N00b Question: How do I drive this car!!
 

Hey all,

I have a 6sp manual 2007 RX8 (metallic dark gray). Love the car, but I'd like advice on how to drive it so I don't destroy it and I get the most enjoyment out of it. So:

A) For around town commuting:
1. How much gas to give it before letting out the clutch to compensate for weak low end and avoid jerking (while not going into serious clutch-burning territory)?
2. When to shift it for a smooth ride.

B) For rapid acceleration to highway speeds and quick passing:
1. Same as above (How to start quickly but w/o burning out the clutch too badly?)
2. Same as above.

I've driven stick for 10 years now, but I still don't feel like I'm doing it most effectively (especially in this car).

I'm always paranoid about burning the clutch, so I give it the minimal gas and have painfully slow starts (especially in the RX8), though I rarely stall. I'm probably not doing the engine any favors by underdriving it like that.

I figure no one gets better at this if they're too proud to ask for advice. :-)

wth ?

A)
1. each car has a different feel, you have to feel it urself. Its ur car afterall. but I can say as low rev as possible? 1.5K is a good starting point.
2. u can shift @ 9K and it will still be smooth. depends on ur clutching skills.

B)
1. wth ? I can pass people even im in 6th.
2. same as above.

the 8 felt weird to be the first week i drove it in traffic and such, just drive the car and learn what it can do without being stupid. burn through about 3 tanks of gas just playin around, once you get used to it you wont want any other car.

just rev it up and let the clutch out....whats the problem?

Umm..
 

I really wasn't trying to be critical of the car. I love the car. I was being critical of myself and my own paranoia that I could be driving it better.

I love the car, and I'm 90 percent sure I'm driving it just fine. I'm just looking for how other people drive theirs so I can be sure I'm getting the most out of it.

e.g. when do you *typically* upshift/downshift, and at what *approximate* rpm do you *typically* release the clutch? How often do you get to 9k rpm when accelerating to highway speeds, vs. how often you just take it to 6 or 7k.

Obviously I can drive it how I want, I'm just looking for some more reference points.

(btw, nycgps: can you *really* pass people quickly in 6th going 60-65mph? The rx8 is below 4k rpm at that speed in that gear. It laughs at me if I try to pass in that speed range in 6th gear. Maybe if you're already going 85...or if you have a turbo installed)

ride the car like you would a cheap whore.

HARD.

ok...
 

Now that's more the type of input I was looking for. Any details about what "riding it hard" means to you (the car, that is). :-D

^^^ lol hard and fast and she'll scream the whole way and love ya for it...:rollingla :rollingla :rollingla

you better start readin and searching before you get flamed

yeah, I know
 

I've searched around the site, but haven't found much when I put in "best way to drive this car to get the most out of it."

Actually, that's not true, many posts come up with that search- but it's hard to tell from the titles which ones are relevant. So here I am asking for info.

If anyone wants to point me towards useful threads instead of explaining here that's fine.

If anyone is sick of answering this question, then just don't.

Please don't flame me though. Waaaagh! :flamed:

my advice is to redline it daily, the car will love you for it. that's what it was designed to do. so drive it like you stole it.

ok, so I wouldn't dump the clutch all the time or anything.....or do monstor shifts with it....just have fun with it.....keep the revs up over 4k and it's a blast--3rd gear is great to redline btw

Ok - for your driving plesure
If you want to pass someone while tootling along at about 50 -60 mph while in 6th -in with the clutch give the throttle a big blip and slot into 3rd gear , as soon as you are in , let out the clutch and floor it . feels gooooooooood :)
Just watch you don't ram up someones tailpipe .

thanks!
 

Thanks for the advice to redline it daily: reminds me that she can take it.

Thanks also for your very reasonable second comment that applies more to my daily drive. I was really picturing everyone with an rx8 except me dropping the clutch in at 5000 rpm everytime they start moving. Good to know that people *do* sometimes drive their 8's more reasonably around town.

That said, I agree that 3rd is a blast to redline- there are some really curvy, hilly roads by me and driving them in 3rd the whole way is really a hoot (one can't go over 50 on these roads without a death wish)- I catch up to people in "faster" cars really easily because the 8 handles those turns so well. :ylsuper:

thanks, brettus
 

Yeah, I've learned the beauty of the "blip" of the throttle for smooth downshifting relatively recently. Works great and probably is easier on the synchros.

That's what makes this car so enjoyable and unfortunately misconceived as well. Just because it lacks low end torque doesn't mean it's not fast. On the twisties it dominates. Thats what it was built for. BTW, welcome to the club and congrats on your 8--it's an addiction! (both the car AND the club) :)

I've found that the harder I drive the car, the smoother it shifts and everything feels more *effective* and better.

If I am conservative and driving gently, thats when I get the shudders and shakes, and something feels out of sync.

ProTip:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=YC3zp4anCi8

Like this

The owner's manual (page 5-9) tells you the recommendations for shifting... but who follows that :)

i lol'd

+1 on that--this car demands to be driven!

Like you stole it. At least once a day.

Learn how much the revs differ between gears. it's usually around 1000 RPM, except for 1st to 2nd, which is a bit wider at around 2000RPM.

If you time releasing the clutch to match the difference in RPM's, you can pretty much pop the clutch and the shift will still be butter smooth. The words fluid and effortless come to mind when describing upshifts.

I like to double clutch when down shifting. It feels more natural to me then a single clutch down shift. I don't think it will hurt the car any to single clutch, so just do it however you feel comfortable with, as long as it results in a smooth shift.

I do believe there was a thread like this not too long ago... but what the hell. The point of it was if you are driving conservitivly in the city, shifting ~3.5K is best and you will get minimal shudders if any. For the freeway, just open her up buddy.

Also 1st gear spools way faster than the others, so shifting ~4K is better

I redline 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.....at least on one drive at least once a week. I also redline at least one gear every time I drive her. Basically I'm Stop and GONE!!!! Doesn't do much for the wallet, but hey it's a lot of fun! :D: