Re: RX-8 project car?
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:14
GR-8, thanks for the detailed review, I appreciate it bud! Just curious, where are you at in Denver/Lakewood? I'm actually off of Hampden/285 and Kipling. Any chance you might let my check out your NA 8 sometime?
After doing quite a bit of reading, it looks like the only real NA bolt-on that's worth it is a tune; not counting drivetrain lightening mods (lighter flywheel & lighter wheels/tires) and of course a shorter final drive. Fortunately, power isn't my main concern. I'd like it to be quick enough to be fun, but handling/tossability are more important features to me. Some of the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel was when I owned my past 2 Miata's. Neither was what I considered fast (the MSM was peppy though), but both were a riot to pitch around in the mountains!
Due to price point, I test drove a 350Z not too long ago... dealer gave me a BCA (borrowed car agreement) and I took it down one of my favorite mountain roads- Deer Creek Canyon Rd! The car had overly heavy & slow steering, lots of body roll (especially for how stiff it feels on the freeway!) and brakes that inspired no confidence for diving deep into a corner. It felt extremely heavy. It felt heavier than it actually is (~3200 lbs). My WRX is slightly heavier than that car, but I'm confident that I'm MUCH faster and MUCH more comfortable in the WRX than I was that Z. Not too long afterward I took an NC Miata on the same road and had more fun than I did in both of them (350Z and my WRX' although my WRX was a very close 2nd a few reasons: powering out of corners, staying extremely flat and having very responsive steering! It's damn good for an AWD sedan; but a light weight sports car it will never be!
The feeling of pushing a well balanced machine through a corner is what matters to me the most. I'd just like enough power to be fairly entertaining on corner exit and of course, to not get pulled on by modern minivans and sedate family sedans & SUV's!
I used to work at a Mazda dealership, but that was many years ago, around 2006/2007. I remember liking the 8, but headroom was pretty limited (I'm 6'2" 210 lbs) with a sunroof. I know I fit inside a sunroof car, but it would be very tough to fit inside one while wearing a helmet from what I remember. I also have a preference for cloth (vs leather) seats, so I would like to avoid the GT. Truly, the 2009+ R3 seems ideal; its too bad they are holding their value so well! If I picked one up it would likely be a Sport.
I go through cars quickly (I'd really like to break that habit one day!), but the cars I own are generally very well cared for. I stay on top of maintenance and never go WOT until the car (more specifically the oil) is up to full operating temperature. One of the things I really liked about my old BMW is it actually had an OEM oil temp gauge (vs most cars that only come with a water temp gauge).
Good tips on things to look for when driving an 8! Will a traditional piston-based compression tester work, or is there a special gauge needed to test rotary compression?
After doing quite a bit of reading, it looks like the only real NA bolt-on that's worth it is a tune; not counting drivetrain lightening mods (lighter flywheel & lighter wheels/tires) and of course a shorter final drive. Fortunately, power isn't my main concern. I'd like it to be quick enough to be fun, but handling/tossability are more important features to me. Some of the most fun I've ever had behind the wheel was when I owned my past 2 Miata's. Neither was what I considered fast (the MSM was peppy though), but both were a riot to pitch around in the mountains!
Due to price point, I test drove a 350Z not too long ago... dealer gave me a BCA (borrowed car agreement) and I took it down one of my favorite mountain roads- Deer Creek Canyon Rd! The car had overly heavy & slow steering, lots of body roll (especially for how stiff it feels on the freeway!) and brakes that inspired no confidence for diving deep into a corner. It felt extremely heavy. It felt heavier than it actually is (~3200 lbs). My WRX is slightly heavier than that car, but I'm confident that I'm MUCH faster and MUCH more comfortable in the WRX than I was that Z. Not too long afterward I took an NC Miata on the same road and had more fun than I did in both of them (350Z and my WRX' although my WRX was a very close 2nd a few reasons: powering out of corners, staying extremely flat and having very responsive steering! It's damn good for an AWD sedan; but a light weight sports car it will never be!
The feeling of pushing a well balanced machine through a corner is what matters to me the most. I'd just like enough power to be fairly entertaining on corner exit and of course, to not get pulled on by modern minivans and sedate family sedans & SUV's!
I used to work at a Mazda dealership, but that was many years ago, around 2006/2007. I remember liking the 8, but headroom was pretty limited (I'm 6'2" 210 lbs) with a sunroof. I know I fit inside a sunroof car, but it would be very tough to fit inside one while wearing a helmet from what I remember. I also have a preference for cloth (vs leather) seats, so I would like to avoid the GT. Truly, the 2009+ R3 seems ideal; its too bad they are holding their value so well! If I picked one up it would likely be a Sport.
I go through cars quickly (I'd really like to break that habit one day!), but the cars I own are generally very well cared for. I stay on top of maintenance and never go WOT until the car (more specifically the oil) is up to full operating temperature. One of the things I really liked about my old BMW is it actually had an OEM oil temp gauge (vs most cars that only come with a water temp gauge).
Good tips on things to look for when driving an 8! Will a traditional piston-based compression tester work, or is there a special gauge needed to test rotary compression?