Hey all, so here's the lowdown:


04 RX8 bone stock except for 2 15" subs wired into the trunk. My first upgrade to the car I was thinking about would be a bench seat conversion in the back. I know the console comes apart in 2 pieces, thanks to this forum, but can it be done without too much headache? I would like to keep the sliding front console and just delete the rear cup holders/compartment back there. I figure the weird opening compartment in the back could be taken out and upholstered to match, along with some sort of insert for where the console was. Then maybe a lapbelt out of a camry or something similar?

 

You'd have to redo the entire rear of the cabin. The transmission tunnel comes higher than the bottom of the rear seats, so you'd have to raise them, which means less head room. The center console plastic only adds about 4".

Look up pictures of stripped out race RX8s rear seat area to see what I mean.

 

Yeah it is not possible. Open the center console in the rear, the bottom of the compartment is how high the tunnel is. That would be your new seat height.

 

I was afraid of that. Guess I'm sticking to the Scout if I need to bring more than 3 people, lol. Thanks for the answers

 

I'm parting an 8 currently. The interior is mostly removed. I'll post some pics here for you to see what you would be up against and further advise against the bench seat.

 

It's nothing a reciprocating saw and a MIG welder can't fix...

 

^^ And, bonus feature, with the right cuts the bench becomes foldable, along with the rest of the unibody :o

 

*waves hand dismissively*
Bah, there's a roof above and pinch welds below... it'll be fine.
Besides, that's what the MIG welder is for: adding your own bracing after you're done.