Ok guys... So As of today I have owned my 2004 RX8 for less than 24 hours... And Im ready to get started... Since I have almost 0 experience with this car... I'd like to find out from you guys.. what brands/parts should I be looking at for A super Tight 120 mph corner hitting monster?

Any help is always appreciated thanks alot!

 

Don't buy anything YET. Learn the car before you do anything, go to some HPDE and autoX''s and learn the car first.

 

Oh believe me man. I know where you're coming from.. my last car was my corner killer, Im mature enough to not use suspension modifications until i know how to use the car...

What im trying to do is get the setup and pre-requisites for the power that will eventually be showing up as well....

 

I've always found this to be an informative read.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/spring-rates-other-basic-suspension-info-79096/

 

 

For the EXCESSIVE power that will be showing up... rofl everyone knows u need a strong suspension to properly control high horsepower...

Believe me... this thing is certainly faster than the car I just got out of... But... I still want to build it right.

 

This car definately isn't 'fast' and it doesn't ever get 'fast' no matter what you bolt on to it.

The stock suspension may be a little undersprung and a little underdamped, but it's definately a chassis that can do more than you can throw at it initially, while learning it.

 

fixed ...

 

I was retyping while you quoted me.

 

ok.. that being said... suspension... goodness??? im the type of guy who just loves buying **** for his car...

 

Then just buy **** for your car.

Beyond being "A super Tight 120 mph corner hitting monster" (I think I just threw up a little in my mouth typing that), what exactly are you trying to accomplish? Do you autocross? Go to track days? Practice drifting in empty parking lots with your pimply faced buddies?

In other words, if you can be a little more specific about what you intend to use the car for, we might be able to offer you some slightly more productive advice.

 

.... Its the feel of the car man... I was working on getting into some local autocross with my last car, I had 1500 Dollars in the suspension, and just loved the way the car felt...

I'm going for a road race build... essentially... Im not big on drifting, as I feel grip tends to over power drift... with a good suspension... What I want is supercar handling... Bottom Line. While it sounds unrealistic I build my cars by putting a ridiculous goal in my head, an image of what I want and taking steps towards it... which is why i use the phrase "120mph corner hitting monster"

I have not yet been able to attend an organized autocross or roadrace. However, it is one of my main ambitions.

(jesus I'm gonna get flamed ALOT on these forums aren't I?

 

Re-read this thread. You're getting flamed because 1/2 the time you pass yourself off as knowing how to setup a car, and the other half you have zero track experience and want strangers to tell you how. You claim you're mature enough to know how and when to mod a car, but then admit you've had it for less than 24 hours but already need to mod it. See the discrepancies?

If you've never been to an AutoX or Road Course - go and learn the car first. The RX-8 needs zero improvements to do this competently. Seriously, you'll almost want to come back and thank all of us for taking this advice.

 

I would have to say the best build out strategy would be to operate the car as it is and then examine your wants/needs at that point. The RX8 stock suspension system is already very well designed. Our local SCCA autocross group is dominated by a skilled RX8 driver who has nothing more than the mazdaspeed suspension upgrades and slightly wider tires on stock wheels.

The car is capable of quite a lot off the showroom floor. I've found out first hand that swapping in a new suspension setup without really learning the car's capabilities first cost me a lot of time and energy having to make up lost ground because of bad settings.

 

Im sure i will thank you... Im just getting used to how everything is here... thats all... I dunno... Im just kindof used to swinging onto freeway onramps at 50 and getting 0 body roll... i guess I just kinda want that again...

Maturity... dont worry about my maturity... Im not some 17 year old punk pickin outta mommy & daddy's pocket... Im a 21 year old car salesman... whos had a dissapointing history in tuning attempts... Finally found something that works accepted 460$ a month... and just wants to get started on a solid build platform...

I was due to spend some time at Hallet raceway in my last car, just traded it before I got the chance to...

edit** and if any of you happen to be 17 and had your 8 purchased by your parents... no offense... and congratulations.

 

I tracked the 8 in stock form for 10 months before upgrading the suspension. Having a good baseline feel for the car allows one to mod it according to what you want to upgrade. My choice was to upgrade the springs and dampers. I'm still running stock sway bars and they will stay stock for quite some more time. I'd rather spend that mod money towards more seat time and some more private instruction- those two things make you quicker than most mods.
Also, good tires will do much more than you can imagine.

You mention wanting a flat handling car to enter a turn and feel good about it. But one must realize that the flatness in handling is only a tool for your own skill set in driving. If one doesn't know how to drive, then the flatness in handing is only a placebo to make one feel fast.

 

You're not some 17 year-old punk, you're a wise old twenty one year old? I'd say you're still pretty young.

First piece of advice: learn to type. People who can't spell, use punctuation, or feel the need to add forty seven periods to the end of every sentence aren't going to be taken seriously by the people who are intelligent enough to answer your questions. Whine about it all you want, but why should anyone take the time to help you if you're too lazy to type out coherent sentences?

Second, the first step of a "road race build" is typically to gut the car and weld in a roll cage. Or did you mean street "racing"?

Third, flat cornering does not necessarily equate to good handling. Stop making excuses about autocrosses or track days and go to one. The first thing you'll probably notice is that the fastest cars often aren't the most highly modified. Why? Because the absolute best "mod" you can make to any car is the driver.

Don't f*** up a perfectly good car by throwing random shiny go-fast bits at it in an attempt to impress your buddies. Instead, invest in learning how to get the most out of the car you've currently got. Not only is it ultimately more rewarding, but when you improve the driver, you can carry that "mod" with you to any car that you drive.

 

I agree learn your car before you tweak the suspension, this car is amazing out of the box handling wise

 

right now this is your hole grail of posts..


https://www.rx8club.com/new-member-forum-197/rx8-faq-new-owners-116484/

after that read all the stickys.

if you get confused, go back to this.... here

beers

 

Hmm. Ok typing aside (although I am rather frustrated and confused as to why you'd attack something so meaningless like that)

I appreciate the help swoope, I'm going through that as soon as i finish typing this up.

I only ask these things due to my not knowing where body roll translates to grip loss on this particular car... I used to think that if I was apexing just a bit too hard in my last car and actually GOT body roll, I was pushing a bit too hard.. But then lol that just translates to lack of experience on a track... Im just made by body roll in general, and like I said... I dont know how much is too much yet... So, easiest fix? eliminate the body roll... yes its lazy, yes I'd be better off on a track... But I love a stiff ride.. what can I say?

...........This...... Is... just... How... I... Type..... Period....

 

OK, long story short, I get it. Read the faqs.. read the stickys... and learn my car... nuff said.. . sorry to bug u guys.

 

Stock suspension. Plenty of body roll. Turn 17 2nd apex at Wide Open Throttle, 3rd gear.

 

I made the mistake of figuring that body roll = poor handling with the RX8. Little did I know that the body roll was more of a means of the car communicating with the driver and less a situation of poor suspension parts. Sure upgrades can be made and better parts put in. Still, it's been tough in my car producing a suspension setup that might have already been in place from the get go.

I've seen one or two drivers do amazing things with a pretty much bone stock RX8. There's something amazing about watching someone in the same car as you just totally destroy everyone on the track. I sat back thinking "my car is capable of that?"

Indeed another live and learn example. Had I tracked the car prior to doing major suspension upgrades I might have either saved myself some money or better understood what I was buying. Instead I saw shiny parts as the means to a better handling car.

Good lesson learned was that a stiff ride may work on the street but is terrible on the track. At one point I was getting life throttle oversteer cause the rear suspension was too stiff. I've since gone to much softer settings.

Best of luck in your research. The people around here can be a bit harsh but it's only cause they like to see you exhaust all the posted resources and come to the table with very specific questions. It's like reinventing the wheel around here every day sometimes.

 

Thanks for that.

Well appreciated.

 

Ok... Here lets try this... feeling much more educated on the topic... Let me take this question a different way.

What are the strong points on our stock suspension... Like for example, my last car had a tendency to oversteer under heavy braking (more than most fw cars)
Do you guys find yourself getting more speed using late or early apexes?
What aspects of your cars handling tendencies do you find yourselves taking advantage of the most, with the best results?

Essentially, Until I get on the track... what can I kindof expect?