map

I'm curious about this, since i looked at the S2000 recently. I'm 6'4" and found myself looking straight into the headliner above the windshield when sitting in the S2000. I tried moving the seat a little bit to see if I could adjust it better for me, but didn't find anything that helped. I was only in it for about 5 minutes so I'm thinking maybe i missed something? In the 8 I fit fine (without sunroof). I am a bit taller than you, but it doesn't make sense to me that we would each fit in one car and not the other. I wrote off the S2000 that day but if i can actually fit I want to give it another shot.

124Spider

There's no question that this game sucks for tall people. I just bought a Spec Miata for racing, and it's not easy finding one made for tall people.

Anyway, I have slightly disproportionately long legs, so head room is not a problem in the S2000 for me. Yeah, my eye level is the same as the rear view mirror, but that's not a disqualifying problem. I had to mess with the seat a bit to get it to work (make sure that the seat back was not keeping me from putting the seat all the way back), and I can't heel/toe if my shoes have heels. But I can make it work, barely. Our RX-8 has a sunroof (it's my wife's car).

There are lower rails, available for a couple hundred dollars, which lower the drivers seat an inch or so, but I haven't done that because it would take the car out of stock for autocross (one of the many, many stupid rules in autocross). There are other ways to lower the seat even more, or just put it on the floor; it just depends on how much trouble you are willing to go to (and money you are willing to spend) to solve the problem.

To me, a roadster was a must, and the S2000 is the best value (and most fun) of the ones I considered (Boxster; TT; 350Z and Z4). I probably would have been willing to spend more to make it work, but I found that, with heelless shoes (I use windsurfer shoes for driving), it works fine.

I'm not sure that such a simple solution will work for you. You might ask at s2ki.com what people of your size have done; I know that there are people taller than I am happily driving the S2000.

dwynne

Yes, the ratio of leg length to total height

I am a lot shorter than you two, but my hair just touches the headliner in a new 8 (GT w/sunroof) - because I have short legs. Now that I have "broken in" the driver's seat (think massive weight crushing the poor foam over time) I have more headroom .

I have lot more headroom with the top up in the S than in the 8, but I am not sure if I would want to drive with my head up so high if I were a lot taller - but maybe you could get used to it.

A friend who is 6' or a little over has even more trunk proporion than me, so in my S or in the Miata I used to have his head was at or over the top of the windshield frame. He also has to recline the passenger seat way back to get in and ride in the 8. He finds a full size pickup (how boring) to be a nice fit for him.

Dennis

Phantom 4 Door

Both cars are so similar it is hard to choose between the two. You either like the styling are you don't. If you are more out there and like cars that stand out then the RX-8 is for you. If you are more conservative and like a more suttle look, then the S2000 fills that role. Personally I think having a cheaper car, with similar performance as the S2000, and is more practical than the S2000 is the better buy. The S2000 just doesn't seem to be a head turner for me, it looks more like an old school Del Sol mixed with a Civic. But it depends on what look you are going for. Honda's are reliable though...my 1991 Accord has 220000 on the same engine. I don't know if they make the new honda's like they used to.

dwynne

Which convertible is this you speak of? Same performance, costs less, and is more practical - do tell what this is.

BTW, if you are talking about an 8 and NOT a convertible to get one with leather seating and some fresh air (moonroof) it would not be THAT much less - even with heavy Mazda incentives maybe $3-4k less than an S.

Dennis

124Spider

LOL

I'm always amazed that anyone feels this way. One's a four door coupe, and one's a roadster. How can they be "so similar it is hard to choose between the two?

DOMINION

I would stay where you are.
Me and my friend where passing a Honda dealer and some young kid just got a S2000. I have a AT my friend has a MT. We got killed by that S2000
I was like wow!

Grizzly8

This is kind of neat a Muggen - topped Supercharged S2000

http://jalopnik.com/cars/clips/tuner...000-198191.php

Cheers

Michael

Raptor75

You implied that the 8's rear seat was unsuitable which is a falsehood as I have pointed out. After the fact, you put the constraints that your 6'2" and don't fit. For most people out there the rear seat will prove more then adequate and very useful. Calling it a compromise is an opinion which I don't share. I would call it a superior design to a more limited 2 seat layout. As to the drivers height issue another poster who is 6'4" pointed out that he fits better in the RX. This could be a personal opinion but I do think the 8's head room is tight.

I agree with you 100% but the fact remains that for most people the 8 will be a car they can live with on a daily bases were S is not. This is not a knock against the S just the reality of the situation.

Relax, I didn't mean this as an attack. Believe it or not many people here have a pretty good idea about the strength and weakness of both of these cars but still don't agree with some of your conclusions. The usability of the rear seat for example.

I agree that the S and 8 are made for different groups of people. I just happen to think that the 8's better flexibility and practicality makes it a better choice for a larger range of people who want a practical sports car. All two seater have basic limitations which are inherit by nature. The S2000 falls into this category and is a fine car none the less. The RX started with this idea but evolved into something unique that has not been seen in recent automobiles. It takes the strengths of two seaters and fuses practicality. A true rarity among sports cars.

Finally the 8 has 90 to 95% the performance envelope of the S but is considerably less expensive. I paid $26,300 out the door for my GT were the S2000 would have cost me $7,000 more. If I so chose, I could invest in a turbo and suspension work and have a car that exceeds the S2000 performance envelope while having superior practicality. For the money the 8 is just a better car all around.

Again I really like the S2000 for what it is, maybe the best of its type. If I had the money to keep a toy around for the weekend the S2000 would be right up their but for a sports car that is a day to day driver the RX-8 is in a league of its own.

Roaddemon

That's a pretty poor reason to advise him to stay. Power and feel are comparable. The S is rougher and less comfortable, especially at high rpm. I do Love a the rag top on cool summer days.

Winfree

The best advise is test drive some 8s. Try both the stick and the automatic/stick. There are small differences in the way the seats feel, and some interesting differences in how the engine feels. Leather seats are a little narrow, cloth seats wider and softer, I chose the leather for it's smell, it's appearance, and it's overcall comfort.

It's like trying on shoes, they may look great on some other guy, but only you will know if your shoes are comfortable or pinch. I personally find the 8 very very comfortable, and would like to have a second one just to put away for later, while I drive the other one to death. A really large man might better enjoy something German or Swedish made, but I have been able to shoehorn a 6'4" Scandahoovian in, with less hassle than I expected! (He doesn't do back seats, and perfers to drive!).

dwynne

I am not that tall, but I am sure someone 6' or taller could not fit in the seat behind me as I drive - nor could a pair of 6'+ folks fit comfortably fore and aft in the passenger side. Read the reviews, yes they praise the seats but say the car is not for 4 6' folks and some state 5' 8" or so if the right size of rear passengers. That sure sounds like a compromise to me.

Just like getting a deal on an 8, you can get a deal on the S as well - no way should it cost $7k more. I got a super deal on my first S and traded it 3 yr later (getting about 81% of what I paid back - try THAT with an 8) and got the new S for $30k even. That is more than a GT 8, but not that much more.

And as you drive it, you burn up (literally) the difference. Driving them both the same way (as intended) I get, at BEST, 15mpg commuting in the 8 while I get 24-25mpg in the S. With $3 a gallon gas someone who drove 12k per year would be paying $2,400 to drive the 8 and $1,500 to drive the S 12k miles per year. So in 3yrs, 36k miles you would save $2,700 driving the S.

You save a lot when you go to sell as well. Go to Edmunds or KBB or wherever and compare an 04 S w/GT to an 04 S. Edmunds shows the S worth $2,600 to $2,400 more and KBB (which correctly has the GT package listed) shows $3,600 (priave party) to $4,200 (trade) more for the S. So by any number, driving and resale value, you should be able to more than make up any extra you had to pay for the S over the 8. So the 8 is NOT "considerably less expensive" .

The 8 is a unique and fun to drive car. Unlike my wife, I am not married to the 8 so I can feel free to talk about its flaws and shortcomings. I knew going in the gas mileage would be bad and it would use oil. Gas is a good deal more expensive now so that hurts with every (frequent) fill up. I owned a 394hp M5 that got about the same or a little better mileage than my 8 - and it COULD hold 4 tall folks in comfort. I knew resale value would be bad, but it has gotten worse. Mazda can't hardly sell them even with tall incentives and discounted financing. The latest "replace the motor" recall will just be another knee to the groin of resale values. I guess "league of its own" if you mean guzzles gas and oil without the related performance (acceleration) and loses value much faster than other cars in its segment.

You can state anything you want as your opinion, but the facts are what they are.

Like folks that put down the V1 that have never owned one, think their Escort 8500 or bel is a lot better - you have to try it to KNOW something about it. If you limit your sip at the automotive cup to just the 8, you don't really know what you may be missing.

Dennis

DOMINION

No its not. Or so I say; its personal opinion.
I like the S2K,RX-7, Supra,Skyline. But I would not give 1 of them up the RX-8. Thats just me giving him imput.

jndsrx8

you will notice that the performance on the cars are different low torque does make you think twice about this car but i think it is definitely worth getting the 8. if space is what you are looking for the 8 is the best sports car ou can get. i got my 8 because my friend had it prior to me and i didnt mind at all being in the back seats im 6 feet tall and fit comfortably in the back seats i cant tell the difference between sitting in the front or back

Raptor75

I've had a 6'4" guy up front and two 5'11" in the back all fit well. Let others tell you what to think, I'll stick with my own real world experience.

Is that 30K out the door or before taxes and fees? At best your still $3.7 more and at worst about 7K more then my GT cost me.

I will give you that the S will be far better with gas then the 8. But I think the difference will be strongly related to how much city as opposed to highway driving you do. The 8 is much worse in the city then the Highway. In the city I get a abysmal 12mpg but on the highway I get 22mpg. So your numbers really reflect only the worst case scenario.

I would also agree that the S holds its resale value better but again given the discounts that you have historically been able to obtain the resale value on the 8 is a moving target. For someone who paid close to full value it will be poor but for someone like myself who was heavily discount my resale is very good.

As with any car it has it's short comings. And you have hit the ones I have complained about myself mainly the gas. Then again if you look at the the S2000 you have a nice car which can only accommodate 2 people, has little truck space , poor ride quality and a high sticker price. The M5 can hold 4 large adults but it is overweight, not nimble, poor reliability and ridiculously over priced. So from your point of view these are all compromise cars. Of course both the S and M5 follow standard car designs which have been done time and time again, nothing new or inventive here. The 8 is something different and new, it is a shame your dogma dose not allow you to see this.

An interesting observation if only it applied. More knowledge and less speculation would server you better when attempting to sway other to your line of thinking. Again the S is a great weekend toy but the RX is just a better all around vehicle. IMHO and the fact that the RX out sells the S2000 by a respectable margin.

AdRoCK3217

It has nothing to do with warming it up enough. Revving for 10seconds allows all exhaust in the chambers to be burned throughly, thrown out, etc, and when you shut it down at 3k RPM it spins enough to throw all excess fuel out of the exhaust ports.

Deslock

Now where have I read that before? Oh yeah, from my post earlier in this thread:

LODOSS

I would say it depends on your size.. if your avg. around 6 feet.. get the 8.. the s2000 makes you feel uncomfortable becuase of the no space problem. its like wearing tights.. sure you might look slick but i think its cooler to have a little slack.

LODOSS

ok that made on sense..

get the 8. its a good car. its no Honda Vtec.. but its still fun.

Crazy Rx-8 Driver

Any decision yet?

jwiseman

I don't know about him, but I just bought an 8 to go with my S2000 [02] !

John