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Old 12-25-2004 | 03:58 PM
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Roominess for the Driver

I am 6' 2" tall and would like to know if any of you taller folks find this car to have not enough leg and/or headroom?
Old 12-25-2004 | 05:08 PM
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im 6ft tall and have no problems. the power seats can dip downwards to give u more head room clearance. i just dip my seats as low as possible and i have alot of room. go to a dealership and test it out!
Old 12-25-2004 | 05:44 PM
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We just bought one for my wife. It's a great car, but I don't fit very well. With the seat all the way down, and all the way back, and the steering wheel all the way up, my thigh is about an inch from the steering wheel, and my hair rubs the ceiling. I'm 6'2" tall.

I could not drive this car on a track, since I could not sit upright wearing a helmet. And I can't heel/toe, since my thigh hits the steering wheel when I try.

Fortunately, I drive an S2000. I can drive that on the track, top up or down. :D
Old 12-25-2004 | 05:56 PM
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I'm 6'5" and have no problems with the seat adjusted down and back. Personally, i think i have more room in my 8 than the S2Ks I've driven, and it's definately easier to get in and out of.
Old 12-25-2004 | 06:33 PM
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6'2" 230 plenty of room.
Old 12-25-2004 | 07:51 PM
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skip the moon roof
Old 12-25-2004 | 09:17 PM
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6'3", 235lbs and very comfortable. Zaku is right though, skip the moonroof.
Old 12-25-2004 | 09:26 PM
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Check it out for yourself even with the moon roof. The moon roof does take up some room but it really depends on how your body is put together. Short torso, long legs or shorter legs long torso.

Seems like others with a big head of hair lack room. I am 6'1.5" - no issues.
Old 12-25-2004 | 10:32 PM
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I'm 6'1", have the moonroof & seat up a couple notches from the bottom. Headroom's fine; I don't rake the seat back. My right shin is really close to the dash so that my slacks touch, but no comfort issues. I do worry about my knee in an accident, though.
Old 12-26-2004 | 05:26 PM
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I'm 6'2" and do not feel comfortable driving an 8 with a sunroof, my head is in constant contact with the roof (I do have a longish torso though).

What the hell do you need a sunroof for on a car with A/C though? Get one without a sunroof!
Old 12-26-2004 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr M
What the hell do you need a sunroof for on a car with A/C though? Get one without a sunroof!
so when your cruising along you can have the ladies poke out of it...give a flash to the crowd

by the way I was TOTALLY kidding :D
Old 12-26-2004 | 08:09 PM
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Friend of mine is 6'5" and got his '8 without a sunroof (base model) and he fits fine.
Old 12-26-2004 | 08:55 PM
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You're going to have to drive one for yourself. There are factors beyond just height, such as body shape and personal preference.

For myself, I'm just shy of 6' and my hair brushes against the sunroof. The driver's seat has a certain closeness about it that reminds me of a cockpit but after getting used to it I like it.
Old 12-27-2004 | 11:43 AM
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I'm 5'10" and my hair was brushing the roof when I testdrove a model with the sunroof (my hair was cut to less than 1/4") My uper-body to lower-body proportions aren't freakish so I'm amazed by people well over 6' who say it's no problem. Personally I'd like a little room between my head and the roof while being able to position the seat for the best driving position, and the option to carry tall folks without their heads plastered against the roof risking cervical spine injuries should we hit a bump. But to each his own. I wanted a spare tire too. I'm just kooky that way.

There is 1 1/2 inches difference in front headroom between the moonroof and non-moonroof models. Rear headroom is unchanged, iirc.
Old 12-27-2004 | 11:55 AM
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I'm 6'5" and have a sunroof, and have no problem fitting.
Old 12-27-2004 | 12:00 PM
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I'm going to refer you to thie shoe size/ color thread: https://www.rx8club.com/lounge-4/shoe-size-car-color-relationship-48148/page5/

which turned also into a height/weight thread. We have a 6'5" owner with a size 16m.
Old 12-27-2004 | 09:35 PM
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I am 5' 10" and feel like there is too much room :-) Of course I had a Miata before the 8. Obviously I have plenty of room, but I have a hard time believing a 6'2" person would have any trouble.
Old 12-28-2004 | 08:18 AM
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Originally Posted by stanfordcole
I am 5' 10" and feel like there is too much room :-) Of course I had a Miata before the 8. Obviously I have plenty of room, but I have a hard time believing a 6'2" person would have any trouble.
Believe it. I'm 6' and my short hair touches the ceiling. Another 2" taller and I'd be driving something else.
Old 12-30-2004 | 03:12 AM
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I am 6'3 and i almost didnt buy an 8 at first because i test drove one with a moon roof and i had to bend my neck to fit in, luckily they had the same model without a moon roof that i slid into just fine
Old 12-30-2004 | 10:05 AM
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I'm 6'2 and have the moonroof. You just have to play around until you find a comfortable position. I found that I have to recline quite a bit more that I normally would, but then I can raise the front of the seat to make it comfortable. Just remember, since tall guys have to have the seat all the way back, and reclined---you no longer have a 4 seat car. The seat behind you is no longer usable for a human.
Old 12-30-2004 | 10:36 AM
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I'm 6'2" and find the car very comfortable. I have the seat adjusted so my wrists touch the steering wheel w/o having to lift my shoulders from the seat. Also my legs are slighty bent when fully extended. That still leaves me 2-3 inches of clearence w/o the moonroof. I also have the seat fully down.

No problems, but there are a few bumps/roads around here where I can catch some air (doing less than the speed limit as well). My hair will still brush the roof, but I don't find it uncomfortable.

I test drove a lot of cars, and as a taller person, this is the most comfortable car I've ever driven.
Old 12-30-2004 | 02:49 PM
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I am 5'7" and I have no problem getting in or having enough room hahaha god damn jolly green giants!
Old 12-30-2004 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Nubo
I'm 5'10" and my hair was brushing the roof when I testdrove a model with the sunroof (my hair was cut to less than 1/4") My uper-body to lower-body proportions aren't freakish so I'm amazed by people well over 6' who say it's no problem. Personally I'd like a little room between my head and the roof while being able to position the seat for the best driving position, and the option to carry tall folks without their heads plastered against the roof risking cervical spine injuries should we hit a bump. But to each his own. I wanted a spare tire too. I'm just kooky that way.

There is 1 1/2 inches difference in front headroom between the moonroof and non-moonroof models. Rear headroom is unchanged, iirc.
Funny you should mention this... I'm a bit under 6' tall, and the first time I test drove an RX-8 I left remembering my hair brushing the sunroof. The second time I test drove one, there was no way it was even close. I figure I was having a bad hair day on that first test drive. :D
Old 12-30-2004 | 06:04 PM
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i'm 5'11 and i have a sun roof. the fit felt tight when i first got in but after six months of driving i can't tell the diff. unless i hit a bump, and i don't like to fill inclosed. but if you like driving the 8 ur mind is not on how close your head or legs are to anything but the gas pedal.
Old 01-01-2005 | 02:06 PM
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I'm 6'2"+ and I didnt feel confortable with the sunroof. My hair (what little I have) was definitely brushing against the roof.I got mine with the sport package and without a sunroof, headroom is fine, but now I'm looking at aftermarket leather kits..

How you fit all depends on the body composition, long-legged/short torso, Short legs/long toro, etc. IMO, the car is generally very comfortable; as much or more so than my last 2 cars (Acura TL and 03 Saab 9-3 ss)

Personally, I'm trying to figure out a little more leg room. It's fine for commutiing trips, but for anything longer, I'd like a bit more squirm space. If I could get the seat to go back all the way to the rear seat, I'd be fine. Plus, heal and toe would be easier. In the "good old days" I used to routinely take seats off of the racks and re-mount them. I did this to 3 alfas and a BMW. Dealers would do this for you too. They won't now, with all of the safety and liability issues. I will probably begin experimenting with this myself.

-Jim


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