Hello friends! I am thinking in buying a rx-8 but despiting the fuel and oil consume, there is one thing that worries me: I have heard that it is very hot inside due to the heat coming from the engine. Could any of the owners confirm if this is true?

 

it gets warm by the center tunnel going through the car

 

I haven't noticed excess heat. Wasn't the tunnel problem caused by an incorrectly mounted heat shield?

 

My 8 does get warm inside, but I would never call it 'very hot' or even say it gets to the point where it's uncomfortable. In 80 degree weather here in So. Cal., cruising with the windows down you'll want to run the fan on your feet to get some air to them.

The center console and cup holders get a little warm, but again it's nothing uncomfortable. My turbo Golf used to get just as warm inside. I think most of the interior heat comes from the big windshield and the black interior, especially the black leather, rather than the engine.

I had my windows tinted 'dark' all the way around and it helped a lot.

 

Originally posted by markpmm
FYI

Could this be your problem?

FRONT CUP HOLDER / CENTER CONSOLE BECOMES HOT
Applicable Models
Model Starting S/N Ending S/N
2004 RX8 00000000 40113124

Some customers may complain of the front cupholder area of the center console becoming hot after extended driving, causing cold drinks to warm. Due to the heat from the exhaust system (catalyst), the center console (cup holder area) becomes hot. This is due to insufficient insulation between the floor panel N cup holder. A insulation pad is available to reduce the heat transfer to the center console. 1. Remove the upper panel, hole cover (cigar lighter) and storage box from the vehicle. (See WSM 9-17-8) 2. Remove the six screws from the upper panel and remove the rear onsole. (See WSM 9-17-8,9) 3. Attach the heat insulater pad to the bottom of the front cup holder in the rear console removed at the above step NOTE: Be sure to attach the heat insulator pad so that the bottom of the cup holder is wrapped. 4. Re-install the parts reverse order of removal. Parts information: F151-55-161 Heat insulator pad

 

flatso, That sounds like my problem, but it doesn't bother me to the point where I want to rip out my center console to fix it. I don't want to risk any sqeaks or rattles that can occur from removing interior panels.

 

Yes, that's the problem and the current production of RX 8's already have this repair so a new buyer doesn't have to worry about that.

You might not want to fix it now, but if my car is any indicator, it is already becoming uncomfortable at 70 out, when it hits a 100 I am not going to be a happy guy with a heater next to me.

My only problem is that when I took the car to the dealer my genius dealer had never heard of the fix. True jerks those guys, but oh well, I've found a new dealer to work with.

 

They got the heat problem sorted out by September of 2003.
All RX-8s built after that are insulated.
I have no measurable warmth coming from anywhere inside my 8 except the heater vents (when they are on and set to heat).

 

I have a September 2003 car and it is not overly warm. I was worried about this, but the temp is ok and the air seems to work well. We had our first 80 degree Carolina day last week.

 

IMO, it doesn't get hotter than other cars with black interiors.

Durahl

 

Get tinted windows

 

Geez, I just got my 8 A/C fixed last week and now I read this. I was on a few hour trip yesterday mostly on RT295 and the center tunnel was really hot. I had to stick a towel between me and the tunnel.

Ugg, back to the dealer....

 

Bought mine in December, so it was probably built somewhere around September. The console / cupholder area isn't particularly hot but the part of the "floor" that's immediately to the right of my right foot, the "wall" that comes up from the floor to the console, gets freaking toasty. I've already expressed some doubts about the a/c and it's not gotten Houston-nasty yet. We'll see....

 

My Porsche 944's center area got a LOT hotter than my RX-8, but on the other hand, my Rx-8 was made in Dec, so the fix is already in it.