Detrich

Is there any authoritative or published information on the best way (technique, RPM etc.) to shift the RX-8 MT achieve the best 0-60 acceleration time? (Such as the best times as published by Consumer Reports or other car magazines.)

I've been reading a lot of interesting opinions on this forum, but am more interested in "reproduceable" results- done by a reputable car magazine in a controlled fashion. Does anyone know or know where I can find this sort of info?

For example, AutoWeek's review of the C6 Corvette mentions that they achieved better 0-60 time trials by shifting into 2nd gear as soon as possible upon launch, because 2nd gear is where the power is explosive for that car.

So, this had me wondering... Thanks.

Ike

In a car like the RX-8 a high RPM clutch dump, praying for no wheel hop, and shifting at or near redline will almost always yield the best results. There's really no secret to it, the Vette shifting into secont is because you could probably light up the tires all the way through 1st gear and that's not going to be the best time wise.

JRichter

http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/d...2003171557.pdf

see test notes at bottom

this gives you an idea on launch, I believe the full article says they launched at 7500 rpm then took it to just over 9k rpm to shift

another article in Road & Track describes their testing procedures and describes them as real world, no clutchless speed-shifting as opposed to other car mags

Detrich

woot! thanks Jay.

Asmoran

rx8wannahave

Thanks Jay...I could read those stat's over and over, lol.

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Rev Matching...not pretty if you do it wrong.

Shoafb

7500 rpm launch

That can't be good for a clutch.

JRichter

yep, save this for the rental car

Roaddemon

I'll have my wife time me with a stop watch. It should be somewhere between 5 and 10 sec if I launch at 12000 rpm

RotrDoc

Yep!! Budget some clutch money for this one. But that's what it takes.

9291150

My best launches are with a drop at 6000-6500, just the right amount of spin and momentum. Just remember to turn off the TCS/DSC.

Anything higher and its spinning left and right and bumping off the limiter for me.

Never witnessed any axel hop, unlike so many other cars. And I have not seen anything to indicate that the clutch cannot withstand the abuse. Obviously, like any car, consecutive high rpm launches isn't smart on clutch life.

StewC625

My best launches come at 4200 revs to drop the clutch, shift at the beep but before you bounce off the rev limiter, traction control off.

I measure the time with my gTech meter.

My best time: 5.94 seconds. My most repeatable time seems to be 6.2.

Any higher RPM and I get axle hop and too much wheelspin.

modforce

That article also states it has 250bhp@8500 "I wish" and tope speed of an est. 148!

Wurmfist

Yeah and pray you don't dump your clutch right onto the road. Everytime I do this I can smell my clutch for days. Could be just me though too.