sudden horrible loss of power/acceleration!!
 

Hey guys, I drive a 2006 tiptronic rx8. Its been running great until suddenly a couple of days ago it would barely make it from a dead stop in drive. I could push the pedal all the way to the floor, you could hear the engine roaring as normal but barely any movement, worse at an incline. Over a couple days it got worse, choking to start, shuddering, lunging, dropping rpms intermittently when I would get it to say 3500 / 45 mph. Idles smooth in park, horrible in drive. As I was taking it to my parents house it threw a check engine light that blinked 5 times and went away. Scanned it, no code was stored? The battery is only a couple months old...fluids are good...can anyone give me a good starting place? I just started a new job after being laid off a month ago, so I can't afford a mechanic just yet.

Go check the stickies. Especially the one that explains that blinking cell always means misfire. I'm gonna say your ignition system is rapidly failing and you're gonna have to replace coils, wires, and plugs. When's the last time you got it checked or maintained?
Hopefully you at least change your oil accordingly. Also, clean your maf sensor.
If you can't afford a mechanic, you better start reading how to change and replace everything I just mentioned.
All the info is in this forum.

Your ignition is shot, coils plugs and wires. You need to replace them (starting at ~$190 for the parts if you shop around, upwards of $500-600 if you just get them from a dealer)

Since you have failed to maintain your ignition properly (even unintentionally) your catalytic converter is now clogged as well. If you are under 8yr/80,000 miles, you can get the cat replaced at a dealer for free. If you are outside of that, a new cat is $1,300, a midpipe is $100-$500 if you can do so with emissions regulations. Used cats are on here sometimes, but can't count on them.

Since you have been driving on a clogged cat, you have probably begun damaging the O2 sensors and your engine seals. Maybe not though. Not being able to get to 45mph with it floored is WALL past the point where damage usually stats to occur.

See my signature at the bottom of this post.

The problem sounds like one of two things. Either the fuel pump is going bad or you need to replace the ignition coils & spark plugs.

If it's the fuel pump, they tend to overheat. A cool tank of gas cools them down and the car will work normally. In case the fuel pump needs to be replaced, don't fill it up completely.

Spark plugs and coils should be replaced at about 40,000 mi. to prevent misfires.