Kafka

It must be my bimmer day...got harassed by a E36 325i convertible with a grapefruit launcher and a E46 328i with a bunch of ******** in it trying to race. I got cut off and rev at, yet I kept my constant cruise control button ... I end up arriving at the same area at about the same time with them tho...talking about wasting all the gas.

Then I suddenly realized, as if my epiphany, that I am a changed person now. Ever since I own this car and went to the track (and beat the **** out of it), I drive slower AND smoother on the public road. I don't have the urge to go crazy with street racers, nor I have the desire to go above 20km/h of posted limit. I just dont brake in corners and redline daily, hoping for getting better mpg at the same time.

I look for gaps in the traffic where I can maintain my momentum, I brake at the last moment in order to save speed (hence gas), I learned how to do a 8km/h crawl all the way from downtown to 404/401 with no gas (doable, just release your gas slowly up to 8km/h and release the gas pedal, your car will drive automatically without gas input at a constant 8km/h @ 1st gear!), I also learned that driving smooth will save gas and brakes and gives you a sense of accomplishment as well...

Did any of you have a change in your driving behavior since getting the Rx8?

shazy

I haven't but basically wat happened is all the times you wanted to go out with the car and thrash it has lost interest. You've basically learned what the car can do and you don't have that sense of adrenaline rush like you used to when you were going WOT around corners and etc.

BTW I noticed that you have a pic of your car on a dyno. What were the numbers?>

Kafka

about 180whp T_T

Footman

iTrader: (2)

After 48000 km, I have 60% front brakes left and 70% rear brakes left...

I hardly brake at all.

RXeckless

iTrader: (5)

ditto, I think I drive people nuts behind me on the highway! They must think I have no brake lights, only brake at the last minute if at all.

climacus

Lol, both of them would have lost big time. I've smoked E90 328s with only one ******* in it. The E36 325 has what? 180 hp and weighs 3500lb? That thing is slower than a Civic.

You can even keep up with the Camero V8 off the line. Most Camero have these ghetto whitetrash BF Goodrich T/A tires that are completely useless off the line.

Personally I prefer pissing people off by obeying the speed limit.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

Kafka, I took revenge for you today and terrorized a E46 M3 convertible on the 401 WB-onramp exiting Kennedy Commons plaza at around 11:45pm. He couldn't take that corner ramp faster than us... LOL, I was in right gear and I applied throttle correctly at the exit apex before he did, so I was able to keep up on apex-exit acceleration until a certain 3 digit speed which we both back off, I went to the right lane, he went to the left lane, and we parted ways...

Kafka

Hahaha nice Footman just beware of the popo! =)

And yeah...I know I can take them both but I aint bothered...and hence my post.

Would love to see a 350Z / S2000 tho...=P

P.S: Street racing is ghey. Are you ghey? haha

Thumper3322

+1 Kafka...I'm the same way now after tracking my car. Actually was talking about it on the weekend, that after tracking speeding on the hwy, racing etc....is so ghey on the street. I use to do it TONS in my old car and with the new laws it just isn't worth it. I figure racing my car on the track has saved me massive $$$$ in tickets/insurance etc. Good for you for letting them go by. Don't think I have raced anyone in my 8 off the track yet.

Oh and what about the 8km/hr thing?!?! our cars will drive it's self no gas, no clutch in a 8km/hr?? That's weird and awesome lol.

tubingchamp

iTrader: (3)

I also learned the 7-8KM/H cruise control It's VERY useful over here! Drive westbound towards Vancouver almost every day that I see my girlfriend, and gridlock extends all the way to the ocean..

Did some spirited driving with my friends 07 S2K in the twisties on the way to my cabin this weekend. Let me say this: It handles EQUALLY to ours, not BETTER (His is stock suspension with 225/245 F/R stagger , I have sways, coilovers, thick meat tires) Also, we tested on a passing lane, at a 60KM/H roll, he was slightly faster (I had a passenger and more luggage, though). Ride height is about the same as mine, but I'm lowered, so equal scraping on the gravel/dirt private road leading to my cabin.

It's a sweet little car.. With some suspension mods, or a drop, and exhaust, it would kick my cars ***...

Once I get my supercharger I'll be able to run his *** over though.

Would be nice if we had a decent track around here, I want to push it all the way against him. You guys back east are lucky!

Footman

iTrader: (2)

Tubing... your supercharger is almost becoming as mythical as Neo's FD...!!! I waited since LAST YEAR for it... and finally when I was in vancouver a month ago, you still didn't have it on...

I'm waiting for that ride in your supercharged RX8!!

What's happening to it?

tubingchamp

iTrader: (3)

Lol, Hymee has run into a few delays, It's been about 3-5 weeks since an update, but I think he's just about ready to start shipping. The longest part was getting the gears cut, he shop actually MOVED locations just after shipment, caused big delays, we call it the 6 month gears.. Lol

I'll post the second I get it, don't worry bro! Hope you come back out west to check it out.

2hit6

I was out on Sunday afternoon..cruising home from 16th and Leslie.....I realized how much I love driving the 8. The feeling of care-free driving on a sunny day, windows down and a good set of tunes...it was awesome!

I enjoy this feeling a lot more then knowing I could bet the guy next to me. I do however redline the 8 weekly....not necessary to get ahead or to show-off, but to listen to the roaring sound of a rotary engine.

I think this the feeling I get... not exactly the same as Josh but similar.
________
MERCEDES-BENZ W107 350SL HISTORY

Footman

iTrader: (2)

I posted a write up like this simliar on my facebook about the joy of driving the 8... however I do redline DAILY minimum.

It shows too...

I just had all my spark plugs replaced at 48,000 km. The plugs had very little to NO carbon build up. I rinsed the plugs under water and just rubbed the tips with my fingers and most of the brown stuff came off revealing the metallic surface with some blackness to them from the usage...

Would anyone be interested to see what 48,000km plugs look like?

Conditions:
- Toronto climate
- daily driver (winter included, and all conditions, rain/snow/sunny etc.. etc..)
- city driving/highway driving 70/30 split
- redlined daily
- Shell V-power gas
- 4000km 5W20 oil changes (whatever brand Scarboro Mazda uses) + Castrol GTX 5W20 in between top ups.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

I would actually. This is almost exactly the same conditions/behavior that I see. Redline daily is a bit understating it though. I get at least one low 2nd through top of 3rd WOT every day on an uphill onramp before letting off, plus my average shift point is about 7-8k even under light driving. I rev-match downshift everywhere I go from habit, my original brake pads are approaching the replacement point and I am 48,000miles. My tires have lasted me 32,000 miles, which is a jaw-dropping record for me. (I used to get 6 months/12k out of front pads and 9 months/18k out of front tires in my Corolla in my younger days)

..and every other 8 owner that rides with me or drives my 8 says that I have one of the most responsive and powerful NA bone stock engines they have felt.




I wub my 8.

Thief

Yeah, I engine brake a lot and I think I **** people off because

1) most of the time, I don't hit the brakes until the car's down to about 20 or 30kph
2) when I rev-match for my downshifts, it's quite loud :D

Kafka

At least you dont stink unlike someone with catless exhaust...that will **** people off more lol

Maffu313

iTrader: (2)

I think the behavioral change occurs just in general to people who decide to go tracking instead of taking the street racing alternative to 'fast driving'. It also helps to get into a 'saving gas' mood when you're driving either a sports car with high gas consumption like ours or a hybrid. Both encourage take corners and on-ramps faster than others, using less braking, and not slamming the gas at every opportunity we get! Nothing beats owning the BMW 300 series, or the Mercedes CLK, SLK, CL classes with a Hybrid Camry on an on-ramp, but usually they get pissed that they can't keep up and zoom after as soon as you hit the straight.

shazy

What mods do you have?

164whp only for me

Kafka

never baby it...just rev and rev...oh i got the mazdaspeed exhaust and accessport that doesnt do much too haha

REV-illusions

iTrader: (3)

didn't you post something simular to this when you first got the 8 dude?

congrats on the job btw

Darklight9

iTrader: (2)

Ever since getting the 8 I have started speeding less too. I used to drive an RSX and probobly because its such a street racer car I had so many people racing me. Its not to say I dont push it once in a while, but I try not to. Nowadays i just enjoy taking my car off the highway ramp as fast as i can go, unfortunately my tires seem to be giving out >.<.

Kafka

hehe thx =)

I did post a lot after I got the car last year and get away from the popo ... but not about streeeet racccccccccing :P

I hate mondays and I have to post

My lucky day

Wish I am faster than a Camry V6

Gyro_Bot

+1 for me too Kafka. Everything you have mentioned above, I agree with. Since tracking my car, I'm no longer susceptible to street races. I love timing the green lights, slowing down nice and easy to push drivers behind me to get out of "hurry hurry hurry" mode. I say, it's a red light right now, so get over your hurry.

Something new I want to share:
I'm getting over this threshold right now: having undeserved courtesy, not just for the daily driver, but for the meat heads and turkeys as well. Strange eh? let me explain!

On occasion, these bad drivers pop out from a side-street, trying to jump into traffic by letting their car drift into the street. Typically all human drivers put on a little extra squeeze between themselves and the car in front. It must be some sort of natural inclination to spite against these meat heads / turkey drivers.

What's a turkey? (according to Gyro_Bot)
A turkey is someone that assumes they have somewhere much more important to go, than you do. They are identified by jumping in between lanes in front, while aggravating everyone in sight with their display of self centered-ness / selfish driving.

Whenever I see a turkey, I say "Gobble Gobble" in a George Bush voice.

What's a Meat Head? (according to Gyro_Bot)
A meat head is a loud mouth, loud music playing obnoxious person that usually drives a muscle car and wants to race anyone at all. It really doesn't matter. They don't find their sliver of joy in life, except from their car, and only when they have won a competition. You will know this classification, because they believe respect is taken. Not given, or earned. You can see this in their driving.

Whenever I see a meat head, I usually say "Should have bought a car you could enjoy driving, and not just racing".

(Yeah, I'm sure I too fall under some other "driving" classification - but at least it's got to be a safe classification -Haha)

I've started to be nice to these two classifications, because I see how giving them something they're inept to otherwise earn on their own, rattles them to the point, they drive.... like (lol) regular? human beings? (Which is still far from perfect, but still leaps ahead!!).

Better drivers, teach new drivers. Sometimes, I have to extend a little tough love, or an act of courtesy. Tough love is driving in a safe manner, regardless of how they are tailgating you. Honestly, the best part, is just driving this hot looking sexy beast of a car, all shined up like a show piece. When I want to stand out, I drive slower. Parking lots are great for displaying these cars, because we can drive to benefit onlookers. What can I say? it's a nice looking car, you know this, I know this, if I share my joy, people are more likely to like the car and want one for themselves.


So, in conclusion: (Thx Foot man)
There is an old saying that goes:
"If you want to be ahead of everybody when you are driving. Slow down".

Footman

iTrader: (2)

Tim, sometimes the things you say sound too deep for my puny brain to comprehend.