Finally drove a Turbo RX8
 

And all I can really say is "Wow."

2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear just pull like crazy. 5th and 6th gear is no longer completely useless (except for crusing.) Honestly, first gear was not the head snapping gear I thought it would be. Perhaps underwelming only in the tires spun wildly. (Plus the day before, I rode around in a Mustang GT and got my head banged off the headrest multiple times.)

This car has 280+ hp, right up there with a friends evo that I drive occasionally (turbo-back exhaust, boost controler, SAFC, other things). In comparison, the launch goes to the Evo. AWD is just an ass-kicker off the line. While in boost, I honestly would say the two are easily near equal; however, the transition into boost is more predictable and smooth in the evo. This is likely only a tuning issue. But the punch in 2nd and 3rd are just incredible. You just fly! Some may hate me for this, but in boost, this car would out accelerate my buddy's modded 280 hp evo. Maybe not win in a 1/4, but damn it is fast.

I will let the the owner ID himself if he wishes cause I didn't ask if I could mention the ride.

THANKS MAN!!!!!

Did your head snap back at least on the shift to 2nd?

What ems is this person using?

rx8 turboed-= snap your nack off.
the funny thing about awd is that they are very fast off the line. however, once they are off the lines, they do not accelerate as hard as RWD. it's physics. when you accelerate, the front end of your car goes up. so most of the weight ends up at the rear wheels.

Int-x

JeRKy, I would think so. The 1-2 shift at 8 or 9krpm was a huge kick in the butt, but you always feel the acceleration better in the passenger seat 'cause you aren't expecting it (as I was in the mustang.) In any case, that '06 mustang GT had low-end torque coming out of it's proverbial oriface. RX8 just isnt ever going to do that (with two-rotors.)

Int-x? Wow! That's my Myers-Briggs score!

Hey, mines ENZO!

How did the tires spin if there is an unescapable limited slip in the rear? I've turned my traction control off in the ran just to see how much I could slide and one thing it wont do is burn out from a dead stop in first gear. Once I shifted to second I could drift everything!!

WOW. GREAT FIRST POST! Now, say again?

http://myspace-247.vo.llnwd.net/0050...03926247_m.jpg

Nice glasses. Though. And not a bad song. Really.

Lucky guy.. All my friends are INT curiously. :hahano: .

I'm ISTJ! but i cant seem to find a suitable EMS for myself.... :hahano:

Lay off the drugs!

:op:

Funny you say that because I drove a highly tuned FD once at a shop, and instead of snapping my head back...it felt more like I was getting sucked into hyperspace. Was like being on a friggin roller coaster

Are you kidding? With TC off in the rain (ran) I can almost make my car rotate around its front axis.

Have to agree.. When I rode in my friend's FD (custom tuned w/ twin turbos installed in serial), it was like a freaking roller coaster alright- faster than any NSX or Carrera or any other sports car I've ever ridden in.

We nick-named his 7 the flying coffin, because you pretty felt like you were going to die in a crash- airbags or not.

With traction control, it's only really going to help you in corners. If you are on flat ground (even without a LSD) you won't spin one tire because it takes about the same force to get each going... If that makes sense. On a turn, one wheel has less weight on it, which makes it easier to turn. That is where the LSD comes in to play.

Hey Chris,

I don't care if you mention my name. I let him drive my turbo'd 8 and he let me drive his 8 with all his suspension mods. It definitely handles great by the way. Couldn't tell how great on the street of course, but it was noticeable. I was also surprised at how good of a ride JIC coil overs maintain. After I get some new tires, I'll probably be opening up a whole new set of flood gates and begin moding my suspension.

I am bothered by the difficulty building boost in 1st gear. It's only been a problem since I did the wastegate line relocation, before that 1st was just like any other gear. It is still possible to hit full boost, it just requires almost full throttle, where in any other gear I can hit it at no more than 50% throttle. Or if I launch it helps build up the boost in 1st. This problem is also more pronounced since when I do make boost I loose traction, making it seem slower. I'm hoping that once I get my new tires and my gear based boost control hooked up, that effect can be dialed out. Otherwise I might just tap the wastegate line back into the manifold.

I do still need more tuning, it was never finished after my turbo died while on the dyno. I just can't find a good tuner. Eventually, I'll probably work up the balls and do it myself. Either that, or I've heard Steve Kan will be in the area this July.

I think the LSD comes into play in corners due to the fact that one wheel is moving at a lower speed than the other; not really weight-related. Also, TC is most definitely designed for straight-line acceleration; not cornering. DSC will help save your car in a corner by invoking a combination of TC and brake / engine management.

Turns out the low boost in 1st gear wasn't due to the Wastegate line relo. Actually, when my turbo was rebuilt, I had my WG ported out. This required me to tighten down on the WG rod a little more to hold the flap completely shut. Did this and everything's great now.

AWD cars have more drivetrain loss and friction which means they typically don't have trap speeds as high as some other cars at that time level. It isn't because weight is shifting off the front tires. If that were the case, they wouldn't launch any harder than a rear wheel drive car and that they definitely do very well.

I just couldn't get it out of my head.
 

Well, my first drive in a turboed 8 completely ruined the experience in my car. (well, that is a bit of hyperbole)

So...my only option was to throw a turbo at mine.:rock:

With rkostolni's expert help, turbo was installed in near record time (a fair estimate was 14 hours over two days.)

First impressions are that I should have done this some time ago. I might get all teary-eyed with joy here in a moment because the car hauls so much ass. I am running just at 6.5 lbs of boost with the emanage standard map (i think, I bought the kit used and haven't looked at the map) with the MadDog/MM boost control relocation, and likely an M map but possibly an N (definitely not R and likely never unless the dealer comes and steals my car to flash it.) Also rkos. installed a check valve in to the boost control vacuum line to minimize boost leak.

After fiddling with the bov, the car transitions in and out of boost nearly seamlessly already, but I am sure more tuneing will occur shortly with the E-01 that came with my kit. Small hiccoughs are to be expected (esp. throttle tip in/out), but they are nearly inconsequential.

Next step is to go get my 280 awhp evo-owning friend's opinion. Certainly, I am no where near that power, but I think I might be able to keep up now. :bootyshak

Awesome - ever sell the header?

Nope.