I've been thinking about getting an 8. One thing I've wondered about—seems like some cars, like the Mini Cooper and the GTI, have what's known as a good "greenhouse"—big panoramic windows and low window sills that let you see out very well, and let lots of light into the cabin. At the other extreme, cars like the Audi TT Coupe have smallish "slit" windows which make for a darker, more enclosed feeling. Sitting in a TT I kinda felt like I was sitting in a bathtub or a tank.

What's the 8 like? (By the way, I know about the rear visibility/blind spots; that's not an issue for me. And I don't mind if the cabin feels cozy; I have a Miata and that's never bothered me either.)

 

I went from a hugh Dodge Intrepid to the 8. I felt a little cozy for about a day. Now I love it.

 

I guess this may depend on how tall you are. I'm 5'9" and I have to push the seat back all the way to be comfy. The "snug" factor is pretty tight in there but it helps when you're zig-zagging thourgh curves. Have you tried sitting in one?

 

Not as bad as the TT, but not as good, say, as a Scooby STi. Then again, there is the matter of the hood scoop and rear deck wing...

 

One other thing - the A pillar is just a bit too wide for my tastes, especially when taking off camber corners - they seem to like to hide pedestrians, Smart cars, that sort of thing.

 

if you feel fine in a Miata, you'll be more than fine in the 8

 

i'm 6'4" and my last car was a ROOMY '86 plynouth gran fury and i find the 8 to be a comfortable size. i wouldnt want to be the guy sitting behind me because i push the seat all the way back, but ive never felt like i was squeezed in.

 

it might feel cramped at first, but you will find that it fits like a glove and everything is where it needs to be

 

I get lots of light in the cabin-- I always have the inner-lid of the moonroof open.

 

I too am 6'4" and have the sunroof and while it is a cozy fit, I never feel boxed in or cramped. The visibility out of the car without the spoiler is very good, the blind spot is smaller than on the WRX I left. I test drove a GTO, Mustang, 350Z and G Sedan and Coupe along with the 8, I felt the tightest in the GTO and the Mustang, the Japanese cars just had better layouts and more room for my large frame. Find a dealer that still hase some left over 2005's, getting harder and harder every day and sit in and drive one, they should offer you one heck of a deal. Just remember to post pics of it when you buy it, trust me, you will.

 

Nice... My last car was a '97 Miata. I'm 6'3", and have been nothing but comfortable in both cars. I don't see the high sills as "closed in", but more like "secure". They're really not THAT high anyways, they just look it. There's plenty of head, leg, and shoulder room anyways.

 

how old are you?? i mean if you worrina about the light coming into your car and such im guessin you close to blind... shouldnt be drivin at all. unless is a convertible.

 

you guessin wrong. i gots 20-15 vision... most people preferrin more light not less. im figurin you wont get it... its a human thing.

 

You have got to be kidding me! Push the seat all the way back? I'm 5'9" and if I pushed the seat all the way back I could barely push the clutch in all the way. Have you conisdered that your driving position is possibly incorrect and dangerous? My friend who's 6"3 / 270 pounds has a hard time fitting even with the seat all the way back.

 

only 1 way to find out, go test drive one already!!!

 

Whao...you're a huge 5'9er.

 

What about rear-visibility and blindspots?

I can practically see everywhere when I'm in my car.

It's the matter of driver's adaption to the car.

Knowing how to work rearview mirror with sideview mirrors

I can see all around the car

 

Rear visibility is going to be compromised by the smallish rear glass. Blindspots are where they always are - where you make them.

The "B-pillar" seems to like to hide things, but pushing the driver's side mirror out helps. However, the line of sight of both mirrors is fairly short, even if it is fairly wide - which means that if you're going through an elevation change through a corner, you'll have to do shoulder check to "look up" or "look down" to truly clear the sides.

 

Having the sunvisor on and off can give u very different light intensity. However this car has lots of blindspots, try turning your head over your shoulders when you try to get out of a junction diagonally, you can't see ****.

 

You mean the "sunvisor". It doesn't really stop the rays, does it?

 

he should just go test drive one and forget about what we said or have to say. make his own conclusions, this car sells itself. im sure he will feel the force and forget about the gay miata.

 

Almost correct. He should forget about what you all said or have to say, and take anything -I- say as Incontrovertible Truth.

 

Does it feel a little "closed in"?

No.

 

I agree, it's not closed in. I'm 6'1 and the car has the moon-roof and I fit fine. I want to see this 5'9" guy. I drive with the seat about two inches forward of all-the-way-back. I can't imagine someone with theoretically 2 inches less leg (assuming 50% of the 4 inch differential between 69 inches and 73 inches is accounted for in leg length) could drive the dang thing with the seat all the way back.

Blind spot- as someone said, probably where you make them, although I have hell "finding" people on my passenger side rear. A car with its nose about even with the middle of my quarter-panel is invisible in my mirror and I've got the mirror set as wide as it will go. Has almost led to several near-misses. Thank god they taught us to turn our head and look in driver's education 30 something years ago.

Rear view - I have no spoiler and I can see MORE than I want to through the rear window of the car.

My complaint - no comfortable position for my feet. My accelerator leg is under tension at all times, like there's no place to rest it so it can relax. If I switch to cruise, there's still no spot on the floor that feels truly comfortable. Probably just me, but that's my only disappointment when it comes to comfort features in the car....

 

Not closed in at all for the driver. Rear-seat passengers, on the other hand, can get a bit woozy after awhile from lack of visual reference.