tookwik

I dont understand why the ergenomics behind the e-brake

tookwik

seems like it would look better w/o the little handle loop to it.

Lock & Load

It helps in not getting your little fingers get jammed while applying the hand brake .

RotorMotor

Plus, when you're bustin' mad 180s, an ergonomically correct hand-brake can help fend off carpal tunnel... :D

tookwik

Thats a good one

Smoker

well, the objective is to create a "Sport Car like no other", so I guess they tried to make everything somewhat unique even if it is something as boring as the parking brake handle.

tookwik

honestly, I dont like the way it looks and believe that would be replaced first thing if I bought one

Hercules

You'd get used to it

I've already been contemplating on what type of grip I would use when pulling the handbrake :p 180s are fun :D

And if I get enough road... I'll try 360s

RotorGeek

Yeah when I sat in the 8 the brake was in perfect position to pull when needed. I completey forgot it was there after a few minutes

Maximus

May be its the "Oh **** !!!" handle for the passenger side

MaRX8

If you look at the empty space, it creates a squashed Rotary symbol.

Toadman

IF that is what it gets used for, the driver will wish for a passenger ejection seat.

Lensman

I honestly think you're on to something there. I've been mystified by the design for months but if it follows the rotor theme then it sort of makes sense. I just hadn't noticed before. It could be coincidence though but maybe not.

zoom44

no it's not a coincidence. i thought i had pointed this out awhile ago but maybe that was before some of you were around. take a look at these 2 pics. one is the trim around the interior door handle and the other is of the pocket in the doors. both are the same squashed rotor shape as the brake handle.

zoom44

and here

Smoker

Arr yes, I do see the resemblance here with the side pocket.

notb

I don't care the design mimmics the squashed rotary. That'd be the first thing to go in my RX8.

nk_Rx8

Exactly. In that 65pg RX8 guide book, there is one article that mentions the unusual ebrake. Mazda decided to do something different with the handle because every other car has the same boring handle.

Quick_lude

Who cares, the driver will never see it..

BillK

Hey, feel free, use a Dremel if you want and just cut it off - it's your car.

Personally I think it's a pretty wacky, but unique design feature of the car.

If enough people think it's TOO unique, an aftermarket replacement should be out within months...

chinx

actually like that brake handle a lot

Maximus

R&T Guide to the Mazda RX-8:

"It's our way of expressing the heart of the RX-8, the rotary engine, through the car's styling"

"Of particular note is the parking brake lever, which looks like the reloading handle from a rifle. This was a creation of Mazda's design team; they wanted to give the RX-8's interior some 'freshness' "

"In virtually any vehicle, the parking brake handle looks more or less the same. They're all plain. Not many people have given this item any style, so we decided that it would be interesting and fun to give the parking brake handle a sporty flair"


hmm...i think that resolves the issue :-)

RotorGeek

I like the E-brake the way it is. To me it looks like a rally style ebrake

Toadman

Or like a trigger guard on a handgun.

zoom44

hope the passenger doesn't pull that trigger during a sudden dynamic maneuver:D