Hello,

I've been dreaming of owning an RX8 for quite a bit. Since I come from Europe, where gas is super expensive, I couldn't afford one before coming to the U.S.

I would like to ask two quick questions and I'd appreciate your help:

1) I live in Rochester NY, how does the RX8 behave in cold weather (notably any precaution with the engine, I know winter rubber is a must)

2) I am fairly tall (6ft3). Do you think I will fit in a model without rooftop? Is there any owner in upper state NY kind enough to let me see if I fit?

Thanks so much and I hope to join the club soon.


Best,

Fernando

 

The RX-8 is an underrated car. Has amazing handling and good power for this price point. I would recommend to read the new and potential owners sticky at the top of the forum. To answer your questions:

1. The RX-8 works just fine in cold weather. I would recommend snow tires and to wash the underside of salt at least once a week. Definitely get an undercoating.

2. Get a model with no sunroof. It will give more headroom and be easier for you to live with. I'm 5'10" and I barely fit in sunroof equipped RX-8's.

 

It's a lot of fun in the snow
However, it's not a snow plow, the low stance makes it not great once there's a foot of accumulation. The extreme cold itself is not a problem, as long as your battery is strong and you don't stall it out before it has a chance to warm up a little.

Also Mazda rear arches are built to rust, so if you can, I would avoid salt and snow altogether.

I'm 6'1 and juuust fit with sunroof and helmet, you should be ok without one, but of course torso length matters.

 

How far back you have to put the seat? Can you still see over the steering wheel with the helmet?

 

For reference, I am 5'9" and I sat fine in the 8 with sunroof without a helmet. It's a little tighter with a helmet, but still manageable.

One of the mods(Jedi54) is quite tall and he fits in his car fine.

And yeah, Ford-Mazda era Mazda cars rust very easily, so watch out for that. Traction-wise, if you have proper winter tires, you will be fine. RX-8's low torque helps with low-traction surfaces.

 

I'm 6' 5" and fit OK, although I wish I could push the seat a little farther back.
With your height it should be fine, but as it was mentioned, body proportions do matter here, so you have to try how you fit.
I wanted leather seats but those cars came only with the sunroof and then my head touched the headliner, so had to buy one with no sunroof.

 

Yeah I'm in the proper race position. Elbows at 90 and all that. It *just* fits, but it fits. My helmet rubs on the roof liner. I did the flipped seat pan mount trick to gain an inch, and I think my height is more in the legs than torso.

 

I got demoted?
Can I at least take my red stapler with me?

 

I'm 6'6 and fit in an RX-8.
That said, yes I do have to lean the seat back a bit further than I would in my other car but at your height it should be doable. It all comes down your personal build though and where that height is. (Torso vs Legs)
I would say your best bet is to find one and test drive it, see how you feel driving it. For me, checking my driver side passenger is where I'd notice the lack of space as my hair would brush the headliner when I'd turn my head so I tilted the seat back a little more until I found a comfortable compromise.

hope that helps

 

Thanks so much for your answers!! I am so happy about it. Now let's try to see if I can find one in upstate NY

 

I'm also 6'6" and have a sunroof. I went with a fixed seat (even for daily at this point) but more so just because the stock seat didn't fit me well more than I didn't fit in the car. Hope you find one to give a shot!

 

Hey, I live in the Falls, if you don't find one in your area, let me know, I might be down for a quick trip to get a garbage plate.