bhop

550HP in most "sport cars" is pretty insane for the street. Someone gave me a ride in a gutted 375hp Civic EG6 hatch, got a ride in a 600hp supra, they still don't seem as fast as a 450hp RX-8. This just shows what the 8 is capable of, and how amazing this car is........ IMO

ChrisRX8PR

iTrader: (1)

Not really, an RX-8 is a sports car and at ~ 3000lb...so are many cars that you can purchase that bring that much horsepower.

I do agree with MM's the breakage comment, its true...the tranny and differential get weak at anything above 500...but that wasn't the OP's question. He asked how much is necessary...and I interpret that as how much is fun while still being controllable controllable...and a 3000lb car with 275-35-19 like I have, can put down up to about 550whp and still be fun. How you get there is another story...

Also keep in mind I have driven Rgonza's car at 14psi-714whp and it didn't break anything...its reliable...he has laid down over 1100whp on this car at 26psi several times without breaking anything so its doable...he has been driving his car for about 5-6 years straight...it all about making the right changes

Chris

bhop

I think the EDIT threw me off a bit lol.... I wanted to add my experiences with other cars I've been in. I'm simply just comparing this car to others at those power levels, not really saying its the fastest thing out there at 500hp.

YaXMaNGTO

Well, I guess I need 721rwhp, since a buddy here just finished his GTO.

[embed]Dfodz9o9hFU[/embed]

bhop

You're right, but the 20B at those power levels make plenty of sense to me. I would not have a doubt in my mind that Rgonza's car is reliable for everyday use. Someone would have to take into consideration, how much money will I throw into the RX-8 to make it a daily driver's "dream" I suppose at 500hp? How much HP must I have, I don't know... It's really something to think about.

YaXMaNGTO

Sorry for posting GTO crap in the RX8 Media News... thought this was General Automotive. Wait... what is this thread doing in RX8 Media News?

bhop

^ I guess it was just general discussion. I forgive you anyway, lol.

YaXMaNGTO

Ask for forgiveness... not permission.

Oh, if I still had an RX8, 400whp is what I would need.
Thread saved.

Cheap, fast, reliable. Pick two.

bhop

Cheap is not an option if you want both fast/reliable... Brings me back to my original statement, how much money is one willing to spend?

I would have to say, 300hp in the RX-8 is great for street use, but what is great?

elysium19

iTrader: (1)

lol who invited stephen hawking over here...

YaXMaNGTO

I would say "great" is not getting your *** handed to you by stock muscle cars.

LOL that was pretty good

bhop

I'm not referring to a street racing contest with 300HP in the RX-8. For the average person, that might be more than enough.

I have not had the experience of getting my *** handed to by any "muscle car" that I've came across.. For everyday use is the main topic, the average human would be amazed by a 300HP RX-8 for everyday use IMO.

robrecht

I rather liked the reminder of HS calculus, but I always thought of torque as more of a derivative than an integral.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Lulz.
I want that sweet talking computer thing.

ASH8

IMO it's your power to weight ratio that are the important numbers to compare....

You guys in the US are very lucky you don't have the proliferation of speed detection devices Australia, Great Britain and Europe has....you are very lucky.

Unless you live out in the sticks (countryside) or a farmer, or live in a low pop country town you just can't use all that Power or Speed...60 MPH is the Max.

We even have "Hoon" laws where the cops take your car (impound) if you are caught 45 KMS (about 28 MPH) over the speed limit or do tire burnouts, they take your car for a week (you pay the fine and the tow cost).

Get caught 3 times and you lose your car...it is crushed!...
Even if it is not your Car...Mom or Dads, or a friends...does not matter.

You only have 12 demerit points over 3 years, every fine you lose points and you only get them back after 3 years....no points...no license to drive!!

As I said YOU ARE VERY LUCKY!..
Your bill of rights protects you...

robrecht

Well, what do you expect when you're confined in a penal colony?

ASH8

Yeah, it is CRAP Robrecht...the "Public" are Fed UP....we are REVOLTING!..

You have these undercover cops in (plain) cars that park on the side of the road anywhere and monitor speeds if you are about 5% over the limit expect a fine in the post!.

The faster you get caught the higher the fine, so you HATE going to the Mail Box, as you don't know if or when or where.

You can pay the fine ($250-350 average), lose a few points, or ask for a proof picture.
Or opt to go to court...lot more cost's if found guilty...

All in the name of "Road Safety"...we call it revenue raising...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

/\ I saw a news item where they put dummies in old police cars and park them on the side of the road - hillarious !

swoope

iTrader: (5)

~325 to the wheel..

tq.. how much can you give me..

flash tuneable.. it is sold to the many...

hey, what do i know..

beers

wcs

iTrader: (2)

^^^ yup
I mean to the 325

As to the part about what you know, likely more than me

zenrx8

iTrader: (4)

How long is the race, how tall is the gearing, and what kind of track?

I've seen several drag events where a guy shows up in a chipped turbo diesel pickup making 900 hp and 1000+ lb ft of torque, and race against cars with gas motors in various configurations of 1200+ hp and 600+ lb-ft of torque. The pickup launches in 4WD and then drops into 2wd at the 50 ft mark. The cars usually make it up on the big end, and the wins are about 50/50.

In tight areas, I'll take high torque with a broad powerband any day. I can spank 4 cylinder crotch rockets with 150 peak hp on tight roads on my KTM vtwin, and the only competition I ever had was some nut job on a Honda 450 single (no helmet, no shirt, wearing sneakers) - damn, that was fun.

There are more variables that just hp or torque, and a lot of it depends on what flips your particular switch. It's not annoying, it's fun. C'mon, Kane, let me buy you a few rounds and lift your mood - all this crappy Virginia weather has got you down.

Respect,
Wes

Kane

iTrader: (1)

LOL - obviously driver plays a huge role - and having a broad powerband is better than having a narrow one.

There is a lot more than torque - which is why you should use power as your guide. A broad usable powerband will = a faster vehicle.

I swapped my vtwin for my buddies Ducati 1098 for about 10 minutes once, with a 15K redline and no power really until like 6-7K - that damn bike was still scary fast.... 6K-15K is a very broad powerband.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

lol. Whut?

Now you are messing with semantics!

The "powerband" of a vehicle is its torque curve. There is no dispute in this. (Or, at least, I didn't think there was until this post.)
Since horsepower is derived from torque over time, it isn't a "band", its a slope.

Kane

iTrader: (1)

Well yeah I am to a degree - but a power-band is what? The power curve over the usable RPM of a motor...which is related to torque for sure, but power is a measurement of work being done in which case...is horsepower.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

That terminology has always bugged me. People say "powerband", but mean "Torque curve", which trips them up when they look at a dyno chart and look at the horsepower line. I've had several people (even an 8 owner), show me a v8 (or whatever) dyno chart where the torque drop-off is so steady that the horsepower slope was nearly flat, saying "look at that flat power curve"...



Torque line for area under the curve, and you want the HP line sloping up as fast as possible, as steep as possible...which you get from having a torque line higher up the chart. Take Hymee's dyno chart for instance. The torque lines are nearly identical, just one is lifted. It made the HP line slope alot steeper.

If your torque line is flat, your HP will be climbing
If your torque line is climbing, your HP will be climbing faster.
If your torque line is dropping, your HP might be dropping, might be flat, might be still climbing. All depends on how steep the torque line is dropping.