Having just purchased my red 8 and looking at yet MORE pictures of this thing of beauty it finally occoured to me what was looking a bit funny...

Right hand side or Left hand side driving position aside, the park brake is always on the right side of the console? I would have thought they would have switched them over too.

Anyways, the position for me is good so I can't complain.

Now all i have to do is sit tight and wait till my 8 is ready for me to drive away with. :D

 

Same applies to the footwells. US cars have plenty of footwell space for drivers, but less for passengers... I'm actually glad it is the way we have it in Australia, as I don't notice the lack of space as a driver, but it's great to have it when you're passenger (e.g. on long drives when you switch drivers - nice to have plenty of room to stretch out).

Congrats on the purchase... excellent choice of colour :D

When did you order? When does it arrive? (curious to see what impact the factory fire may have had).

 

that's easy.. they do it to save money on production..

there's no reason to make a whole new setup and mold of the console(sp?) when it works fine the way it is..

that is one thing i don't like on the 8..the e-brake..both position and angle..one of the very few complaints..

 

The only thing I have an issue with is the design...... I even asked the Mazda guys if they have an alternative...... alas.. I've got the P shaped handbrake with everyone else!

 

Has anyone noticed when the car is parked out in the sun for a while on a ahot day how soft and mushy the park brake handle becomes, could have used a more thermo stable plastic

 

It's a thermoplastic - it gets softer as it gets warmer. If they used a thermosetting resin it would stay hard when warm, but then motoring writers would complain about the cheap hard plastics. Also, I think these days any car going into the EU has to have plastics which are recyclable. That would seem to put out thermosetting resins and reaction resins like polyurethane and epoxies, and favour thermoplastics like polypropylene, ABS, and PVC (although they don't like PVC much these days).

 

Damn Labrat.... I always gotta get out my dictionary when I read your posts. That must be your quota for big words this week. :D :D :D

 

Went and purchased the showroom model they had on the floor. Came with the mazda options of side skirts, wing, metal fuel cap, fender strakes, custom mats and leather pack in black.

As it was an Aug 2004 build, I got a good deal. I think it has 6km on the dial.

Nojooc was the sales guy and we had a good chat, and i got to check out his 8 as well.

So pending finance approval (it's going to be my company car), I should be driving it by the end of this week :D

 

Actually - have you ever driven a Tribute? The hand brake lever is on the "other" side for us, but on the "correct" side for the LHD crowd. Slightly awkward. But I never really noticed it a problem when I drive rxeightr's car when I am stateside. Wierd - I thought it would be a bit of a pain.

Wooo hoooo!

Cheers,
Hymee.