Swoope...maybe the 6th gear ratio did change as well and will not contest this piece of information as I do not know. However, I assure you the RPM vs MPH in 6th gear is substantially different. I drive the 09 every day and drove the 06 every day for 3 years.

06 = 4000 RPM = roughly 80 MPH
09 = 4000 RPM = roughly 73-74 MPH

 

That'll definitely suck for fuel mileage.

 

http://www.auto123.com/en/mazda/rx-8...tid=99804&pg=2

This says the steering is very precise though heavily assisted. Sounds like what is being described as a change from the '04-'08 feel.

 

The calculated 6th gear speed per rpm is about the same for the '09 as for the '06 and yet we have someone here claiming that it is substantially different. Something doesn't add up; either the published specs are wrong or something weirder is happening...

 

yep,

to op.

my 04 does 3750 at 75mph.

i should get to drive a r3 in a couple of weeks. will look at it.. unless they change the tire dia they should be the same..


beers

 

An R3 has 19 inch wheels and a GT has 18 inch wheels. My 06 Shinka had 18 inch wheels...tire size is also the same at 225/45/18s. I cannot believe that this...but I will take a picture on the way to work today at 4k rpm in 6th gear and post it. Just to satisfy the non-believers...I will say I was slightly off...it is 75 MPH at 4k RPM.

 

I have attached a picture at 4k RPM at 75 Mph. Specs on car: 2009 RX-8 GT, 6 Speed, 18 Inch wheels, 225/45/18 tires.

 

the link about does say that ~ 100 rpm difference between the two.. it is not tire size.

would need a scan tool and a gps to figure this out..

the rpm gauge is off on the 04 to 08. maybe they fixed that?

thanks for the photo!

beers

 

You could be right there Swoope ...
easy way to test that would be to take it to the rev limiter and see what the rpm gauge reads .
Mine is 9400-9500 on guage when it is actually 9000 at the crank.

 

after reading a little bit. i find that the r3 tires are~ 26.1 in dia. all the other 09 manuals are ~25.9.

best guess is the speedo would be dead on for the r 3 and the gt and lower is off a bit..

but gps and scan gauge would tell the story.

beers

 

I've never driven the 04-08 except for some test drives so I don't know what to compare the driving to. But after the first 500 miles, I got 18.9 mpg and have used about a 1/2 quart of oil. Dunno what speed I get in 6th at 4k but I'll test it out. I've got an 09 GT AT though so probably will be different from the MT and R3.

Non performance wise, I will also say the leather on the chair seems different - less slick and more of a matte type. They did get rid of the ribbed leather on the sides of the seat. I'll be going to the Dublin meet and will compare with the other 8's there.

 

Oil consumption - I've used 1.8 quarts in 1,500 miles. It is using oil at close to 2x the rate of my 2004. But I like it - keep that rotor nice and lubed As others have said, "red line a day keeps the engine replacement at bay". I'm not cruising at 7k rpm more like 4k, but as my license plates says (RXCELR8). I "touch" the 9k mark at least once a day - or as the mood moves me

2009 RX-8 "fully loaded". Maybe it's the nav that's using more oil? Never know! It could be a function of the retroencabulator (you tube/google it - hee hee).

Steve