I'm considering purchasing an RX-8, but I'm a little concerned about taking it up the mountains to go skiing. Is the traction control a good option? I also realize that I will need to purchase a set of all weather tires, performance tires never work well in the the snow.

One other problem is that I'm a triathlete and I need a bicycle rack to transport my bike to events. Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

I guess you could put the ski through that space between the back seats (unlock fold down that plastic piece there) but frankly, I rather rented a car for my skiing trips last season.

Always fun to rent a POS (not necessarily low-priced) American car and afterwards enjoy your own car the more. This is what I rented recently:

- Escape
- Chevy Aveo ("small car", made cheap, sold cheap)
- Recent rentals included an IMPALA (V6, but felt like a 3 cylinder, not enough displacement)
- Silverado (the best of these rentals)

Funny thing is, I always make a reservation at www.enterprise.com for a bugdet car. The smallest one. On the web site that is a GEO METRO or comparable.

I always get upgraded (paying $15 a day for a Metro, driving an Impala). Their reservation system must be real lame.

-Peter

 

I'm not sure if skis would fit through there, or be a good idea, especially if you stopped suddenly. You'd have two torpedos shooting out the winshield.

I recall hearing something about a roof rack a while back, try a search for it on the boards. Whoever was talking about it mentioned that if you have the moon roof w/ roof rack, you can't open the moon roof.

 

I have the Yakima roof rack system on my RX. Here's the link: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...134#post439134

 

can we fit a snowboard in there??

 

I use to take my RX-7 up to ski resorts in Colorado along I-70. I would carry chains and sometimes I would put them on to get in and out of the resorts along side roads. It was fun... like having a 4x4 sports car. I admit that it was a bit of work to put chains on that low of a car. But not too bad.

 

I took my RX-8 skiing a few times last year (Lake Louise, Sunshine Village, in Banff National Park). I'm still skiing on 195s, can't bring myself to go shorter yet . I used a ski bag through the passthrough, fit with no problems. I run 17" alloy wheels with Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17 winter tires, and with the DSC and TCS it makes a great winter car!

Regards,
Gordon

 

The dealer made me sign a piece of paper stating that I acknowledged that they told me putting chains on my RX-8 was not recommended and they would not be libel for any damage caused by using chains.

 

Ya I've put 3 pairs o ski's between seats when takin daughter & friends skiing. I also put 17 inch rims & tires on car for winter use. TIP: have the darn kids take off ski boots or they'll be kicking yer **** while driving

 

That's crazy that three pairs of skis fit back there. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised, when I had the back seat down in my accord I was able to fit some really big things. Amazing.

 

I managed to fit a snowboard w/o bindings thru the center passthru. It seemed like there was plenty of room if you stand the board on its side, looked like I could have fitted a 2nd board w/o bindings back there. I am not sure how the fit would have been with bindings.... the trick is to get one of the bindings thru the opening. I've tried it with unmounted bindings, and they barely made it thru with some acrobatics, YMMV. If you can't stuff the board thru the trunk, try entering thru the doors.
One warning tho, I managed to scratch the silver paint on the center console railings with the edge of the board. Padding around the board is a definite must.

 

I don't think they care, frankly. They still make money, and they don't have to have a ton of small cars around. Gives them flexibility, and makes everyone happy...unless you paid for a full-size and they don't have any. But they can always bump you up for a convertible to shut you up. I had a mid-size rental listed last time, got a Mustang - what a cheap POS. Stratus coupe was much better. Yet to get a convertible though.

-arattle

 

?? I looked in the operators manual and found nothing against using tire chains. I have narrow 17" tires for snow which give more clearance. I don't know of any dealership that would cover damage from chains unless they sold you a faulty set. Any damage I have seen was from people not knowing how to put them on propperly or from driving too fast with them on. Common sense (use 2 sets of tensioners) and following the warnings (don't drive over 35 mph) goes a long way towards not damaging your car.

Edit: I forgot the most important: Use the correct type and size of chains for your tires!

 

I think the only to get a bike on the car is to put it on the roof racks. The trunk is just too small to get a bike into. I use my winter car to haul my bike, it's just easier.

 

My road bike fits in the backseat upside down with the wheels off.

 

Chains were also not recommended on my Saab 9000 (FWD) but the cable type was OK to use (I did)

 

From rx7&rx8: "Chains were also not recommended on my Saab 9000 (FWD) but the cable type was OK to use (I did)"


Two other cars that I have had, a Dodge Intrepid and Mitsubishi Eclipse 3G stated right in the owners manual that you could not put chains on due to tire clearance.

Back to the subject of the thread:

I just put the Yakima system on the RX-8 with two of the Cobra bike rails. It looks OK until I actually put the bikes on. For example my smart-*** neighbor came over and asked me when I was going to get a trailer hitch for my new Mazda SUV!

 

I have a bike rack for the back of my 8. It works well. There is also an in-car ski rack. Check it out its pretty cool. I will try and find the link.

 

http://www.japanparts.com/shop/shop....ior+%2d+others

Check out the sports gear case. Maybe able to fit skis and poles.

 

Do you have any pictures of this you could post?

Thanks

 

I have put both a road and mountain bike in the back seat with the wheels removed, wrapped them up in a blanket, a friend of mine had a custom made trailer hitch installed on his 8, so he could use a hitch mount rack. I will see him at a mtb race this weekend and get a better picture of the setup, you can see part of the rack here.