My friend and I just went to the LA Show, and sat in the RX-8 (red one). He's 6' 3", and I'm 6' 0". With me sitting in the front, he'll just barely fit in the back. His knees are touching the backs of the front seat. Not exactly comfortable. Also, his head hits the back of the ceiling when he sits back there. If everyone was under 6 feet tall, everything is all good. But once you get people over 6 feet in there, space shrinks up real fast.

We also tried sitting on the passenger side, him in front, me in the back. I didn't even bother getting in. For him to be comfortable, he needed to slide the passenger seat all the way back. Leaving only room for someone with realllly short legs in the back. (5 foot tall person)

Another thing we noticed is that getting in and out of the back seats is still pretty much like getting out of a 2-door car. The rear seats are still pretty far back of the rear door hinge. Granted, it's better than getting out of a 2door 2+2, but marginally so. Then again, we were getting out of the back seats without tilting forward the front seats. So it's definitely a plus.

On the passenger side, the foot well is angled outward, so you'll be sitting/facing a bit to the right, in order to maximize legroom. Personally, I'd prefer a centered footwell, but I don't really care, since I'd be the one driving.... :D

Let's see....I didn't get to see the trunk, because they pulled the battery connectors, so I couldn't pop it.
When they say that it can fit two golf bags, I hope that they aren't tricking you like the BMW Z4. I checked the Z4's trunk, and it's kind of true that you can fit two golf bags. But they meant two small/light golf bags without any clubs sticking out from the end. Let's just say that the only way I can put my golf bag in a Z4, is in the passenger seat. So I'm hoping that the trunk of the RX-8 isn't the same way.

 

Did he sit in the driver's seat? I'm 6'3" and that's the only thing holding me back. I'm afraid I won't be comfortable like in the 2nd gen (Where I need the seat all the way back and tilted back some).

 

You needed to ask the blond lady to open the truck up with the key. It is larger than I expected. There is no spare in there so there is plenty of room.

2 golf bags will fit, as long as you are Japanese and your clubs are sized accordingly.:D

 

Hey, Puppy1. I believe we met today, did we not? Anyways, that's true, the truck does have more space than i expected.

 

Unfortunately, with the battery unplugged, the drivers seat wouldn't budge. I'd say that it would be a pretty tight fit, pending on your build.

 

It is not a tight fit. I'm 5'11", I sat in the back with no problem, having adjusted the front seat to where I'd drive with it.

In the back there was a good 3 inches of head room, and enough room to side my feet 2 inches front to back.

Now, if you adjust the seats all the way back, of course there isn't going to be enough room in the back...

 

yeah, this ain't no Maybach you know :p

have you seen those things??? it's like a lay-z-boy lounge chair in the back, what with the tilting seat back and FOOTREST!!!

 

If you need seriuos rear seat legroom in a small vehicle, check out the "box on wheels" Scion (from Toyota). You can kick back in that thing.

 

I had 2 friends (their both photographers-so I hope to see some images soon) in LA call me from the LA auto show, say the same thing. One is 6'1" and the other is 5'6" and the shorter friend said he felt very cramped.

I told him that all I cared about was useing the rear seats for my children (in carseats) and he said get a vibe/matrix!

But I want my RX-8!

They did like the lines of the car, and thought that by having 4-doors the insurance should be lower than a 2-door sports car ...
I just need to see one for myself ...

 

Its not cramped, its just that there is not much too see out of. Having people crowded around the car blocking the windows while your sitting in it contributes to the enclosed feeling.

 

You didn't give me your online name so I guess we did.

The car sure is better in person isn't it!!!

 

Sure it is. But i still have to see the green and the grey metallic in person to decide which one i'm getting.

 

Rear seat room can't be that bad... even my Corolla GT-S has adequate rear seat room for my 5'11" frame, with a similarly sized friend in the front seat.

Maybe some of you are expecting too much? This isn't a sedan remember... it's a 4-seat sports car.

Maybe we should all be going into our "Rx-8 rear seat experiences" with thoughts of the FC 2+2 rear "seats" fresh in our minds. :D

 

As long as two chicks fit back there with no problem, I'm good to go.:p