RX-8 Facelift Final Drive = 4.777
01-14-2008, 02:58 PM
#1
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RX-8 Facelift Final Drive = 4.777
Nothing else useful - the R3 package looks worthless, unless the "sport-tuned suspension" is anything different from the standard sport package.
7.5% better acceleration, but 2nd runs out at 60mph instead of 65mph (on the 245 kumhos). How's that gonna pan out? ;-)
7.5% better acceleration, but 2nd runs out at 60mph instead of 65mph (on the 245 kumhos). How's that gonna pan out? ;-)
01-14-2008, 03:10 PM
#2
The Professor
not really, standard wheels are 19" inches which brings the acceleration numbers back toward where the 18" stock rx8 goes with 4.44 gears.
Sort of leaves it up to the buyer to decide whether to swap wheels to take advantage of it (and get -2mpg) or not.
Sort of leaves it up to the buyer to decide whether to swap wheels to take advantage of it (and get -2mpg) or not.
01-14-2008, 03:19 PM
#4
The Professor
true,
I forgot how the B stock rules apply since I haven't been in that class for so long. But the best autocrosser will run the rx8 in its most competitive class, B stock.
But it defiently makes the "swap parts between model years" clause hazy.
might still bump up to SM, or might be able to get away with in in BS or STU
I forgot how the B stock rules apply since I haven't been in that class for so long. But the best autocrosser will run the rx8 in its most competitive class, B stock.
But it defiently makes the "swap parts between model years" clause hazy.
might still bump up to SM, or might be able to get away with in in BS or STU
01-14-2008, 04:06 PM
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Sparky!
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true,
I forgot how the B stock rules apply since I haven't been in that class for so long. But the best autocrosser will run the rx8 in its most competitive class, B stock.
But it defiently makes the "swap parts between model years" clause hazy.
might still bump up to SM, or might be able to get away with in in BS or STU
I forgot how the B stock rules apply since I haven't been in that class for so long. But the best autocrosser will run the rx8 in its most competitive class, B stock.
But it defiently makes the "swap parts between model years" clause hazy.
might still bump up to SM, or might be able to get away with in in BS or STU
For Stock, you can only run the car in a configuration that you could theoretically have bought from the factory. Dealer installed/port installed options (with very few specifically listed exceptions) are not allowed. Mixing and matching between option packages is not allowed. Mixing and matching between model years is not allowed either.
What’s that mean? That means if the shorter final drive is only available on the R3 Package, then everything in the R3 Package must also be installed on your car. In other words, if the R3 Package has the shorter final drive but also includes 19” wheels, then you’d better find some 19” race rubber for your B Stock R3. Want the Recaro seats from the R3 Package on your B Stock car? Then you’ve got to swap on the rest of the R3 Package parts onto your car.
Want the R3 Recaro seats in your ’05 RX-8 for B Stock? Tough. You can’t swap components – or even entire option packages – across model years.
01-14-2008, 04:08 PM
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The 4.777 is an across the board change, not just the R3 package. The R3 package has the 19" wheels, the standard wheels are still 18", the press release confirms.
01-14-2008, 04:14 PM
#8
Purveyor of fine bass
01-14-2008, 04:58 PM
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Overall I'm pretty unimpressed by the 09....The fact they're taking the coveted "R" series and filling it full of Bose audio, big wheels and fancy seats make me feel like they've lost touch with the "real" enthusiast crowd. Of course, they know people will pay a premium for something that sounds racey and is full of bling so I guess I cannot blame them....Hate to say it but the days of real race cars for the street are coming to an end...
Now for the Furai??? That thing is frick'n awesome.
Now for the Furai??? That thing is frick'n awesome.
Last edited by Cooper47; 01-14-2008 at 05:06 PM.
01-14-2008, 05:31 PM
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Row faster, I hear banjos
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With sticky r-comps and the 4.77 gears, the new RX-8 should launch pretty well off the line. Might make it a better Pro Solo car than the old model, but in regular solo, they changes will be a wash.
01-14-2008, 07:06 PM
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Row faster, I hear banjos
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Hoosier makes a 235/35/19 so that'll be the tire of choice for the R3 RX-8. While the nomenclature says 235, it's closer to a 255 in actual width. One guy I autoX with locally (Aaron Buckley) has a set on the back of his current autoX ride - a Chrysler Crossfire. Stacked on top of each other, the two back 235/35/19 A6's are significantly wider than the front 245/35/18's. Plus by my calculations, the 235/35/19's will be shorter by 1.1% than the stock 225/40/19 tires.
The 245/35/18 r-comps are ~4% shorter than the comparable 235/35/19 r-comps. As the '09 RX-8 has a final drive that's 7.5% shorter, taking the tires into consideration, it will have a 4.1% overall gearing advantage. That advantage *could* be lost in that fact that most lightweight 19x8" wheels are still going to be significantly heavier than most light-weight 18x8" wheels.
I still feel the overall gearing advantage of the R3 RX-8will give the car stronger standing starts in Pro Solo competition - maybe 1/10 of a second - but that's about it. Also, it is said to have a revised 'rear suspension' - not sure what that entails.
The 245/35/18 r-comps are ~4% shorter than the comparable 235/35/19 r-comps. As the '09 RX-8 has a final drive that's 7.5% shorter, taking the tires into consideration, it will have a 4.1% overall gearing advantage. That advantage *could* be lost in that fact that most lightweight 19x8" wheels are still going to be significantly heavier than most light-weight 18x8" wheels.
I still feel the overall gearing advantage of the R3 RX-8will give the car stronger standing starts in Pro Solo competition - maybe 1/10 of a second - but that's about it. Also, it is said to have a revised 'rear suspension' - not sure what that entails.
Last edited by chiketkd; 01-15-2008 at 07:48 AM.
01-14-2008, 07:21 PM
#17
Hoosier makes a 235/35/19 so that'll be the tire of choice for the R3 RX-8. While the nomenclature says 235, it's closer to a 255 in actual width. One guy I autoX with locally (Aaron Buckley) has a set on the back of his current autoX ride - a Chrysler Crossfire. Stacked on top of each other, the two back 235/35/19 A6's are significantly wider than the front 245/35/18's. Plus by my calculations, the 235/35/19's will be shorter by 1.1% than the stock 225/40/19 tires.
As Jason mentioned earlier, the 245/35/18 r-comps are 5% shorter than the comparable 235/35/19 r-comps. As the '09 RX-8 has a final drive that's 7.5% shorter, taking the tires into consideration, it will have a 2.5% overall gearing advantage. That advantage *could* be lost in that fact that most lightweight 19x8" wheels are still going to be significantly heavier than most light-weight 18x8" wheels.
I still feel the overall gearing advantage of the R3 RX-8will give the car stronger standing starts in Pro Solo competition - maybe 1/10 of a second - but that's about it. Also, it is said to have a revised 'rear suspension' - not sure what that entails.
As Jason mentioned earlier, the 245/35/18 r-comps are 5% shorter than the comparable 235/35/19 r-comps. As the '09 RX-8 has a final drive that's 7.5% shorter, taking the tires into consideration, it will have a 2.5% overall gearing advantage. That advantage *could* be lost in that fact that most lightweight 19x8" wheels are still going to be significantly heavier than most light-weight 18x8" wheels.
I still feel the overall gearing advantage of the R3 RX-8will give the car stronger standing starts in Pro Solo competition - maybe 1/10 of a second - but that's about it. Also, it is said to have a revised 'rear suspension' - not sure what that entails.
Keep in mind more gear means seeing the limiter more, and could also mean more wheel spin off the line. All the pics I have seen make the R3 look like a GT pkg, so I bet it will weigh more than the current BS base cars.
I have pinged a number of my Mazda contacts today, SportsCar is now on the waiting list for a loaner and should have one by summer
, but they all tell me the specs are still not 100% done.
01-14-2008, 07:29 PM
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Row faster, I hear banjos
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I can't think of anyone that will down in size, even if it is only a number and the tire is bigger. I figure everyone would go 265-19.
Keep in mind more gear means seeing the limiter more, and could also mean more wheel spin off the line. All the pics I have seen make the R3 look like a GT pkg, so I bet it will weigh more than the current BS base cars.
I have pinged a number of my Mazda contacts today, SportsCar is now on the waiting list for a loaner and should have one by summer , but they all tell me the specs are still not 100% done.
Keep in mind more gear means seeing the limiter more, and could also mean more wheel spin off the line. All the pics I have seen make the R3 look like a GT pkg, so I bet it will weigh more than the current BS base cars.
I have pinged a number of my Mazda contacts today, SportsCar is now on the waiting list for a loaner and should have one by summer
, but they all tell me the specs are still not 100% done.I really envy your new job...
01-14-2008, 07:43 PM
#19
P235/35ZR19 M 9.25" 25.6" 80.5" 8.0-9.5" 9.0" 10.2" X X
P265/35ZR19 M 9.6" 26.1" 82.3" 9-10" 9.0" 10.4" X X
Yeah the new job is fun. I just don't advise getting into publishing if you actually need to make a living, I can get away with it because I have a sugar moma.
01-14-2008, 07:47 PM
#20
I didn't see the trans gear ratios listed anywhere, how that pans out with a 4.777 rear ratio and the actual rear tire diameter remains to be seen
the effective gear ratio is determined by the trans gear + the diff gear + tire OD
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
Hitting the redline sooner can be good or bad depending on the situation
I'd have to think the trans will be tweaked if they're going to increase power, they've had a lot of failures as it is
the effective gear ratio is determined by the trans gear + the diff gear + tire OD
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
Hitting the redline sooner can be good or bad depending on the situation
I'd have to think the trans will be tweaked if they're going to increase power, they've had a lot of failures as it is
Last edited by TeamRX8; 01-14-2008 at 08:05 PM.
01-14-2008, 08:17 PM
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I didn't see the trans gear ratios listed anywhere, how that pans out with a 4.777 rear ratio and the actual rear tire diameter remains to be seen
the effective gear ratio is determined by the trans gear + the diff gear + tire OD
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
Hitting the redline sooner can be good or bad depending on the situation
I'd have to think the trans will be tweaked if they're going to increase power, they've had a lot of failures as it is
the effective gear ratio is determined by the trans gear + the diff gear + tire OD
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
Hitting the redline sooner can be good or bad depending on the situation
I'd have to think the trans will be tweaked if they're going to increase power, they've had a lot of failures as it is
iirc the tire diameter for the 19's is smaller than the 18's
01-14-2008, 08:33 PM
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Row faster, I hear banjos
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the effective gear ratio is determined by the trans gear + the diff gear + tire OD
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
assuming the trans gear ratios remains unchanged:
265/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 2.2% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
245/35-18 V710 + 4.777 has a 6.9% more favorable effective gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
235/35-19 A6 + 4.777 has a 4.1% more favorable gear ratio than a 245/35-18 V710 + 4.444
As Jason showed in the specs above, the 235's tread width is only 0.2" narrower than the 265. As I mentioned, it REALLY is a 255!
Last edited by chiketkd; 01-14-2008 at 08:46 PM.
