Well, if that's the case I apologize for misjudging you. I just get tired week after week reading about kids killing one another doing exactly what you describe. I'm glad to hear you're not really into it. You just need to be aware of how you sound asking about your 0-60 time from a red light. When you say, "if some punk wants to race me I want to know how to get the best start" it almost sounds like you are interested in illegal street racing. Also, planning how to stiff the dealer with repairs due to your intentional abuse kinda rubs me the wrong way. But that's just me.

I was being facetious with the punk wanting to race me thing. Besides, is it illegal to take off quickly from a light if you don't exceed the speed limit?

It often is, at least here in California. It's called Display of Power or something like that. They can also slap reckless driving on you which is purely in the eyes of the officer and virtually impossible to contest in court. Plus hit and run when you veer right, hit the guy next to you, and don't stop. Of course, I'm not saying you would do that, but it happens here all the time which is the cause of my strident reaction when I see someone glorifying it.

Personally I think magazine 0-60 time is more of a bragging right, I'd never drop clutch from high rpm on my own car. Drop clutch kills the tranny and driveshaft, burn outs kill tires and brakes. The 8 isn't really about the acceleration, take it to the mountains and AutoX to appreciate its light weight and suspension.

If I remember right it's called "exhibition of speed". I've never quite figured this out. If it's illegal to accelerate faster than a certain m/s^2, then why allow car manufacturers to make and/or sell cars that accelerate too fast. As an afterthought, I seriousely doubt the statute actually lists a number, therefore I think a good argument can be made that the law is vague and unconstitutional. I'm going to look into my state laws. I don't believe in street racing, but it is fun to drive WOT sometimes.

Lol, I wouldn't go and try a 5sec. 0-60 right in front of a cop. THen he'd have reason to ticket me. But if there are no cops in sight, and some cop far away sees me in front of the civics, prius' and SUV's,I'll definitely take il to court.

Here's the wording in the Florida statute:

"No person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record on a highway or street."

I have a feeling this is only enforced in cases of kids drag racing etc.

noah, thanks for the statute, i'm in Palm Harbor myself. I've been wondering about the whole clutch drop deal myself for a while, I've just been too much of wuss to give it the go ahead.....tho I'm getting closer to lighting them up at least once.

I have done a few clutch drop near 8k and most of the time I'm spinning my wheels.
I have suceeded on 3,500-4,500K drop and beaten many cars (not going to mention what cars coz alot of people have doubted this RX8 can't beat those cars) in STREET RACE (ok start flaming me anti-street race people) Oh by the way I'm Asian...

AAHHHHAAHHHHHHH Asian street racer AAAHHHHAAHHHHH run for the hills......

yes I'm being sarcastic=)

Do RX-8 Auto drivers no how to launch an automatic?

Hold the break down with one foot, rev the engine with the OTHER foot, and then let go of the brake (being held down by the other foot). Takes a little PRACTICE to get right but once you do. WORKS... WORKS REALLY WELL. Since many don't know how to use the stick properly, you can SMOKE lots of people. And auto can RULE when going through traffic (not saying do that, but its true), curves, and turns.


In fact if Mazda had not nerfed the auto transmission, who knows how close you can come to the stick in performance. Mazda needs to correct those auto HP numbers. Now it will be all about the cold air intake, exhaust, cat, etc... I think it's crap that they don't have a better auto transmission to handle the REVS. There ARE others that have auto transmissions that can handle the HIGH REVS better than the one Mazda put in the RX-8.

Two words on auto tranny's

fun factor

First I'll say I love my 8. I test drove a G35 coupe and found it too small inside for me. The Z, even smaller. When I test drove the 8 I knew it was the one for me. Now, when Mazda lowered the horsepower rating to 238 they didn't say anything regarding new torque rating. Why, becauase the 8 already had a torque rating that was too low for some peoples tastes. Remember we're American, we're used to torque. In fact, my 200 Buick Regal GS had 280 lbs. of torque and 240 horses. Was it more fun to drive than the 8, NO! Did it feel faster when on the highway. I'm sorry to say, over 30 mph the Regal felt faster, and I didn't have to work hard to feel it. This was due to the torque. But that's why I like the 8. I like to work for my performance.

Does the 8 have enough horses/torque. I think it originally did. Think, when you add aftermarket performance items to your car, the horsepower gains always are higher than the torque gains. Can one say that when you loose more horses you lose even more torque. Perhaps that is why mazda is not so quick to report lower torque #s. Does anyone know the torque of the 8. I don't think it's 159. I think the 250 hp 8 is a perfectly balanced sports car, but you have to remember, when somethings perfectly balanced it doesn't take much to tip the scales. If the 8 was using its true power I don't think anyone around would argue that It's not better than the Z or G35cp. It already handles better. A couple of mods and I'll smoke em.

I woulnd't put my hands on fire...but I don't think a cop will see it too fondly.

I tried launching at a few different engine speeds tonight. The best was easily at 7500 rpm - the tires spun for maybe two seconds before grabbing the road, and then this baby flies. It didn't jump too badly, and it was very easy to maintain control. I did this on a deserted wide road with nobody around. HUGE difference between flooring it at lower engine speeds to take off, and dropping the clutch at 7500. Yeah I know it kills the clutch, tires etc., no need to tell me.

Just don't put it in neutral and coast. ;-)

Sorry, spillover from another thread...

hehehe, glad to see you have a sense of humor about it all...

Give me a break. He didn't say he was going to be blazing to 100 mph in front of an elementary school.

Re: Launches
 

I don't think there will be that big of a drop. Maybe try something a little more conservative such as 4000-5000. I have done that and it has been pretty smooth.


As far as the tires go, the only bad thing for them is burning off some of the rubber. I don't consider such a bad thing as long as it is not excessive. Tires and clutches will wear out, it's a fact, so unless you are doing something excessive, I wouldn't worry about it.

I occationally slip my clutch at 3K in my 6, but I never drop it. I think you should be able to work out a good launch by slipping it in the 4K range so you mimimize the clutch wear

The clutch is never covered under warranty for wear. It would only be covered by warranty if it was defective.

Congrats on your testing....I'm glad you practiced and did it safely..:D

Dropping the clutch won't really hurt the clutch, but slipping it will.
You slip the clutch in order to prevent more expensive things (tranny, diff.) from taking the shock, but your clutch will wear out more quickly.