Moonroof deflector- stupid looking or not?
 

Ok guys, I can't decide whether or not I need the moonroof deflector. I can't find a picture, so I don't know how big it is- if it's going to look stupid, I don't want it. I've called my dealer, and he should be calling me back tomorrow, so I need to decide quick. Definitely getting the rotary accent package. But can't decide on the stupid moonroof deflector. Any thoughts?

Edit: Now my husband wants the appearance package with the front air dam and the side and rear flares. Any opinions on those too? I'm torn, but he'll be driving it too, and I've nixed the spoiler so I kind of feel I owe it to him to get the appearance package.

i vote no and no =p i've yet to see a sunroof thing i've liked...but if you're more into the function of it than the aesthetics, by all means.

as far as the aero kit goes, the mazda speed ones look better =) not to mention all the others ones that will come out if the 8 sells as well as mazda hopes.

I haven't heard anyone say anything nice about the deflector - not even the dealer! I ordered the rotary accents and the splash guards. The roads around here are too messed up to risk the appearance package and further loss of ground clearance. It may be a challenge on some streets with the regular clearance of what was it... 4.5 inches?

Here's the picture of the wind deflector.

...i hate those things... but isn't the point of the sunroof to have some open, flowing air in your car, to make it more like a convertable??? i just don't understand (i'm a hard-top kinda guy...)

anyhoo, i think most everythign (except for those grey bits on the oil cooler vents behind the front wheels) is pretty keen and tasteful (yes, including the Mazdaspeed stuff, excepting their rear wing), especially the small spoiler and front mini-air dam.

Thanks guys- I'm about to go to work, and I assume I'll hear from my dealer this morning. Definitely NO on the deflector. Ick. If I don't like the wind from the moonroof, I'll just close it. I think I'm stuck with the appearance stuff, though. He REALLY likes it. I said no on the spoiler though. I'll wait until we can get a lip spoiler instead.

Defiantly don't get it - looks like crap! Besides, typically there is a built in wind deflector that pops up when the roof is opened like in my Mazda MX-3.

I decided to go with just the rotary accents for now- we drive to the mountains too much for me to risk a body kit that might scrape on every bump. But later on, who knows!

hey Elara -

i don't like those wind deflectors too much whether they be on the moonroof or the side windows...IMO they look tacky...

and those rotary accents are definitely nice but i'd suggest holding off on them until aftermarket ones come out...i'm willing to bet they'll cost 75% less elsewhere than Mazda themselves and they'll most like be of equal quality...i too wanta them but i'm unwilling to pay that much for them...

Defletors look retarded. Leave it off.

The RX-8 I'm likely buying from a dealer this weekend comes with one already on it. Will I be able to easily take it off later if I decide too without hurting the paint or anything? It's a black RX-8 so I don't think it looks as bad as it does on some other colors, but I still think I might have it taken off.

I think the disadvantages outweight the advantages.
I bought mine with the deflector on it and left it on until this past week. When I removed it I had all kinds of dirt underneath the rubber seal. I cleaned it off and found that it had left some small scratches on the paint. I have an appointment next week to have a friend who is a detailer try to remove them. He's sure he can at least make them less visable. He says that these are notorious for leaving residue and scratches once there removed. Their not too noticable unless you look at the top just right but still don't take the chance on damaging your paint.

The only defelector I've seen on a 8 was on a shinka at the RR. It did look stupid to me, though seems like a nice deflector. I just dont see why you would want to open up the moonroof and then deflect all the air.

Deflectors looks stupid...that's a partial reason I didn't buy from one dealer...all the cars on their lot had sunroof deflectors (they were the last 04's and I think it's because no one else wanted them either)

Sent you a PM :D

I think they look retarded.

It comes off super easy. They definitely cut down on buffeting from the moonroof, but I'm afraid of the scratches and it kills the lines of my Lightning Yellow. It wouldn't look as bad on a black. I'm keeping it for road trips since the built-in blocker does practically nothing.

I agree. I finally got most of the scratches that mine left removed from the car. Just a thought, how hard would it be to paint the deflector to match the car?

Hold your opinions until you've seen one painted to match the car. Some who have painted it may be offended by your response. Play nice or don't play at all.

Well, I read the posts, I don't think I read one where somebody was in favor of the deflector. There's soooo many other cool things to spend you money on for an Rx.

To deflect or not to deflect....
 

Well, I guess I am one of the few who actually DO like the moonroof deflector. I think it ADDS to the look of the 8 (or any car for that matter with a sun/moonroof.) I think that if your windows are tinted dark, like mine, it looks better than with untinted windows. Some people get them only for the mere fact that it says "hey, look at me. I have a deflector, so therefore I can afford to fork out the $$$ for a moonroof."

For the effectiveness of it, it significantly cuts down on the noise factor when the moonroof is completely open. Having the deflector on, I still get PLENTY of wind in my car while driving with the moonroof open.

As for the scratches, if you thoroughly clean your car before applying it, you shouldn't have any problems. Also get a good quality one, like from an auth. Mazda dealer, so that it has good padding/rubber under it to help prevent scratches. Mine also has tiny "cutouts" on the front corners so that any water that gets trapped behind it will drain out

But yes, there are more important things to buy... even if you do buy it and decide to take it off, its not like it will set you back a lot...

i took mine off it loooks better without it and the noise difference =none

just like the previous responses....don't ever get sun roof deflectors. THEY WILL SCRATCH and RUIN your PAINT. they can also cause your sunroof to leak under heavy rain or while washing your car. sunroofs don't totally block out water, hence the need for sunroof drains. the deflector can actually over flood the sunroof and cause an interior leak. the drains can only flow so much. i've seen it happen on a couple cars. just a heads up.

here's my car... decide for yourself.

Yea, I dislike the look of the deflector.