RX 8 Performance Driving
08-26-2004, 12:45 PM
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RX 8 Performance Driving
This is not exactly a racing thread, but I'm not sure where to post. I just picked up my 8 last week and took it to my usual backroad stretch where I have ridden my sportbikes countless times for an initial performance evaluation.
Disclaimer: Redwood road is a sparsely traveled "back" road with no residential or commerce. There are no intersections, save 1 and 2 trail heads. I know the road backwards and forwards and upside down as I have ridden my street motorcycles down it countless times for several years. As a result of ridnig the motorcycles I know ever single bump, camber, and likelyhood of gravel occupation. I do not drive/ride it anywhere near 100% and do not condone such action. There are many tire marks on the road from people who have lost control of their cars (mostly due to camber changes and bump locations that must have been unbeknownst to the driver). This road is often heavily patrolled as well. I posesess a racing license and have experience going fast.
My findings.
Like my bikes, Redwood road is primarily a 2nd and 3rd gear road without a whole lot of shifting required. I faster man might spend more time in 3rd than I do, but this is a public road after all. My heal-toe needs some work (this is easier on a motorcycle for me).
The grip of the RX 8 is fantastic. Very fun car to corner in and corner speeds are high. The car tracks well and is easy to be percise with (important when driving spirtiedly on the street). The stock dunlops are very good buns. Mazda's suspension has impressed me for a long time, even in early nineties 626s. This car is no different. They combine a stiff ride with good feedback and traction with an amazing streetability that soaks up hard bumps with less jarring effect that my family wagon and no float or bounce. I could see the need to lower the car and stiffen up the swaybars if used in competition setting or for regular track days, but for 1 or 2 track trips a year and 12k miles of commuting I won't touch a thing.
The lack of torque maks for a fairly street friendly car with less risk breaking into a slide due to throttle mistakes while enduring high cornering loads. Which is not to say that you can't spin or slide, but it is almost like a "training" car in that respect. The minor amount of movement I have experienced over the last week has not triggered the TCS or DSC lights. I don't know if this is because it isn't supposed to or if you really have to let the car get away from you.
I went one direction with the DSC on and back with it partially off. There was a little more pep from the throttle response, but the car was no more difficult to handle.
The brakes are good, but not great. I'll probably look into some MS pads, steel braided lines (if I have 'em, it doesn't feel like it), and grooved rotors for better bite. This will only be necessary for a track day though.
Overall this car is very fun back roads car. Someone in a drifting thread said this car is meant to go fast in a straight line. That simply isn't true. There's not enough torque and way too much grip for that to be the case. This car is meant for the back roads or a road course race track. I would appreciate 60 - 100 more HP, as anyone would, but it isn't a big deal and not why I bought the car. If I really want to go fast I have 2 sport bikes and a track bike that will get it done better than any car short of an Enzo. I did lease the 8 so I can get the Supercharged version after it comes out and the bugs are corrected. I like the motor because it is motorcycle like. This car is a little easier to drive down Redwood Road than my motorcycle. The road is getting bumpy and grip this car has makes it easy to navigate. However, it isn't quite as fun as my 1000cc V-Twin.
Disclaimer: Redwood road is a sparsely traveled "back" road with no residential or commerce. There are no intersections, save 1 and 2 trail heads. I know the road backwards and forwards and upside down as I have ridden my street motorcycles down it countless times for several years. As a result of ridnig the motorcycles I know ever single bump, camber, and likelyhood of gravel occupation. I do not drive/ride it anywhere near 100% and do not condone such action. There are many tire marks on the road from people who have lost control of their cars (mostly due to camber changes and bump locations that must have been unbeknownst to the driver). This road is often heavily patrolled as well. I posesess a racing license and have experience going fast.
My findings.
Like my bikes, Redwood road is primarily a 2nd and 3rd gear road without a whole lot of shifting required. I faster man might spend more time in 3rd than I do, but this is a public road after all. My heal-toe needs some work (this is easier on a motorcycle for me).
The grip of the RX 8 is fantastic. Very fun car to corner in and corner speeds are high. The car tracks well and is easy to be percise with (important when driving spirtiedly on the street). The stock dunlops are very good buns. Mazda's suspension has impressed me for a long time, even in early nineties 626s. This car is no different. They combine a stiff ride with good feedback and traction with an amazing streetability that soaks up hard bumps with less jarring effect that my family wagon and no float or bounce. I could see the need to lower the car and stiffen up the swaybars if used in competition setting or for regular track days, but for 1 or 2 track trips a year and 12k miles of commuting I won't touch a thing.
The lack of torque maks for a fairly street friendly car with less risk breaking into a slide due to throttle mistakes while enduring high cornering loads. Which is not to say that you can't spin or slide, but it is almost like a "training" car in that respect. The minor amount of movement I have experienced over the last week has not triggered the TCS or DSC lights. I don't know if this is because it isn't supposed to or if you really have to let the car get away from you.
I went one direction with the DSC on and back with it partially off. There was a little more pep from the throttle response, but the car was no more difficult to handle.
The brakes are good, but not great. I'll probably look into some MS pads, steel braided lines (if I have 'em, it doesn't feel like it), and grooved rotors for better bite. This will only be necessary for a track day though.
Overall this car is very fun back roads car. Someone in a drifting thread said this car is meant to go fast in a straight line. That simply isn't true. There's not enough torque and way too much grip for that to be the case. This car is meant for the back roads or a road course race track. I would appreciate 60 - 100 more HP, as anyone would, but it isn't a big deal and not why I bought the car. If I really want to go fast I have 2 sport bikes and a track bike that will get it done better than any car short of an Enzo. I did lease the 8 so I can get the Supercharged version after it comes out and the bugs are corrected. I like the motor because it is motorcycle like. This car is a little easier to drive down Redwood Road than my motorcycle. The road is getting bumpy and grip this car has makes it easy to navigate. However, it isn't quite as fun as my 1000cc V-Twin.
08-26-2004, 12:48 PM
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Great post.
One question, where did you get a racing license from? Is it a private company or a state/local thing? The only time i've ever heard of racing licenses were in the context of F1 drivers
One question, where did you get a racing license from? Is it a private company or a state/local thing? The only time i've ever heard of racing licenses were in the context of F1 drivers
08-26-2004, 04:08 PM
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Thanks for the compliments.
I have an AFM racing license. To race in any organized racing event (beyond 1/4 mile anyway) the organization or club is going to require you demonstrate your abilities to go fast safely before allowing you to compete or circulate on a hot track. AFM is a motorcycle racing club in California (mostly Northern). A racing license has no juristiction in street driving.
I have an AFM racing license. To race in any organized racing event (beyond 1/4 mile anyway) the organization or club is going to require you demonstrate your abilities to go fast safely before allowing you to compete or circulate on a hot track. AFM is a motorcycle racing club in California (mostly Northern). A racing license has no juristiction in street driving.
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