Hello everyone,

so far I'm a bloody newbi to RX8 - I know the car from a friend of mine but anyway... So the thing is, the RX8 offers a good tradeoff between performance and price, at least in Germany - and as I'm more or less at the end of my PhD, I wanted to make myself a gift... And that's my plan, which I want to discuss whether it is realistic or not... Or at least I want to hear suggestions what can be improved or not. So far, I don't own a RX8 but I want to buy one - thus, my questions are maybe a bit basic to honest, but well, they stay at least in my plan so far.

What I want is a car which is fast-and-furios alike, but it shouldn't be something which needs to have as many horse-power as much it can have - the thing is, I'm assessor for pre-series cars, thus everything has to be in line with the German laws an TÜV However, I want an RX-9 with approx. 300-350 Horsepower by porting it, I guess Streetport should be manageable - but if somebody has experience with it - please leave some comments on it whether it is compliant to german laws. Since the engine has to be taken out of the vehicle, I'm not so worried of the kilometers it already has driven. But the first question arising is, should it be a 231 HP Version or is a 192 HP version sufficient? For me, it's important to have some power on the axis behind, since I'm currently a trainee for test-driving so I have to learn drifting - that's why i want the RX-8 So i guess cooling and braking is a thing which should be included. In order to have a bit more fun, also the exhaust should be extended to a 3,5" system including intake but once again, with the performance increase is it enough? The last thing on my list for stage 1 is to have a good undercarriage. Thats what I want, the second things are more or less optically things like body kit and maybe paintshop. However these things are parts I want to do in the future when the drift-training is over.
Thus for my first stage i would prefer to have the following things:
* Engine revised + ported (maybe 300 HP?)
* Exhaust system to 3,5"
* Improved shock absorber
* Improved Braking system
* Improved cooling system
* (ECU Mapping and TÜV due to porting is obviously)

For all this stuff i have some spare money till 15.000 EUR including the car. So the question is, are my points manageable with the points above? And did I miss something? Is my plan realistic?

Best Regards
Björn

 

You gotta take like 30 steps back. Do not port a Renesis, there is nothing to be gained by this. If you want 300-350, add a turbo or swap a V8. Long story short incremental mods like bigger exhaust or intake (especially intake, leave it well enough alone) do little to nothing (or lose power). Mazda didn't leave anything on the workbench when building it.

But before all that read RX8help.com and the variety of "new member" threads here to aboid problems.

The car doesn't really need better brakes, it's very well set up from the factory. With good pads you'll outbrake much higher caliber cars. Go and drive one, you'll see what it needs them.

 

So you think, I'm way steps ahead? Well maybe I have to gain more experience on it Well the thing at turbos is, yeah they will offer a lot of more on power, however, as far as I understand correctly, there is no way to get it legal on the streets once there is a turbo in it :/
[EDIT]
(at least in Germany - but I don't know exactly)

 

Not familiar with German laws around modifications. If you haven't already, go drive one or two RX8s and see what you think it needs. It's never going to be a straight line powerhouse, but it's fantastic track car because it has no bad habits and can carry momentum through corners. Same for drifting if that's your thing, you can drift a stock 8 and decide from there. The best mod you can invest in is seat time.

​​​​​​

 

You have to appreciate the RX8 for what it is. A great driving car with a unique. high maintenance, somewhat low return powerplant. If all things are optimized the Renesis can provide fair levels of fun power. Just enough to let the chassis be respectably quick around a track. You can take a sharp knife and sharpen it a bit more but to me that's where it ends. Its a shame because it seems widely supported the chassis can easily handle another 100-200 hp. From my research, there is no reasonable or cost effective way to get there without compromising something.

If you are OK with 250hp and a great chassis, you will be happy. If you have to have 300+ HP, you may want to look elsewhere. I cross shopped this car against a 1-series BMW. Maybe that would be better for your goals?

 

putting the cart before the horse. if you're wanting big numbers, I would either search for another car or have a lot of money in the bank for future rebuilds when things go south by being boosted, which is the only way you will get near your figures. it is not impossible to boost the renesis but there's a reason a lot of people will suggest against it since the engine is already running at its near maximum from the factory. porting does not give similar gains akin to what a stage 1/2/3 etc. camshaft would in a piston engine. a healthy 6port engine makes roughly 230hp but at the wheels it's more around 180 or so. if you're wanting a drift car, my suggestion is you're better off finding a 350z/370z/g37 or similar in your budget or if you absolutely have to get an rx8, do lots and lots of research before taking the plunge and understanding what it is you're getting into.