The age old style vs functionality.

We could all live lives as efficient, carbon-friendly, utalitarian beings that live in grey houses and wear plain white t-shirts and all have the same aerodynamically efficient haircuts but then what is the point of living?

 

'The dark side of tanning'.

Maybe you guys don't get those ads in Melbourne.

It seems nothing is good for you these days.
They tell you if you're out on the street, you will get skin cancer.
So you go inside the pub and they tell you you will get liver poisoning.
So you go outside to have a smoke and now you're getting skin cancer and lung cancer at the same time.
So you want to go get some fast food instead but you don't fancy a heart attack.
So you look for something healthy and realise 22$ for that garden salad has made you broke, so now you need to go back to work.
So you sit in your chair, getting carpal tunnel in your wrists, lower-back strain, short-sightedness and eventual sterility from having your mobile phone radiate into your nuts.
So after hard day of getting RSI you just decide to go home and relax, kick your feet up and just maybe, if your lucky you won't get DVT in your legs.

 

Me too ... but it's a fact of life, and I'd rather die than go through all that!

 

This is a good break away from the talk on the new RX-8...

 

My opinion on the whole convertible RX8 thing is that some cars are built with a specific purpose - MX5, S2000, Porsche Boxster etc all make good convertibles because that's what they are designed for.

Cars such as 350Z, BMW M3 etc which are meant to be coupes tend to lose their appeal and soften up with a chopped roof, both in credibility and dynamically. In some instances (eg 350Z) turning a car into a convertible when it wasn't designed so really uglifies it.

So yeah, sorry about the ramblings - I started the thread and never really gave my own opinions. Converting an RX8 (thank god it's just a one-off!) will really soften it and ruin it's wonderful dynamics. Not that it's a hardcore car by any means, of course!

 

Well said Dr Gonzo. I suspect changing the physical characteristics of this magnitute would have an impact on safety, stability and vehicle strength. Whilst they are using an modified RX8 convertible in their glorified parade, what is Mazda's offical view to the alterations?

Surely Mazda wouldn't condone a structural change of this magnitude which is so far from its original design specs?

At the end of the day they can do what they want, after all they are the controllers of their own destiny.....

 

Looks aside, the most important thing is that it'll add significant weight and given they're apparently trying to go the other way with the refreshed mid-life model, the arguments against convertible just keep mounting up. It just doesn't suit the ethos of the car at all.