comfort Q from potential buyer.
 

Hi
I have been a big fan of the styling and that magic sound of the rotors ever since i first heard one.
problem is although when i first sat in one it felt great when i tried to reach for the shifter and found the handbrake in the way !
so is this not a problem once its let off and moving or do people still find its in the way ?

first off, glad to hear another rotary fan....welcome!

too answer your question, the handbrake should not interfere with the shifter at all. while the brake is kind of intrusive with how it sticks up & all, its not that close to your hand (sort of depends on how you hold the shifter, i guess). if you are in a right hand drive car, then maybe there is some problem. i dont really know though.

I frankly can't see how it's NOT a problem in the right hand drive car, since they didn't reverse the position of the shifter and handbrake. But I've never actually driven one so I don't know.

On the other hand, I've never seen anyone on this board bitching about it, so maybe it really isn't a problem once the brake is released.

Once you setup the car properly you'll find the hand just naturally falls on the shifter.

The only thing I find bothers my shifting is a big drink in the cupholder. Then I gotta come from above instead of the side.

Yokomo - perhaps you should clarify if you have a left or right hand drive RX-8.

I agree with Krankor. I can easily see the e-brake being a nuisance if you have a right hand drive 8, however I haven't heard anyone mention any problems with it yet...

yes sorry forgot to say RHD Uk Rex.
I have also noticed this is quite common on jpanese cars to have the hadnbrake quite near the shifter although not so far forward.
looks liek im going to have to get a goodlong test drive to really tell.

They didn't move the handbrake to the other side on the RHD's? Man, that sucks. I like how the country where the car is actually made gets the shaft.

I drive a RHD and I find absolutley no probs with the hand break. Actually I would think it would be a little awkward having to reach over to the other side as on LHD 8s to pull it up.