Hi,
Thinking about going from my 300ZX to an RX8. I would like to hear some experience with carrying adults in the rear seat. Is it practical or just marketing?
Many thanks,
Harry

 

They really are usable, providing the passengers in front aren't too long-legged...

 

I am 6'3 and I can sit back there no problem. When I sit back there, my knees will almost touch the back of the driver's seat if it was set to my driving position. I don't suggest putting someone tall back there for long journeys. When you are in the back, you can't see very much because of the small quarter window and wide rear piller. I am not going to sugar coat about rear seating. It isn't your full-size Accord or Camry, but it is able to seat a 6+ footer. To get a honest opinion, go for a test drive. Goodluck.

 

I'd say the other posts sum it up well. I've taken friends for trips of 20-30 miles and the reactions were amazement about the comfort. On the other hand, like my Daddy said about dogs dancing...You don't ask how well they do it; it's amazing that they do it at all.

It's also important to remember that the backseat comfort depends to some extent on putting the passengers "down in" the seats to allow sufficient headroom. It's rather like being in a hole back there with little visibility. For trips around town the back seat is fine. For longer journeys, not so good.

Finally, I have found that the back seat is great for transporting a long-legged 70 lb dog. She doesn't complain since getting to go for a ride is a treat for her.

 

I had two guys in the back that were 6'2" or better. They said it was surprisingly comfortable, once in. The biggest issue they had was threading their feet past the front seats.

Also, it does help to not have really tall guys up front. There's actually more room in the back - I tend to put the shorties in front and the tall guys in back if I have to put four in the car.

Stew

 

I just got the car this past Tuesday and I am amazed at the room back there. I just had my mom, mom-in-law, and dad in the car and all of them stated how comfortable the car was. My mom and mom-in-law really liked the back seat.

I also took my sis-in-law and neice for a 45 minute drive and they both loved it too. My neice is less than 3 years old but she fell asleep real easy back there.

But, as stated above it's still a sports car. How big the front passengers are, how they position their seats, and how big are the rear passgners will all make a diff on how comfortable they are. For a sports car I give the rear seats a A, with the Pontiac GTO getting an A+.

The new mustang (2005) and G35 have less head room (way less) and less knee room. I hear the G35 has more knee room but not from what I felt sitting back there.

So, I think the RX8 rear seat comfort is pretty dang good for the size of the car. Just keep the bigger folks up front and the smaller ones in the back. Heck...that might work the other way around also...LOL

 

Yep, you can actually get four normal-sized adults in this car

 

Well, I had a 5"8 275lb guy in the back seat once. He said there was plenty of room. Hope that helps

 

Well, the wide enough debate is over with...LOL...not to make fun or something...

 

I'm with the others. Cross-country, no, but for local trips, full-size adults seem to be just fine in back. Definitely a usable back seat.

 

Definately Usuable--I was the ride for this weekends club hoppin excursion.

 

I THINK IT WORKS BETTER TO PUT THE SHORT LEGGED people in front and the longer legged people in back.

 

I sat in the back seat once with the driver being under 5' i think. She had the seat all the way up and says the seat's too low, hahaha. But damn, the back seat's HUGE!!

 

Carrying adults is fine. I took 3 coworkers to lunch one time and they said they were very comfortable. Hmm, wonder why they wanted me to drive?

As far as comfort is concerned, my 9 y.o. daughter regularly falls asleep back there, something she never does in other cars.

 

I rode in the back once and the visibilty bothered me, but I like to see where i'm going, the console did help, I leaned on it and looked through the front window.

I rarely have anyone back there we take the Avalanche for more than 2 people, but it's nice to have for a girls lunch out.

 

i sat in the back of a few during some test drives (we were running diagnostics and checking out the engine tune on a laptop) and it had some pretty good room for me.

 

A friend of mine is 6'1'' 240 and said it was comfortable in the rear seat. The ride was about 45 minutes long.

 

unrelated to your question, but...I had a friend in the front who is 6' 3'' about 350 lbs and he was CRAMMED in there...he couldn't even put on his seatbelt but if there was an accident he really had no where to go...I should have taken a picture

 

I just got back from a 9 hour road drive last night. For 7 hours from Vegas to L.A. (lot of "stop-n-go" in the desert!) there were 3 of us in my 8, each with luggage. I'm 6'2" with my seat positioned all the way back and with a nice reclined seatback. My friend who is like 6'4" and 280 sat in the passenger seat but had to keep it forward and not so reclined so that our friend who is 'bout 5'11" and 210 lbs or so could fit in the back seat with enough foot/leg room. Though our back seat passenger slept for most of the trip, he commented later that it sucked! However, I think the problem is that there is not enough room for the feet and knees when you have a big person in the front seat. 2 suitcases and a large dufflebag occupied the trunk and overflow backpacks/luggage in the seat behind me. My 8 drove great even loaded, and we all survived just fine. I can't imagine making such a trip in another sports car - glad I had my 8.

 

It's practical for short hops, not long trips, and yes it's marketing.

 

not true whatsoever, I've done multiple 100+ mile trips and my passengers ALL fell asleep, happy and comfortable, maybe it was the crappy movie I was playing on the NAV screen, but regardless it is nice back there

only problem, if you drive crazy like me the back seat passengers may get a little naseous if they get quezzy easy, I took some airplane vomit bags from a NWA and put them back there for fun...no one has actually used them though :p

 

The advice and guidance everybody has given so far is accurate. The rear seat room is great. I have sat in the back of an 8 while on a drive once or twice and found the comfort level excellent. The only thing that bothered me was my knees pressed into the plastic seat back on the leather seats. I am 6'00" and a...you know...175lbs...ok, ok add 15lbs...alright, I'm 200lbs!! Are you HAPPY NOW!! :D

- Irish

 

So that's not you in your avatar, Irish?

I'm about 6' 180Lbs and have ridden back there several times. There is plenty of room for an hour+ drive, but I wouldn't want to spend the whole day back there unless I could sleep the whole time. The fact that the back seat is so useable is an amazing feat for a true sports car!

 

A sports car like no other!

 

A couple that we socialize with likes the rear seat cupholder for "road pops" ...