While i'm complaining...

Has anyone made a storage box to replace the entire ashtray assembly?

There's plenty of room in the center console cavity to store my cell phone and sundries.

The ashtray takes up too much room with it's fancy flip open top and useless lighter.

I'm working on cutting up the stock ashtray box to make a box with more room, if anyone has done this yet, let me know..

 

Well for me, the ashtray fits my GPS unit perfectly (if I put it in length wise). But that was a complete fluke. Tell us what you end up doing with the ashtray.

 

I simply took the ashtray insert out, which left a cavity the perfect size for my Delphi Roady XM receiver.

Sadly, I no longer subscribe to XM (they dropped the channel I listened to the most from their lineup), and I also no longer have my 8 -- so I can't post a picture to show you.

 

Good news: Try www.japanparts.com. It is on their MAZDA | RX-8 | "Interior - other" parts page under the Mazda stock section. The piece you are looking for is callen a "Non smokers box". The following is a link to the picture:

http://www.japanparts.com/Pic/pic91/19-15.JPG

Bad News: it doesn't look that much different from what is in there right now.

 

you can get that item cheaper at www.mazdaparts.com I know since I asked a long time ago (forgot the price)

 

Im working on the ashtray right now.

I figure if I cut out the whole plastic box except for the outer most edges, I can create a "frame" to attach a leather "bag" - kind of a leather shift boot turned inside out.

The bag can fill all the space under the radio, and will be soft to protect my cell phone when I toss it in there. I'll cushion the bag with foam so the metal tunnel won't hurt the leather.

I'll post pics when I'm done

 

sounds cool - good luck and keep us posted!

 

Mr Beef has a good idea, there is quite a bit of room back there, just make sure the 'leather' is substantial, there are bolt threads and sharp edges in there, wouldn't want your cellphone poked. You could double the size if you re-located the lighter socket somewhere else.....

S