i want automatic climate control! does anyone know how or if it's even possible to install or to change our a/c on the 8 so it will be fully automated? would it be something simple or would it require a whole new a/c system?

 

Auto climate control is available on the RX-8 from the factory - but only for other markets like UK, Japan. Mazda North America decided not to offer it. I don't know if it's only RHD RX-8 cars that have the auto climate control, but it's out there - if you were lucky enough to source a wrecked foreign RX-8 you might be able to salvage the system; otherwise ordering the parts to retro-fit would be very expensive.

Regards,
Gordon

 

do you think it's something that an aftermarket part can fix? or am I just being wishful?

 

Although this is a picture of the Climatronic automatic climate control system installed in VW's and Audi's The systems are invariably the same in most respects. As you can see you would have to practicaly gut the instrument panel in order to install the system.

 

Are automatic climate controls really that great. What advantages do they offer? What's so hard about turning the fan up or down a notch . I think the 8 has a fairly simple system that is very effective and informative with the symbols on the dash I couldn't imagine trying to rip it out to get an auto climate control.

 

Climate control IS great. You get these extra pilot lights on the dials.
Seriously it is great to have as you can set the desired temp and forget about it. In a previous car I found myself always fiddling with the controls as the temperature changes along the day/night.

 

The automatic climate control in my GMC Jimmy works so well I hardly have to touch it. I simply set the fan speed and output selectors to auto and set my desired temperature. The car takes care of everything. I will admit though, it does have to get pretty cold for the A/C compressor to finally be turned off. Of course here in Texas pretty cold is < 40F.

It's a feature I'd love to see on the NA RX-8 but it's not going to keep me from buying one. As for the RX-8 having a "simple" system, I'd say it's simple once you've had a little time to see how it works. In my case I got a trial by fire when I took the family on the second test drive and had to figure it out while driving. That's not the best time to be learning how the system works.

 

I like having the ac on most of the time but my girlfriend gets cold easily and I constantly have to turn it on and off. I wish there was an easier way to put one in.