So, I sent off another email to Mazda about whether the option packages would be adjusted for 2005 (leather w/o moonroof). Anyway, the answer is still no, unfortunately. I am impressed, though, that they remembered that I had written before.

Also, even if Mazda won't appease us, it looks like there are some aftermarket options...

Leather installed:
Aftermarket leather interior

First try contacting Mazda:
Jan 15th attempt

Second try:

Dear Matthew,

Thank you for again contacting Mazda North American Operations.

Per your last e-mail, we realize that you prefer the RX-8 without a
Moonroof. As Lisa had mentioned at that time, we did document your
suggestion for future product planning.

According to the upcoming specifications for the 2005 RX-8 combinations,


there will be no combination or package changes. While we regret that
your preferences may not be met, you may wish to consider this awesome
rotary machine WITHOUT leather seats or a moonroof.

If you're in the market for an RX-8 like that, Mazda's Friend @ Mazda
Team can help get you behind the wheel. Contact our team directly at
(800) 639-1000 or friendatmazda@mazdausa.com. This is a totally free,
totally friendly service! Give them a call... they're always happy to
help.

Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to
assist you. Please feel free to reply to this message with any further
questions or comments.

Please take a moment to give us your opinion about our e-mail service.
Click or paste the link below to complete a brief, online survey.


Original Message Follows:
------------------------


Form Message

First Name: Matthew
Last Name: Vaillant
Title: Mr.
Subject1: Product Information
Subject2: Vehicle Specifications & Features
Model: RX-8
Message Body: Hello, I am a current Mazda owner (Miata) and am looking
to get an RX-8. I recently went to a dealership to look at them and am
very impressed. However, the addition of the moonroof to the car reduces
the amount of headroom significantly. What I am wondering is if the RX-8
will be available with leather and without a moonroof for the 2005 model
year. In my research for the car, it appears that in many other markets
(such as Canada) you can buy a leather interior RX-8 without a moonroof,
so hopefully this can be done for the upcoming model year. Thanks, Matt



~ Matt

 

shoulda drank more coffee when you were young :D

 

Don't knock cloth. It's more comfortable in hot and cold extremes. I do wish the cloth interior used some color contrast though, to brighten up the interior a little.

Nice custom job on that thread.

 

Yeah, yeah...I'm not that tall. 6'2". Besides, even if I did fit, having all that extra weight on the very top of the car doesn't appeal to me, either. Plus, I've found that on cars I've driven with a moonroof (sunroof? What's the difference, anyway?!) I don't use it very much. A convertible, on the other hand...

~ Matt

 

Depends on whether you have seat warmers for the cold...

 

Matt,
Time to reconsider that buying trip to Canada! :D Fly up to Vancouver, nice drive down the coast to break it in...

Regards,
Gordon

 

I would go with Gordons advice. This is a beautiful time of year to travel down the coast and Vancouver is a place you will always want to visit. I love that town.

 

It have always baffeled me that what is
"unavailabe" in the US is readily available in Canada and vise versa .
I like your choice I've got a GT with out moon roof

 

I half thought about it, but I don't think I can get the S-plan price up there and I believe it's a hassle to get a car registered in California from another area (especially another country!).

One of these days, I would like to go visit Canada. One day...

(In the meantime, I just got the Strange Brew DVD, so that'll have to do.)

 

Maybe not, but besides your car without sunroof you'll get some extra goodies including:
- daytime running lights
- 6 CD changer
- headlight washers

what else, folks?

and since you're into loosing excess weight, no TPMS wheel units!

rx8cited

 

If you dontwant the moonroof but you want leatherseats you can always buy a sports package Rx8and then havecustom leather installed that looks identicalto the factory leather at a shop recommended by one of the dealers. I think I read2or 3 posts already where peoplehave done that. I believethey mentioned it cost around 2 grand whichis basically the price difference between thesports package and the GT package. Also ifyou buy the sports package you donthave to worry about hearingthe Bose sound system which actually sounds worse thanthe stock sound system butdont take my word for it. You can read the audio forum formore information about that.

 

I know leatherseats.com charges around $600 for a full set of skins, front and back. Good quality stuff, and not hard to do yourself, or pay an upholstery shop a reasonable amount to do it for you.

Dale

 

Matt:
I totally agree that you are too tall for the moon roof. At 6'1", I'm brushing up against the roof in my car, and I'd certainly be more comfortable with that extra 1 1/2 inches. Of course, the down side of custom leather is that you give up the heated seats and heated mirrors, which may or may not be a concern to you. In any case, I think you should stick to your guns and not buy an 8 with the moonroof. Surely someone on this forum could help you navigate how to get a Canadian car into California. It would be interesting to know what something like that would cost, and how the exchange rates play, either for you or against you. I'm guessing that it's import duties that makes the deal unworkable...

Although the U.S. RX-8 package options are disappointing to taller drivers, we should at least give cudos to Mazda NA for keeping your original letter on file and responding to you as if they actually cared. In general, that's consistent with the way I've been treated when I've dealt with them. In fact, if my 8 keeps running as well as it has, if flooding doesn't raise its ugly head again and if the gas mileage shows improvement, my next car may be a re-released RX-7.

 

Hi all,

I've just recently been introduced to the RX8 as I'm on vacation now and rented one for a week! Am having a blast with it, but I must say, I'm only 5'7" in heigth and I'm having trouble with my hair/head touching the ceiling with the sunroof that is in there.

I now am very much considering purchasing an RX8, but am troubled by it not being available with all the goodies and not the sunroof. That just doesnt seem right, considering that I'm not even that tall and am having problems with it

BillyC

 

It's more about torso length than height (although the two are related). In other words, even if you are short, if you've got Calvin's proportions (of Calvin and Hobbes) you're going to have headroom problems.

One thing, though...did you adjust the seat all the way down? Both the manual and power seats have height adjustments.

- Matt

 

hmmm, I'm 6'4" with the moonroof, don't ride deep, and I have no problems. I have an equal distribution of my legs and torso though.

 

Same here, but I drive with the seat reclined more than most would (got used to it in my RX-7), and I have short hair :D