Along with all the other stuff that has been suggested, I would also like to see the following for cold weather climes:

1. Heated seats
2. Heated Mirrors
3. Engine block heater
4. Rear wiper and defogger
5. Headlight wipers

Can you think of anything else??

 

Heated steering wheel, heated cup holder.

 

Cup holder?

Are you mad man!?!?!?? :D I don't even like a heated steering wheel personally, I have to warm it up by USING it :D

Buttocks warmers are fine if they have a nice LOW setting... my Millenia works in conjunction with the thermostat, so the higher the thermostat the hotter it gets. The lowest setting on the thermostat makes my buns catch FIRE so I never use them

 

Only thing on that list I'd be interested in is a rear window defroster. But then, those are pretty much standard on every car aren't they?

 

Forget about all these newfangled electronic gizmos. Just make sure you don't let your wankel get too cold.

 

ya, man, who the F*** needs a seat warmer?? that's why you wear PANTS...

just kiddin'... i don't need that garbage... it's not NECESSARY, but yes, i wouldn't complain had i a car outfitted with such contraptions...

what IS necessary though is, yes, a block heater (i'm pretty sure i'd use it here, even in vancouver... at least for the break in period so startups aren't too hard on it...), and heated rear glass... a rear wiper is usually nice, but god, have you seen the latest ones (that're between 10-15 cm)?? talk about useless, jesus... okay, they're bigger than i think ( i'm sure i'm underestimating), but really, the one on the back of my parent's Matrix is utterly useless, unless your car is totally covered in snow/muck, which isn't necessarily caused by cold weather, or couldn't easily be better remedied when you're standing outside your car, before you drive off...

headed mirrors are a "yes, that's pretty important"...
seats, steering wheel, cup holder, headlight wipers?? i dunno about that...

 

My 2000 Lincoln LS had heated seats. They were nice until the temperature got too hot and you burned your butt off. Or, conversely, if I was wearing my thick ski parka, the heated seats weren't worth a damn. I could live without them.

Heated mirrors? Now that's nice. Keeps the sideviews from getting all iced over, and lets me keep the windows up since I don't have to reach outside to clean 'em. (yep...I'm lazy!)

Block heater? Hell yeah.....ask anyone who lives in the Great Plains, Northern New England, or most of Canada, and they'll tell you why you need one. I live in Michigan and have thought about one for those months when it can get crazy cold down here. Cold starts, with the oil sitting in a cold puddle down in the sump, are murder on engines. Block heaters are usually options available in the regions that need them.

A rear wiper probably isn't needed on the RX-8. If the angle of the rear glass was flatter or near upright, then it would need one. Wakeech is right....most of them are pretty useless anyway.

Heated steering wheel? How about a pair of gloves?

Headlight wipers? Throw in some washer jets, too! Ever follow behind a snow plow on a two-lane in a snow storm? In certain areas, they are needed. In most areas, they aren't. Make 'em an option for those who need it. It's a safety thing....kinda like daytime running lamps (I can hear our Canadian friends groaning already).

Heated cup holder? Okay, I like my coffee hot, too....but how about a compromise: offer a plug-in heated/cooled mug set as a dealer option designed to fit perfectly in the cup holders. Besides, shouldn't that hand you're using to hold the coffee mug be shifting gears instead? ;-)

 

As long as the console has a spot for my sunblock I'm a happy camper.

 

How about snow chains for really heavy snow?

 

snow chains you can get any where, can't you?? canadian tyre?? wal-mart even?? never had to shop for them, living in BC...

hey now!! don't go bashing daytime running lights!! i think they're fantastic... for me, it makes a huge difference on dark days, or in twilight hours, 'cause most people are too lazy to turn on their lights all the time (which is always a good idea, in my opinion...)

 

I'd run diagonaly run cables, not chains. Chains and ladder type cables might rip out the wheel wells. Better yet, winter tires.

Maybe they should have a heated trunk with a passthough for a dog. :D

 

If you don't get navigation, there should be a pocket up top.

My cell phone will be in there, because the speakers *should* go nuts if it rings so I'll know immediately

 

Would all you guys drive an RX-8 during the winter months as your primary car? Being from Florida I drove in the snow once in my life. It was in my old RX-7, and I thought I was going wreck at every turn.

I'm asking because I might be moving up north and I don't want to get an 8 and then find I can't use it in the snow.

 

It's replacing my car so yea, I will have to.

Besides there's not more than 2 or 3 days MAX that the roads arent cleared. My car is garaged so I'll wait till it's cleared out then take my car out. No big deal.

 

What's the break in,,,... 600 miles or so... no problem then... It'll only have 1 cold start (at the dealer)... I'm sure I'll just drive it continuously for the first 600 miles... both to run it in and just because I've been waiting that long...

 

Figure this Blue, if you buy it when it comes out it's not gonna be cold outside anyway :D

 

i live in mn and snow is a factor im quite sure the rx8 will be my car year round. as long as their is traction control i'll have a second set of snow tires. Heated seat would be good. Heated steering wheel nah? engine heater should be good. Plus driving in the snow is fun only not fun when its a blizzard =[
or heavy snow.

 

i keep reading about water repellent windshields in some cars (lexus/cadillac)
anyone here know if they are effective?

 

Rain-X works pretty well when applied. They use it extensively on aircraft.

 

Rain-X also messes with your wipers leaving a coating on them

I usually don't Rain-X but it's been a long while since I've used it.. maybe it's better now.

 

Hey, while we're talking about accomodating regional weather needs, can we make an amphibious version like the old VW Thing was for us down here in the south who get hurricanes and floods every few weeks? If Geo had offered one, I'd still have my Prizm. *chuckles*

I'm kidding of course, but hey, if you'd ever had three feet of water INSIDE a car you'd want one too.

 

I sat in my friends parents car today it was a infiniti 35 it hink but anways it had heated seats for front and back. And it wasnt too hot. In fact I think it was just right.