I'm 6'4" and know that I'm looking for a cloth-seat, no-sunroof car for maximum headroom. I went and drove several of them today.

All four cars I drove have distortion at the top of the windshield bad enough to cause my eyes to feel strained in the duration of the test drive. This is a deal breaker, because it makes the car unusable for me.

I did a search, and all I could find about this is an echo here:
------------------------------------
http://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php?p=1991747&postcount=12

Not to hijack the thread, but my windshield (original) has always had a very slight optical distortion—not bad enough for me to have complained, but if I ever need a replacement, I'll mention it—and hope the replacement's distortion-free.
------------------------------------

The cars I was driving all had cloth, manual seats. I adjusted the lower cushion all the way down and the back rest leaned forward to a position that balanced reaching the steering wheel with seeing the gauges.

I know there are a bunch of ways to get height out of the seats on a Miata. Are those also possible on the RX-8? Can the bottom pan be mounted lower on the rails? How much foam can be carved out of the cushion before it starts to suck? How much can be gained?


Then there is the other stuff:
It has heavy-wheel feel. Didn't expect that. Fortunately, the SSRs I have left from another car will solve that.

Drove my POS 1993 325 to the stealership today. Maybe it was because I didn't get to check out the handling, but the RX-8 felt slow, and when I got back in my BMW, it felt like it had a lot more sack than the Mazda. Hmmm...and I was wanting more acceleration in my new car, not less.

Maybe I just need to look at C5 Z06s again.

Dont sound like a rx-8 is the car for you.

25k Rx8 vs 70k C6

I think there may be a little bit of a difference.

More headroom= truck or suv.....not a car I know of that won't have some windshield distortion.

If horse power is a priority stick with what you have....the new BMW's are kinda cool,
HOWEVER....If you want to feel that butt cheek squeeze and sheer exhilaration when you are running 90 to nothing through the twisty mountain roads, and there's less chance you'll end up sideways or upside down......the rx8 can hardly be beat. She may be a little slow on the get up, but she more than makes up for it in other ways.....My suggestion.......take one for another spin, get a manual, and drive it like you stole it.......you may just find you change your mind. I scared the sh&t out of the saleman that rode with me at first...but he realized that she was mine before we got back to the dealership. :D

25k Rx8 vs 70k C6

I think there may be a little bit of a difference.

What the hell are you talking about? He said C5 Z06.

Anyhow, I'm 6'2" and had a problem with the headroom no matter how I adjusted the seat (didn't notice the distortion). I know there are others that are taller that don't have issues but for some reason I did.

More headroom= truck or suv.....not a car I know of that won't have some windshield distortion.

If horse power is a priority stick with what you have....the new BMW's are kinda cool,
HOWEVER....If you want to feel that butt cheek squeeze and sheer exhilaration when you are running 90 to nothing through the twisty mountain roads, and there's less chance you'll end up sideways or upside down......the rx8 can hardly be beat. She may be a little slow on the get up, but she more than makes up for it in other ways.....My suggestion.......take one for another spin, get a manual, and drive it like you stole it.......you may just find you change your mind. I scared the sh&t out of the saleman that rode with me at first...but he realized that she was mine before we got back to the dealership. :D

I know what it is to haul a$$ on a mountain road in an underpowered but great-handling car. That's why I'm here. And with no moonroof and cloth seats, head room is not a problem. Eyes being tired in ten minutes is. If I was considering a truck, I wouldn't be here.

If I can't get this windshield thing solved, I won't be here for long. There are some really expensive cars out there with laughable windshields, and some really inexpensive ones with great windshields.

I drove an '04 for a weekend about two years ago, and it stands out as one of the most seductive cars I've ever had on my favorite road. The kind of car where you know you're going way faster than you should be, but keep doing it anyway. As I used to say about another car, it's so good it can turn off the voice in your head that says don't do this. I don't remember anything like this problem with that windshield, so I guess the thing to do is find an older car and check it out. The Mitsu dealer here in town has had a couple grey ones for weeks and weeks.

Im 6'5'' 230lbs and I fit in my RX8 with room to spare, but I have the power driver seat so I adjust mine all the way down and recline leaving enough room behind my for an anorexic dwarf!

My ex was 6'7 and fit in mine and drove it just fine..I think you'll be ok!

never noticed any wind shield distortion.

very odd.

but im only 5'10", so i see a different part of the car.

The only thing that's ever bugged me is it seems I always have to look around the rearview mirror to look to the right.