monte

nope.. no wheel spins :-/.. i try quite a bit.. however no luck whatsoever.

Even on a wet pavement nope.

I SLAM on the gas and the torque is like 0.. it just starts.

However i hold break and rev up and let go of break, it just gives it just a lil.. and i mean lil boost.


ne other suggestions?

mcballz13

Either add mods to the engine, or don't race faster cars with the 190 hp auto. You will give us 6 spd. stage 1' ers a bad name.
I am a young buyer and had to work my butt off to pay for this car... Therefore I treat it like my baby 24/7. If you were in the same situation, i don't think youd be looking for races everyday in knowing that it can all be taken away in a second. Keep in mind I am only a few years older than you prob, but much much wiser.

That is all.

JSE RX-8

you got to remember that the MT has two more gears than the AT on the 8. monte, i am into drag racing as well and i strongly suggest that you go to the track and just watch. i promise that you will learn a few things that will help. i am still debating between the IS300 and the RX-8 and i know the RX-8 is not a drag car but there are a few things that you can do to improve you 1/4 mile times and trap speed. have you done anything to the car in mods??

therm8

Now, I've outgrown my street racing days (otherwise I probably wouldn't own this car ), but the only way to compete straight line with the auto is to go from a roll. The power curve is just not there from a stop. Starting at 25-30mph puts you in a much better position as you'll be closer to that 4500rpm sweet spot and still have 15-20mph to go in first gear, while the other guy most likely will be shifting soon. Still with 2nd gear being so tall, most cars of similar performance are gonna catch you by the end of 2nd (~79 mph).

If you really want better straight line performance I would recommend a higher performance torque converter. It's one of the best mods you can get for an automatic for this.

Also this from a roll recommendation doesn't apply to turbo'd cars as you would be giving them the same advantage you are looking for. I miss my chipped Volvo for just this reason. I loved surprising the heck out of people from a roll :D . Guys in Boxsters/S's were the most fun I think.

monte

"higher performance torque converter"

What is that?

Please post

gkouris

MONTE: Here are tips, use them if you want to compete:

(1) Dont race people "off the line" The manual tranny guys shouldnt even do that....we only have 165lb fts of torque, actually the manual has less. use the advantage of your car, HIGH ENGINE SPEED! Exception: If your opponent on the line is a Acura RSX-all trims,Eclipse-all trims,S2000, Z3 Bimmer-nonM3, then go ahead, they have worse torque then us

(2) Know what RPM to downshift at:
You have got to keep your engine speed moderately HIGH at all times! Around 4800RPM in any given gear while cruising so you can setup a strong downshift--acceleration.

Let me give you some city traffic scenarios:
Lets say you are cruising in 3rd gear goin about 50mph, RPMs at about 4000---perhaps im wrong about that RPM number but it should be around there, go ahead and DOWNSHIFT into 2nd gear, RPMS will go up to 6700--dont worry, you still got 500 or so RPMS left before redline...but the result is that youll gain a quick boost of acceleration for weaving in and out of traffic. You can do this from 2nd to 1st too----cruising at 25mph in 2nd gear, engine speed is approx 4000, now DOWNSHIFT into 1st ...your RPMS will hit about 7000 but youll appreciate the acceleration, trust me.I think you understand the concept here. I like downshifting from 2nd--1st when the traffic is really slow, or when i am taking a real tight turn, the car behaves beatifully. The point is this, YOU MUST KEEP YOUR ENGINE SPEED HIGH AT ALL TIMES or you are a dead duck. Dont let them catch you in 3rd gear @3000 RPMs and they are about to make a break, he will unjustifiably blow you away and youll look like a dumbass.

Highway races:
Usually on the highway you are goin around 80 mph in 4th, engine speed is probly again at 4000RPM , then a threat arrives......downshift into 3rd gear and take her just a hair under redline, and dont look back. youll go from 80-90 mph pretty damn quick. Most races are detemined under 100mph, i dont condone that you go faster than 90 anyways

These tactics have worked EXTREMELY well for me. I understand the weaknesses of my car, but i also realize its strentghs, auto tranny? manual tranny?, who cares...its how you use it.

Ive blasted by superior HP cars, WHEN IT COUNTS, not saying id go straight line with one, or off the line---cause theyd kill me, but weaving in and out of traffic and accelerating when it counts--i look back in my rear view mirror and they are stuck like dumbasses. Its strategy my friend, bot so much power.

if i can be of anymore help, please let me know

Ike

1.) Ummmm, an RSX Type S will destroy him and anyone else in an RX-8 AT off the line, as will every other car you mentioned. Especially the S2K and 1st or 2nd gen Eclipse turbos. You do know they made AWD versions of Eclipses don't you, and they have far more torque than the RX-8 as do many of the other cars you mentioned. A Z3, less torque, grip reality man!

2.) You're a dead duck to most performance cars out there. Let me get this through to you guys, RX-8 ATs are NOT fast!

3.) This part really gets me. "Ive blasted by superior HP cars, WHEN IT COUNTS, not saying id go straight line with one, or off the line---cause theyd kill me, but weaving in and out of traffic and accelerating when it counts--i look back in my rear view mirror and they are stuck like dumbasses. Its strategy my friend, bot so much power."

That my friend is not racing, it's called being a reckless driver and driving like a moron. The only reason these higher HP cars are in your rearview is because they know better than to drive like an idiot in traffic and are probably affraid of you. What you do is not "strategy", it's ricer BS.

Ike

gkouris

IKE

The GT Spyder: Weighs 3296 pounds and outputs 200HPs
The AT RX-8 : Weighs 3053 pounds and outputs 197 HPs

Power/Weight Ratio of GT Spyder = 16.4lbs/1hp
Power/Weight Ratio of AT RX-8 = 15.5lbs/1hp

Heck even the GTS Spyder doesnt fair much better, Weighs 3329 and produces 210Hps for a power/weight ratio of 15.85--- higher than the RX-8 AT

They do have a healthy 205ft/lbs of torque@4000RPMS, but the RX-8 AT has 164 at its disposal with a horizontal torque curve...meaning that we get the majority of it across all RPM levels, while the Spyders torque curve is probably steeper. But lets forget all that for a second because i have already experienced this!

Ive already been in that situation against a GT Spyder, he had a half of a car length in front of me when I reached 36mph in 1st--(7000 RPM shift to second gear) RPMS dropped to a hair under 4000 RPMs in second gear, and kept gassing it in 2nd until the front of my car passed his front , i must have kept it in 2nd till 7000, not sure how fast i was going when i beat him, probably in the 60s..wasnt paying attention to the speed.

To me that is FUN. Also, weaving in and out of traffic with skill, precision, and awareness is FUN. Ive seen drivers do really risky stuff, too close, and yes IKE, i agree with you, thats moronic. There are limits.


I suppose you can argue that if the driver in the Eclipse launched at 3000-4000 he would have blown me away? But having experienced this, i felt pretty confident that even if he had, it still would have been close.

But blown me away? NO WAY

I always go at it with Type S's, atleast 3x a week, have definitely raced a couple times off the line...they are fun. I know their weaknesses and their strentghs cause my friend owns one! Their power/weight ratio is very good = 13.84 better than the RX8s 15.5, but they do have 24 pounds less torque than the RX-8 Auto, but also with a horizontal torque curve much like ours. Will it blow me away of the line....ABSOLUTELY NOT! get out of here. I know they cant dude! seen it already. Will it beat me off the line? depends how far down the line you are talking about and at what speed?

See, what you are suggesting is that these cars will blow me away off the line.. What is your definition of "blow away"? **** man, ive been blown away off the line and i know what that feels like.....it kinda goes like this. you are about to redline in 1st , 3 seconds have gone by, and the other guy is already 2 car lentghs ahead of you. I got sucker punched by a SVT Lightning , he was stopped at a redlight, i was still moving towards the light praying for it to hit green so i could roll thru and have some semblance of a chance...but it was still red and i had to stop. you know the rest

No hard feelings IKE

Ike

C'mon man, I'll give you that a current MY GT Eclipse Syder might be a close race, they are very unimpressive cars. But, you seem to completely forget the existence of DSM Eclipses, and when you say Eclipses in all trim it suggests any MY as well. An auto RX-8 isn't keeping up with any turbo Eclipse, expecially not a manual and or AWD version.

The Type S comes standard with a 6 speed, and you are not going to keep up with one from a dig or from a roll. Even a MT that is not well driven could have problems with a Type S. My guess is you've raced non type S versions and not known the difference.

You picked two cars to defend your stance of all those that you listed. What about the S2K, you have a snowballs chance in hell beating an S2K with an AT RX-8, even the MT RX-8 will lose every time from a roll or dig unless the S2K driver is awful. The Z3, unless it's the less common 1.9L model, will take the auto RX-8 from a dig or a roll and has more torque than it has HP in all trims save for the M models which are 240hp and 236 lb-ft.

No hard feelings here either, though I am really bothered by your highway racing style. I get people doing that to me all the time and I just let them weave in and out of traffic looking like an idiot. Some guy did it to me today and keep egging me on to race and was weaving all over the place, I kept my same speed and he kept flying ahead of me in his Sebring <laughs> and then dropping back while I just maintained my speed. He almost got into two accidents, and nearly hit me twice from getting in my lane and flying up behind me and cutting over to the lane next to me at the last second. Why the hell would I race a Sebring??? This happens to me like twice a week, grrrrrrrrr! <which is why I may seem a little preachy>. I will not weave in and out of traffic racing a fast car, I'm sure as hell not going to do it with a slow car. Sure, I did it when I was young and stupid so maybe I'm being a bit of a hypocrite, and I saw some people nearly kill themselves trying to keep up with me. Those close calls, and the fact that now I have nothing to prove to some punk in his slow car on a busy highway will keep me from doing it ever again.

Ike

JSE RX-8

of course the turbo eclispe is going to win. the RX-8 isnt turbo charged. the RX-8 is still very new to the import world. just wait till the race season starts and when companies start selling their turbo kits for the RX-8. this summer will make or break how the RX-8 will have any effect on the drag strip.

Gord96BRG

This has to be one of the stupidest, most moronic things I have read on this forum EVER. By this statement alone, you have proven that you have absolutely NO concept whatsoever of what skill, precision, or awareness really is.

Skill? Just what skill is involved? You call that racing??? Just what limits of the car are you testing? Cornering, acceleration, braking? In TRAFFIC? You're testing nothing except to see which driver is the most stupid.

What a loser. Soon we should expect to see your name in a headline, immediately followed by an obituary, and then shortly after used in a speech justifying crackdowns on performance cars because of street racers. You incredible idiot.

Tell you what - go attend a performance driving school, of the type put on by Bondurant, Skip Barber, etc. Then come back here and try to tell us that your weaving in traffic constituted any minimal level of "skill" or "precision" at all.

Regards,
Gordon

gkouris

Gordon,

(1) I don't drive like a maniac, because i dont cause other cars in the area to deviate from their paths, or brake unexpectedly....i am AWARE of my surroundings and i "try" not to make moves that screw with other people...unlike some drivers i have witnessed.

(2) The process of maneauvering within traffic does test several features of a car, it tests acceleration between gear ratios, the smoothness of the vehicles direction changing, and braking. I guess these things dont mean anything to Gordon? What do you think racing is? When they put a Z and an S2000 and an RX8 together to go at it??...what do you think is going on Gordo? they are downshifting and upshifting per their RPM power ranges, braking slightly, changing direction, and gaining position. I am curious? Do you even race? Do you know your cars shift points? your values of RPM per Speed per Gear have you plotted a table for them? You sound like a COMPLETE pooosy to me, not to mention a WHINER. Now go shizzle my nizzle.

(3) You actually did provide some prodcutive info: the driving schools, they are pretty good and i would like to attend one or several..i have heard they are great.

Nothing personal dude, but you really pissed me off with your smart **** retort.

Gord96BRG

More proof that you are clueless. As for me - I'm a professional mechanical engineer, I'm extremely familiar with performance parameters of vehicles and how to optimize them. You aren't (obviously).

Yes, I race - I regularly attend track days here and driving clinics, and autocross with two different groups. I know the performance limits of my vehicles very well. Please note the major difference between me and you - I find and explore the limits in a controlled environment, where the consequences of going over the limits are minor and predictable. You seem to think it's perfectly OK to explore the performance limits of your vehicle on public streets and highways, mixed amongst drivers who have no intention of exploring their limits (personal of vehicle) nor expectation that idiots like you are out playing your stupid games.

When you're at the limit - there is NO margin for error. Further - when you're at the limit, you ARE going to make errors. On a track - no problem, there's plenty of room to spin, slide, take an escape road, hit a nice cushioned barrier. On public roads - your slight misjudgement will result in a collision, accident, perhaps deaths, and not just your own - you'll be taking out innocent victims of your stupidity. You brake slightly too late, you enter a corner or swerve slightly too fast, whatever. Mistakes do happen, and when you're driving 10/10ths, as I said, you've got no margin for recovery. (If you're not driving 10/10ths, then you're not really racing, are you, you're just jacking around.)

On a track, I know what the other guys are doing, and they know what I'm going to do. There's rules to follow for different situations, to try to reduce the unexpected. On public roads - do you really think the mom in the minivan who suddenly decides that she needs to take that exit 3 lanes over is going to be watching for an idiot driving 40 mph faster than the flow of traffic to be cutting up the right lane? The environment is not controlled or restricted, and that means accidents, especially when a few of the persons in that environment are idiots. If you knew ANYTHING about really racing, you'd know that real racers despise wanna-be's like you, because you know nothing at all about actual racing, but think you're real hot and give all car enthusiasts a bad name.

To address this point specifically - what the hell do you think is going on - do you seriously think that they just take these cars out on public roads and go at it? Get a clue. I know what's going on, and what they do is get a test track, closed to the public, and go at it in a controlled environment. To test the cornering, braking, and acceleration capabilities, they measure at a closed track, a controlled environment, to generate repeatable results. Sure, automotive road tests include driving on public roads to get a feel for normal responsiveness and ride - but when they're trying to find the limits, you can be guaranteed it's NOT on public roads.

My suggestion to try a driving school was not just so you could learn what controlling a car is all about - it's so that you'd hear it first hand from the professionals that what you think is 'racing' is stupid, ignorant, and idiotic.

Regards,
Gordon

gkouris

Hey Ike, glad we are starting to talk normally

I must plead ignorance to the 2nd generation DSM models of the Eclipse. I only see whats out on the road man, and I see GTs and GTS Spyders?? Their power/weight ratios arent impressive, and i have beat them....i guess i havent raced a DSM Eclipse? do they have a DSM inginia on them or am i missing something here?

I agree with you that if this DSM Eclipse is Turbod out, and has better power/weights than the stock models, ya, id probly kick my butt

One thing i kinda disagree with you on is an S2000(at standstill) beating an MT RX-8 (rolling) I dont see it happening. maybe i misunderstood what you were trying to say? But if you are rolling in 1st gear @ say around 3000RPM goin about 15mphs (meanwhile the S2K launches at 3000 from standstill) then you slam the gas(as he launches) I see this happening....you'll probly reach your 9000 redline in 1st before he does, what is your max speed at 9000 redline in 1st?? i know for the AUTO it is 36mphs, id rather not guess for the manual. Point is this, the RX-8 1st Gear Ratio is alot shorter compared to the S2000 1st gear ratio 3.78 vs 3.13 this means that in 1st gear you should have HIGHER acceleration. Dude, you got him beat in 1st, especially since you were rolling! There is no way he should beat you thru 1st gear, in fact, you will probably be 1 car lentgh ahead of him at your 9000 redline (i can actually calculate that) The story changes a little when you guys shift into second gear, but still man, i think you got him beat for the first 8 seconds...how long is this race gonna last?? thats another question

later

gkouris

Look man, reeeeeelax

I am not a menace on the roads, like you think

Sure ill do a couple lane changes with some nice acceleration, and attain high speeds on the highway, but who doesnt! You ever been to Italy?? Youd have a fit over there if you think this is bad

I dont put anyone in danger! Thats ridiculous.

Yo uare making me out to be a reckless driver, and it is simply not true. I am extremely aware of my surroundings. Look, just drop it.

Also, i agree with your thoughts on having a "controlled environment" I am a computer programmer by trade and thats all we talk about at work, contolled enviromnents for testimg our code before we promote it into the real world...im with you 100% on that bro!

But please lose the temper and attitude, cause im not a reckless driver.

Heck, lets move on to something different shall we?

Lock & Load

Guys chill out .

BOYS /GIRLS just want to have fun .

Ike love your" SLOWMATIC "

Some of you guys should take more HAPPY pills , you are way to serious .ha ha ha.

cheers
michael

Ike

DSMs (stands for Diamond Star Motors) basicly have the EVO engine in them. They were available with AWD or FWD and included the Laser, Talon, and Eclipse. Stock they run high 14s to low 15s, but respond onscenely well to mods. Under 1k in mods and you have a 13 second car. There are also DSMs with DoT legal tires and full interiors running in the 7s, they are prettymuch the king of the 4 cylinders import tuners. The current Eclipse doesn't even deserve to have the Eclipse badge on it..

You seem to be hung up on power to weight ratios and calculations on paper, it's a decent measure but there are so many other factors. Just because something looks good on paper does not mean it will equate to realworld results. You also seem to forget the added drivetrain lose of a an AT vs. an MT, and that mazda's HP rating is in question by many people on the RX-8, especially the MT.

As for your S2K scenario, I'm talking about both cars racing from a dig, or lined up and punching it from a roll. Given equal drivers the S2K will pull on the RX-8 MT or AT in all gears in either scenario. We're not talking about you having a headstart or suprising someone that doesn't even know he's racing. That is not a race! An S2K of any MY will put multiple car lengths on an AT RX-8 even up to a slower speed like 50 MPH. Go up to around 120 and you are a spec in the S2Ks rearview.

Ike

Ike

Not usually a good idea to call someone a dumbass and then sound like one yourself. HP is usually measured at the wheels when it comes to mods, and you'd be lucky to get 10hp with the intake and Borla combined. That is if you don't lose HP with the intake them you're probably back to where you started stock.

Ike

RX8Z

10hp intake?? lol , now thats good marketing !

Ike

The stock intake on the RX-8 seems to be a good setup. Keep in mind some cars lose HP from aftermarket intakes, and most only get a few HP unless the stock intake is a very poor design. If you're really after performance intakes and catbacks aren't where it's at. But if you like the sound the go for it, just don't expect much in gains.

XeRo

sorry...but I tend to agree with Gord here also...seems like i have another need for a mod to step in and warn me about blasting others...but isn't this sort of bordering on the "kills" thread...

I mean if you think that "attaining highspeeds" on the freeway and weaving in and out of cars is not RECKLESS DRIVING....you have another thing coming...and I hope a wheel chair or wooden box or lawsuits sound ok with you....

and sorry but...i was in high school once...hell i even worked in a tuning shop...the 18 yr old mindset and ego is not mature enough to deal with or handle the 'knowledge' and "maturity" that REAL racing is all about...i modded out my car in high school and thought it was so cool to beat everyone that wanted to race and talked all that smack...but now I look back and think wow...how stupid was I...there are so many times when I could have been killed or killed someone else...now I am glad that someone pointed me in the right direction and I now take it to the track and have been for more than 8 years now..

face it...you DON'T know what RACING is...

HINT: it has nothing to do with jumping in your car and flooring it with the intent to prove something to the guy that is making fun of you or making a gesture on the street...loose the ego...you've been watching to much TV...

Gord96BRG

Troy,

Unfortunately - an auto RX-8 will NEVER see 10 hp from an intake - maybe 2 max. Same thing for the exhaust components - the auto RX-8 doesn't have the revs nor the breathing capacity (because of smaller ports) to benefit much at all from intake and exhaust mods. You'd see maybe 5 hp total from all those mods at best, but 30 hp is pure fantasy. Fact is, the auto RX-8 is performance mod unfriendly, it's basically a crippled version of the Renesis, and throwing on some bits and pieces isn't going to help.

Regards,
Gordon

gkouris

I totally agree with Gord/Ike on the AUTO RX-8

DO NOT add any MODS to the auto, it will not be worth it.

Listen, everyone who has an auto RX-8:

You have 2 choices:

(1)Learn how to drive a stick, and trade it in for a MANUAL. Youll probably pay a few thousand bucks cause of depreciation (i will be paying 3.5K), but atleast youll have the true spirit of what a MAZDA stands for...Not to mention the thrill of a 9000 redline accompanied by a sound only a Rotary can produce.....i tend to think it sounds like a bunch of pissed of hornets in a plastic bottle when you shake them up....you wont hear that sound in any other car.,,,very unique, and isnt that why we all have RX-8s...cmon folks search your feelings......it brings out the eclectic part of our souls


(2)Keep the auto, whatever floats your boat, but dont even think about modding it. Save your money please.

thank you