wheels...and the smaller the wheel gets, the worse the design looks.
Part of the same reason why I don't personally prefer 18 inch wheels with lips on an RX8. the wheels end up looking like 17s. Denward had 17s with a lip and those suckers looks small.
I don't think the R3 wheels would be that exciting in an 18 inch size. Part of there excitment comes from the sizing and the low profile tires. There are a couple of wheel designs out there already that are close copies to the r3 wheels...and the smaller the wheel gets, the worse the design looks.
Part of the same reason why I don't personally prefer 18 inch wheels with lips on an RX8. the wheels end up looking like 17s. Denward had 17s with a lip and those suckers looks small.
03-13-2009, 04:39 PM
#6412
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I don't think you want to go down that road man.....talk about time intensive and expensive. I would highly suggest not. It was an extreme improvement for Speed's Miata, I can't even start to tell you the differences that it made....but for a street car, again, I don't think it is worth your time and money. Full bushing sets are pricey, and the cost for installing them is rediculous. I remember when Speed told me the price he got quoted for the install, it was worth it to both of us to figure out how ot do it, rather than pay to have it done. It really wasn't that hard with the right tools and the blowtorch......but took forever, over a days worth of work.
Give Casey or I a call when you have a spring in mind and we can find a time and come up with a good price. But before you call, go ahead and get some quotes first from shops near you that you want to have the work done at....and make sure to clarify if the quotes include, or do not include an alignment.
Give Casey or I a call when you have a spring in mind and we can find a time and come up with a good price. But before you call, go ahead and get some quotes first from shops near you that you want to have the work done at....and make sure to clarify if the quotes include, or do not include an alignment.
and, in terms of quotes for the suspension, i've been to two different shops, and for what i asked of them...Eibach Pro series springs, Tein shocks, front and rear strut bars, and a caster/camber kit, one quoted me at $750, the other at $700. Not sure if they have an alighnment thing going on though. but, i can get my alignment done at Firestone since i got the lifetime alignment thing there for my car.
I asked them if i were to get my car lowered if it would void the lifetime alignment, and they told me that it wouldn't.
03-13-2009, 04:43 PM
#6414
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GOtta love the Firestone...
i have the same thing for the miata... yeah... the miata.
I want to make a change, I'm not happy with the current setup, I get board.... I take it in. Its awesome!
03-13-2009, 05:05 PM
#6415
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lol, no worries. not going with the bushings. it was just a thought.
yup yup. i was excited to learn about that 
03-13-2009, 05:14 PM
#6416
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Bushings are probably one of the best suspension modifications you can do for performance, and the bushings themself are not to expensive. ~$100 for an RX-7. But the labor is insane! And if you choose to install the bushings yourself even with the right tools, its a huge pain. And I've heard for daily drivers, it make the ride kinda rough.
Last edited by TheAbsence; 03-13-2009 at 05:19 PM.
03-13-2009, 05:23 PM
#6417
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right.
the only reason why i considered the bushings was because of my car's age. thinking that after 158k miles and 9yrs. of age, they should be replaced
the only reason why i considered the bushings was because of my car's age. thinking that after 158k miles and 9yrs. of age, they should be replaced
03-13-2009, 05:36 PM
#6418
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to beat a dead horse.
the miata is 225,000 miles @ 19 years old. and it made a HUGE change. I'm not saying to not do it on a car, but I am saying to not do it on a car your not all that into. it wont make the car worth anymore when you go to sell it.
The miata bushings were just over $200.
The install from a shop was going to be 500 something.
it took us a FULL day to do them on the miata. once we figured it out it went smooth, but very time consuming.
the miata is 225,000 miles @ 19 years old. and it made a HUGE change. I'm not saying to not do it on a car, but I am saying to not do it on a car your not all that into. it wont make the car worth anymore when you go to sell it.
The miata bushings were just over $200.
The install from a shop was going to be 500 something.
it took us a FULL day to do them on the miata. once we figured it out it went smooth, but very time consuming.
03-14-2009, 03:45 AM
#6421
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to beat a dead horse.
the miata is 225,000 miles @ 19 years old. and it made a HUGE change. I'm not saying to not do it on a car, but I am saying to not do it on a car your not all that into. it wont make the car worth anymore when you go to sell it.
The miata bushings were just over $200.
The install from a shop was going to be 500 something.
it took us a FULL day to do them on the miata. once we figured it out it went smooth, but very time consuming.
the miata is 225,000 miles @ 19 years old. and it made a HUGE change. I'm not saying to not do it on a car, but I am saying to not do it on a car your not all that into. it wont make the car worth anymore when you go to sell it.
The miata bushings were just over $200.
The install from a shop was going to be 500 something.
it took us a FULL day to do them on the miata. once we figured it out it went smooth, but very time consuming.
I'm at 164,000 miles on a 22 year old car, so I've got you beat XRider
It would make a huge difference, and I'd do it in a heartbeat if the labor wasn't insane.