I have a 2004 Automatic RX-8 and have to keep it as an auto cause I'm only 17 and a Man. would MURDER me on insurance. The Auto 8 has about 189 hp stock, do you guys think I should put mods on the engine to make it a racer or spend all my money on looks to rice it out? I have spent weeks trying to decide but I want to leave it to you guys to help me out.

 

Time to look into at least getting the computer and extra runners that the 6-spds get. Get your power back with the manual's manifold.

 

Deffinately rice it out. First thing I would buy are some lights to replace the windshield washer jets oh wait, the jets are hidden on the rx8 aren't they? Might have to settle for the lights that go on your valve stem caps.

 

Leave it alone.

Displaying how much it cost in your sig pic is a little immature. Did you pay for it yourself? If you did, more power to ya.

 

^^ just about to post the same lol.

I'd be proud if paid for that myself, but not enough to post how much it cost so everyone can see =P

 

Didn't pay but my dad got it for me cause I got a bunch of scholarships to Universities all around Fl. so I earned it, and I'm paying insurance, and the reason I put how uch it cost wasn't to show off , it's because I'm asked ALL the time how much it cost.

 

I'll bet your dad wouldn't appreciate you broadcasting the cost to the whole world.

Also, if he paid for it make sure he doesn't mind that you are going to modify it. Of course maybe he will enjoy helping you modify the car. Just run it by him first.

If you are happy with the car leave it alone. I see no reason to change it. You are only 17 you don't need to make the car even more of a cop magnet and get in trouble and lose your license or worse.

That is a very cool car the way it is.

enthusiast

 

Wish I could've had a RX-8 for my first car (or college car)...
Most of us started out with POSs, like Chevy Cavaliers or the equivalent POS thereof. So feel lucky and enjoy it. I'm almost 23 and just now getting to own and build my dream. My dream started with my first FC when I was 20, but that only lasted a little while... and they're inexpensive expensive dreams.

I agree with RotaryAXer. RX-7s and RX-8s attract cops like crazy. It's all too easy to speed as it is with the RX-8 (I've driven one before), mods will only increase that temptation. If you're happy with the car's performance as it is, why mod it? Also, modifying it *might* void factory warranties... and it WILL if something goes wrong because of one of those mods. Just something else to consider.

If you do modify anything, I'd start with the suspension and brakes. IMO those areas are what Mazda lacked in the RX-8 (or rather, comprimised for the sake of a smooth ride. Smooth ride=happy general public). Too much body roll, too much acceleration lift, not powerful enough braking. You'll be much happier with the feel of the car when you can stop it quicker and toss it harder.

Suspension and brakes should always be upgraded before engine power anyway. What good is going fast if you can't corner and stop well?

 

If you want to make it a racer, then I strongly suggest you to trade it for a Manual.

Why do you want to be a Ricer...??

try posting in www.rx8club.com

 

RICE THAT BITCH OUT!!! Do every stupid little thing to it you can; so you can be with most young America that has seen "Fast and the furious".

Honestly!!! What a question!! Personally I beleive in a very great saying " Form through Function". Your car looks great the way it is and is definatly fast enough for any 17 year old guy. Don't join the rest of the cattle and make your car look like a carnival on wheels. Celebrate its rotary power and handling the way it was made....and save your money for all the hot chicks you will be taking to dinner in your RX8.

 

I haven't figured out why people rice out their cars. Some of the cars I see in CA I just have to laugh out loud.

 

get the mazdaspeed body stuff(dont evn know if you can but it looks hot) then do a 6 spd swap, then just leave it

 

Yeah you can only rice an AT out. They have a lot of limitations compared to the MT.
Just search on rx8club to find out why AT sucks so bad!

I'm 21 I also own an 8, but you can do what I did to lower insurance and that was to buy a 88 GXL and use that as my daily drivers, I saved a lot!

Most advice I can give you is sell the AT And buy an MT

 

bullshit.

MT or AT, you aren't a RACER unless you GET ON A DAMN TRACK.

keep the car bone stock, get a helmet and go to a drift event, HPDE or Auto-X or something.

racing = learning how to drive. even if your car is AT there's still alot you can learn with a good instructor and some track time.

 

Your commuting car was a Chevy Cavalier as well? hehe Ours is still the family car even though it's breaking down on us now. =T

Why would you even THINK about ricing out a car?!? It's a total waste of money.

 

Your asking us if you should rice it out? Be carefull !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You probably just pissed a bunch of people off.lol

 

lol. The first car I OWNED was a '96 Cavalier with the 2.2L POWAHPLANTAH! haha... I learned to drive in a '72 Chevelle though.

I had that Cavie for about three years (bought it in '99), then I sold it to my friend who still has it to this day. It runs like **** now, and it ran OKAY when I had it. I took care of it too; it was just a Class-A Chevy Made Piece of ****. The only good things about it were the gas mileage (avg.'d about 31 MPG) and the stereo system that I put in it--that I wish I would've kept. :bonk:

 

when I say "Rice" it's just a figure of speech for the thread name, I just mean "Should I put my money in looks or performance.

 

Then the better phrased question would have been "Show or Go?"

When I hear the term "rice" I think of stickers for parts that aren't installed; LED washer nozzles, and the like. Basically anything that doesn't do anything significant for the car. Body kits aren't rice (well, that's debatable), neither are nice wheels... however, what's the point in having show if there is no go?

The RX-8 is already plenty showy. It's already got very aggressive lines and styling, it doesn't need anything else IMO. Keep it stock and spend your cash on the gold-digging females that will inevitably flock to it, or spend it on entrance fees to legal race events so you can really learn to drive that suckah. It's far more effective to learn to drive faster than it is to make a car faster.

Or save up so you can spend spend spend on the tickets that cops will have a blast writing to you.

 

i didn't know that people doing it to their cars called it ricing it out. I thought they called it adding ground effect or increasing their downforce.

ps, don't rice it out that's stupid.

 

If you want to rice it out, just give the car to me, I'll by you a POS Hyundai Elantra and you can do what ever you want with it... just make sure you put one of those mufflers on it that make it sound like a chain saw...

The RX8 is a beautiful car, IMHO, the way it is. Don't disrespect it by putting all that crap on it. Please.

sw

 

My first car was a 1990 n/a rx7 gxl, i bought it with my own money when i was 13 now im 16 and im still driving it, hahaha, my money well spent ide say...

 

why the hell did you get an auto? either way is a waste of money. just autox it with no mods until you can get a manual.

 

Racer

 

ever heard of rx8club ?

rice it dude