Subtle difference between US Spec and Aus Spec RX-8
10-15-2004, 04:45 PM
#1
Subtle difference between US Spec and Aus Spec RX-8
When I was recently in rxeighters home town, and drove his Winning Blue RX-8 for the second time, I noticed something a little different about it.
Not an obvious thing like being LHD, and something I wouldn't normally notice in the US. You see, I my driving over there, I am not as used to using the mirrors as I am am in RHD cars. The subtle, automatic things to do have to re-learned, and you get a slightly wierd sensation. Like the main rearview mirror - you have to glance up to the right to use it, instead of up the "natural" up to the left action I am used to. Even more so, I found I did not use the "off-side", or passengers side mirror as much.
But when I cam to back the RX-8 back into it's little home in rxeighters garage, I noticed something. I had difficulty using the mirror to judge if I was straight with the garage wall. Why? Because the US Spec "off-side" mirror is the "wide-angle" design - you know "Objects are closer than they appear", and the angles are all distorted.
Now, as far as I have seen, the AUS Spec RX-8's have a normal "true" mirror for the passenger side mirror. Interesting. It is not as though they are outlawed by ADR's or anything here - I mean my AUS built Commodore had such a wide-angle mirror.
Anyway - I thought you might be all interested in this little bit of trivia.
Cheers,
Hymee.
Not an obvious thing like being LHD, and something I wouldn't normally notice in the US. You see, I my driving over there, I am not as used to using the mirrors as I am am in RHD cars. The subtle, automatic things to do have to re-learned, and you get a slightly wierd sensation. Like the main rearview mirror - you have to glance up to the right to use it, instead of up the "natural" up to the left action I am used to. Even more so, I found I did not use the "off-side", or passengers side mirror as much.
But when I cam to back the RX-8 back into it's little home in rxeighters garage, I noticed something. I had difficulty using the mirror to judge if I was straight with the garage wall. Why? Because the US Spec "off-side" mirror is the "wide-angle" design - you know "Objects are closer than they appear", and the angles are all distorted.
Now, as far as I have seen, the AUS Spec RX-8's have a normal "true" mirror for the passenger side mirror. Interesting. It is not as though they are outlawed by ADR's or anything here - I mean my AUS built Commodore had such a wide-angle mirror.
Anyway - I thought you might be all interested in this little bit of trivia.
Cheers,
Hymee.
10-15-2004, 07:09 PM
#2
M0D Squad -charter member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, the top mounted radar detector kinda took you by surprise, if I remember correctly.
I am very mirror oriented, especially backing up. It is rare for me to look over my shoulder. The convex mirror is my friend.
I am very mirror oriented, especially backing up. It is rare for me to look over my shoulder. The convex mirror is my friend.
10-15-2004, 10:03 PM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Rotary God
Hymee is positioning himself for the crown of rotary god , in his quest so far he has produced the Hymee grill and Exhaust , the scan tool to read the WDR , and is working on delivering the Twin screw supercharger , Next thing he will be after your avatar and title HA HA HA :D
cheers
michael
Hymee is positioning himself for the crown of rotary god , in his quest so far he has produced the Hymee grill and Exhaust , the scan tool to read the WDR , and is working on delivering the Twin screw supercharger , Next thing he will be after your avatar and title HA HA HA :D
cheers
michael
10-16-2004, 12:52 AM
#6
Originally Posted by Lock & Load
Rotary God
Hymee is positioning himself for the crown of rotary god , in his quest so far he has produced the Hymee grill and Exhaust , the scan tool to read the WDR , and is working on delivering the Twin screw supercharger , Next thing he will be after your avatar and title HA HA HA :D
cheers
michael
Hymee is positioning himself for the crown of rotary god , in his quest so far he has produced the Hymee grill and Exhaust , the scan tool to read the WDR , and is working on delivering the Twin screw supercharger , Next thing he will be after your avatar and title HA HA HA :D
cheers
michael
Cheers,
Hymee.
10-16-2004, 01:33 AM
#8
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Gold Coast Australia
Posts: 3,535
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by thew
we have bigger heads overe here so we need that special mirror : )
cheers
michael
10-16-2004, 04:10 AM
#10
New Member
I just look at the mirror myself.
Maybe you are right Hymee. But how come I still think they are smaller than my rear mirror.
My shitty old Camry have a very wide angle mirror and on it says "this mirror show images which is closer than it appears"... now I think it is a wide angle mirror.
Maybe you are right Hymee. But how come I still think they are smaller than my rear mirror.
My shitty old Camry have a very wide angle mirror and on it says "this mirror show images which is closer than it appears"... now I think it is a wide angle mirror.
10-16-2004, 08:24 PM
#12
New Member
Well Hymee - look at the Avatar.
My eyes are very small. So every thing is small to me - I can't tell subtle differences! :D
My eyes are very small. So every thing is small to me - I can't tell subtle differences! :D
Last edited by takahashi; 10-18-2004 at 08:30 PM.
10-17-2004, 03:56 AM
#14
Shifty Bastard.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Must be the early cars Hymee....mine has a wide angle mirror on it. No disclaimer statement embossed on the glass, but it's a wide angle jobbie all the same.
Cheers, Gomez.
Cheers, Gomez.
10-17-2004, 03:57 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Brisvegas, Aust
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hymee, they are outlawed by ADR's. I suspect holden must have had a dodgy 'dealer-fitted' workaround or something. Ask anyone who's been through the drama of having a personal import picked up for the mirrors not meeting ADR's.
10-17-2004, 10:18 PM
#25
Shifty Bastard.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia.
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by rpm_pwr
Ah now I see. MY comprehension just caught up with me
Something to do with the build dates maybe?
Something to do with the build dates maybe?
Gomez.