My personal letter to Mazda...
1. Keep it light - nothing kills the driving pleasure of a car than weight! Even if that means getting rid of the electronic gizmos that we'll only play with for the first week of owning the car and then never touch, including:
GPS
Electric seats
Seat warmers
Trip computer
etc.

Mechanical seats with high-quality mechanisms will suffice for me. If you must put in electric seats, make them with a memory feature for different drivers.

GPS systems are useless in Canada so far, for most of the systems I've tried in various cars (especially DVD-based). A map is just as good and saves several pounds and meters of wiring!

Seat warmers are ok, but only really necessary with leather seats. Which brings me to point #2...

2) Cloth seat option. I like leather seats, but they are slippery, and hot in the summer/cold in the winter. In a sports car, I much prefer cloth seats. Leather inserts are ok. All the photos of the '8 show the car has leather, so if cloth seats are out of the question, please give the seats aggressive bolstering to keep me in them! Maybe do the body-colour inserts in the seats in cloth?

3) Give the shifter the same feel as in the Miata. Haven't found a car yet that beats it. If its the same design as the Miata 'box, please make the lower shift boot less suseptable to tearing.

4) I've heard there will be two trim levels. The lower trim level is rumoured to have 215 HP and 16" wheels and less options. I want the 250 HP version with the 18" wheels, but I don't want a lot of options forced on me to get the high-performance version (see my first point above).

5) The pics I've seen of the gauges show them glowing in blue. The pics I've seen of the center stack (radio, ventilation controls, etc.) show them glowing in red. I realize things are still being finalized, but could you make them both glow in the same colour? I like red, but you have to be careful to choose a level of illumination that doesn't cause eye fatigue when you do guages in red. Blue is fine too. On a similar note, please leave the guage faces black as they are. White guage faces seem to be the rage right now, and they look good on some cars, but I think black suits the '8 better.

6) Stereo system. It looks to be integrated (i.e. hard to upgrade without buchering the looks of the center stack). If thats the case, just make it high quality! I'd also like tweeters mounted in the A-pillar or dash for a better sound image (I'm guessing the mid-range speakers are in the kick panels or doors). A single subwoofer in the rear deck (a la RX-Evolv) would suffice and not add too much weight. If no subwoofer, 4 high-quality 6.5" or oversize 6" speakers might be ok. A good sound system makes a good drive great.

7) If its possible to make a pass-thru in the rear seats (or even have them fold down) that'd make the RX-8 an even more pratical sports car.

8) Keep the seats low to the floor and the car low-slung overall. There is just something about a nearly-straight legged driving position that screams sporty...

9) Colours: I like yellow, but I'm sick of attracting attention by the police. I love the gun-metal grey in the new Mazda SE this year, and I think the '8 would look very nice in a shade such as that. I'd also like to see a red, dark blue, black, white, and maybe even a shade similar to Evolution Orange!

Hmmm, I guess thats it. If you really are reading this Mazda, kudos on the RX-8, and all the other winning products you've been coming out with lately! By the way, if you want someone to drive around the country promoting the car, please email me! My price is one RX-8 and some spending money... :D

 

I agree totally! I have 2 cents for the gauge light color. I drive a 2000 beetle that has gauges with a cool blue light that is really easy to see and all the emergency items glow red if needed. They are the best night gauges I have seen. Mazda should go that way.


This is from the GTI, but is similar.

 

Grimance, I’m surprised to hear you say that you are not a big fan of heated seats since you live in Canada. I’m a huge fan of heated seats and I don’t leave home without them on (in the winter of course). If they do put them on the 8 I just hope that they have an adjustable thermostat.

I would like to see the following as standard equipment:

Good sound system with speed sensitive volume
Radio/CD controls on the steering wheel
Rear wiper turns on automatically when shifted into reverse
Low windshield fluid warning light
Heated cloth seats (adjustable thermostat)
Heated mirrors
Speed sensitive wipers
Functional rear windows
Large glove box
Trunk pass through
Valet key
Dark tinted glass
Trunk net
Engine compartment light
Trunk light
Power everything (less seats)
Remote entry system (open/close doors, windows, moon roof)
Power accessory power delay after ignition turned off (30 seconds)

I would like to see the following as optional equipment:

Wheel/tire upgrade
Suspension upgrade
CD stacker
Moon roof (1st choice) or sun roof (2nd choice)
MX satellite radio (if available in Canada)
Tool kit built into the trunk
Heated leather seats with adjustable thermostat (quality leather breathes and does not get hot and cold with the weather)
GOOD security system

Things I do not want to see:

Automatic (learn to drive)
Digital gauges (enough said)
GPS (get a map, cheaper and lighter)
Power seats (too expensive and too much weight)
Small gas tank (my MX-3 has a 40 liter tank, too small)
Cheap cup holders (good ones or none at all)
Wagon (buy a Volvo)

That should just about do it... :D

 

I will chime in on the leather. Please please please make it perforated! The leather on the 2001+ Miatas is SO much better, as it acutally allows air to circulate and cool me off in the summer. Our 95 Millenia does not have perforated leather seats, and I truly thought I didn't want leather seats again. I still prefer cloth, however, we bought a RSX Type S and leather was standard. However, it WAS perforated, and that changed my entire perception on leather. I don't get all sticky when it is even remotely warm, and the seat design holds me in place really well.

Perforated leather is a must!! Seat warmers probably add .5 lbs at the most I'd guess. Put em in too

I'll agree with nearly everything said in the main post here. Well done.

 

I do like seat warmers. Maybe I'm overestimating how much extra weight they add. If it is only a minimal amount, I'm all for them! That said, I don't think they are a necessity on cloth seats, but nice. They definately are necessary on leather seats in our climate though.
I'll have to rethink heated seats. If the cost and weight additions are minimal, then I guess I'm for them!

 

Seat trim covers with heating elements embedded in the leather or cloth are very expensive to replace if you get a stain or tear.
Mazda knows that one from the Millenia. I seriously doubt we'll see heated seats. But expect a hi-power CD/MP3 audio deck.

 

I only realy need 4 things:

1. AC / Heater
2. A nice stereo (MP3 would be nice)
4. power windows
5. Cup Holder (I'm tired of holding my drink between my legs)

 

Styjan,
I love your avatar. Did you make that yourself??

 

"Rear wiper turns on automatically when shifted into reverse"

Why would you want this? Unless you mean it turns on if you have the wipers on & also are in reverse, that would make a bit more sense. I'd still rather hit a button, but that's just me.

I disagree with most people who have posted, I would like to see a sports package that comes with very little in the way of "comfort" or "convenience" items. Heated seats and mirrors? Those belong on a cold weather package, I don't want to pay an extra couple hundred bucks for 'em. Radio controls on the steering wheel, sub, advanced wipers, odd warning lights, etc. just add cost and don't change the driving experience. If Mazda is serious about making this a 4-door sports car, then they should have a sports package that has all of the performance features with manual seats, no-frills stereo, cloth seats, and nothing unnecessary that adds cost/weight. Mazda has an oppotrunity to redeem themselves from how they screwed up the Miata by intentionally making the most commonly desired features mutually exclusive. Do you believe that you can't get ABS on a base Miata? To get ABS you have to pay an extra $3,000 (U.S.) for things like cruise control, floormats, keyless entry, upgraded stereo, etc. If you want the sport suspension on a base Miata, you can't get keyless entry without spending that extra couple grand also.

I understand that they save money by creating packages of features that people will want together, but they use that excuse to justify stupid combinations as well. So, if Mazda's out there and they are serious about really making a true sports car, remember that a true sports car is about maximizing perfomance, and the driver and car becoming one. It's not about subwoofers, tinted glass, GPS, seats with a memory, and leather. Those things are fine and dandy as options, but should not be forced on the customers they currently claim they're trying to lure.

If it doesn't make me faster on the AutoX course, I don't want it.

 

No, I didn't create it, but I did shrink it down and removed a bunch of frames so it would be small enough for the forum rules.

I don't remember what site I got it from, but if you search Google for "rotary animations" you should find a bunch.


Edit 7/26/2002: Changed Avitar to one I did create from a mazda movie.

 

Some excellent suggestions; but as an audio fanatic I have to offer my opinions:

I don't know if I'd upgrade the stereo if I could. Outside of the fact (as Grimace said) that you'd have to butcher the console, I think it is really sharp looking. So...

Components, while not in the A-pillar, I'd say have kickpanels designed around holding a 5.25" or 6.5" component set.

Subwoofer: single 10" in a removable enclosure.

Actually, I know manufacturers want to integrate everything, but maybe we could just do a real high-quality head unit with just a set of preamp outs for us audiophiles...

===

Fold down rear seats: yay!! Maybe with a cover so we can pretend it's a two-seater when necessary?

And might I also add that I have always had a bit of trouble getting perfectly adjusted in a car. Do something to make either the pedals adjustable, the steering wheel telescope, or both. When I am comfortable on the clutch, I'm usually a bit too far from the wheel.

And on your #4, about packaging, I fully agree. Mazda, keep the packages simple and logical. A huge turnoff for me is a barrage of options, especially when you are required to get one to get another. (I just looked at a car - Sentra, I think it was - that required a $1,000 stereo to get a $400 moonroof, or something along those lines. It was such a turnoff, I didn't pay much attention.)

--jax

 

And, although listed in another thread, LSD!!

--jax

 

I also don't like the auto rear wiper in reverse. Can't see what purpose that would serve.

But yeah, I would like to see a lot of options available, meaning not much come stock. Also, no leather! please!

 

Maybe Mazda can take a lesson from BMW and the new MINI on option packages. While you can order the MINI with 3 defined packages (salt, pepper and chili. Whatever with the whole naming thing) you can also order every single option inependently. All of the MINIs you see driving around today are pre-spec, mostly with the chili pack.

 

While it's nice to have each option available independently, it can dramatically raise the price. Having most or all of the cars in certain "stock" configurations can realize significant savings. I just hope they put packages together that make sense. I would like one with all of the performance stuff and nothing else. A rear seat pass-through would be nice, but I suspect that if it's not already there it won't be added.

Just out of curiousity, who here has put down a deposit? I suppose I should start a new thread for my question about deposits...

 

There's nothing better than driving the appropriate car on the appropriate road with a manual trans. The ride a few spring seasons ago to Carmel and Hearst Castle in my '93 Miata is still vivid. Then we had two kids and moved onto a hill. The pick 'em up truck that I drive today is a 5 speed and can be a real pain to get to the top of the hill on a Friday afternoon with traffic . Slip the clutch, move forward 8', stop. Repeat 4-5 times before getting to the stop sign and multiply by 4 stop signs.

I can appreciate those of you that want the 6 speed. I really want it myself. But for my daily driver up my daily hill I think I'd prefer an automatic. It can even be an option or part of a 'lazy old man' package. Keep the stick standard to appease the masses but do provide an automatic option.

Move off the hill you say? Nah. Too good of a view!

 

I really hope they produce those 18" wheels. I think they work realy well with the car.


Also to respond to the above post. If the RX-7 came with an auto the RX-8 will too.

 

Hottrodder, it would be nice if there will be an automatic w/ the manual shift option (BMW and Steptronic)... Although it will dramtically raise the price and lose its sportiness. I doubt that Mazda will make one of these, but it would be great for me, because I live in a high traffic suburb and I have to climb a hll to school.

 

"I can appreciate those of you that want the 6 speed. I really want it myself. But for my daily driver up my daily hill I think I'd prefer an automatic. It can even be an option or part of a 'lazy old man' package. Keep the stick standard to appease the masses but do provide an automatic option."

HottRodder, on the website where you can order a free RX-8 CD, the movie being played has a Rx-8 with automatic, so chances are, Mazda is definately making automatic as an option.

 

People that drive automatic sports cars should be shot in the face repeatedly in public. When I see a car that I really like I always gawk and drool over it. But many a time of seen my favorites like 911 turbos, RX-7s, M3s, and even M5s in automatic and I loose all intersest. If it doesnt make that familiar engine noise sticks make, (VROOooouuUUMM..........RUUuuuuuuuuumm.......Rummm mm/and so on.((If you cant hear that in your head, then you mustnt drive a stick)I wont even look, its not a worthy car. Sure its still a 911, but its not the same, if a 911 cant be heal and toed, it shouldnt be driven at all. Its people like that that buy Automatic M3s that never take advantage of what its capable. Theyve never even seen 6 thousand RPM, and that makes me sick. But hey, dont get me wrong, Ive seen automatics being driven as hard as possibe, but still, it should be a rule, sports cars should always, be a 5 speed, even better yet, a 6 speed.

 

Spazzo, although i agree that a sports car should be a manual I have to agree more with HottRodder in the fact that not at all times does a manual work out for a person... so should that limit a person to what kind of car he or she should own... no, not at all. For now all I want is a manual, but I know that when I get a sports family car when I'm old and such my legs and reflexes may not be able to handle the manual.... just my .05

 

Again dont get me wrong, there are people that I can forgive for getting an automatic sports car. But my beef is with those that get sports cars for the wrong reasons. I cant tell you how angry it make me to a Boxster S driven granny style. I can tell you however, that Im angry alot, and since I live in Palm Beach FL, I just wanna slap these humans around. Theres nothing that makes me happier than seeing a 911 Turbo getting its *** kicked, because, he didnt buy it because it cost $120,000, he didnt buy it to keep it as silly weekend car, or a garaged bitch, he bought it to beet the living crap out it, and thats the way it should be.

 

"But many a time of seen my favorites like 911 turbos, RX-7s, M3s, and even M5s in automatic and I loose all intersest"

Spazzo, I don't think there is an auto trans is an option for the m5.

 

Yeah your right, I thought that since M3s come in auto, M5s did, however they dont, my bad. I was just looking searching for cars, I wouldve put a Mustang, but Cobras are all manuals, and I only like Cobras and other speciallty Mustangs. M5 just popped in my head, i know iknow, i suck.

 

you should take a few weeks to learn how to drive manual...then when the rx-8 comes out you will be ready...it will be worth it.. :D