Sorry if some of this is redundant info...

I attended the Mazda Rev-It-Up event here last weekend, and just thought I'd pass along a few observations on the RX-8, which I saw there in metal, for the first time. (I didn't do very well in the competition, so I'm not gonna elaborate on that. I had fun, got the bitter taste of day-to-day traffic out of my mouth, and learned a few things anyway)

Plenty of head and leg room in the driver's seat. (no sunroof) I'm 6'2". (long legs though) I would imagine a 6' 5 incher would have no problems either.

With the front seat all the way back, I couldn't fit in the seat behind it, without a lot of knee and foot interference. I was ok when the front seat was moved up a few notches though. Enough head room in the back too.

The trunk size looks pretty decent, all things considered. It does have more room from front to back than pictures I've seen of it indicate. (I'm thinking a full size wheel and tire would fit into it) Good sized pass-thru.

Doors have pretty good opening and closing precision. Probably not up to Mercedes standards however.

The oil filter is easy to see, (with cover removed) but may need a wrench to reach in and loosen it, or tighten it fully.

The lower front end looks like it would be effective at scooping up snow. (for those of us that need to be concerned about that)

I didn't witness the car running, but sitting in the driver's seat, with the clutch in, shifting was nice and smooth, and positive. (and, reverse was accessed by pushing down and over. C'mon, I couldn't be the only one who has zinged reverse trying to downshift to fourth!)

I asked the rep there about the rear lip spoiler on the car, and he said it's an option. I told him the only spoiler I saw on the list was the arch kind, and he seemed a bit bewildered.

I like the leather, but I'm glad I'm getting the cloth. (grip!)

The car looks beautiful! Better in person, than in any photos I've seen. Winning Blue looks darker, in the dark tent anyway. Maybe it looks light in some cases because it has a lot of silver flek in it? Fit and finish looked great also.

Does anyone else think the "flying m" badges on the front and rear are too big? Mazda must be very proud of this car! (as they should be)

I annoyed the reps by saying "look, they built this one, couldn't they have built mine and sent it over at the same time?" Then, Monday, I got an e-mail saying mine has been built, and is being shipped from Hiroshima. See how important a positive mental attitude is?

 

I like your line...."see how important a positive mental attitude is?"

You line made me LOL because the folks on this forum have a hard time staying positive....

 

I think most of us are positive, but we've been broken down bit by tiny bit. Now that it's getting closer and closer the anticipation is killing us...kinda like a virgin going to his/her first drive-in movie?:D :D

 

see now you're dating yourself- how many of the young-uns on this board are even going to know what a "drive-in" is. might as well have said something about "cassette tapes"

 

...or maybe...8 tracks...whoaa Nelly, I remember them, actually I think I may have even owned some ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....see what you've done now Zoom.:D :D

 

"I didn't witness the car running, but sitting in the driver's seat, with the clutch in, shifting was nice and smooth, and positive. (and, reverse was accessed by pushing down and over. C'mon, I couldn't be the only one who has zinged reverse trying to downshift to fourth!)"

Yes, you are the only one!

Good post, thanks for your impressions.

D-san

 

cassettes, or 8-track tapes, or transistor radios, or 45 RPM 'records' or 33 1/3 RPM albums, or even 78RPMs, or ... when black and white TV was the only TV around, or Snickers were a nickle...

oh, BTW, I'm still positive about everything RX-8 related that I'm aware of. Sure, the preorder program has had a few hitches and of course I made sure my dealer had my order in correctly as much as I could (which I know didn't work for everyone) and I know there are some who ordered at the same time and ended up in 2nd allocation and missing the first boat - but for a first time for this type of program and realizing some dealers are pretty much internet and computer-challenged, I think it's gone well. and... my RX-8 is on it's way and it WILL get here, maybe sooner than the 'June-August' timeframe Mazda gave us back in January. Not bad, I think.

 

You forgot 16 rpm albums!! When I was a kid (late 60s), the local public library had books on 16 rpm LPs (like the books on cassette or CD now). I remember listening to Sherlock Holmes stories...

(boy, do I feel old right now...

Regards,
Gordon

 

I'm still going to have to wait on this one. I mentioned I sat in one of the pre-production models traveling the auto show circuit at the Denver Auto Show. I'm 6'1 with a long torso and did not fit (my hair was in the headliner.)

My local dealer has promised to let me sit in the first one that comes in as soon as they get it so I can tell for sure.

Agree with you 100% on the (non-running) shifter, though. Short, precise, felt nice, but not quite as nice as the shifter in the S2000 which, in my book is still #1 (better than the BMW M3, Porsche Boxster and 911 and a whole raft of others...)

 

My co-driver (6'4") sat in the 2 RX-8's that tour with the Rev-it-up events. The sunroof car touched his head (as in BillK's example) with the seat in ANY position, but he could fit in the non-sunroof car even with his helmet on. We autocross a Miata together (unlimited headroom), but we were concerned about a "fixed" roof for his height.

He adjusted the seat until it was comfortable for him, then got out of the car, put his helmet on, and got back in the car. I was in the back while he sat in the front - I was comfortable while sitting, but could not get out without assistance (I am 5'10") because my feet were far enough under the seat that I had to turn them fully sideways to get out.

Anyway, he had NO trouble with the non-sunroof car (see attached picture).

FYI

 

omg... is that martin frasier? hahahahaha.

 

Funny looking video!!

 

ROFL...hahahahah:D :D

 

Thanks - that's rather reassuring, especially considering that if I place an order it will probably be the first non-sunroof car they see (all of their orders to date are for the GT package, and they have said I'd forfeit my deposit if I didn't take delivery of a Sport, as, like many dealers, they believe they won't be able to sell one without the moonroof...)

 

Anyone know the mazda part number for the in dash 8 track? I've got a few laying around I want to listen to.

 

Hmmm... funny looking Video...