Just wondering what everyone thinks of the new RX-8's door system. I'm assuming most the people on here are RX-7 enthusiast, so what do you think of the car [RX-8] as being a 4 seater? I think the car looks awesome. I'm sure most know that the team in California was the one that designed the car and beat the Japanese design team (not that this matters) but I was not to crazy about the doors in the beginning. Maybe it will grow on me.

love them doors!

Originally posted by Enzo250GTO
Just wondering what everyone thinks of the new RX-8's door system. I'm assuming most the people on here are RX-7 enthusiast, so what do you think of the car [RX-8] as being a 4 seater? I think the car looks awesome. I'm sure most know that the team in California was the one that designed the car and beat the Japanese design team (not that this matters) but I was not to crazy about the doors in the beginning. Maybe it will grow on me.
Actually, it was a collaboration between the European, Japanese, and American design team of Mazda.

Everybody bought something to the table.

Ah I did not know that. I was told that Mazda had a competition between the two teams. One in Tokyo the other in Irvine, CA. The guys at the top liked the Irvine design better and chose that one. I didn't know Mazda had a design branch in Europe, learn something new everyday.

Hey Enzo! when's the RX-8 coming out in Japan?
jouhou wo kurete doumo :D

the doors are unique - i like them

well put Immi, but i like them especially because they recall (at least for me... i 'm probably just crazy) the old suicide door setups on hot rods and old schooler cars (like 1930's and 40's...)

although not the first car to sport them (the 4 "door" Civic hatchback had one on one side... among others, i'm no historian!! :D), it is the first one to have them without the B pillar, right?? i remember that the Dodge RAM pickups of the mid ninties had them, and now i believe many manufactures have got 'em... but with out the B pillar?? hmm... don't know...

The doors are one of the key elements of the car that make it so unique, the rotary engine is most important of coarse.

I like the doors very much, but they are the point of much flaming in other forums for resembling a saturn.

I personally would like to rip those flamers a friggin new @$$#0!3 as it just an image problem.

The extra room from having no B pillar would be much appreciated by me, not to mention the ease of cleaning out the car. In reality I do not know just how useful they are in more normal situations like getting in 4 people in the parking lot.

I mean, you can't open both doors on one side and expect to get in... In a tight space it might not make any sense, as you would have to open the fronts first, then the rear. Unless the rear doors have their own external handles, I don't know how the rear seat passengers are going to get in.

You'd have to close the rears before the fronts too, I'd guess. This is why this kind of design disappeared from extended cab trucks if I remember.

So really this layout is only good for the person who occationally needs to seat three or four. Fine with me! :D

That's exactly why the car appeals to me so much. I spend 99% of the time in my car by myself, but do on occasion need to take 2 or 3 other people.

The doors allow for traditional coupe styling, with improved functionality. And they definitely provide an additional dose of uniqueness to the car.

There’s a reason they’re called suicide doors you know.

I’m sure Mazda’s design team considered the cost, weight, rigidity, safety, convenience & style of all possible door configurations & found the suicide set-up to be the best; doesn’t mean I’ve got to like um’ though.

I’m guessing Mazda saw the suicide doors making a powerful statement about how the RX-8 represents the genesis of a new class of vehicle…something between a sports car & GT.

I think Scissor or Gull Wing doors would have looked better, still made a powerful statement & though not the safest possible option at least they wouldn't have been suicidal.

the doors were called suicide when they were the front doors mainly because the driver could accelerate the or steer the car while standing on the running boards or while opening the doors to jump out. it would be difficult to commit suicide from the back of the rx8 since the doors will not open unless the front doors are opened first. as far as gull wing doors go while i've always thought they were pretty cool, they make it harder to get in and out of a car in a crowded parking lot.

Zoom44,

Thank you for the historical information.

I see the current danger of suicide doors coming from passing cars striking an open door resulting in the door being slammed shut onto the occupant (doors hinged at the front would shear off & fly away from the occupant).

Gull Wing & Sissor configurations are dangerous in the case of rollovers as neither door could open & there may be a need to escape the vehicle immediately due to fire.

Come to think of it, this actually gives Mazda a legitimate reason to do something really cool...Incorporate a “Ballistic Crew Escape Device” that would blow the windshield out or sever the door hinges or something like that in the event of a rollover or if activated from the interior. You know, it’d have a cool fighter jet thing going for it.

good point about getting out of the car. it could be difficult to get out from the back if the people in front are incapacitated(dead).

I love the design concept of the suicide doors. They allow the car to have a sleek coupe-like shape, and are practical and distictive at the same time. It was one of the original things that made me curious about this car and got me to researching it.

I don't think it's a huge issue about rear passengers being trapped if they people in the front can't get out. It is at least no more of an issue than other coupes or 2+2's that don't even have any rear doors.

As far as flaming the RX-8 because Saturn had a production car with a suicide door first, it spawns from their envy of how beautiful the car is. :) Seriously, Saturn didn't come up with the idea, my uncle used to have a HUGE old Lincon with suicide style rear doors and so did a lot of really old cars. In the early 90's the original concept for the Pontiac Sunfire had suicide doors too. I like that design too. If it's a good idea, who cares who came up with it. For every good idea, there has to be someone with the guts to try it first. That's no reason to disount anything in the future that borrows from that theme.

A new Mercedes(Road &Track Sept 2002) has the same door configuration. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Just look at the Miata. :D

The suicide doors allow the car to have a short length and wheelbase compared to a standard 4 door sedan, but with the same easy access. I think it was a great idea to place them on the RX-8 makes it more unique than it already is.

I drive my daughter to school on occasion. I drop her off on the curb side. I was wondering how she could get the back door open. Would I have to reach over and open the front passenger door to allow the rear door to open?

Thanks.

Marke, you gotta open the passenger door, then the rear suicide door. The rear door handles are behind the front doors. You won't be able to get at them until the front is open.

Just a quick question... if you have to lean over and open the passenger door... why isn't your daughter in the front?

Originally posted by BlueAdept
Just a quick question... if you have to lean over and open the passenger door... why isn't your daughter in the front?

Airbag!

She'll have to sit behind you so you can crack your door open to let her out. It's not a true 4-door sedan but not a coupe either.
Pretty innovative.

Originally posted by marke1


Airbag!

I was wondering about that myself, but I think that Marke1 is right.

Not sure... I know there have been some airbag related injuries... even fatalities, but most cars have a passenger airbag disable option these days...

Also some are even pressure sensative, setting off only a smaller percentage of the pyrotechnic depending on the weight in the seat...

I'd ask Mazda about a switch to disable the passenger airbag as it's a common feature, at least on some cars.

You must be careful regarding this subject because the rules change from state to state and province to province.

In Ontario for example the child must meet either a certain height or weight before they can sit in the front seat, even if you have a bypass on the airbag. The reasoning is that if the child is too small the shoulder strap will be around their neck! :eek:

In most cars I've seen that would apply to the rear seats too!... lots of places have "booster seats" which are basically to lift a child that's too big for a baby seat but too small for a standard seat belt...

Don't know about the law in the US though... My concearn would not be the law however... You see people driving with their kids climbing over the inside of the car and not strapped in at all, but you couldn't get me to drive with mine not secured, if I had any. You shouldn't need laws telling people to protect their children.

I did a quick search on the web and the unofficial consensus appears to be 12 and under in the back seat with at least one also suggesting under 5 ft tall. I didn't come across any that said it was a law, only a recommendation (this doesn't mean there isn't a state/province that has it as a law).

Regarding override switches, I personally have only seen these in pickup trucks. I'm curious if anyone has seen them in any passenger cars. Maybe the RX-8 would have this due to its unique door configuration.

Hmmm....

I'm dubious that it would be any safer in the back... but I know I've seen the airbag disable switch on a great many saloon and compact cars over here... it's on my frends Ford Fiesta for example.

This thread made me think...especially as I have a daughter...

If the front doors have to open in order to open the rear doors, and children are required to be in the back, what happens in an emergency situation (accident) where the child has to get out and the driver is incapacitated?

Hmm.. I think a lot of 2 doors with back seats have that same problem, don't they?

Would kinda have to crawl through the middle.

Unless I was forced to due to curcumstances outside my control, I wouldn't dream of making a child over say 9 or 10 sit in the back...

Obviously you'd need to ensure the safety aspect, and if there is more than one child there will be arguements which might not be worth the earache... but in my experience a ride in a car is a good oportunity to talk to children.... I mean it's not easy to have a real conversation normally... but in a car you have a captive audience, and it's somtimes a worthwhile exercise to help them with their troubles... at school or whatever. Works better if there's only one, and especially well if you're a relative, not a parent as they are more likley to be honest with you... but you get the idea.