There's only one red RX-8 in Chicago and it's not available to sit in. I sat in it because I preordered, but my head was hitting the ceiling and they said the leather seat wasn't adjustable on the display unit. My head hit the ceiling in the back seat, also.

I ordered cloth, but if my head's up that close to the ceiling when my car arrives, I'm going to have to get a refund on my down payment and pass on the car. I'm only 6'2" and I found there was a lot more headroom in the 350Z (just as a comparison).

I am also 6'2" (just shy of 6'3") -- went to sit in the red display RX-8 in Detroit and couldn't get in the car -- adjusted the (electrontic) seat controls and had adequate headroom:D. The car with electronic controls seemed to adjust farther down and back than the manual control -- but was probably just my perception.

I spent a lot of time in the RX-8, G35C and 350Z and the RX-8 seems to have a few inches more room all the way around.

The display cars are pre-set all the way forward -- probably so the back seat looks larger.

Backseat is definitely tight when I was in the back -- front seat couldn't go all the way back -- but with front seat at halfway point I had plenty of leg room and headroom for a short trip (a lot more than the guys had when they piled in my RX-7 hatch in college:p ). I will probably never sit in the back unless I am detailing the car -- think there is plenty of room for my two kids.

Any idea how close you ca get to the pedals? My wife 4' 10" is worried that she won't be able to get close enough to the pedals.

When I sat in the 2 in detroit both had their batteries disconnected so you couldn't adjust the power seats on one. The other had manual but I didn't actually play with it. The car with the auto seats I sat in was adjusted all the way back and down making it easy for tall guys to get in I guess. I'm only 5'9" but there was plenty of head room and the seat was way too far back for me. I could sit behind the drivers seat no problem though. It was a little tight of course with the seat all the way back.
There was a black and a titanium car when I was in detriot though. The red one was up on a platform you couldn't get into it.
If I were you I'd wait till your car comes in and try it out first hand. If you don't like it I'm sure they'd be glad to sell it to someone else. :)

J

Originally posted by RunLolaRun
There's only one red RX-8 in Chicago and it's not available to sit in. I sat in it because I preordered, but my head was hitting the ceiling and they said the leather seat wasn't adjustable on the display unit. My head hit the ceiling in the back seat, also.

I ordered cloth, but if my head's up that close to the ceiling when my car arrives, I'm going to have to get a refund on my down payment and pass on the car. I'm only 6'2" and I found there was a lot more headroom in the 350Z (just as a comparison).


I was there today also and watch someone get to sit in the car too. I wonder if it was you? Anyway, it did not look like there was that much room in the back like people/reviews have said. They guy looked like he had a little trouble squeezing back there. It's like I have mentioned before that this car is kinda like a 2 door coupe, but with just a little more room. I think if I need 4 seats, I'm going to get a seater and will wait for an RX7 or something else if I want just a sports car.

Originally posted by jdj1971
There was a black and a titanium car when I was in detriot though. The red one was up on a platform you couldn't get into it.
If I were you I'd wait till your car comes in and try it out first hand. If you don't like it I'm sure they'd be glad to sell it to someone else. :)

J

You just needed to tell them that you pre-ordered and they would have rolled out the red carpet and let you sit in the red one. Unlike the other cars at Detroit this one had fully functioning controls and was in great shape inside -- really made a big difference in seeing what a final production car will look like.

Originally posted by RXhusker


You just needed to tell them that you pre-ordered and they would have rolled out the red carpet and let you sit in the red one. Unlike the other cars at Detroit this one had fully functioning controls and was in great shape inside -- really made a big difference in seeing what a final production car will look like.

Dag Nab it! Oh well. Just 3 more months! Or so.

Originally posted by RXhusker
I am also 6'2" (just shy of 6'3") -- went to sit in the red display RX-8 in Detroit and couldn't get in the car -- adjusted the (electrontic) seat controls and had adequate headroom:D. The car with electronic controls seemed to adjust farther down and back than the manual control -- but was probably just my perception.

Thanks for the info and YAAHOOO! I'm the same height and I've had nightmares (ok, not really nightmares, but definite concerns) of having to hand the keys to my pre-order back to the sales man after my test drive due to not being able to fit properly in the car! Emailing Mazda (a long list of questions and concerns) did not get me an answer, the forum scores again!

BTW, did you happen to notice if the driver seat had memory? Amazing how quickly it becomes anoying to have to re-adjust electric seats when changing drivers.

Thanks again,
Jim.

Originally posted by ahmanj


Thanks for the info and YAAHOOO! I'm the same height and I've had nightmares (ok, not really nightmares, but definite concerns) of having to hand the keys to my pre-order back to the sales man after my test drive due to not being able to fit properly in the car! Emailing Mazda (a long list of questions and concerns) did not get me an answer, the forum scores again!

BTW, did you happen to notice if the driver seat had memory? Amazing how quickly it becomes anoying to have to re-adjust electric seats when changing drivers.

Thanks again,
Jim. I'd just point out that what is comfortable to one person may not be to another...

Though I should have no worries.. I'm just 6 feet even, and barely at that :)

That's good to know. I'm optimistic things will work out.

Originally posted by Hercules
I'd just point out that what is comfortable to one person may not be to another...

Noted. As a reference point, I drove a 1987 RX-7 TII for 13 years with my knees up on either side of the steering wheel and loved every minute of it. If the -8 "feels" like the -7 in the corners and has the same sweet match between engine and trans I will probably "fit" in it as long as I can get in it! :D

Best,
Jim.