I'm very new to the RX-8 (a whopping 2 days, of which, being x-mas..not a lot of driving, think I have 75miles so far on the car).

Anyway, I readthe owners manual about going over 9k, etc... now, I also have a Honda S2000, and at 9200 the rev-limiter kicks in and basically shuts down the fuel pump, preventing an over-rev when up-shifting (obviously, nothing prevents a downshift over-rev..eg.. 100mph and putting it into first).. but, at least on the s2k at 66mph in 2nd gear...pressing on the accelerator simply "shuts down" the engine (fuel cut) to prevent an over-rev damage problem. Does the RX8 have such a thing?? Or can you just rev until you blow the motor?

Also, I did see something about limiting RPMs until warm..the S2K does this too-- nothing above ~6.8k rpms until (what we call 2-bars..which means basically pretty warm or ~5-8min of driving). Whats the RPM cut-off for the RX-8 when not fully warm?

Sorry for the noob question, but I didn't see it in the manual...
Thanks,
Aaron

Hello, your are correct on both counts, it does have a rev-limiter and the fuel does get cut-off when you reach it.

>> Whats the RPM cut-off for the RX-8 when not fully warm?
I don't recall this getting a definate answer. I don't know if some type of limp mode kicks in if you hammer it while the engine is cold. In a new engine you will notice rough idle and/or cycling idle on a cold engine before it warms up, this is normal.

The overrev limiter cuts in at 9500 rpm and I recall someone that said he hit the cold rev limit around 6200 rpm

Not necessarly helping but ...

I know when I test drove a BMW M5 a few winters ago, we had to warm the car up. It had a dynamic red line that started low like 4500 RMP and crept up on the tach as the engine warmed. Sweet!

Are we saying that the fule shut off is dynamic on the "8" depending on engine temp?

I don't think it's dynamic, just cold (6200) or normal (9500).

Cold temp it cuts off at 7000RPM and warm at 9500RPM. Cold is defined as anything under the right hand line on the C mark of the gauge. Looking left to right, there's 2 lines with a blank space in the middle. So after the second one.
It doesnt really shut off, it just stops accelerating , so you jerk forward, slip on the gas and cause a little jerking action.

At least thats my car.

I thought the rev limiter on the 8 was much more smooth than the limiter in the FD. It's doesn't seem as harsh, the car just stops accellerating. Do we definatley know if it's a fuel cut, or if the ECU just modulates the throttle back or some similar wizzardry (which would seem simpler/safer and totally doable since it's electronically controlled)

I've hit the limiter on my Jeep too - that feels like hitting a brick wall in comparison, definately not smooth at all (and it comes in at around 5500 or so). The rotary revs so smoothly that high-revving feels like no big deal at all. I get the 4.0 in the Jeep spinning up over 3500 and it starts to feel like it's gonna explode. The smoothness right through to redline is something that I really enjoy about driving a rotary powered car.

Simon.