Last week's Denver Auto Show had an RX-8 on a roped-off rotating platform and I was able to talk the folks on hand into letting me sit in it.

First impression - Mazda's definitely building to a price point. The seats were of the strange perforated leather only found on Japanese cars like the S2000 - no biggie, though.

However, seated in the passenger seat (the driver's seat was power, which meant it couldn't be adjusted) I found the sad fact that even without the moonroof, I didn't fit.

Yep, hair was rubbing the roof. For reference I'm 6'1, long legs, long torso.

FWIW, I fit just fine in the Gen II RX-7, but not in the Gen III, and, unfortunately, not in the RX-8, either.

The trunk was, um, interesting, and is certainly roomier than that on say a Ford Mustang sedan but I wouldn't count on getting groceries with it unless you're talking cases of soda or beer.

The shifter felt taut and precise, but not as good as the one on an S2000, but then again since this was obviously a demo show car, who knows if it holds any semblance to reality in the first place and/or how badly it's been abused at this point.

All in all, though, it looked fantastic, and I can't wait to see one in the showroom and on the road, even if I won't be able to fit in one...

the seat wasn't adjustable that's y u cant fit inside the car.....

The driver's seat wasn't adjustable as it was power.

However, the passenger's seat was manual, and no amount of adjustments got my hair out of the roof... :(

I'm 6'0" and I fit fine in an FD or an 8. Maybe you have really big hair. :p And unless you're buying food for 50 people, there's plenty of room for groceries, hell, I've even gone grocery shopping in my FD before with out too much trouble...

what if you wash the gel out of your mohawk?:p :D

Originally posted by BillK
First impression - Mazda's definitely building to a price point. The seats were of the strange perforated leather only found on Japanese cars like the S2000 - no biggie, though.
The perforations make the leather grip better, which is what is needed in a car that is manueverable. The little perfs also make the leather feel a bit softer.
Originally posted by BillK
For reference I'm 6'1, long legs, long torso.
I assume by "long legs, long torso" you mean they are longer than normal for a person that is 6'-1". I must then assume you have no neck to compensate for your torso and legs being out of proportion.
Originally posted by BillK
The trunk was, um, interesting, and is certainly roomier than that on say a Ford Mustang sedan but I wouldn't count on getting groceries with it unless you're talking cases of soda or beer..
I have no problem shopping with my Miata and the RX-8 trunk is about 50% larger.

I thought the perforations are for the heated mode, to let the hot air through. Or am I deluded?

I think the whole sitting thing depends alot on how a person sits in the car. If you sit straight or close to the steering wheel instead of reclining, obviously you will have less head room because your perpendicular to the roof instead of being at a angle, which will allow for more room.

Originally posted by Lensman
I thought the perforations are for the heated mode, to let the hot air through. Or am I deluded?

i thought the same thing:)

The demo I got into did not have perforations. It had ribbed leather. The seated were heated. My buddy that is 6.0 got in and did;nt have a problem.

I have seen the perforations on other cars, and I think they are meant to allow a little air circulation on a hot day. The only car with a forced air type of seat heater is an 'S' class Merc, I believe. A nicer system, but a whole different kind of car, without the weight consideration of an '8'.
The heat on every other heated seat I have met is from loops of resistance wire just under the material.
Were I live, we know our seat heat!

from what m477 and RotorGeek said: Mazda makes RX's for people who are 6'0 and shorter. Why not try driving without shoes BillK? ;)

that dude from Miami said he is like 6'0, drove it around for several days and didn't complained a bit about it.

Ask him if you are concerned about this.

Some questions: How big is your hair? Did you recline the seat some? Do you think that a qualified Mazda Barber can fix this issue? :>

Originally posted by babylou
...I have no problem shopping with my Miata and the RX-8 trunk is about 50% larger... Same here. You must be measuring a week's worth for a family too large to fit into the car to begin with (or you keep alot of junk in the trunk).
Originally posted by Lensman
I thought the perforations are for the heated mode, to let the hot air through. Or am I deluded? You are deluded. Perforations in the leather have nothing to do whatsoever with the fact that the seats are heated.

---jps

Maybe the perforations are for air circulation, but think about this.... THe seats are cusioned right? i dont know how they are cusioned on the rx-8 but most cusioning has to do with sponges or sponge type material that have small chambers that hold AIR. when you sit the cusion squishes and becomes more dense, therefore air needs to go somewhere.... I bet the AIR GOES THROUGH the perforations... this would help in the longevity of the leather seat.

Just under 6'3" and no problem sitting in the RX-8. I will say however that when I first sat down it was too tight. I had to adjust the power seat to the lowest position -- but then no problem. I also sat in one with manual seats and it seemed to me that the power seats adjusted farther down and back.

The trunk was much larger than I expected :D

Originally posted by Doctorr
I have seen the perforations on other cars, and I think they are meant to allow a little air circulation on a hot day. The only car with a forced air type of seat heater is an 'S' class Merc, I believe. A nicer system, but a whole different kind of car, without the weight consideration of an '8'.
The heat on every other heated seat I have met is from loops of resistance wire just under the material.
Were I live, we know our seat heat!

My friend's Saab also has the forced air heating for the seats. I think it is the 2001 9-3 or 9-5.

Originally posted by BillK
Last week's Denver Auto Show had an RX-8 on a roped-off rotating platform and I was able to talk the folks on hand into letting me sit in it.

... The trunk was, um, interesting, and is certainly roomier than that on say a Ford Mustang sedan but I wouldn't count on getting groceries with it unless you're talking cases of soda or beer.

All in all, though, it looked fantastic, and I can't wait to see one in the showroom and on the road, even if I won't be able to fit in one...

I'm hope to be abe to sit in one at the Dallas Auto Show this weekend ... I hope, I hope!

Well, I've seen the 8 cubic feet in the G35 Coupe trunk (that includes a spare) so I'm prepared to see the trunk space on the RX-8, but I'm one one those who on the rare occasion needs to carry around alot of big stuff (like my big old 200 watt Fender Bandmaster Amp or my smaller in size advertising/art portfolio case - 30" X 42" X 6")... I'm not sure if I'm going to be pleased or not.

I just can't wait to see it in person!

Originally posted by RXhusker
Just under 6'3" and no problem sitting in the RX-8. I will say however that when I first sat down it was too tight. I had to adjust the power seat to the lowest position -- but then no problem. I also sat in one with manual seats and it seemed to me that the power seats adjusted farther down and back.

The trunk was much larger than I expected :D

Phew! I was getting worried - I'm 6'3" myself. In my 2nd gen 7, I drive with the seat all the way back and the seatback partially reclined. I guess I'm expecting to have to do the same in the 8.

Here is a pic of the trunk with some real life use. i was surprised by its size




http://community.webshots.com/sym/image5/3/25/19/67232519GUAmDP_ph.jpg

Originally posted by Lensman
I thought the perforations are for the heated mode, to let the hot air through. Or am I deluded?

I've got to say it, but don't you people understand that the perforations are to help reduce weight :D :D

Originally posted by babylou
I have no problem shopping with my Miata and the RX-8 trunk is about 50% larger.

I rarely shop for groceries more often than once every three weeks or so, so I always have about eight or nine bags - enough said there.

OtoH, a Miata? I really don't fit in a Miata; I look over the windshield in one.

And yes, it may be my seating position; I don't drive in the "lowrider" reclined position, but rather with the back rather close to a 90 degree angle to the seat bottom (i.e. if the seat back is spring loaded with detents usually only one click back...)

As I said before, I can't wait to actually see a real one rather than the demo that's gone from auto show to auto show...

Bill,

If you were in the passenger seat, how did you know that, "The shifter felt taut and precise, but not as good as the one on an S2000"?

-Mr. Wigggles

Originally posted by MrWigggles

If you were in the passenger seat, how did you know that, "The shifter felt taut and precise, but not as good as the one on an S2000"?

Since the power driver's seat was set in one position, I was able to, albeit uncomfortably, wedge myself into the driver's seat to get a general feel for shifter feel, instrument and gauge placement, etc.

However, to move the seat forward and back to judge fit, one had to use the manual passenger seat...

I also think people forget that the RX-8 has a huge secondary trunk --- it is called the back seats. I would think that enough groceries to feed a family of four of a month could fit in the trunk and back seats :D

I really don't think I will have any trouble making my monthly pilgrimage to Sam's Club in the RX-8.

I'm not trying to insult anyone here, so please don't be offended.
I myself am carting around an extra 40-60 pounds (depending upon what you consider the correct weight for someone my height and build 6' 222 lbs.).

As a result, even though I'm only 6' tall, I have less room in a car than many people who are 6'2" or 6'3". I've got extra padding on my backside, which pushes me an inch or two farther forward in the seat than I should be - reducing my leg room - and pushes me an inch or two farther up in the seat than I should be - reducing head room.


Since most cars are built to accomodate people that are 6'3", my size isn't a serious problem. But maybe (?) BillK, that's why the seat is too small for you even though you're 6'1"? For all I know, you're 145 pounds. I just figured I would mention the possibility.

Originally posted by BillK

The trunk was, um, interesting, and is certainly roomier than that on say a Ford Mustang sedan but I wouldn't count on getting groceries with it unless you're talking cases of soda or beer.


Remember that you've got the back seats, so unless you're going to get groceries with 3 other people, you can also use those :p

Sometimes I'm glad I'm "average" height, 5'9" 145lbs, I should fit just perfect :)

Just over 6'2". Just over 275 lbs.

Fit fine :D

6' 3.25" 190lbs

and I fit fine in the front, a little tight with the headroom in the back, but I plan on always sitting in the drivers seat with maybe, and I do mean MAYBE a few times sitting in the front passengers seat to let one other person drive it :D

The only thing I can figure is that I must have shortish arms as I definitely cannot sit comfortably in a "reclined" position and still reach the steering wheel. Those who are taller than I and have no problem fitting must be able to do so; I like my seatback as close to a 90 degree angle to the seat cushion as possible; anyone who's ever sat in a Jeep Wrangler knows the seat positioning I'm talking about.

Anyhow, as I said I guess I will just have to wait to sit in a "real" one to confirm or deny whether I actually fit, but based on my experience I'm not too hopeful.

As far as the back seats, it's just too bad they don't fold flat somehow, but they should hold a fair amount as long as things don't flop around TOO much...