Darin, I've heard very good things about Fordahl in Bellevue for this sort of thing. They're very much into performance driving themselves, including autocross, so they are experienced at the kind of thing you want them to do.

 

I know of them - may give them a jingle.

 

Yes Fordahl Motorsports definitely knows their stuff about suspension. I was talking to one of the owners and she really impressed me with her knowledge and driving skill.

 

I'm coming from an 87 FC (N/A), 98 Mustang, and 88 300ZX. None of them are as fast or capable as the 8, but ask around. Some of the folks who've been driving with me can testify to my car control (I also have almost 10 yrs of training from a retired professional racer). The only time I have excessive understeer is with slightly excessive throttle or extreamly excessive braking. Oversteer is the other way 'round. A little too much brake or way too much throttle. As far as I can say, if the car is getting away from you, something isn't working quite right.

 

I'm not a fan of the handling of this car either. It might be because I'm used to my 2nd gen rx7, though, because it has coilovers, aftermarket sway bars, poly bushings, bars, etc etc etc.

But my experience is this. I took a moderate right turn going about 15-20mph I'd say, somewhere near that. Next thing I knew the rear end had whipped out and I was sideways covering 2 lanes. I countersteered and it grabbed and sent me STRAIGHT to the curb, countersteered again and was able to correct myself coming within a couple inches of the curb. Very surprsing to me, and taught me the 8 is just not the sports car I thought it was. However, I do have a Base model and got the least amount of options I could (to keep it as light as possible) and that means I do not have that traction/stability control BS. That might be why, but it was still very depressing.

 

The car isn't getting away from me so much as just not responding. I'm nearly convinced applying throttle mid-corner does NOTHING...as in, the car refuses to accelerate...no tach change...nada...at least on the sharp corners.

 

Try racing this and then you really will think your RX-8 has lots of body roll hahaha. I can never look at my Miata the same I think it has 800lb springs front 650 rear if not heavier.

 

Hey Q - are you bringing that to the Rotor Rally?

 

No thats not my car just the one I am co driving a bit this year. Bringing the MX-5.

 

Nice pics! See you Saturday

 

Darin, the more I think about your problem, the more I think that there's something amis with your car. I don't fit in our RX-8 with a helmet, so I've never driven it real hard, but the RX-8 is a very capable autocross car in stock form, by all accounts. If you're not overdriving to induce the understeer, you may well have some alignment or suspension problems, but it should not be anything serious. In your shoes, I'd certainly take it to a competent doctor, like Fordahl, for a diagnosis/repair.

 

dmp,

I think it is something with your car or the road surface.

A couple of weeks ago, I had my car at an autocross class and they had a skidpad. I was able to push the car to the limit of adhesion and over. I can tell you that the car will accelerate while in hard turning. When at the limit, additional throttle produces mild (i.e. controllable) oversteer.

The only problem I had was when I went too hot into a corner, understeered (it was wet at the time and DCS/TCS was off), overcorrected and lifted, ended up spinning it. It wasn't the car, I was driving too agressive for the conditions.

I've never had any scarey moments on the road with the 8 but I usually drive with the DCS/TCS on. The car has always been very confidence inspiring. I hope you get to the bottom of the problem with your car.

 

I'm having issues with accelerating quickly 90 degrees from a dead stop -- like out of a parking lot into a busy road.

The rear end seems to lock up -- as if it's a no-slip differential. Anybody else notice this or understand what I'm talking about?

Hunter

 

all RX8's are LSD

 

kristopher_d

that wasn't a typo. I did not intend to say "not a limited slip." What I meant was, it acts as if the rear end is locked. Like there's NO slip in the differential.

Hunter

 

My bad.

 

I figured it out. I solved the RX8's handling issues by 'not' driving.

In the recent Group drive, my good friend and great driver Nate took the rx8 thru some very twisty, elevation-changing, sweepers-to-hairpin turns. I rode along and I was better for it.

Because I wasn't driving, I could watch elements of the car - and feel elements of the car I'd often not paid attention to.

What I had been calling 'body' roll is now more accurately described as 'weight-transfer'. It's the transfer of weight which I am not/was not used to - watching the hood of the car stay pretty flat while the corners were hard made me realize the body is staying pretty flat - it's just the 'heft' (compared to my last car) which I'm feeling.

Keep in mind, this trip was the first time my car was 'pushed' - I came away from the experience finally appreciating the car for what it is. Comfortable for long-haul drives, very sexy in the looks department (Every time we stopped where people were, I'd have ppl looking at my car - one time a group of kids were pawing around for several minutes, whilst I enjoyed a coffee from inside a joint). The car is no slouch thru the corners either - in fact, MUCH better than I expected. My co-driver now simply wants to get 'any' rotary engine....he's grown quite enamoured with it. :D

All-in-all I think the car has no problems which an alignment, rear sway bar, and coil-overs can't absolutely fix.

 

Were you giving it throttle while making that turn? Was the road wet?

If you touch the throttle at the wrong moment, especially in the wet with the 040s, it CAN bite you. Even with the TC/DSC.

 

You still need to drive mine Wait till I get the tuning finsihed, and we can meet up for a dyno run in Tacoma - and then go for a ride... :D

 

sounds like a great plan, Kevin

:D

 

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Excellent post, Collings. :D

 

My experience may not be so valid, I am from Seattle but live in Tokyo and the weather and roads here are quite different, as are the specs on the machines, but I have taken VERY tight corners at VERY high speeds and have never had a control issue or roll issues.
You may want to have the car inspected by a serious professional before going through any performance mods to try and fix the trouble.
I joined Mazda's race day here in Japan, they do it several times a year...if your car is street legal (give or take) you can race with everyone else. They have 2 groups of Miata and 2 groups of RX-8....The RX-8 took the corners at Suzuka Raceway at higher speeds, with VERY little tire noise or sliding, than the Miatas did. The Miata were slipping and sliding all over the track...it is usually a prdictable slide...and the dynamics of the RX-8 would require greater forces to cause it to slide...
I disabled my DSC on a day with only mild rain, and I was all over the road...much like the Miata would be...but with the DSC turned on the car is always stable as can be.
They tested Ferarri and Lamborghini (my spelling sucks, I know), Poche, Lotus and others in Australia (a Magazine ran the tests) on a circular wet skid pad. They had professional drivers racing each car, with computerized equipment to measure yaw and slip and G forces...as well as speed...Due to its wonderful DSC the RX-8 MT outperformed them all during this test. They DID rerun the RX-8 without the DSC, and admitted its performance worsened seriously.
I am rapidly approach my 3 year mark with my checkup reminder comming in the mail during the New Year holiday here, and I have found the hype about performance to right on...
I DO have experience in the lighter end of things...Having driven TR6, TR7, Spitfire & Porche for years in the past (I always wanted that TR3 or TR4 but could find a good one)...and the handling experience in those little cars always seems better than it really is...