Can I add more Torque?
 

I had a 1986 RX-7 about 8 years ago and I love it.

I want to purchase a RX-8.
However, I dotn know much about auto repairs or upgrades. Lately I been reading in the forum alot of negative reactions to the amout of torque the new RX-8 will have.

0-60 speed seem to depend on torque from what I understand? Correct me if I am wrong...

If torque is such an issue can after market products add more torque?...Is this possible with the Renesis?

Please advise. Thanks!

It has begun... :D

Just remember, the '86 RX7 was supposedly bereft of torque, and that car didn't feel so bad, did it?

I wouldn't worry too much about all of the speculation. None of these guys have driven the Renesis yet. I'm not saying that it's going to be a stump puller, but you owe it to yourself to try it for yourself first.

---jps

Hi mindgames,

Honestly, the quickest, and easiest way to improve acceleration will be to lower profile tires or a smaller rim (if you have the 18" ones). You will be applying the same amount of torque over a shorter distance as long as the circumference of the new wheel/tire will be smaller. From what I understand the performance brakes can't accept anything smaller than 17" rims.

The smaller tires will also probably save you a bit of money in the long run. You will have to readjust your speedometer if you want it to be accurate though.

Brian

Well, if you do that, you'll be running higher rpms on the highway. The effect that will have will be how "greedy" you get with the wheel size. Ride quality will also be decreased.

If that's what you want to do, otay. But there is always some give-and-take.

---jps

Not to mention it'll have crazy wheel gap and probably look silly.

Perhaps Mazda will offer some of the crazy rear end ratios through their motorsports division that they do for earlier rotaries... they have 4.875 and 5.125 ring & pinion sets for early RX cars... :eek:

I won't do it but it sounded like he was concerned about 0-60 times and changing wheels/tires is probably the easiest/least technical thing he can do.

Take a car that you think has "enough" torque... and work out what that actually is (At the rear wheels)... then compare it to the RX8 (At the rear wheels)... and you'll find it's not nearly as far different as you thought...

Because it's not a piston engine and hence the rev range and power curves are significantly different... you can't really compare it as you would normally...