MP3Guy

That was then- this is now. Auto manufacturers have long borrowed from the aftermarket to design into their cars. Almost everything on a new sports car today: the wheels, 45 profile tires, sound system, short throw shifter, ground effects, tail lights etc., etc., etc. all were inspired by the aftermarket customizers. They set the pace, and the OEM follows.

rxtreme

iTrader: (1)

Allright, I agree that RB is a reputable company. However, my question to them is this: If the gains are as low as they claim when it comes to an aftermarket exhaust, why are they bothering to still produce one? If they advertise that their exhaust will only make ~5HP, how can anyone justify shelling out 600 or so dollars to buy one? I, like everyone else, appreciates their honesty; but I want to know why their exhaust will be better than anyone elses if they say the gains will be so meager?

B-Nez

No specific info to their system, but do remember that there can be a HUGE weight savings from one exhaust to another. A small HP increase may mean squat to you, but if it also shaves good deal of weight, then that raises the bar a little bit...We'll have to wait and see.

RCCAZ 1

For some owners HP is not the end all reason for buying aftermarket parts. If everything needed to result in a HP gain no one would ever add accent painting or chrome plating to their engine bays. Items like larger aftermarket wheels are usually a HUGE drain on performance due to the USUAL additional weight over stock. Bottom line is that people want to individualize their vehicle. If a catback can give you a slight HP gain, save you 15 to 20 pounds, and make your car SOUND awesome, most will go for it.

When I added my RB dual tip to my Gen 3 I only noticed a little over 10 HP improvement, but for me I knew that adding a mid pipe or high flow cat down the road would bring me much greater benefits, so I bought it. It really comes down to who makes the part that YOU think gives YOUR car the individual look that you're trying to achieve. If RB says that you'll get a 5 HP improvement and you bolt it on and notice 8 to 10, then you're a happy customer. If they tell you you'll get 10 to 15 and all you see is 5 HP you'll be pissed. I think it's just a good business approach. Undercommitting and overdelivering is the key to customer satisfaction.

TeKP

But I want more HP!... haha

No but really its true, I think about more then just performance when deciding which aftermarket parts to purchase. Getting a deeper meaner sound on a cat-back is almost as important as the amount of HP it gains me.

Ft Liquordale

I hope you are not afraid of the clutch/gear box.

This is my first non-automatic vehicle...heck it's my first sports car (thought if I were to do it, I'd do it in fashion). I had a deposit down for an auto, but the dealer saw the fire in my eye and talked me into the standard on the lot already. It took me a good week to get totally comfortable with shifting, but only a day or two to get adjusted (I stalled a few times...kind of embarassing, but I flicked off all the people in their crappy cars honking at me). The feel of the clutch on the RX-8 is so much nicer than on the auto. That alone is worth the 2K. Good luck! The automatic is a nice car if you're not concerned too much about performance.

med_carlos507

Alot right I have read most of the tech post about the 8, but just to be honest where am i going to get the most horse power for my money.I have had mu 8 for about a month and I am already looking to make so improvments to it. I love my car and am looking to smoke the pants off anything i meet on the road. My best competion had been a honda s200 and it was a close race but he had me and I am looking to meeting them agian soon with so mods that can push the rotary to its true limits.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

A Trans-Am or a Camaro should fill your bill. Maybe a Lingenfellter Corvette.

You wont be de-pantsing anyone with an '8.

S

med_carlos507

ok well what can an eight do against a two that will give the benefeit to me?

RX8Lover

In America, we speak ENGLISH. I'm not sure what the heck you just said here, little man.

Jeff_pap31s

Now that was comedy RX8 lover!!! ROFL I agree. Speak english!

black8ter

and dont forget to poorf read your stuff

Omicron

Easy guys, we need to remember that people from all over the world access this forum. Please do not disrespect someone just because their english is not as good as yours.

med_carlos507, please do not post stories of street racing on the board, they are not allowed here.

As for how to increase the performance of the RX-8, your choices are somewhat limited right now because the car is so new to the market. However, you do have a few options:

• Better flowing intake, by Rotary Extreme or K&N. Good for about 5-10 HP.
• Better flowing exhaust. Lots of them available, look in this forum and pick out one you like. Good for about 5-15 HP.
• ECU/PCM Mod: Look inthis thread for info about it, and this thread for info on availability. Good for about 20-30 HP.

That's it for now. In about 6 months or less there will undoubtedly be supercharger, turbocharger, and nitrous kits on the market.

Hope this helps... welcome to the board!

paintbaler1587

Thanks for the help. The stage 2 canzoomer sounds really nice, 45-55 hp! I dunno about getting a auto now. If i get a manual (which I do want, but I need to convince my parents to get me a manual when I get my car), with a stage 2 and better flowing exhuast then thats about 300 hp right there. That sounds really nice. And then if they come out with turbo/super chargers, my car will be awsome.

Ft Liquordale

about the intakes, does K&N have a heat shield? looks like you can get the K&N Typhoon for $188 with no shield and the Roary Extreme with a shield for $260. Doesn't make much sense to me not to include a sheild.

Omicron

Nope, I agree that it should have been included, but K&N didn't for some reason. Go figure. I also feel the heat shielding is worth the trouble, so I'd suggest the RE intake.

GooOnYou

You can't use canzoomer's kit on the auto.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...5&pagenumber=2

Ole Spiff

I remember back in the 60's and early 70's before we had catalytic converters and all that emissions crud on our cars, the first thing anybody would do is get rid of the stock muffler and put a glass pack on. Sure it would make a few more horsepower but the real reason? Sound. Sound was half the fun of performance. What fun would it be to have blistering 0-60 times if it was whisper quiet? It didn't matter if it wasn't the fastest thing around as long as it SOUNDED like it was the fastest thing around.

And after awhile when the glass started burning away and clearing out you'd be left with basically a hollow resonator and when you stepped on the gas it would sound just great!

If RB's exhaust SOUNDS better than anybody elses, a mild hp gain will just be a bonus....people will buy it.

B-Nez

The problem with your theory is that a glasspack wouldn't last 5 blocks on the RX-8. By that time, the material will have melted into a solid block. Not exactly money well spent. Oops, I just re-read your post and realized that was not the point you were trying to make. Disregard. And yes, you are right - people would buy it. Just look at all the folks who buy those ridiculous grapefruit-shooters just because of the sound (shudder to think) and despite the performace hit.

Rx8Freehk

I REALLY noticed a difference when i swaped out mine, my car wont get dyno'ed till spring while we're at Nürburg Ring but i can say its Way more than a mere 10 hp!!

BLUE PHI RX-8

If Racing Beat has been in bed with Mazda all of these years, why didn't they collaborate to make a Catalytic Converter that would meet EPA standards and last for 120,000 miles and have the car produce the 280HP's that was slated when the car (E-volve) was in concept stage? Or better yet, if Mazda wanted to leave room for future improvement by way of HP gains, say 280-300 which is what I understand the Renesis has potential for, why wouldn't they produce a better Cat so that the slated 250HP would be achieved as intended as opposed to the 238HP the 8 has now? I'm sure that with all of the metals out there a better/stronger materials to produce a better CAT. And of course they would have to reflash the PCM module to original specs to bring final resolution to this matter.

Ft Liquordale

Talk to the salesman on the side... have him tell your parents that the only people he/she has sold the automatic to are 40-50 years+ old and he is surprised you are considering it. That might help.

It is also harder to find automatics with all the options you want. That made the choice easy for me... Either wait a few weeks till they find it or take the one already on the lot.

Gauge

Im going to soon be buying an rx-8 and was wondering what should the first thang be to buy for hp ? I want to get it as fast as possible throughout time . I was thinking exaust ?

RX8Lover

oh god....

Omicron

Welcome to the board Gauge. There's a TON of information to be gained here for people who are willing to spend just a little bit of time reading first, then answering questions later. Not to slam you, but not even 10 threads below this question of yours was the SAME question, titled "What parts to get?" Pretty hard to miss. In fact, if you look through the pages of this very forum, you'll find several instances of this same question. Regardless, here's my response: