lowrider

I find that the 8 has very light handling esp when you start edging past the 180kms mark. (on N-S highway and SG roads.)

The steering wheel is way too light. My previous car's (GTi) steering wheel felt much heavier when reaching speeds above that.

The 8 is a bit twitchy and "floaty" esp on gentle highway bends or undulating roads... I honestly feel a bit uncomfortable and nervous esp at such speeds with the 8.
Its fine for mountain, country and twisty, windie roads, with the constant gear change gripping etc... but on straight highway roads in top gear....

Anyone else feel the same? If so, what can I do? I have the whiteline sway bars in it but still a bit floaty and the steering wheel...

Please help.

mkl22

never tried on RX8 but general handling principles on other vehicles should work here as well. Looks like the rebound at high speed is not enough, you will need a firmer damper to control the rebound to settle the car. but then at low speed the ride is more jittery.

coupe07

i'm on autoexe sways.... steering has been tight. Those on other sways, is ur steering tight???

EBS

Hi

Are u on any coilovers?? Normally, sways and struts bars can only play so much, u need good coilovers to complete the equation. My colleague just fixed an engine torque damper to his CL7R and the impact is great. Not too sure any available for our ride. U get a bit more engine noise but handling improved quite a bit.

Cheers

mkl22

oh yes play with your camber/ caster and toe settings. it will cure the steering feeling

lowrider

Thanks for the advice guys.

My old GTi had the type of steering which gets heavier the faster you go. (forgot the technical term for it.) I never found the GTI's steering uncomfortable even at 200+kms but currently, I am not all too comfortable/confident with the 8 past 180kms. I will look int the various solutions in my next service. Its fine at lower speeds eg like 90kms) especially around tight bends.

yiksing

That's where bodykit and wings comes into play.

Emperor

Our car already comes with electronic steering assist which actually becomes heavier when you speed up.

lennon

Downforce........ Downforce....... Downforce............

Genesis

lowrider, the whiteline sways alone won't do it, they'll help to minimize corner roll, but if you want to significantly improve steering wheel response and handling at speed on the N-S then you're looking at upgrading coilovers (more responsive dampening than stock), under-carriage brace (for added stability....the stock braces are ok, but not as effective), anti-sways (not really that important for straight line speed but of course help in corners), wider rims and high performance tyres with strong sidewalls (very important). My experience with these mods while cruising the N-S has been exemplary

I'd be interested to know if anybody with an effective body kit/wing on their 8 has really experienced true down-force improvement at high speed? I mean we're only talkin' in the range of 200 kph here.

lennon

GT-wing doesnt need 200kph to start to effectively..... In fact it gives a good downforce and stability over bumpy roads at different speed..... and of course the GT-wing i'm talking about must be postioned high and wide enuff for best downforce...... For high speed purpose, it's better lower the car with aftermarket coilover..... It reduce the amount of air going under your car...... This air will create a lift and thus you'll feel that your car is floating...... Less air underneath less lift...... Rear diffuser is another usefull aerodynamic part as it divert air beneath out without turbulence..... There's a lot of way to improve car stability nowadays...... Coilover should be a good start..... my 2 cents

Genesis

Thanks lennon, I forgot to include the part about adjusting ride height with the coilovers upgrade, I just took it on faith that whoever gets new coilovers will lower the car on principle. But you're absolutely right, lowering the car to decrease lift will be more effective for stability at speed than simply adding a GT wing.

lowrider

Thanks guys. Coilovers eh. I just don't think the wings would make any diff on the downward force esp at speeds of 200km or below. 300ks maybe.
How much does the coilovers lower the car? Those of you that live in our lovely "speed bump capital of the world" knows how irritating it is here in SG and scrapping the undercarriage is like.

Emperor: I know it has power assist but it just doesn't really feel right -- its way too light for the higher speeds. I thought i would get used to the "lightness" but been a while now on a few road trips and I still don't like it.

coupe07

engine torque damper will affect ride comfort..... My fren has that on his FD, but remove it the next day. plenty of vibrations BUT this thing is superb on the track.

coupe07

urs is a JDM 5MT, according to ur signature. If u do not have the speed cut device or have ur ECU tuned, tink u cun get past 187km/h.

since u cun really go past the 190 mark, the feel shld be negligible since, it only comes after 180km/h and u only got 7km/h more to play with.


Have tried 221km/h on the NS. Steering is still good and car is not floaty. I relented cos i scared bus on the left lane turn out suddenly.

lowrider

Coupe: Thats why I am wondering about all of this -- if I get a speed cut device and still suffer the same problems of steering etc, why bother until I change a few other things. Like I said, my old car didn't seem to have the same issues and its just weird that I would have these "rockability" & "light steering" issues with a car that is lower CG and wider wheel-base. I used to go-kart but I am not naive to expect the 8 to drive like a go-kart either.

The upside is, I think the 8 handles much better at twisty country/kampung roads than my old GTi -- therefore, for me that is more important as far as driving enjoyment is concern.

coupe07

U have not gotten a speed cut device, and u are already suffering from all these. tink its not the speed (more than 180km/h).

If u r gg on stock tyres and stock suspension, may feel floaty. On that day i ran 221km/h, another 8 (blackjack's) ran his up to 218km/h with stock 18" rims n tyres and stock suspension. His is also stock sways.. Infact all stock, except kit.

lennon

Very much agree!!! My borther's car have one and i hate it so much..... Vibration cos engine bush and joints to detetiorate.....

ngkenny

U SCARED??? YOU SCARED??**

I tell your mama you travel at 221km/h....see you scared or not...haha


** i drive at 120....already hum chee....i scared bro...hee

coupe07

of cos scared!! bus swerve out how???? i die nvm... my passenger die how?? how to gao dai to parents? relatives? own guilt??? well. dats another side of the story....

but travel at 221km/h, i scared lah... really... wait mummy beat backside...

rotomotor

I've read this thread with interest as vehicle handling is always an intriguing subject.

Lowrider's comments, as I understand them, is about "light steering response" at high speed. His GTi had a progressive power-steering response, which loads up to increase the steering effort when the car is driven at high speed giving the driver a more assured feeling. On the 8 when the steering becomes light at high speed it is indeed a bit "scary" as any over-zealous steering input to the car will subject the car to high "swerving" forces, which are hard to control.

The light steering characteristic in your 8 may be due to several factors. 1) your front tyres may be over inflated, 2) your front alignment may have excessive toe- out, 3) as lennon has suggested, aerodynamics of your car - too much front lift , or too much downforce on the rear wheels. 4) toe-out of the rear wheels.

Some of you suggested coil-overs to lower the car and stiffen the dampers. Yes, they may improve handling but certainly will not solve the light steering problem.

When driving on the highways (which are often more "bumpy" than race tracks) with uneven surfaces and expansion joints at road bridges and manhole covers, it is unwise to stiffen up your suspension as the ride will be harsh, especially, during 187kph runs; and road bumps can throw the car off the intended line.

I know that I'm a bit lo-soh but I hope my two-cents worth is helpful...

EBS

Hi

U mean its better running on stock suspension at 240km/h highway driving than aragosta ??

Sorry if I misunderstood ur post.

rotomotor

Hi,

Aragosta coil-overs for RX8s have F 11kg/mm and R 4kg/mm springs, if I'm not mistaken, compared to some lowish rates in the stock springs (3kg/mm?). This suggests that the choice is intended to reduce drastically the oversteering tendency of the 8's (I'm not sure if this is typical of the 8's). As such, the coil-overs will be good for track use as most tracks are expected to be not bumpy and its turns would demand a good set-up (handling).

On the highways and streets it's a different story. the bumps will throw a stiff suspension all over as you encounter them. In the wet it is even more dangerous and stiff springs have less compliance to "smooth over" the bumps, making the ride harsh.

Therefore imho, yes, stock or soft set-ups are better for highway driving than the Aragostas, especially, at speeds over 200kph. Having said that, if the highway has many sharp turns, such as, the way to Mersing to Kuantan, a slightly uprated springing may be a better choice if driving at high speed.

Sorry, if I confuse you. Cheers,

lowrider

Thanks for the input Rotomotor.

The main concern is the lightness of steering -- maybe I am just used to the GTi's. I have checked the tire pressure as suggested ... set (cold) at 32 psi.
If the alignment has a "toe-out" characteristics, is this visible?
I don't think its an issue of speed .. I have done faster and it certainly wasn't both light in steering and this level of floatiness. It may all psychological and about expections.Maybe its just the 8... or I am just used to the Gti's higher speed characteristics.

Having said that -- I got a chance to get a test ride on a Ford GT a couple of months ago. All I can say is that you can't complain about the 8's lack of torque -- I don't think even the skyline has torque like the Ford GT. It was like in a rocket ride -- 0-100kms in just 3 or 4 seconds... with torque to spare!! We just ran out of roads. But back to the original subject; the GT didn't feel floaty as you felt every bump or contour of the road. I can still remember the adrenaline rush... like a bungee jump. Fun Fun Fun.

lennon

Ford GT40... the big heavy supercharged V8? of course it has more torque... Dont compare 1.3 liter Renesis and 5 liter supercharge......