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Becoming one with your 8!

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Old May 25, 2004 | 02:35 PM
  #1  
Rotary Nut's Avatar
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From: Newport News, Va
Cool Becoming one with your 8!

Okay guys and gals how long do you find yourself actually taking to get comfortable with things like ergonomics (seat position) and just overall acceptance with your 8. Like operating controls without actually looking at them ect. Getting comfortable with seat,mirror and steering wheel position, developing entry and exit movements, things like that.

I find that it takes me about 6 months where I am happy with the ergonomics and the cars overall behavior.

How long does it take you?

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm Hummmmmmmmmmmmmm

Last edited by Rotary Nut; May 25, 2004 at 08:32 PM.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 02:37 PM
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It took me about a week or two before I felt like driving the car came naturally. Though as far as seats, I really haven't messed with the much since the first day I got it.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 02:39 PM
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It took about a month to really feel like home.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 02:59 PM
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it took me three weeks just to get to a perfect spot in my chair...lets just say if i ever let anyone drive her they better like how my seat is arranged. but yeah i'm comfortable with my rx8 but im not one with her yet, ive tried driving with TCS off to see what the limits are, i dont think you can truly know your car till you know its break points, to know what you cannot do, and so far it 'can' do a lot, so i think it'll be 2 or 3 more months before i can say that when i get in, i'm no longer myself, i'm part of the machine.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 04:02 PM
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From: Dutchess, New York
Well, Ive had my 8 for about a lil over a month, and I am just now getting comfortable driving it. The seats didnt take me too long but since my previous car was a Honda, the clutch, gears, power and just control is alot different which is what has taken time to adjust. Actually just this morning, I had to move my Honda and let me tell you that I would never want to get in that thing again and thats huge for me to say cause my Honda was my baby. But I have a new baby now and Im not lettin her go.........
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Old May 25, 2004 | 04:15 PM
  #6  
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Yep about 4 weeks to really start taking the corners quickly and not lose friction, not think about shift points, and stop rubber clutching all together.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 04:41 PM
  #7  
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From: VA
The most difficult thing for me, in ANY car, is getting the perfect seating position. With the 8 I am almost there after 3 months but I haven't been driving it on a daily basis.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 04:48 PM
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I'm still not 100% comfortable with the car yet but it's getting there. The buttons still takes a bit of getting used to, ergonomics are not Mazda's forte for sure.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 06:17 PM
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It took me about 3 months

but I move the seats by accident every time I clean the interior
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Old May 25, 2004 | 07:11 PM
  #10  
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9 months now, soon I will be familiar with the trunk opener :D
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Old May 25, 2004 | 08:13 PM
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
Originally posted by ptiemann
9 months now, soon I will be familiar with the trunk opener :D
That thing seems to be tucked away ... pretty far away... I have to get out, bend over and look to see where it is... I popped the hood once when it was dark outside... lol....

I'm still getting used to the car, I don't have the giddy, can't believe it's actually mine feeling anymore, pretty much feel right at home, still learning some of the controls for the nav/radio but there's plenty of time for that... I've also driven with the DSC off to find how the car really handles. So far I haven't scared myself, so I don't know where the limits of the car are. Maybe I'm just getting old but I just enjoy driving the 8 around and find I don't drive as fast as I used to.... but I can when I want to.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 08:59 PM
  #12  
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Took me about 10 minutes to feel one with my RX8. In fact, it was on the first test drive that I knew it was right. I've had an '84 RX7 and a '93RX7; maybe being used to those made the RX8 feel like hand-in-glove in the cockpit. I only went for a test drive on a Saturday afternoon as nothing else was going on, but I knew within that first 10 minutes that it was "just right".

Handling wasn't as tight (er, I mean brutal) as the '93 RX7; that was a clear improvement noticed on the first interstate ramp.

All told, this is, yes, the RX8 is a powerful car with superior handling. But it hasn't gone so far as to forget that people ride in it. A joy to drive every day; don't mind running errands to anywhere any more.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 09:40 PM
  #13  
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I got the ergonomics very quickly, seat position took me about a week, shift points and corners about a month.

About the trunk, there is an open trunk button on the keyless entry that is just much easier to use than the trunk release inside. I really only add or remove stuff from the trunk right before I start up or after I shut down the car, so that isn't a problem. You can also be lazy like me and just throw stuff in the back seat. The only thing I am not used to is the dipstick, still not used to removing that. Otherwise it is just a mechanical extension of myself.
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Old May 25, 2004 | 10:00 PM
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I felt 'one' within a week... except for that darn moonroof! :D
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Old May 26, 2004 | 12:02 AM
  #15  
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From: Painesville, OH
Took me about an hour. Then I got back from the test drive and bought it.
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Old May 26, 2004 | 01:19 PM
  #16  
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From: The OC
Took me about 6 months to get comfortable in the seat and then I realized that I'm only comfortable when I take my wallet outta my pocket...
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