Helmet room in the RX8?
 

Does anyone else find the head room in the 8 to be a bit tight with a helmet on?

I am just under 6'tall. I've been checking out the 8 and sat in a couple. I was fine in the one without the sunroof but I thought the headroom was a little tight with the sunroof. Although, if I'm really looking for a track car, than I wouldn't want the sunroof anyway since they usually increase the weight a little and decrease some of the rigidity of the body.

On the one with the sunroof, I couldn't lower the power seat the power wasn't connected to that vehicle (in the dealer's showroom). Do the powerseats lower to allow more headroom to accomodate the driver and passenger's helmets.

You're right.
We had to deeply modify the chassis seats' brackets...

Yea, helmet room is really tight, but you can lower the powerseats and it helps some. How about a photochopped Bubbleroof? :)

I have a bone stock Sport model. I am also 6' 2'. I don't have the sunroof and find that I have plenty of room for my helmet. In my 1st gen RX7, my helmet would rub on the roof inner liner.
If you are looking for a track car, get the one with the least amount of options possible. This makes for a lighter weight car and you don't have to worry about turning off the TCS before you go out. You also have more money available for performance mods.

Having the moon roof in the 8 gives you about 1 1/2 inches less head room. I'm 5'8" and I have to set my drivers seat all the way down in order not to hit my head on the roof with my helmet.

I'm 6'2" with a long torso and I have had to accept the fact that the roof liner is just another brace point. ;)

Yep. My helmet hits and I'm 6'1". I brought my helmet with me when I went for a testdrive in a non-sunroof car, just to see if there would be any seating/arm-length to steering/comfort issues with it on.

Just about felt right. No powerseats, no sunroof.

(Note: I don't like the sunroof in the 8 anyways... the front of the sunroof starts too far back for my liking... like 1/2 way over my head instead of in front of it)

so do all you guys without sunroofs and power seats have cloth seats then?

I have cloth seats.

I had the dealer put leather in my sport package (I'm 6'2" and just couldn't figure out how to fit with a sunroof, let alone a helmet). They charged $1000 and found an aftermarket shop that did a very nice job (2-tone grey/black perforated that matches the grey and black plastic on the interior) and warranted the work for 5 years. Said they do 2-3 a month like that (they had a demo on the lot I could look at with the leather in it before buying).

I didn't realize this at the dealership, but the non-power seats have an up-down adjustment as well. There is a pump-lever on the left side of the (driver's) seat toward the front that can adjust the seat up and down. This made all the difference!

I have the manual/cloth seats. I'm 6' 0" and my helmet touches the side of the headliner where it bulges by the door. I only notice it before starting autocross runs. Once moving, it's not an issue.

Agreed.... I am also 6'2" and have no problem wearing a full sized race helmet.

im 5'4" and have no problem, no clue what you guys are complaning about :rolleyes:

I am 5'8 and Im having minimal helmet room.

I think the inconsitency in head room depends on how close the drivers positions the seat to the steering wheel. I have short arms, so I kindda need to sit close to the steering wheel, therefore, decreasing head room...

I'm 6'4" & don't fit in the version w/ the sunroof. When I have my helmet on, I have to put my seat back, but after my first few runs in the car, I don't even think about it any more...

I test the car with the sunroof and wasn't comfortable with a helmet on. So I'm now looking for a base 6 speed with Sport package. I'll miss the leather interior but I think the cloth is actually nicer than most cars and I won't slide around as much during autocrosses.

^^^what he said + I recline the seat a tad, but you really don't hit your helmet once you start driving.

Two words: Sparco Evo
 

Plenty of space for a 6 footer with helmet in a 3rd gen RX-7 (more headroom challenged than an RX-8), far, far better placement in the car (gee, I can see below the rearview mirror for right hand apexes!), and no holding on to the steering wheel or pushing out with my knees in corners!

I will give you one thing not to do. Don't try Sparco seats. I found that the power seat when adjust down left a gap between the seat bottom and the seat back. The bar in the bottom of the back drove me nuts. So what do I do, I buy a set of Sparco Monoco seats at $800 each, plus cost of sliders, brackets and hardware. Almost $2000 grand. And guess what, the seat sat higher than the stock ones. My head without my helmet hit the sunroof and liner.

Had to get Pettit racing to take apart brackets and remake so that I sit lower. Just enough room now for a helmet, but no better than stock in regard to headroom.