NAIAS trip and thoughts on RX-8
 

Well I just got back from Detroit. There will be a link with a series of pictures soon. But I thought I would go through and explain what I learned while I was there.

They had RX-8's you could get into the Black mystery one, and the Titanium Grey. Then a Red one on a rotating stand. This car on first thought is smaller in person that what the pics show. Which is a good thing. I also think it looks much better in person.

As to the Mystery RX-8, I talked to a mazda guy and he said that the extra options will be a package he thought it was going to be called the R-1 options package. It will be available a little later in production. I really liked the look of the Black 8 especially the partial side skirts and wing. The gas cap i would do without though. This car also had the fabric interior which I thought was nice, I am getting it after all.

Now for the interior. The car like I said is much smaller in person so inside this car is not large and my 5' 10" frame fits well in it. I like the seating position it is a bit relaxed though for a sports car. This car is not what I would call a 4 seater. With the front seat in the right place for my frame the rear seat was pretty cramped fore and aft, side to side space is good and I like the cup holders and and space saving gadgets. The trunk will fit a mountain bike in it. It will require taking at least one if not two wheels to be taken off though, it surprised me as to the space available. I think anyone over 6" should really get in an 8 first as I found it somewhat claustraphobic.

I took some pics of the exhaust system. Man the muffler is HUGE. I believe there is some definite weight savings to be had there. I also tried to take some better pictures of the induction system. Overall, I was very pleased with almost all the aspects of the car. The only thing I did not like at all was the interior of the roof. It seems to me to be somewhat plain and unexciting. Especially in that lack luster grey color.

I can't wait for my 8 to come now. Just wish I could have started it up and made the engine scream.

Ok, Here are some pics.


http://www.buraddo.com/RX8.htm

Ignore the bastard behind the wheel.

wow, you sound pretty excited and happy with the car... dare i say, regardless of the numbers?? :eek:!!!

;) heh heh...
great picks mr.fritts... hey that rhymed!! ;)

hey! first pics of the cloth seats! nice work fritts!

doesn't look too bad from the pics.

any idea when the extra body pkg is gonna be available?

Yeah, I know I am a bit of a pessimist. I just think that after seeing the car in person, that its a great vehicle. Especially the looks of the car, much better in person. I couldn't believe the amount of attention the RX-8's were getting it was hard for me to get any pics. So I am pretty sure it will be a hit. As for the numbers I guess I will have to be positive and say that Mazda so far has shown us a great product for less money than what was expected so I expect the performance will not be any less.

As to the aero package I am not sure when it will be available as the mazda rep did not know.

On a side note.

On my second time through the mazda area a guy was bitching about how crappy the 3rd gen RX-7's turbos were to the mazda rep. The mazda rep then asked the guy if he properly cooled done his 7 after he drove and the guy replies there should be no need to cool down a car with turbos. I then went up to the guy and explained to him that by not cooling down his engine his turbos would be left very hot with oil that is not circulating causing the oil to burn and deposit itself in the turbo, thereby running his turbos. The guy in reponse said that he had owned turbos before and had never heard of such things and turned around and left. The mazda rep and I just chuckled.

Fritts -
How would you say that the room (esp, the headroom) in the front seats compares to an FD (if you've ever sat in one)?

nope never sat in one. The feeling I did not like about the seating was that it seemed to me that the window at the top was coming in to close to my head. Other than that it is definetly cozy.

Nice photos Fritts! I originally wanted Titanium Grey because I thought it would show the curves of the body better than black and silver is getting way too common. Then I saw the Grey and thought it looked kind of flat and plain. Now that I see you photos I am in love with the Grey again.

Only problem now is that I can't decide whether to get one ASAP or wait for the R-1 package and possibly other options or more flexible option packages that may come along a little later. I really like the cloth interior too. I didn't want to spend the $$ for the GT package but I really wanted the leather. Now I see the cloth and I love it. I really want that grey leather in the photos. I wonder if that's another option that will be coming later since now only black cloth is offered.

thanks fritts for the pics of the cloth seats they made me much more comfortable about my choice. great pics:)

Cloth Seats
 

No one has pointed this out yet, but the cloth seats don't have the not too pretty "sea of plastic" covering the backs. Cost less too... :D

-Stephen

I actually kinda like the Sea o' Plastic.

Nice pictures!
It definately looks smaller in those pictures that I was picturing it in my head. I think its the people standing next to it that puts it all in perspective.

How was the quality of the cloth? And did it look reasonably nice?

I'm not a big leather lover, so I'm thinking cloth when it comes time. Especially since I don't want all that touring package junk just to get leather.

Maybe by the I'm i'm ready to order, you can get leather with sport package or something.

Just curious if you could compare the leather vs. cloth quality.

My brother is an animal rights activist so I don't believe he would even ride in my vehicle if I got leather. But I really don't like leather anyway. From the quality standpoint, I don't like the leather. I think the leather in the 350z is better. But the fabric does look nice. I'm sure there is better but I liked it.

Get him a seat cover!

Oh, and send him to Tennessee to protest against the cop who shot a family's dog right in front of them last week...

LOL :D

I read about that incident with the dog. It made me very sad to think of how the family must have felt to go through that kind of trauma. Then it made me angry because of the aparent arrogance and lack of empathy on the part of the officer involved (see 'RX8 are being built as we speak' thread for my views on arrogant inconsiderateness ;) )

The cop is going to be history. He is receiving death threats from all over the country and has been moved to "a safe location". BTW That is the 3rd pet dog he has shot on duty in his five years on the force. Many policemen never even discharge their weapons in an entire career. This guy is a monster. If some gun-wielding Peta member did blow him away I would not lose any sleep over it, and I doubt many other people would, either.

There is no way they will let him stay on the force. If you saw the video, it was appalling... he shot the dog like he was playing a video game. If I was a jury, I would probably award the family like $100M or some other verdict guaranteed to bankrupt him and the town. (The town is a cesspooll of corruption, according to many residents. www.putnampit.com )

www.cookevilletalks.com See the local politics section.