2009 Grand Touring no sunroof headroom
 

Folks,

I am considering buying a Gen II RX-8 for street/track dual-use, and I know from experience that I don't fit in a sunroof Gen II with helmet on. I would like to get a 2009 GT because it's the only Gen II GT that was available without sunroof. Could someone please confirm that 2009 GT without sunroof has the same front headroom as R3 or Sport?

Before you ask, the reason I want GT over R3 (besides lower price) is that it has a bunch of street-use convenience features I'd like to have, and I plan to install Ohlins suspension, roll bar, race seats, and 17" wheels anyway, so most of R3 goodness would be wasted in my case.

Huge thanks!
sergey

Having driven both and R3 and GT with sunroof the R3 gets you at best a couple more inches headroom. The Recaros have different seat mounts (probably Sport does too) with the manual adjustments.

At 6'1", I'm constantly aware of the edge of the sunroof but its not too bad after a haircut :)

Hello,

If you are comparing different MY09 trims without the sunroof, the only difference in headroom will be due to the seat mount/slider design. Since you will be getting a race seat any how, the vehicle trim shouldn't make any difference. You can remove the sliders for any of the trims to maximize headroom.

On my old Miata, I had a race seat bolted directly to the floor (with no sliders) and it lowered the seat a lot.

The reason for my question was that I have very severe front headroom issue, in that I do not fit in RX-8 with sunroof with a helmet on regardless of the trim/seat, and I don't fit in a Miata even when the seat is taken out and I sit on the floor. Consequently, it is paramount that I confirm that 2009 GT without sunroof has the same front headroom (modulo seat height) as R3 and Sport, and NOT the same as GT with sunroof, which I absolutely positively do not fit into. Thanks very much!

If you want a Series 2 - 2009 model. You can also look for a sport or touring model as they won't have sunroofs either. You would give up the leather but if your going to change the seats anyway....

Sport has no LSD or traction/stability control, and I would strongly prefer to have them.
GT, among other things, has automatic climate control, automatic headlights, and Bluetooth, all of which I want quite badly (the latter is almost a must). R3 has Bluetooth, but does not have auto climate control, and has, instead, things that are expensive (e.g., 19" forged wheels), which I do NOT want (and thus feel silly paying for). Touring has no Bluetooth either, sadly. So it's basically R3 or GT without sunroof option, and I need to confirm that they have the same amount of front headroom (measured from the floor with seats taken out). Many thanks!

Not having tcs/dsc isn't a huge deal, I have not had any problems without it.

I'm 6'5" and the R3 was the best fit for me. No regrets.

I have been driving rx8s for the last six years, first a series I GT and then an R3. I personally feel that this car does not need a traction control or stability control and turning them off became second nature. (BTW, I think all manual transmission rx8's have a LSD).

A used R3 is not going to cost any more than a GT but you can always sell the 19" wheels and get a nice set for the street and the track with the money you get.

Headroom does suck which I why I use a racing seat for track days (no sliders just a wedge engineering bracket).

What suspension set up are you going to go with?

I would just go with an R3 and if you really want to strip the car from it's goodies, just part out the wheels/suspension.

I've seen R3's for mostly the same price as a GT unless you're talking about the touring model.

Come on now.
The man wants his auto climate control, because its too hard to turn a knob to a temperature that's comfortable.

He doesn't want a silly, track ready R3.
He wants what he wants.

And he wants us to give him information about it that should be plainly obvious.
The distance from the floor to the ceiling without the seat in will be identical in every car that doesn't have a sunroof.

They don't change the overall car shell because its a Sport, a GT, or an R3.
They change the interior pieces because there is or isn't a sunroof.

BC.

Bladecutter, that information may seem obvious to you, but you have no idea how many times in my engineering career (only 8 years thus far) I've assumed things wouldn't be changed for no apparent reason, only to find out they were changed, sometimes for no reason other than the designer's preference.

The worst thing that can happen if you ask too many questions is people get annoyed. The worst thing that can happen if you ask too few questions is people get killed.

Ok so I checked the Mazda specs

2010 w/sunroof: 36.7 front 36.5 rear in inches
2010 w/o sunroof: 38.2 front 36.8 rear

So if you want to find out if you fit find an 8 w/o a sunroof and sit in it with your helmet on. On an S1 there was a trick to reverse the rear brackets on the drivers seat to gain an inch but that doesn't apply to a S2. I know, I tried. Different setup.

Ahh, a Sunroof does take away interior ceiling/roof space.

There is no difference between body shell (panel) dimensions with or without sunroof, or R3..for Series II.

The body shells (naked) are the same, apart from the one with the rectangle cut out in roof panel for sunroof.

Seats, I am pretty sure there is no difference between Recaro's and standard non electric Drivers Seat....The GT or Luxury versions with Drivers 8 way electric seat does take away about an inch.

Your best combination for 'Max headroom' is a standard "Sports" model with the cloth seats, next the R3, all without sunroofs.

2009 specs are the same. Second Headroom spec is w/sunroof.

NTERIOR SPECIFICATIONS
Front Headroom 38.2 in
Front Hiproom 53.3 in
Front Legroom 42.7 in
Front Shoulderroom 54.8 in
Passenger Capacity 4
Second Headroom 36.8 in
Second Hiproom 48.1 in
Second Legroom 32.2 in
Second Shoulderroom 54.9 in

Huge thanks for all replies! I now feel quite safe buying a 2009 Grand Touring headroom-wise. The plan is to install a bucket seat, roll-bar, and 6 pt. harness right away, and then, likely, follow up with Ohlins Road and Track suspension, negative-camber-enabling plates (if needed), body braces, and some additional cooling mods. Oh, and, probably, 17" light-weight wheels. And then track the heck out of it. Many thanks again!

Patrick Dempsey is selling his Grand Am GT RX-8. Might be cheaper. LOL!

Dempsey Racing Mazda RX-8 GT for sale