And gee I was going to post about torque:)

I read where the RX8 has a softer ride then the competion. But, it has the highest "Fun" factor. mmmm, sounds real familer. You know I now have a P5. It handes great, but some think it should handle a little better. So, they run off and put lower/stiffer springs on it. I have a feeling some RX8 owners will go down this same route. I have a problem with this approach. First, these cars already sit low and the suspensions is designed for this ride height. Second, by going to stiff springs you loose road/tire compliance. I have been doing the sports car thing for many, many years and found that fine tuning of the suspension is best done with shocks/sway bars. I try and tell the childern (not all of them, but a large percentage) on the P5 forums (every other word is "rule") this and get shot down. They are stuck in lowing a car and by doing so they are messing up the dynamics of the car. Stiffer lower springs are for cars that are not designed to handle well and you are starting from scratch - ie, a pickup, family sedan...

So, here are my thoughts (if you really need more:)). On the RX8, if you want less roll, is to increase the damping of the shocks for better road compliance, increase the sway bar dia. and use poly bushings. The RX8 is a great design and would be messed up by lowering. What do you think???

Oh yea, talked to the wife. Hope to place my order in a couple of months. Thinking silver/red.

One more thing - for the guys that are looking at a RX8 for a first car check out a P5 - cheaper (cost/insurance), looks "cool", and more forgiving at the limit (front drive - just plows itself to a stop if you mess up). And the thing is bullet proof.

You all have a great day!

I dunno, this may be just me, but I dont get the whole "lowering" the car thing.

I mean if Mazda ENGINEERS have spent months even years, in designing an ideal balance in suspension and handling on the 8, why mess with greatness?

Call me ignorant, but that's just me..

just so i know, what's a P5??

Originally posted by wakeech
just so i know, what's a P5?? A 5-door Protege.

Well if I ever get the chance to get the RX-8 I definitely will not lower it. I have a crappy civ right now and well I lowered it to get better handling and put more fun into driving, of course it does make it look slightly better. But its very bouncy on bumpy roads. Not as bouncy at super high speeds:p . But mostly kids do it thinking its cool. And most of them thinking they're F1 drivers.

But I do agree with P5..fornow. Theres no point in lowering the RX-8. Besides with its what 18in wheels woudn't lowering the car just ruin the tires?

Anyhow lowering a car for daily driving isn't too smart. Especially with all those steep driveways, speedbumps, potholes, huge debris in the middle of the freeway, etc and etc. But as for my car I just got coilovers which makes my life somewhat easier. Especially when I need to put on snow chains.

Oh by the way does anyone know what to do with a car with oversteer? A friend tells me I would have to brake a little later or speed into a turn a little faster.

Having the car lower to the ground is better for handling because of the lower centre of gravity, but the manufacturers can't produce cars too low because of practical issues. How many "Joe Public" people are willing to put up with a car that is 5 inches off the ground?

Lowering a car with just lowering springs is stupid. These springs usually have higher spring rates than stock with less spring travel and thus put too much stress on stock shocks which causes "bounciness" and eventually the shocks blow. Lowering should be done with a properly matched high performance shock/spring or a full coilover setup.

I agree with Quick_lude if you are going to do it, do it right. Get shocks, springs, etc.


P.S. for the love of god Do NOT cut the springs

Y&Y for oversteer (rear comes around) "generally" the rear is too stiff or the front is too soft. Increase the bar dia (sometimes just adding poly bushings works) on the front or if you put a bar on the back it is too large. If the car is rear drive you can steer it around a corner with the trottle which is fun, but be careful. I set up a Dakota V8 truck with bars and it was a oversteer king. It was a HOOT to slide through the corners. All cars have understeer dialed in from the factory because it is much safer - just plows to a stop as the front washes out. I find most cars need stiffer bars up front to help balance them out. Driving oversteer is a lot of fun and find front drivers the biggest challange. In my P5 I hit a corner very fast and "pitch" the rear around the drive out under full power.