Is there any authoritative or published information on the best way (technique, RPM etc.) to shift the RX-8 MT achieve the best 0-60 acceleration time? (Such as the best times as published by Consumer Reports or other car magazines.)

I've been reading a lot of interesting opinions on this forum, but am more interested in "reproduceable" results- done by a reputable car magazine in a controlled fashion. Does anyone know or know where I can find this sort of info?

For example, AutoWeek's review of the C6 Corvette mentions that they achieved better 0-60 time trials by shifting into 2nd gear as soon as possible upon launch, because 2nd gear is where the power is explosive for that car.

So, this had me wondering... Thanks.

In a car like the RX-8 a high RPM clutch dump, praying for no wheel hop, and shifting at or near redline will almost always yield the best results. There's really no secret to it, the Vette shifting into secont is because you could probably light up the tires all the way through 1st gear and that's not going to be the best time wise.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/download/3272003171557.pdf

see test notes at bottom

this gives you an idea on launch, I believe the full article says they launched at 7500 rpm then took it to just over 9k rpm to shift

another article in Road & Track describes their testing procedures and describes them as real world, no clutchless speed-shifting as opposed to other car mags

woot! thanks Jay. :)

clutchless speed-shifting

:Wconfused

Thanks Jay...I could read those stat's over and over, lol.

:Wconfused
Rev Matching...not pretty if you do it wrong.

7500 rpm launch :Eyecrazy:

That can't be good for a clutch.

Rev Matching...not pretty if you do it wrong.

yep, save this for the rental car

I'll have my wife time me with a stop watch. It should be somewhere between 5 and 10 sec if I launch at 12000 rpm :Eyecrazy:

7500 rpm launch :Eyecrazy:

That can't be good for a clutch.

Yep!! Budget some clutch money for this one. But that's what it takes.

My best launches are with a drop at 6000-6500, just the right amount of spin and momentum. Just remember to turn off the TCS/DSC.

Anything higher and its spinning left and right and bumping off the limiter for me.

Never witnessed any axel hop, unlike so many other cars. And I have not seen anything to indicate that the clutch cannot withstand the abuse. Obviously, like any car, consecutive high rpm launches isn't smart on clutch life.

My best launches come at 4200 revs to drop the clutch, shift at the beep but before you bounce off the rev limiter, traction control off.

I measure the time with my gTech meter.

My best time: 5.94 seconds. My most repeatable time seems to be 6.2.

Any higher RPM and I get axle hop and too much wheelspin.

That article also states it has 250bhp@8500 "I wish" and tope speed of an est. 148!

In a car like the RX-8 a high RPM clutch dump, praying for no wheel hop, and shifting at or near redline will almost always yield the best results. There's really no secret to it, the Vette shifting into secont is because you could probably light up the tires all the way through 1st gear and that's not going to be the best time wise.


Yeah and pray you don't dump your clutch right onto the road. Everytime I do this I can smell my clutch for days. Could be just me though too.