Just got mine...
 

on Saturday I drove an rx-8 and fell in LOVE! I was originally looking for something boosted like an SRT-4 or a Cobalt SS, but I drove this and liked it so much that I bought it. Apparantly Mazda bought it back bc of the underrating of horsepower and so I got an '04 with only 18k miles on it :rock: One thing I have found with this car is that it is very tricky to launch....I tried a search but didn't find what I needed, so any help there is greatly appreciated. I tried launching at 4k and got alot of wheel hop :Eyecrazy: 5 was better but I am kind of afraid to do anything more as I don't know what this car can handle and I don't wanna break it :hahano: Overall I am just extatic to have the car and am very eager to learn as much about it as I can!!!!

Thanks, Rob

welcome to the rx8 world

:spank: Stop trying to launch it unless you got a ton of money to toss out of pocket.and remember this is mostly a sports car not a dragster or Hot ROD.THE RX8 is a nice running and smooth sport car in a class of it's own.i do welcome you to the club but please be careful what you have.it only sounded like you wanted a race car out the box and that is why i said what i said but it's your car enjoy! :nono:

Boosted Cobalt? >.< Also, keep in mind that we don't condone street racing here.

The RX8 is a beautiful car and handles very well, just don't abuse her.

Anyway, welcome to the club. :)

the car is not too magnificent in a straight line...it was built for the curves and high rpm...be safe out there....we don't want a thread about another rx8 that was wrecked. ;)

People drag race pickup trucks. You bought the car. Do whatever you want with it. Remember that people will mock you if you later post on the boards complaining about how slow a Rx-8 AT is at the drag strip.

Congrats and welcome!

Please add location to your profile. Post some pictures!

Take on the corners, not the straights :)

A very childish first post.

This is not a rocket my friend . I think you made a bad decision.

By the way welcome.

Well thank you my friend. Your post meant alot to this thread also.

Excuse me, I went from a 2004 Oldsmobile Alero to the Rx-8 with a 6 speed. The difference in power and handling is ridiculous, I have had the car for 2 days and I am still getting used to it and experimenting. Give me a break please. I am a kid, I am 20 years old and I am sure that it shows. However, I am not the type to be out speeding in the city because unlike most I bought this car and I am paying for it. Insurance is relatively cheap since I have a clear driving record but a ticket would most likely end that. I have been engaged for too long (picking the right time has taken us a bit) but I am not getting any of the handouts many get. I am not some kid with a rich dad and I work very hard for everything I have please refrain from judging me.

Car, this entire post is not directed at you, just the 1st part.

congratz and welcome :)

Maybe this should have been your first post. It's a lot more thoughtful than your first one.

Glad to hear it meant a lot.

Lol, that is the way posts can be on the internet...it really is difficult to read it in the same 'tone' it was written in. I probably should have had more of an introduction post first, but...meh hindsight

Edit: While I am thinking about it...how do I know what model I have? The original owner kept the manual for it, but I have a 6 speed, no spoiler, no fogs, no nav, and no sunroof. I am assuming the other features of the car came standard. One more thing I am wondering about is that it looks like I have a cd changer? Reason I say looks is that it has disc up and down buttons but I can't figure out how to load more than one...

You're 20, you buy a car and then basically tell us you're going to street race. I"m 21, I don't consider myself a "kid" in that sense. There is no break, you wreck this car and I assure you that you will be crying in your pillow at night.

All we're saying is don't abuse it, don't tell us you're going to street race in your car (as I said, it's not condoned in this club and I'm assuming this since you basically said you were sidestepping the clutch.), and BE SAFE.

what the? im sorry for everyone being so harsh...this guy didnt even mention the word street or race in his first post, but of course we're all very quick to judge.

Congradulations and welcome

Launching? Side stepping the clutch? I said I was assuming, but I have a feeling if he's trying to see where it would launch at and how smoothly, he's probably doing it for a reason.

Basically, just saying be careful is all, don't want another post about how someone wrecked their 8 being foolish :( :grouphug:

Pretty assumptive but...oh well. Let me explain. I do not condone street racing and most times I drive this car in town I am getting passed by Hondas and Minivans. I left the days of doing idiotic stuff behind me a LONG time ago (thank god!!!). There are quite a few auto x and 60-100 ft drags that are sanctioned events and I just was testing how to launch the car as if I do go to something like that I don't want to look like a moron because I can't drive my car. I realize the 8 is not a straight line car (which I actually prefer cornering by far). Now, in all honesty you and I both know that that isn't the only reason I was asking how to launch it, hell the main reason is just plain human curiosity, what can I say? I think my first post gave everyone the impression that I am some street racing punk just out to race at every stop light and that is far from the truth. When I was looking for cars, my goal was to get something that made me smile everytime I drove it/put my foot in it. We all know that the 8 will bring a smile to pretty much anyone's face. I will also point out that the way 'kid' is used is more relative. In case you can't tell, I am more grown up as far as my lifestyle than most kids my age. (I have been living with my fiance for 2 1/2 years, when everyone my age was still living with their parents). I think I got a rather poor start on this forum, but take what I say for what it's worth and lets just enjoy the cars :)

Another edit >.< : I consider myself pretty knowledgeable when it comes to cars but what is side-stepping? Is it feathering or slipping? I have grown up around cars and always watched racing but I have no clue what this means....a little light please

The dude just wanted to know how to properly launch his brand new sports car. Someone here forgive him for wanting to know what almost everyone here knows. Tell me that you guys, if even a bit, have never played around with fast starts. And even if you haven't, it's no reason to drop bombs and be all, "this is not a dragster, blah blah. etc." He might have the SMALLEST amount of knowledge about the RX8. Nowhere in what he said could be connected to street racing and dragging unless you have the preset conclusion that this guy just got his car and wants to launch it so of course that means he wants to go fast so of course that means he wants to drive like an idiot so of course that means he wants to wreck his car so of course that means he has a lot of money and can afford that shit. No one here knows anything about the dude.
I don't think its cool how some of you bashed him and then followed up with a "o btw welcome."
Okay, Mr. Two Thousand Four Eight, everyone who spoke on this thread is correct, regardless of how they put it. Experienced people are quick to do shit like this on different boards across the internet. But ya, the 8 isn't designed for straight line performance as its main focus. If anything, I think that main focus would be its handling and feel. Just do what I did, spend a whole day (or two or more lol) driving it around to different places, at different times of the day, and just bond with it. Caress it through gentle pulls on the steering wheel and glide it through some silky bends....seriously. Then of course, add throttle!
The 8 is like Michael Johnson compared to, um, I guess, Justin Gatlin. Though both are fast compared to regular people, if running a 400-800meter race, Johnson would excel for he can keep most of his speed through the curve and the straight, while Gatlin is honed for the 100 sprint. (yes, i know that gatlin is god at the 200 also, I just wanted to put in a cool analogy).
Anyway, this forum helped, and still is helping, me so much whenever I needed info on my car. I hope it will do the same for you.

welcome to the club....

It launches quite well from 4k-5k with the traction control off. Nice little burn than off it goes. Mine is fast off the line. I tried a few times with no problems or wheel hop.

Thanks everyone for the overall good welcome :) I look forward to owning my 8 for a long time and appreciate any help and guidance while I learn the ins and outs of my new Wankel powered roadster!

if you're getting hop, you might make sure it's not your clutch release and/or gas press that's causing the problem.
When STARTING to go from around 5k rpm with dsc off (did 04 have dsc?), I will induce generous wheel spin if I desire it, but 6-7k is better for really kicking the back end out. I wouldn't START any higher than that. 4.5 -5k might be ideal in my car for really taking off as it's just below the power band, and as it's not as likely to spin the wheels without traction right off the start as much from those revs. I dunno, I don't try for speed off the line, when I'm really driving it and not just using it for A to B, I either just drive a gear down just above speed limit or I try to get that little "you're outta freakin contol!" light to come on. It's always right, I am outta control. :ylsuper:

It's sports car, you're entitled to have a little fun. Just don't hurt it ... or anyone else.

New car
 

Welcome to the world of "ZOOM ZOOM". Just got my 8 approximately 4 weeks ago & am loving it. Just got 1000 miles on the odometer & had been properly breaking it in. Took it to 9000 RPM's finally & was introduced to a whole new experience. It's a whole new world from 6500 RPM's to redline. I plan to go there often (safely of course) & recommend you do the same.

My last car was a modded Mustang GT, so save yourself the headaches while wondering if you bought a 1/4 mile car. You didn't. The RX8 is all about the handling & the overall driving experience. Enjoy it for what it is & you will reap the benefits.