Notices
RX-8 Discussion General discussion about the RX-8 that doesn't fit in one of the specialty forums.

Soon to get RX-8 hopefully

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 05-11-2005, 08:34 AM
  #26  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LostAngel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
Can you explain that a little more? I want to make sure that when I do a 0-60 run (probably once a month...all other runs are from a rolling start) I'm not hurting my 8. What's a "hard" launch?
I think by a hard launch, he means reving up high and popping the clutch to get a hard launch.
Old 05-11-2005, 08:37 AM
  #27  
Follower of CHRIST!!!!!!!
 
rx8wannahave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
popping the clutch
Yeah, that's what I thought but how else can you take off? If you are trying to get the best time how can you release the clutch little by little? Maybe I just need someone to teach me but I thought (I don't power shift that's for sure) that's how the mag's get their times????
Old 05-11-2005, 08:39 AM
  #28  
Glitchy Rotary Madness
 
missinmahseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
Can you explain that a little more? I want to make sure that when I do a 0-60 run (probably once a month...all other runs are from a rolling start) I'm not hurting my 8. What's a "hard" launch?
Rev it up to 5 or 6 or 7 k and drop the clutch. The *ONLY* way to get the 'advertised' 0-60 on this car. I consider it abuse, plain and simple. No car should be launched that way unless it's been built expressly for professional drag racing.

Anectode: I replaced the clutch on my miata at 120,000 miles. I had done perhaps 20 hard launches in its ten year life with me. When we got the clutch out, the friction plate and flywheel were fine, just fine thank you -- they coulda gone another 100,000 miles.

The throwout bearing, on the other hand, broke.. so by doing perhaps 20 hard launches, I made my clutch break at an early age. I had bought the Miata when I was 25.

Anecdote: I bought a '84 GSL-SE Rx-7 and zero-timed the clutch, among other things. I bought this car when I was 19. I did more hard-launches than I can count.

Result: I blew up the clutch (throwout bearing again!) in less than 70,000 miles.

Yeah, sorry folks, but I consider hi-rev clutch drops abuse, and refuse to perform 'em anymore. Just costs too much money, and frankly, that tramlining y'all feel when you do it? IT"S THE CAR TELLING YOU SHE"S NOT HAPPY!

Sorry if I seem a bit miffed, but in a way I am. I hate to even think of doing such a thing to the 8, and wonder just how many of the clutch horror stories in this site were owner-induced.
Old 05-11-2005, 08:40 AM
  #29  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LostAngel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
Yeah, that's what I thought but how else can you take off? If you are trying to get the best time how can you release the clutch little by little? Maybe I just need someone to teach me but I thought (I don't power shift that's for sure) that's how the mag's get their times????
I'm pretty sure the mags get their cars LOANED to them by the manufacturer, so they cant really beat the cars. Some cars the mags do buy, but a lot are just loaned to them. You cant really go by what magasines say. Most say a cars slower than it is. Most cars say the Celica GT-S is 15.2 - 15.6....when I know many STOCK GT-S' that are 14.7 - 14.8.
Old 05-11-2005, 08:41 AM
  #30  
Glitchy Rotary Madness
 
missinmahseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
Yeah, that's what I thought but how else can you take off? If you are trying to get the best time how can you release the clutch little by little? Maybe I just need someone to teach me but I thought (I don't power shift that's for sure) that's how the mag's get their times????
Easy: When C&D breaks a car, they don't pay for it.

Which is why Mitsubishi absolutely refused to get 'em a 3rd 3000GT VR4.. they broke the first one by hard-launching, and wrapped the 2nd one around a tree... and they don't pay a dime for it.

What a job! :D
Old 05-11-2005, 08:45 AM
  #31  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LostAngel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by missinmahseven
Easy: When C&D breaks a car, they don't pay for it.

Which is why Mitsubishi absolutely refused to get 'em a 3rd 3000GT VR4.. they broke the first one by hard-launching, and wrapped the 2nd one around a tree... and they don't pay a dime for it.

What a job! :D
Really? I didn't know they wraped it around a tree...ouch.
Old 05-11-2005, 08:46 AM
  #32  
Follower of CHRIST!!!!!!!
 
rx8wannahave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well...so how do you do a 0-60 run then? You release the clutch like you do when you drive the car normally?

Don't get me wrong, I baby my 8 and I do rolling starts 99% of the time when I want to play with it, but the day I take it to a track to get the 0-60 times what should I do? Dropping the clutch makes sense...but maybe I just have not been taught anything different???

Note: I've only done like 2 0-60 runs in 2.7K miles on my car so I'm not dragging it all the time or something
Old 05-11-2005, 08:51 AM
  #33  
Momentum Keeps Me Going
 
Spin9k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Colorado
Posts: 5,036
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by rx8wannahave
but the day I take it to a track to get the 0-60 times what should I do? Dropping the clutch makes sense...but maybe I just have not been taught anything different???

Note: I've only done like 2 0-60 runs in 2.7K miles on my car so I'm not dragging it all the time or something
Perhaps I'm mis-understanding, but when you take a car to the track, (unless it is a drag strip) you don't do 0-60 runs. I've never done that. You roll off and start driving...the majority of the time you are going 50-100mph and the speed should never go much below that unless you spin out, someone in front causes you to slow down, etc. Driving a car 'on the track' is not typically 0-anything - it's driving on the track - literally!
Old 05-11-2005, 08:51 AM
  #34  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LostAngel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What you do is what you should do to get a good 0-60 run...its just that to do that it's bad for your car. Babing car = longer life and not seeing full potential. Being hard on it = shorter life but seeing full potential.
Old 05-11-2005, 08:53 AM
  #35  
Follower of CHRIST!!!!!!!
 
rx8wannahave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 3,241
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
drag strip
Spin...yes, I ment drag strip not track
Old 05-11-2005, 09:07 AM
  #36  
Glitchy Rotary Madness
 
missinmahseven's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by LostAngel
What you do is what you should do to get a good 0-60 run...its just that to do that it's bad for your car. Babing car = longer life and not seeing full potential. Being hard on it = shorter life but seeing full potential.
I get the full potential out of my cars, just not in a 0-anything nor in a drag race. No street car I know of, other than the torque-monsters of old, are drag cars in showroom-stock form.

I measure my car's potential not by naught-something, but by how much the tires chirp around corners... If the tires ain't chirping as I near the apex, then I'm not giving the car enough.. if they scream, I gave it *too* much.

I do'nt baby my car. She sees redline at least twice every drive. When I wanna pass someone with authority, I just don't mash the gas -- let's say i'm doing 70 in 6th.. well, I'll double-clutch match-rev a downshift to THIRD, which at 70 means 7000 rpm, and floor it.. no drama, no beating up the gearbox, but the car will do a credible impression of a warp jump, and you'll get sucked into the seat.... before you know it, you're 90, shifting into 5th, before you know it again, you're reching for that last cog, doing truly illegal speeds..

But that's not beating the car -- that's using it as she was designed to be used. Downshift at that speed, from 6th to 3rd, without properly setting it up, and guess what.. we're back to burning up clutches and breaking pilot bearings.

Translation: I beat the crap outta my cars, but I do make sure I don't do anything that'll harm it, and I tend to the things which need tending to. I got 160,000 outta my miata before some dip rear-ended me.. I expect no less from the 8. In fact, if I don't get this clutch to 200,000 I'll be pissed
Old 05-11-2005, 09:28 AM
  #37  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
LostAngel's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by missinmahseven
I get the full potential out of my cars, just not in a 0-anything nor in a drag race. No street car I know of, other than the torque-monsters of old, are drag cars in showroom-stock form.

I measure my car's potential not by naught-something, but by how much the tires chirp around corners... If the tires ain't chirping as I near the apex, then I'm not giving the car enough.. if they scream, I gave it *too* much.

I do'nt baby my car. She sees redline at least twice every drive. When I wanna pass someone with authority, I just don't mash the gas -- let's say i'm doing 70 in 6th.. well, I'll double-clutch match-rev a downshift to THIRD, which at 70 means 7000 rpm, and floor it.. no drama, no beating up the gearbox, but the car will do a credible impression of a warp jump, and you'll get sucked into the seat.... before you know it, you're 90, shifting into 5th, before you know it again, you're reching for that last cog, doing truly illegal speeds..

But that's not beating the car -- that's using it as she was designed to be used. Downshift at that speed, from 6th to 3rd, without properly setting it up, and guess what.. we're back to burning up clutches and breaking pilot bearings.

Translation: I beat the crap outta my cars, but I do make sure I don't do anything that'll harm it, and I tend to the things which need tending to. I got 160,000 outta my miata before some dip rear-ended me.. I expect no less from the 8. In fact, if I don't get this clutch to 200,000 I'll be pissed
Thats what I meant, theres certain things you should beat, but for what you 'beat' it isnt that bad.
Old 05-11-2005, 10:39 AM
  #38  
Registered User
 
Str8cold's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Dallas
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Go to one of the meets

The best advice I can give you if you are interested and thinking about buying an RX8 is to go to one of the meets in your area and talk to some of the owners. I went through and did alot of research and then went to a local meet here in Dallas over at Cheddars and everyone there was more than happy to answer any and all of my questions. After your first test drive you will be hooked, I finally picked up my RX8 2 days ago and I could not be happier with it.

2004 RX8 6-speed GT Titanium
Old 05-11-2005, 11:17 AM
  #39  
Registered
 
Go48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Fayetteville, PA
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Str8cold
The best advice I can give you if you are interested and thinking about buying an RX8 is to go to one of the meets in your area and talk to some of the owners. I went through and did alot of research and then went to a local meet here in Dallas over at Cheddars and everyone there was more than happy to answer any and all of my questions. After your first test drive you will be hooked, I finally picked up my RX8 2 days ago and I could not be happier with it.

2004 RX8 6-speed GT Titanium
Congratulations!! You sure got the right color.
Old 05-11-2005, 11:27 AM
  #40  
Mr. Skinny
 
Thetitanium8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Clearwater FL
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
rx-8 is a great car.
Old 05-11-2005, 07:54 PM
  #41  
Registered User
 
Ellar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Wurmfist
Pro's: Great Handling, lovely interior, nice dash setup, great bodystyle, high-rpm redline, rotary engine, unique sports car that you don't see on every corner, low weight, and it seats 4, just to name a few, I'm sure others have more.

Cons: Not a daily driver (IMHO), renesis engine requires special care (I.E. Warm ups and cool downs, adding oil at regular intervals. I don't really see this as a con but some people don't take care of engines as they should and the renesis has special or different requirements over your standard piston engine.), poor gas mileage, weak A/C. Lower horse power than others in it's class and price range.

Overall: I really have enjoyed this car in the little over a year I have had it. I'm not the type of guy that has to have the highest power, but I look for the whole package. This car is meant for the curves and if you know how to drive it you can really take it to the extreme. I would say don't even bother to consider the automatic version at all. The Sirius add-on would be nice for the 2005 and up models. I have sirius in my van and wished I had it in my 8. What it lacks a little (very little) in power it makes up for in every other way. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 8.5.

Car comparo (in my opinion)
S2000: 8 (don't like 2 seats)
350Z: 7 (nice power but a rough ride)
Lancer Evo: 6 (It's a 4 door sedan with a big engine, not a sports car)
WRX: 6 (same as evo)
WRX STI: 7 (same as the others but the power is impressive)
GTO: 6 (Crap bodystyle, looks like a cavalier on steriods, gets a 6 only because of the engine)
Lutos Elise: 9 (I love this car, high-price though, can compete with a viper)


I list those just so you can see how I compare the 8 with other cars and why I got the 8 instead of everything else. This is just based on my opinion. Hope it was helpful.
What's your daily driver?
Old 05-11-2005, 08:07 PM
  #42  
Registered User
 
Ellar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Wurmfist
It dosen't lack in power at all, but there are many sedans on the road that could give it a run for it's money. I think they could have found another 25-40 hps for the price range and it's competitors.

I want to add another thought: Winter Driving on OEM tires. If you go and get some all-season tires for the winter you will be fine, but the OEM Bridgestones don't do so well in snow and ice.


RX8wannahave: I don't think it's a daily driver for most people because of the way most people treat their daily driver cars. You would have to agree that the majority of people just get in there car and drive off with little thought about letting the engine warm up a hair first. I don't think it's a daily driver because I drive a couple hundred miles a day and I get stuck in traffic all the time, manual transmissions can get annoying when stuck in stop and go traffic. So from my perspective, I wouldn't drive it everyday. I have my mini-van for that. If all I had to do is go to work and back then I might consider it, but for those who are in too much of a hurry to take care of their engine they are going to have flooding problems and who knows what else.
True, you aren't car guy. Prolly shouldn't be weighing in on the thread at all. Thanks for your honest input. It'll be taken for what it's worth.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BillBertelli
NE For Sale/Wanted
4
03-19-2016 03:01 PM
Brokegang
New Member Forum
27
01-03-2016 12:45 PM
arexatemate
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
2
10-09-2015 06:23 PM
Chapsy
RX-8's For Sale/Wanted
1
09-22-2015 09:57 AM
Tsurugi
New Member Forum
0
09-07-2015 08:27 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Soon to get RX-8 hopefully



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:53 AM.