2005 Mazda Rx-8

This 2005 Mazda RX-8 is one of 1,357 Shinka Special Editions produced for the North American market during two years of production (one of 844 with manual transmission). This example is build #1212 born on March 30, 2005, one of the last 3 days the 2005 RX-8 Shinka Special Edition was produced. The "SHINKA" Special Edition takes its name from the Japanese word meaning "evolution" or "transformation," and adds design style and performance to the highly successful sportscar. Shinka upgrades / aesthetics include: - Black Cherry Mica exterior paint - Special bright finish wheels - Bright-chrome head and tail light fixtures - Parchment leather seats and more use of piano black accents - Contrast stitching on steering wheel, shifter, and parking brake lever - Auto-dimming mirror w/Homelink - Xenon headlights with auto-leveling - 8-way power driver’s seat w/ lumbar support - Suspension cross member injected with foaming urethane improving performance and ride quality - Suspension tuning with thicker 14mm damper shafts (up from 12mm) - Improved body rigidity through reinforcing the top-front portion of the A-pillars and improving the stability of the rear damper mounting points. The car is finished in Shinka Edition-specific Black Cherry Mica (only available on the 2005 variant) over Parchment leather upholstery, and power is provided by a Renesis two-rotor Wankel engine that displaces 1.3 liters and was factory rated at 238 horsepower and 159 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. Featured equipment includes xenon headlights, fog lights, factory 18″ five-spoke alloy wheels mounted with almost-new 225/45 R18 Pirelli P Zero AS+ 3 Sport tires, a sport-tuned suspension, and reversed-hinged rear doors. The car has spent its entire life with the original owner in New Jersey. This RX-8 Shinka Edition has 51k miles and is offered with the original window sticker, manufacturer’s literature and brochures, service records, a car cover, and a clean New Jersy title in the seller’s (original owner) name. The car features an independent double-wishbone front and independent multi-link rear suspension, a shock tower brace, electronically assisted steering, and traction control. Braking is handled by ventilated anti-lock discs at all four corners. There is curb rash scratching on the wheel rims. There is a small minor dent in the front left fender skirt which is highlighted in one of the photos and is certainly a candidate for paintless dent removal service. Otherwise, there are a couple of very minor dings as you might expect on a 20 year old vehicle. Almost all service and maintenance work has been performed at an authorized Mazda dealership, the one exception being replacement of the original exhaust system when it needed replacement. For that it was brought to a shop specializing in rotary service and builds, and we upgraded the OEM exhaust system to a high-flow Magnaflow catalytic converter, and a full cat-back Racing Beat exhaust system with chrome tips. Rest assured that this was done specifically with a goal to preserve the iconic RX-8 exhaust note, provide a modest performance upgrade, and ensure longevity of the exhaust system. No “thousand angry bees” buzz here. The cabin features a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, seating surfaces upholstered in Parchment leather with matching door panel inserts and a contrasting black dashboard, center console, and carpets. There is Shinka-specific high gloss piano black trim throughout. Amenities include heated front seats including a power-adjustable driver’s seat, aluminum pedals, cruise control, a tinted glass power sunroof, heated power mirrors, air conditioning, and a nine-speaker Bose six-disc in-dash CD changer stereo with Sirius satellite radio receiver. The airbag inflators were replaced at Crystal Mazda of Green Brook, NJ, as part of a manufacturer’s safety recall campaign, and extensive documentation of service records can be provided. Also included are the original owner’s manual, manufacturer’s literature, hard-wired radar/laser detector plug with discreet in-cabin indicator (paired with an ESCORT Passport 9500ix), wheel lock nuts/key, car cover, and both sets of manufacturer-issued key fob controls, as well as a valet key. Most of the photos were taken within the last few days, but I’ve also provided some others to show off how magnificent the paint color is in different lighting conditions, as well as to show the condition of the car at similar angles in photos taken 20 years apart. Cash or certified bank check