OK, so this might sound like a dumb question (which I would happily have posted in the 'dumb question' thread, but I can't because I'm still a newb ), but how are we supposed to drive the RX-8 ? On a normal piston engine, it's pretty straight forward, go through the gears and you usually cruise in the city in the highest gear that isn't lugging the engine (for most cars, that happens to usually be 4th gear going 60 km/h (~35 mph)). I've been reading in different threads that we shouldn't be driving / cruising the Renesis in low RPMs as it's considered lugging the engine. That said, I don't know about you guys, but if I'm driving my RX-8 at 60 km/h (~35 mph) in 4th gear, I still have tons of torque / get up if I stomp on the gas pedal It certainly doesn't feel like I'm lugging the engine, but maybe I am? Thoughts?

 

I personally drive through neighborhoods in 2nd gear at about 25 mph. Highway wise im usually at around 65-70 in 4th gear. I keep the RPMs in the 4k range when cruising.

 

Haveing had the same discussion here on how to drive and RX8 I try and keep mine above 3000 .. if in traffic and I drop below 3000 RPMS Ill down shift .
I do red line her pulling onto on ramps in 1st and second gear some times 3rd ..

 

Interesting. I definitely have not been "trying" to keep the RPMs above 3K, probably the opposite to be honest.

 

The new member restriction is against creating new threads. You can still post in threads unrestricted, so yes, you could have posted this in the Dumb Questions thread


That being said, cruise between 3k and 4.5k, full throttle shift between 7k and 9k, don't lug the engine, and most of all, don't try to fit it all into a formula... just enjoy the car! Having fun with the engine is virtually always going to mean that it's being driven correctly. Trying to turn the fun into a tedious sequence is where most people get into trouble.

 

Ahhhhhhh crap


OK, thanks for the advice. Again, I'm not new to driving by any means, but it's my first rotary. If I drove my other cars to 7K shifts everyday I don't think they'd like me for very long

 

When I got my 8 a good friend from the local Mazda Dealership sent me this message ." Drive the s^#t out of it if you dont youll blow it up ... "
Thats the fun of this car ! It is good for it to run her HARD ... Like RIWWP said have fun with it !!
Tips from here" red line her every day" !!! Smile ... Thats so much fun .. I giggle every time I do it !!!!

 

Yup, its one of the unique attributes of the rotary. The engine loves it, not hates it.