I went for a spin in SleathTl's car a week ago, and I can tell you the car will be faster than most on the road. He had the switch so we could do a few runs to compare. As soon as we hit 5K, it had a nice jump !! But he didn't run it to 9k (too bad I wasn't driving !) But the pull got stronger as the rpms approached redline. We did all the runs in 3rd gear starting at 3K. Hard to tell much below 5K, but I think once you cross 4K and hit 5K, then the car turns into a beast .

Everyone will enjoy.

 

That's huge, because that's my only complaint about the 8's power.

Sure, more low-end would be nice, but my biggest beef was no "hit" to the powerband.

This will cure that... thanks CZ!

I will repay those thanks with a CZ ECU purchase when I get my 8 in the spring.
:D

 

Well, I just got my Stage I in there, and I'm loving it. It really grabs you at 5k - lotta fun.

I was really nervous of having to tinker with my baby, but the whole install was a cinch.

Thanks a ton, Maurice!

 

I think the unit also leans out the idle, so flooding may occur less often. We'd like to hear about this from those with stage 1. Also, keep an eye on the exhaust. I think the black grunge should be greatly reduced.

The last orders charged go out on monday. Just finishing them up now.

 

RX-8 Friend, thank you for making me NOT feel like I was crazy!

I mentioned that very thing to my girlfriend this morning. I thought that I was just imagining it but the car DOES idle and cruise more smoothly. The black grunge as been reduced but only a little thusfar.

 

damn $749 now, i should have bought the thing back when it was 500. that sucks a lot.

 

WOW! Thats good to hear. Thanks for the input Success!

 

HOLY SHIITE MUSLIMS! I just installed CanZoomers Stage I

I must admit I thought the other guys were exaggerating about this mod, but damn! it really packs a punch! The install was not painfull at all (but I broke the wire clips) and when he says the ECU cover will be snug........well, lets just say this was the hardest part of the install. Anyway got it all done, reset the ECU (steering wheel all the way to the left and right) and took it for a spin and headed to AutoBahn 5 (READ NO SPEED LIMIT) with a Sh*& eating grin on my face. Never had a chance to check it out in 2nd or 3rd in town, but 1st got stomped on twice and I was grinnin like the devil himself!

Ok, Made it to the on ramp and waited till a huge break in traffic so I could start out from 0 and move it on through. I thought 1st was good before, but when I slammed second, I thought I was in HEAVEN! The pull in the high Rs is way beyond VTEC. It was truly amazing in 2nd, and well 3rd 4th and 5th! I took her up to a solid 130 MPH and held it a bit before I backed off (my snow tires are H-rated as I mentioned before so I didn't wanna push the limit too much). Anyway, long story short, EVERYONE, save your $$ and get this thing! I would have paid twice as much if I knew it felt this good.

Next is the Borla, and K&N typhoon (I expect them in about 2 weeks) so more to write then.

Feel free to post this message where you think it would get the most views (just drop me a line so I can read the replies), I'm going for a late night spin! It's Friday night, I'm in Germany, the land of incredible beer and beautiful girls, but I'm spending this one with Thor (my 8's Name) DROP THE HAMMER AND BRING THE PAIN~!

Cheers!

 

I think it does idle more smoothly, and sounds subtly different. The black grunge is still present, but seems much less to me.

Overall feel is a little peppier. Most noticeable to me is second and third gear. Second gear always seemed a bit slow to me when starting from low RPMs; now when you hit 5500 RPM or so, there is a definite bigger pull. A beautiful improvement.

I haven't noticed much change on the freeway yet, but I'll get a better feel this morning without traffic - zoom-zoom!

 

I am envious... I will have to wait until spring to order mine since the wife won't see a reason for such an expense with so much snow and ice on the ground . Looking forward to it though.

 

Sweet man! Wish I was still there to enjoy the bahn!

 

Wonderful news, keep them coming!

 

One thing to be careful of:

A couple of people who installed the K&N have told me about issues with rough running.

Apparently the intake is being disturbed and producing turbulence. This , in turn, is causing the MAF to get some varying readings.

I am REALLY nervous about this, so I request people NOT use the Stage1 kit with the K&N until we have had a chance to test one with it under some instrumentation.

Thanks!

 

Maurice -- is there also a concern with the Rotary Extreme intake? If so are you planning on testing one of these also?

 

MAURICE

HAve tests on Australian stage 1 kits ready FOR YOU were can i SEND THEM .

These findins have not been shared as yet with forum members as i would like you to be the first to see them .
cheers
michael

 

Can't wait to see more results until mine comes.

 

Mine goes in tomorrow morning. Feel like a kid on Xmas eve (except I'm Jewish). While we're at it, a dumb question that I don't recall Maurice having answered -- if in the course of doing something else the dealer reflashes the ECU (as they did for some reason when they replaced the oil pan, and told me afterwards), that won't affect or harm the CZ unit if it's installed and turned on, right?

 

I wouldn't keep the Stage 1 in for any reason you want the dealer to reflash the ECU or any software upgrades. Just for the fact that it may void the warranty. Easier just to take the unit out.

 

I would do that; but wondering, say, if it got towed to a dealer and I didn't have a chance to take it out, and dealer reflashed without asking, as mine did unexpectedly when they changed the oil pan. (Just wanna know if I need to keed the 10mm wrency & the heat sink in the car, or at least the wrench so I can open the ECU cover and switch it off.)

 

When will an auto version be available? I want to play too.

 

Shebam

Keeping your 10mm socket wrench in the car is a good idea , when your car had to go to the dealer you could unscrew the 3 screws needed to flick the switch on to the off position .

I did the procedure this morning after driving with it on for 2 hours . it took only 5minutes to swicth it back to off position and i only uscrewed 2 screws to get to it , left the third as is .

Good to see another member of the faith on the forum .

I believe that if you left the stage1 unit ON and your dealer tried to reflash the ECU THEY WOULD NOTICE A DIFFERENT Reading and start to investigate so its best and safest to switch it OFF before going to the dealer.


Cheers
michael.

 

Currently no A/T version is planned for various reasons, some of which are lack of a test car, less demand, and possibly the inability of the transmission to tolerate it. Plus CZ has been swamped with development and production of the M/T version, along with his "day job" (this is a sideline project).

Look here for more......

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-engine-tuning-forum-63/

 

OK, I had the opportunity to air it out on the road, here are my impressions, for what they are worth (you decide). First some basics.

Everyone agrees so far, and the dynos support, that the chief improvement occurs over 5000 RPM (seems closer to 5500 to me, but I will use 5000 for the following discussion).

In 6th gear, 5000 RPM = 100 MPH, In 5th gear = 83 MPH, in 4th gear = 70 MPH, in 3rd gear = 50 MPH.

On the freeway, making a pass around a left lane hog from 65 MPH, a 6 to 4 downshift is still necessary, and a 6 to 3 is even better (thanks Genom! :D). In 4th gear, you are still not yet into the improved power curve and it takes a couple of seconds for the "boost" to kick in. This is a feature of the gearing, not a detraction of the mod. I was a little disappointed with this scenario, but should have been able to figure it out from the dyno.

I took the car up to 110 MPH this AM on the freeway a few times to gauge high end acceleration in fifth gear. That is, a 6 to 5 downshift at 80 MPH. It is not as noticeable to me as the increase in second gear dynamics (and it is not unusual for me to go that fast). Of note, a 6 to 5 downshift at 80 MPH STILL does not get you into the power curve immediately.

The fun part is second and third gears. The 6 to 3 downshift at highway speed was always good, now it is great. Second gear is a rocket which you have to hang on to (over 5500 RPM that is). I haven't done any high RPM clutch drops yet, but I'm sure they would rock too. Off-the-line performance should be improved, and I can't wait to see some 0-60 times. Maybe I'll buy a G-tech.

Bottom line: to fully appreciate this unit, you have to haul ***. You are going to be screaming around town like a banshee, and there will be many tickets for our little group before all is said and done. Just look at the gearing. To take third to redline, and you will want to, you will be going 90. Second gear is good for 68, and a ticket in most speed limited areas. Be careful, and may the cops be generous to you (or blind).

And finally to success07 who said that "by the time we had gotten through the gears we had passed everyone in sight, " yeah that takes about 3 gears anyway WITHOUT the mod.

This is a fast car anyway, regardless of what you hear/read. It IS faster (and more fun!) with the Stage 1, and I'm glad I got mine, but keep your expectations realistic and you will be happier.

BTW, gas mileage appears to be improved so far. Even with me redlining all over the place and making high speed and high RPM runs, I still was at my usual 60 miles at the 1/4 tank mark. I had driven another 1/4 tank or so with the mod, but when I unplugged the battery to make sure the Stage 1 switch was "on," the trip computer reset, so I filled up the tank and will give more specific MPG data after a full tank.

 

Thanks for the realistic review

 

That's true in case of a emergency, but I think if you had to get your 8 towed, you would have enough time to remove stage 1 before the tow truck arrives. Better for you to leave no trace of Stage 1 when going to the dealer for a possible major problem. Cause you know they're going to check out the ECU