Hi guys, just brought my first RX8, I've had a few RX7 before but this is the first RX8 so wondering if what I'm experiencing in the car is normal.

First off the car is a 5 speed 2004 with 72kms, the coils and plugs have been done but no other work (to my knowledge)

I couple of odd things
I don't seem to have a power band e.g. the pick up is the same through the revs, I would have expected some kind of pick up about 7K ?
If foot is fully down on pedal I get a mini bog at 6k nothing much and it is only at 6k (doesn't stay) but it is there ???
If I change straight from 3rd gear to 5th I get some crunching of gears 3to4to5 is fine, normal for this gearbox?
Can I chip the 5 speed (mainly for the rev limit) or is it just not worth it?


I've also been told that the early auto had less power than the 5 speed but haven't been able to verify this, true?


lots of small questions hope you can help.

 

Power band could be affected be any part of the ignition system, catalytic converter or oil system. Oil change helps too. I've had all 3 problems. And yes, it should pull progressively harder and harder all the way to redline.

- I had a bog from the cat problem.

Idk gearbox...

No chips. Won't work. Not worth a higher rev limit, power drops off.

 

Rev limit I believe can be changed through an accessport. Thats the only "chip" worth using.

 

I believe that from 03 to 05 auto's have 4 ports, and from 06 onward has 6 ports, that's the difference.

 

No power because you have a 4port
your gearbox is probably worn
chips don't work and neither will a cobb accessport if you have a jdm rx8
the 4speed auto has the same power as the 5speed manual



sell it and buy a 6speed 6port, you will only be disappointed with a 4port after owning rx7's

i drove a 4port the other day.........

 

I assume you live outside US which they had option for a 4 port 5 speed manual version which is the same engine as the 4 port 4 speed automatic being 192hp.
the red line is 7000 rpm.
you need the 6 speed version for the 6 port engine red line at 9000 rpm.

 

Thanks everyone, I'm going to have the car for about 6 months as a min but sounds like I should upgrade to the six speed after that.

 

In other news - the 4 port 5 speed is a good candidate for a turbo upgrade - just sayin

Where in NZ are you ?

 

Take the hint and don't do it. Unless you double-clutch rev match, going 3rd to 5th means a rev change the synchros have a hard time handling. The RX tranny synchros have to work about 50%harder than normal cars due to the rev drops between gears. Redline MT-90 tranny oil is the conventional-wisdom choice for the 6-speeds, btw.

 

I believe the power difference you describe between auto and manual cars would be true at the wheels as an auto will always sap a bit more power, this is true for all cars. The engine power at the flywheel would be same.

 

All good stuff,
About the 3rd to 5th not something I normally do but more I wanted to see if this is common or if the gearbox needed addressing

I do live in NZ, would have liked a 6 speed but the price was right for the 4 port (for now) so plan is to have it as a daily driver more than playing.

Don't intend to turbo it as insurance is already very high for the car.

Makes sense about the power at the wheels, ta

The only thing outstanding is the pick up and is it normal for 4 ports to be so flat over the revs and not peeking about 6k?

I've heard difference answers with one being that Mazda changed the ECU programming to be flat.