auzoom

Hello everyone in Europe. There is no tow bar kit available in Australia (or the US as far as I am aware). But our manual talks about towing capacities and proper towing all relevant to to Europe.

This made me wonder if there is a kit available to you guys.

Can anyone help?

Andrew

vermont

I'm not sure but do you mean this...?

auzoom

Urghhh. Yes something like that. Is that the option offered by mazda?

Andrew

vermont

Yes! That's the option offered by Mazda here in Germany!
This ugly thing costs 535,32 Euro (about 640 US Dollar)!

auzoom

Ahh OK. And that explains something. You wouldn't be able to add a bike rack to that, only tow a low load!

Thanks vermont. Much appreciated.

Andrew

vermont

Mazda in Germany offers a bike rack, too. The price is 412,89 Euro (about 495 US Dollar).

auzoom

Ohh thats very cool. any chance of some side shots? Want to see how it works, how many bikes, etc.

Andrew

xxup

ooooooohhhh.. I love that bike rack.. Is that part of the tow bar setup or a completely separate item??

vermont

The bike rack is disigned for 2 bikes, but there is also an extension for a third bike. As I understand, the bike rack is not part of the tow bar set. It's a seperat product. Here is the link to the accessories offered in Germany.

auzoom

If its what I think it is, it uses a number of straps to hold it in place, its not actually bolted to the car in any way. Do you know if this is correct vermont?

Andrew

vermont

I never saw this in real, so I don't know how it's mounted to the car.

Baphi

Some more pictures from our forum
A friend of mine with a green 8 !

http://www.rx8france.com/forum/ftopic401-0-asc-0.php

auzoom

Baphi,

Thanks for that but I looked at that thread and because its in French, I cant read a word :-/ and there were no pictures that I saw of towbars or bike racks.

Andrew

xxup

The title of the thread is "Attaching a Trailer" or similar.. My french is not great..

The first person is asking if anyone has a tow bar on their 8. Something about transporting a quad??? Wants to know if it looks good or simply horrible.. Also wants photos..

gana99 says that tertou has one on his..


RotaryEngine says that the tow bar on the 8 is not very pretty, but it could be useful for you..


Tertou admits to having one and states that the hook is removable which is just as well because it is pretty ugly.. It is functional

polofoot confirms that it is true


Rotorhead says that if it can tow a quad (this might be a four wheel motor bike), a motorbike or a jetski then it is fine.

polofoot believes that you can tow a large caravan with the tow bar..

tertou (Here is where we are supposed to see the photos) Here are the photos that show the phallic look of the accessory and without the bit attached(Maybe the photo was deemed pornography in France??) The next bit is a bit technical something about wheelbase and spreading from the rotary engine housing???

And so it goes on... Lots of discussion about expanders.. I wonder if these are coil spring spaces to raise the back of the car???

Later on.. chvial asks if it is legal in France to two with a RX-8 because it is not legal to tow with a MX-5..

Much later a person named dge says thanks for the photos (that we still can't see) and he can see that t he phallic thing can be removed..

There is also a catch that is hidden behind the bumper when not in use.. These photos would be great - sound better than the Australian one we saw recently..

More photos are provided - auzoom, I suspect that we have to be a member to see the photos and the links are provided within the text..

Much later on there is some concern about the 8's handling over 70 km/hr.. I suspect that the trailer was not well balanced... Another person says that the tow bar is well designed, can tow 480kg on a 200Kg trailer for over 600km at speeds of up to 130km/Hr.. Fuel consumption was 15l/100km (which I think is really good - I towed this much with a MPV at 100Km/hr had around the same consumption...)..

Yep -> sign up.. The Photos are very good... You understand why the 8 was all over the road over 70km/hr - half the load is hanging out of the smallest trailer I have ever seem.. Definately NOT balanced.. All have rear fog lights - hence why the tow bar has to go under the bumper.. The last photo is a black 8 towing and enomous boat..

auzoom

Ha Ha ... nice one xxup, who new you read french! Did you translate that yourself or use babelfish?

So I guess the crux is that that thread is purely about the standard Mazda Europe towbar.

Andrew

xxup

Yes, but the pictures give us the best information so far... I assumed that the phallic part was on permanently, but it now looks like it is not only removable, but you can't even be sure that one is installed in the first place.. Also, you can have the rear fog light and the tow bar - not an option for the other ones we have seen..