just a quick thought. Who here will be tinting the windows?? It is pretty evident to me that the new rx8 will be coming to the US with an almost non existant tint to all windows.
I will be considering it strongly........a nice legal tint (35 percent wher I live) to offset the light color I selected. Also does anyone know of any effect it has on the glass mounted radio antennna that I assume the rx8 is coming with?

 

I am also considering putting 35% tint on the side windows - darker on the rear.

 

I'll probably do a very light tint on the front windows. It's technically illegal in Jersey but I hate getting sunburned arms, so I'll keep it light and have a UV protectant tint on.

I won't be tinting the back though, as my radar detector's usefulness gets cut down signifigantly by doing that.

 

Hehehe... radar detectors are illegal in Ontario.

 

That's only if the tint is metallic (regular tint does not affect radar reception), and only if you have a radar detector with a rear antennae (as in the Valentine 1).

---jps

 

i definitely want to tint too.

are you guys referring to the tinting that's supposedly an option in the "accessories list" that's coming out in march, or aftermarket tinting?

in either case, how much do you think it'll cost for tinting the 8's windows?

 

I'll definitely be tinting. I like the look of dark windows. I plan to tint the back window and rear door windows pretty dark. I'll put a light tint on the front windows (it's illegal here in CA too, but as long as it's really light, they don't usually bother you). I wasn't aware that tinting would be a dealer option. I was planning on having it done aftermarket. I would expect it to cost about $160-$200 to tint the 5 windows....

 

$160-200?... that's great.
does anyone know if there are big differences the *quality* of tints? i don't really know too much about how tints are achieved, but i just think tints achieved by applying those films are really horrible looking.

 

Not bad but fortunately for me I have a cousin who can do it for free. But my parents probably will force me to pay him. He tinted my last two cars for basically $50 U.S. for all five windows. And he does it well. None of those bubblely ones done by those gimpish cheap *** losers.

My first car had a very dark tint. sucks though everytime I get pulled over I always roll down all my windows. luckily I have people in the car to roll down the windows for me most of the time.

 

and of course I would make the back especially dark. So that I won't go blind by those SUV's. They should pass a law to make the headlights become bright to a certain point. I'm always being blinded by them on the freeway.

 

The GT has a auto dimming rear-view mirror remember?

 

Man I have a Miata now and it isn't when the big SUV's and trucks pull up on me and shine their light in my rear window, it is when they are left or right of center and one headlight is shining right in my sideview mirror. That is the biggest problem I have. Or when you get pulled over and cop shines his spot light right on your driver's side mirror, I always end up adjusting the mirror to point away from me when they do that ****.

 

It depends on the film quality. There is stuff that lasts longer than the car, and stuff that is only guaranteed for a year (for a reason). Have you ever seen cars with windows that seem to have a purple tint? That's not a fashion statement, that was simply cheap tint that faded to purple. And just like alarms, installation is more important to the final effect than the material itself. A good installation can't make bad tint last longer, but a bad installation will make good tint look bad and fail quickly.

---jps

 

Use to be, long, long ago that part of some state safety inspections was to ensure your headlights were properly aimed so as not to blind the car in front of you with your low beams. Then the trend of big wheels on little trucks started and the headlight elevation increased. Unfortunately, the new height was not taken into account with aiming alignments if they were still done. There was one truck that came up behind me that must have been 2 feet above normal height. Actually would have been better if he had his high beams on. They would have shot over the top of my car :p

And nowadays, SUVs and trucks seem to be designed to irritate the rest of us at night with their jacked up bodies and abnormally high headlights.

If I ruled the world, the headlights would be required to be no more than whatever the height is for normal cars with normal ground clearance. What, 18-24"? Like semis. Their lights stay low, though their truck be large.

Sorry; pet peeve of mine

 

That's a good point! Headlights should be xx" from the ground, period, regardless of the vehicle.

Anyone else have opinions on this?

 

I will get the Pentagon security tint that I talked about ages ago just for a little extra security.

 

Headlights are a minor concern. I'm more worried about freakin' bumpers! They're regulated on big-rigs that the bumper has to be within a certain height (I don't know the exact figures), but for trucks, there's no regulation! That's freaky when you consider that there are Ford Excursions that have bumpers that hit the middle of your rear-window. If they rear end you, they're going over the top! If you rear end them, you'll be lucky to not be decapitated!!!!

Headlights would be good too, but I'd rather have to flip my mirrors for a second than have a trucks oil pan in my back seat!

 

Actually I think Ford and subsidiary Volvo have been leading the charge to lower SUV/Truck bumpers to minimize risk/damage to passenger cars.

 

I think tinting isn't really allowed in Ont, either. Heck, seems everything is illegal. They just don't want us to have fun!

Regardless of that previous statement, I will probably tint anyways. I might even get a radar detector. I have a feeling Red is going to cause me some headaches with the police. Has anyone ever done this in Ontario? Ever been caught with one?

 

Radar detectors are definitely illegal in Ontario, both Metro and the OPP have radar detector detectors so be very careful! As far as window tinting goes, 35% is the maximum allowed on the sides, I forget what is allowed on the rear but any tint shop will be able to tell you.

BTW, what Mazda dealership did you order your 8 from?

 

Are there not radar detectors that beat the radar detector detectors? I could be wrong, but I thought there were really advanced ones out there that can basically go undetected.

Oh, that's right, it is 35%. I had my previous car tinted at 35%, but it was too light. I would probably go darker. I hear they don't cause you too much grief. You would think the police would have better things to do anyways.

I ordered from Dufferin Mazda. I wasn't all that impressed with the dealership (kinda rundown) and the salespeople didn't seem all that knowledgeable, but it was one of the few places left that had preorder slots. I don't plan on using that as my dealership for service after I pick up the car though. How about you? Which dealership did you order from?

 

There are a few radar detectors on the market that claim that they are "sealed" so that the emissions cannot be detected by the police; personally I do not know if this really works. Then there are radar "jammers" that are supposed to jam the radar guns; I am even more skeptical of these devices.

Both 73JPS and I purchased our 8's from Westowne Mazda in Etobicoke, a very friendly dealership with knowledgeable staff. On occasion 73JPS and I go out for pints here in Etobicoke, if you are interested in coming out one evening just PM me.

 

When the first VG-2s (radar detector detectors) came out, most of the super-heterodyne radar detectors emitted oscillations in the same basic frequencies, and that's what the VG-2s listen for. Since then, manufacturers simply modified their radar detectors to emit different frequencies instead, so the VG-2 can't detect them. They aren't "sealed" or anything. Over a year ago, there has been at least one radar detector detector in testing in Canada that covers ALL frequencies, and NO radar detectors are immune to it.

In the U.S. an active radar jammer is easily detected, and is a violation of FCC rules (meaning it's a federal offense to use it, with some very very stiff fines, think 5 figures).

---jps

 

Man, this is a downer.

I guess I'm going to have to just drive slowly. Apparently, the OPP has added a whole bunch of full-time Highway Rangers to monitor the 400 series 24/7. They want to slow everyone down under 120 km/hr.

 

Thanks for the offer ZoomZoom, but I'm a ways from Etobicoke. I'm closer to the East side ... and with no car ... yet ... :D