What "realistic" changes would like to see?
 

Just for kicks,

What "realistic" changes or requests would you like to see in the RX-8?

By "realistic" I mean things like paint color, fabrics, radio, wheel pattern and or size and such. Items that can be introduced during mid-year changes and new-year roll-out.

A turbo would NOT be "realistic," longer wheelbase is NOT "realistic." You get the idea, anything that would require re-engineering and more importantly recertification at EPA and NHTSA (DOT).


Here are mine:

-A 2-tone gray/black option for the interior-like the X-men car
http://images.rotarynews.com/images/...3/mvc01137.jpg

-An express up feature for the window to compliment the express down feature
-Seat memory for the power-seats

-A pollen filter for the HVAC (<--Mazda has bowed to my will :p - this is standard, just didn't notice)

Aluminum, fixed calipers would be nice also, but this may change once I actually experience the brake pedal feel.

faster production (i want mine now)

thats the only thing i would like to see changed!! and it does seem "realistic" to me!!

the two tone seats matching the exterior color (or at least complimenting it)

satelite radio

transparency on current status

ohh i got 1
 

why not blue seats with black inserts or the other way around to match the exterior. And the mazdaspeed guage pod with 3 guages straight from factory if you dont get the navi that is.[URL=http://www.mazda.co.jp/mazdaspeed/rx8/img/int11p.jpg]
Hope the link works.

Isn't there already a cabin air filter for the 8 that's available as an option?

And if you don't want to buy it, then use the mod I suggested earlier - ya know, cutting up a furnance filter....

I would like to see the two tone Black/Grey interior. The white RX-8, The X-men Blue

The tow tone seats (black/yellow & black/blue) matching the exterior color WOULD HAVE BEEN nice from the beginning, but does no good to me now. But, itt would be nice for future buyers, if Mazda offers those options. Also an exterior color like the copper on the 350z would would be sweet. I just love that color.

All I like to see, since I'll have this car for at least 2-3 years are after-factory mods, suspension, exhaust, ECU, turbo, etc. That's the way I'll go.

For future buyers, a RX-8 MazdaSpeed version would be nice.

Two tone (Gray/Black) steering wheel (cuz the cloth looks like G/B already), start button as standard.

P.S. Better customer service...

AMEN to that

White paint

Sat Radio (Sirius? XM?)

Dat's about it...

I agree. IMO, that would be the most realistic change that would benefit us that already "bought" the car.

i gues snobody likes my ideas
 

ohh well i thought the mazda guage pod right from factory was a good idea.

a real oil pressure and temperature gauge

yeap
 

i think it would really be nice for oe that actualy tells you about the car not just a guage thaty stays in the middle the whole time that never drops or anything.

Auto-up windows would be SO useful in rainy weather. One of my cars has this (IS300) and the other does not (Acura MDX - $40k pseudo-luxury SUV). Every time I have to pay a toll or enter/exit a car park when it's raining I curse the MDX. It's hard enough to steer through sharp turns (between cars in car park or through the traffic merges beyond toll booths) with one hand and raise the window with the other - it will be 10 times worse when trying to simultaneously change gear with the third hand I don't have.

Memory seats would be useful (my MDX has this, the IS300 doesn't) and would add almost no cost and no weight. My wife and I are 9" apart in height and it's frustrating to SLOWLY use the motor controls to get back to my preferred seating position (and usually takes 30+ mins of driving to get it just right). I would actualy prefer manual seats (quick to adjust, easy to find the right spot amongst the limited settings, saves weight) than power seats without memory.

I'm guessing on this one, but I suspect the trunk opening should be wider. Instead of curving around the rear lights they should've bisected the rears...this'd give the rear opening another 3 or 4 inches on either side.

If the Marketing/Business guys are smart , they really should be taking notes and presenting the stuff from this thread in their next meeting. ...but who knows....

1) For sure two other tone of paint. Easiest thing to do to add to a year 2 model and besides every manufacture do this. (Maybe we'll get the white paint this time ???)

2) Seat Beat height adjustment. If cars from two classes below has this, I think they should put it in.

3) Room for a Donut Spare Tire. I don't mind a reasonable size "hump" in the trunk, but the current hanging from top and blocking the trunk pass-through Spare tire implementation has to go.

4) Electronic Compass in the Rear view mirror. Your competitors in the same class got them, so put it in ! Cost is next to nothing in the large scale, the Mazda6 uses the same mirror so extra feature for both models.

5) This might cost a bit, but side blinkers on the side mirrors would be nice. But not that important.

That's all for now.

1) Fold down rear seats. The passthrough is appreciated but inadequate. My Ford Probe of yesteryear was practically a baby el-camino. It could hold huge amounts of stuff when I needed it to. I think I'm going to be using my RX8's back-seat as a second trunk a lot and bulky things like a bike probably won't fit at all.

2) A line-in jack for the stereo (like they have in the Honda Element). My dealer couldn't tell me if any of the stereo options had this so I got the cassette player option to make sure I could plug in my iPod without having to go aftermarket or use an FM transmitter (with lousy sound)

3) Completely forward-looking. I saw something this spring that is shipping on the high end luxury cars that looks cool. It allows your cell phone to talk wirelessly to the radio so that you don't need a hands-free car kit for your phone. It uses Bluetooth to send the speaker, microphone, and hands-free dialing commands to and from the phone. You need a phone with Bluetooth but I'm sure I'll get one of those in the next few years.

My changes are more requests, and perhaps they are already being performed:

An offering of Mazdaspeed, or such related products, that will allow for altercation of the mechanical/electrical systems without voiding the warranty.

An "idiots" guide to rotarys would also be helpful for anyone that has little to no experience with the engines.

I would also like the compass, if I didn't have NAV.

I would like to have electronic dimming side-view mirrors in addition to the electronic dimming rear-view mirror.

I prefer windows with the one-touch feature. But that's something that is easily installed aftermarket, so I'm not always heartbroken when that's not available.

I'd like to have rear windows that completely roll down instead of pop out, but with door internals, that might be more of a dream than a turbo. I'd also hope that the rear windows could be powered, but maybe we can retro-fit the power vents from other vehicles.

I'd rather have a sunroof that is in the car when it retracts, not out. With possible internal braces, that might cost some headroom, so I understand why that would have to be a custom thing for someone who has the headroom to give.

I wish the situation was such that auto companies could install integrated child seats.

I hate slot-loaded changers. I'd much rather have a magazine changer. I hate having to drag out my CDs, unload the six in the changer into their jewel cases, load the others, and find a place for all of the jewel cases. I've also found that the magazines keep the CDs from being scratched or otherwise damaged during all of that handling. And on a trip, it is much easier to keep a hand on the wheel and eyes on the road when swapping magazines (well, unless the changer is installed in the trunk, mind you), instead of transferring CDs from the jewel case or CD wallet.

---jps

That would be very nice!

Aren't Dinan parts offered under warranty by BMW? At least I heard that somewhere.

At Dinan-certified BMW dealers, and the warranty is from Dinan (and their authorized dealers), which actually just replaces the factory warranty.

I would love to see Mazda have a certification program where aftermarket parts suppliers and tuners could submit parts to Mazda for approval that they still meet the safety, quality and emmision standards. And for a fee (to the parts maker) they would be covered under the Mazda warranty. It would make the parts more expensive, but it would be worth it IMO.

That would go beyond the Dinan/BMW program.