Hello all. To retain feul efficiany it is believed that one should shift gears between 3 and 4k rpms.

Now seeing that the RX-8 is not a normal engine that we're all used to (cylinders), Is it bad or will it damage the engine over a long period of time keeping the rev's low as mentioned above? Or does this engine need to be at high revs to operate normaly without problems? I need to know because I tend to shift at lower rpms.

The problem with shifting at lower rpms is that you go s....l....o....w....e....r

Buy a KIA or something for your slow driving, think of the rest of us.

I fear this fellow may own a lawn bowls hat and have some perverted idea of placing it on the back parcel shelf :D

Ok. Can someone with a brain and that can answer my questions please do so? Thanks

just rtfm pin head

Honestly If you tend to shift at lower RPM's this is not the car for you. The S2000 will not suit either. These cars are meant to REV them. The rotary needs redline every once awhile to clean up carbon deposits from burning oil. I have been reading other posts that drivers hitting redline alot are making the same gas milage.

Change your habits and buy the 8

:D

Kev wrote " just rtfm pin head"

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This message board is for people to discover and learn about their brand new RX-8, not for arrogant people answering simple logical questions with stupid irrelevant sarcasm.

Thanks RotorGeek. So your saying that reving high gives the same gas mileage? For one i didn't but the car for fuel efficiency, just curious though. Does it clogg up th engine driving lower rev's aswell? Are you sure of this?

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And I must say this...

You don't become a driver that shifts any manual transmission at low revs. You either want to drive a free revving sports car, or you opt for a thumper with low end torque (or even something like a Z).

There is absolutely no point in buying a manual RX8 and plodding about in low revs - you are just wasting your money.

If you don't have the skill to appreciate the car - try developing some driving skills! If you're afraid of revving an engine, I'd also imaging your are afraid of braking hard into a corner and slicing through twisty narrows at speed?!?!?

Worst case, buy and Automatic RX8.

But I still think a KIA would give you plent of change to buy a really good sense of humour, even maybe the odd smile.

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You should be fine shifting between 3 and 4K, but I think you should take it up to redline every now and then because it won't hurt it and it sure is fun. If cars are in front of you there is no reason to shift higher than that, so I don't know what Kev's problem is. If you never plan on having fun with the car I don't know why you would buy it, but to each his own.

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LL7 wrote

" You should be fine shifting between 3 and 4K, but I think you should take it up to redline every now and then because it won't hurt it and it sure is fun. "

Anthony " I usually rev till about 6 in 1st 2nd and 3rd, then shift at 3 for 4th to 6th. I was just curious to see the fuel efficency shifting at lower revs without damaging the engine."

LL7 wrote " If cars are in front of you there is no reason to shift higher than that, so I don't know what Kev's problem is. "

Anthony " That's because he has an ego and everything that comes out of his mouth is verbal diarrhea in which I might add has neither relevance nor signifigance in any context whatsoever."

LL7 wrote " If you never plan on having fun with the car I don't know why you would buy it, but to each his own."

Anthony " I agree with you. I've been tearing up the road since i got it. This car truly is a blast to experience. Have fun with yours LL7! What model did you get?

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done here

bye :D

I got a red 6 speed with the GT package. Most fun car I have ever owned. How bout you?

Chill guys!

Kev, you're a naughty boy, stop that now.:D

And you, asparapani, the word 'fucking' is not meant to be used in this manner over the net, especially in the forum. You should do it this way 'f***ing'.

Now back to your question, you can find most of your answers in this forum, they have been discuss over and over many many times. You probably could find out more if you do a search. Fuel efficiency is definitely not the strong point of the 8, many post about it, carbon deposit too.

One more thing, have you got the 8 and driving it yet? Or are to digging for info and planning to get one?

cheers

Oops, you've got the car, misses that while I was trying to reply your post.

To answer LL7: I have a Black GT,6 manual, Black and cognac leather, No GPS system.

To answer M-Ster. I apologize for using all letters of the word F***. Future messages will not contain but will be replaced by stars. I have an 8 and picked it up to days ago. I love this F****** car, ahahahahahah! Most fun per dollar spent in my opinion! Cheers to you!

Originally posted by M-ster
Chill guys!

Kev, you're a naughty boy, stop that now.:D

And you, asparapani, the word 'fucking' is not meant to be used in this manner over the net, especially in the forum. You should do it this way 'f***ing'.

Now back to your question, you can find most of your answers in this forum, they have been discuss over and over many many times. You probably could find out more if you do a search. Fuel efficiency is definitely not the strong point of the 8, many post about it, carbon deposit too.

One more thing, have you got the 8 and driving it yet? Or are to digging for info and planning to get one?

cheers

Aw shucks! You mean I gotta throw this here stick away - ahh damn I's having so much fun, ok then :D

***moderator edit***

Kev, he asked a perfectly legit question, quit with the nasty comments. If this doesn't stop, I'm closing this thread. Sorry Asparapani, it's not because of you.

And no, I don't think it'll hurt to keep the car in the low-rev range. I do in normal driving (I spend a lot of time in 6th). Just don't forget to actually drive the car like it wants to be driven occasionally.

Hi Kev, just saw your sign off OZ leather Pack, what's that? Something diff from what the world's getting

Thanks Elara.

I hope the Mod's can keep a better control on all the useless flaming that is going on in almost every thread these days. All new thread seems to contain 80% trash and like 20% of useful information.

asparapani, here's what the RotorHeads recommend everyone to do: you can shift around any RPM range, yes even at low RPMs AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT LUGGING the engine along. Also, everytime you drive the car, after the engine has reached normal operating temperature, it is recommended for you to rev it all the way to the Red line at least once. This is to ensure that you will not have carbon build up and clog up the ports.

So just following these rules and drive it the way you wanted to drive it. Enjoy your 8 !

Thanks Smoker! Enjoyed smoking any 350 Z's?:(

Originally posted by M-ster
Hi Kev, just saw your sign off OZ leather Pack, what's that? Something diff from what the world's getting

I think it's a market size "compact the options" thing.

We get a "leather pack" that includes power drivers seat, leather (of course), fog lights, 300w bose, xenon headlights and headlight washers. Maybe other bits I'm not aware of too.

We only get one oil cooler and no tyre pressure sensor though.

www.mazda.com.au will take you to our local specs.

Our cars come with climate control A/C and the "?hi spec?" engine.

cheers

I believe it is the same for canadian models. Must be a package available and marketed for commonwealth nations.

Originally posted by asparapani
I believe it is the same for canadian models. Must be a package available and marketed for commonwealth nations.

A smaller market seems to dictate more things standard, true or not - I read on a thread that cars come virtually full house as standard in spain...including NAV, but for a high ticket

Hard to believe though.

I've not gotten my car just yet. And the 8 has not been officially launch in Singapore. Mazda Singapore ain't gonna launch the car til sometime early next years. Luckily with Parallel Importers here (gray as what the UK calls it), there are already couple of 8s on the road here. They are all JDM's spec, the PI'a don't really fix you down with a certain package except fix factory options. Thus if one were to get the 6 speed, which is the highest spec, one can almost customize it to their likeings.

Just to re-itterate.. I read this thread and I gotta say... If Elara had not beaten me to it, I would have said exactly the same thing... Kev, SURE the engine needs to be revved high to get the best out of it, but hey.... we somtimes want to drive in a more relaxed manner... and perhaps save a bit of fuel when we're not in a hurry...

asparapani, I imagine that on a high power engine, under 6000 is probably the range to stay in for this (before the high power port opens)... this is broadly equivalent numericly to keeping under 4000 on a car that redlines at 6000... YMMV... I have no idea how this will affect fuel economy... but it's worth a go... HOWEVER, it is well known that engines (Particularly rotary) tend to need to be run hard from time to time otherwise you can get carbon buildup which will be detrimental to the running of the engine.

I believe the 8 has stepped fuel injectors. At 4K (i think) a second set of fuel injectors is on. There maybe another level as well.
The manual says you can use 6th at 46 MPH, and sometimes I do when I am on surface streets. There will be a trade off point where shifting too early can hurt gas mileage as much as redlining it - the engine just has to strain too much.

Most of my shifts are around 4-5K in traffic, but when I am cutting thru some twisties I keep it in 3rd or 4th and play.

I've been playing around with MPG figures and octane levels and revs. I was shifting really low (below 3500) to observe the effect on gas mileage. At first I thought that this helped but after the last 2 weeks it seems that the engine does just as well shifting around 5000 RPM. It seems to like to cruise around 4000 or so. Listen to the engine around that speed and it seems to sound effortless. That range -around 3500 to 4000 cruising seems to be the sweet spot for less aggressive driving. THe shift point seems to go on up there with no strain. Isn't the rotary great?

yes i have heard that sweet spot you are talking about. awesome.