Huskyfan23

80 mph feels like 50. Seriously, like 50. I was driving the other day, just cruising along, I think I'm going the speed limit and I'm at 90 mph. The person who was with me couldn't believe it either.

Who would think, with the engine working at 4500 RPM, it would be so smooth? My last car (Mitsubishi Eclipse) at 90 MPH would shake violently and you would know how fast you were going. In the RX8 it's like gliding on air.

I gotta buy a Radar detector, and quick! I slowed down to 65 MPH and it felt almost like I was moving backward. In this car, I gotta do at least 80.

Anyone else notice this?

otherside

Yes, and the cops have noticed twice...

BlueEyes

I think they originally made spedometers because your *** isn't very good at the task.

Huskyfan23

That doesn't really make much sense, but ok.....

Huskyfan23

lol, good to know....

Have you invested in a radar detector? Any opinion on which one I should purchase?

Clavius

Ya gotta get a radar dector for your car period. Cops love to aim that gun at you the moment they see you. And I think Blue Eyes means is that your *** aint a good gauge on how fast your going obviously, hence the speedometer. After awhile your learn how fast your going by what gear your in. Why on the highway I always drive in the Triptronic mode, in full auto I have no real gauge besides contantly looking down.

otherside

No, not yet. I really havent done any research yet either. I'm just more careful.

Raptor2k

That's one of the first things I noticed when I first test drove an AT. I felt like I was going the limit but it turned out I was going 90.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

I think they made windshields 200 times bigger than speedometers for a proportionally larger time spent using it.

Huskyfan23

I'm actually very happy that I have a manual, but once you hit 6th gear it's all over. Normal cruising I shift into 6th around 50 MPH. After that, I don't really pay that much attention to the speed.

This car will just take some getting used to. I'm so used to vibration when I hit a certain speed, to not feel anything is throwing me off.

I used to use cruise control but that gets boring, even increasing / decreasing the speed via the controls on the steering wheel.

Gotta figure something else out. Thanks for the advice though! Maybe it just takes a lot more concentration on the speed (it's an hour drive into work every day, so total concentration is not really an option).

Huskyfan23

LOL, right on!

BlueEyes

No, it makes perfect sense. I'll explain it for you:

You said that 80 mph feels like 50 mph. This would indicate that you're not a very good judge of speed, because while it might feel like 50 mph, it's surely 80 mph. Hence why they made speedometers, so that you aren't driving around in a 50 mph zone, going 80 mph because it felt like 50 mph, or you thought it was 50 mph. Is that clearer for you?

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Wait until you see how 135 feels like 70.

Huskyfan23

lol, I don't know about that.....

Top speed is 152 right? 152 at 8700 RPMS is crazy. I wonder have fast it would go if Mazda didn't put the limiter on.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Smooooooooth

NoTears316

You dont need a radar detector, you need to NOT BREAK THE LAW. That's what God invented tracks for.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Oh, shut up.

The laws are designed to be punitive. That is why the speed limits are set 30% below the engineering limits set for vehicles designed in the 1960's. The laws are about taxes, not morality.

Cruising at 90 on the highway is not street racing. Get over it.

Huskyfan23

So you're saying you always do the limit? 25 in a 25? Unless you're 85 years old, 99% of the population goes faster than the speed limit, even if it is backroads.

And I'm saying that I don't mean to go 90, it just happens due to a different feel of the car other than the Eclipse I used to own.

BlueSky

When I had my 8, I paid more attention to the tach than to anything else. Also just because you have a radar detector doesn't mean you can't get caught. The pigs can also simply track you for a bit and then pull you over.

BlueSky

speed doesn't kill. bad drivers kill.

Raptor2k

^And attractive females on sidewalks. I've had some close calls.

mysql101

MazdaManiac's top speed is likely ~170+ mph.

BlueSky

152 at 8700RPMS? Not quite. Think about it, 4500 RPMS is 90mph. The 8 is drag limited I believe.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

I've never gotten past 147. The chassis doesn't like it.
125 is enough for most trips.

BlueSky

MM I've got a question for ya so check your PM in a few mins.