Size matters...
 

Oh - one other thing from the expo -

Having read everywhere that 'the rx8 is much smaller when you see it' I found the opposite was true. I felt is was a perfectly normal sized car.
Possibly by american standards it isn't - but hey... what is ?

So - those who have been - anyone else not find the size as small as you thought is was going to be ?

As I saw the show car in Birmingham I had a pretty good idea about the cars size. But my wife, who saw the car for the first time at Motordrive Live, said the car was bigger than she had thought based on the pictures she has seen so far.

Same as Titanium. The first time I saw the current car was at the motorshow last year, so I've known what to expect.

It does look smaller in the pictures tho.. hehe.


-andy-

From a US perspective this car is TINY! Which is good of course. Heck my IS300 here is considered a sub-compact, but would be 'normal' sized in the UK. Even a Merc E320/BMW 530/Audi A6 are just mid-size vehicles in BIG land...

IS300 is certainly a big car over here !

As long as its imposing, size does'nt matter.



AnilS.

I have yet to see the car, but I expect it will be the size I expect :) LOL

I drive a tiburon, it's a small car, when I checked out the Mazda 6 I thought it was HUGE! The Acura TSX HUGE!

For me, I'm expecting the RX-8 to be larger than my current car, but not by much :)

Bigger than the TTC, smaller than the XJS (last 2 cars owned).

Rael

if it's bigger than a 3 series BMW, it is too big!

It then becomes a tank....

I've sat in one and walked around it for 30 mins - it's smaller than a 3-series and much lower.

Excellent! I have taken the day off tomorrow to go and see the 8 at the Moto Expo in London, Canary Wharf, and I cannot wait to see it in the flesh! First time for me!

I always thought that it would size up to the 3. I'm glad it does because in this segment, the 3 is the benchmark in terms of handling prowess the 8 must meet.

If only somebody would take the 8 around Leguna Seca against a 330! Now, that would be interesting?

Oh, my fanatism about the 3....there is no better in this class of car when it comes to handling and engine balance. The Mazda might just take the crown here?

I'm sure that I've read somewhere that the dimensions of the RX8 and within a cm all round of the 3 series coupe.

Comparison with BMW 330i Sedan
 

.....................BMW 330i......RX-8

Wheelbase (in.).....107.3....106.4
Track FR (in.)..........57.9......58.9
Track RR (in.)..........58.4......59.3
Length (in.)...........176.0....174.3
Width (in.)..............68.5......69.7
Height (in.).............55.7......52.8


Sorry the numbers are in inches but as you can see the BMW is 4.3cm longer and 7.4cm taller than the RX-8 (although the RX-8 is 3cm wider).

I think the interior measurements are extremely close to the 3 series (legroom, shoulder room etc).

Sources: www.bmwusa.com and http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/rx8/rx8_main_flash.jsp

The 3 series "coupe" isn't the same dimensions as the "sedan". Its much lower.

New comparison with BMW 330Ci
 

My mistake:

....................BMW 330Ci......RX-8

Wheelbase (in.).....107.3....106.4
Track FR (in.)..........57.9......58.9
Track RR (in.)..........58.4......59.3
Length (in.)...........176.7....174.3
Width (in.)..............69.2......69.7
Height (in.).............53.9......52.8

So BMW coupe is 6.1cm longer, 1.2cm narrower and 2.8cm taller.

But the RX8 does come with indicators.....! <etc><etc>

(for those who have been here long enough to remember the last BMW driver bashing thread....):)

I have to say i am surprised at the similarity in size, I drive the 325ci and had expected it to be a move to a smaller car going to the 8, from the measurements it seems that the 2 are almost identical. I don't know why but looking at all the pics on here I imagined it being more Mx-5 size?

For anyone that has been to the show could they give me a boot size comparison ( ie vs the 3 series) it may seem like a strange point to make but I would really like to know if i can fit in my dad's wheelchair as i often take him out, it folds down and easily fits in the 3 series with room to spare.Anyone that can tell me, i'd be grateful.

Thanks,

Ed

hmmm. Good question.
I looked in the boot when I saw the car and although the boot itself is moderate (not BM size though I wouldn't think) the opening seemed small.

There are some photos around of the boot (follow link on the motorexpo thread)

M.

As said, the boot itself is not a bad size but the opening is small and needs a bit of trickery to get best access. I suggest you see the car yourself it you do have specifif requirements.

rael

You MAY be able to get the wheelchair in, but the dimensions are a bit weird in the way that they have made the most of the space.

iF you've ever seen a Jelly mould Mazda 323 boot (to 1999) then its kinda similar in the way the width works (ie wider at the ends which allows for a maclaren buggy or large set of golf clubs to lie straight accross the back, but then it gets much narrower when the wheel arches kick in. My guess is that the wheelchair wont fit, due to the suare nature of it?! But its gonna be close.

Heres a pic I took today of the boot at the motorexpo...most are from the back so I deliberately took one from an angle

Am I correct in thinking that the object on the right hand side of the boot is the "puncture repair kit"?

Chris

Chris

thats right.

I went back to see the 8 later in the day and a lady asked for no pictures to be taken etc...

Was she on crack or something as the other gys had absolutely no problems with us taking pictures?