are RX8s really that slow?
 

idk if this is the right section for this but i was playing with an RX8 last night. just had intake, exhaust, stupid body kit and some rims. so basically stock. from a roll we stuck side by side and from a dig i was killing him by 1 1/2 lengths then holding him till we let off at 85. i can launch really well with these sticky yokohamas i have and i usually pull cars off of the line every time. but i still figured hed pass me around 3rd gear. i was pretty dissappointed with the RX8

Was it auto?

the 4 port autos are really slow

It was a manual.... I'm guessing the body kit, 18 inch rims, and passenger in the car didn't help him much but I figured he'd still pull me on top end

Maybe he wasn't trying

I know the guy... we had just hung out at our local spot before that and talked about it so I know he was trying. I just figured id be more impressed with their performance. 12a FTW

Pure driver skill bro

It must be those wicked Yokohama tires that some super cool wicked badass dude gave ya!!!

Seriously... RX-8's normally run great if they are standard shift cars.

Go here.... http://www.car-times.com/DoShowCarRaces.php

They show a 2004 RX-8 doing 5.8 0-60 and 14.5 quarter mile..

for comparison I put a stock GSL-SE into the "race" the SE has a 13b which is way more powerful than a stock 12a.. It has 0-60 for a SE at 7.8 and 1/4 mile at 15.9

I would go as far as to say there is not a stock engine 12a with whatever bolt ons (short of nitrous or turbo) on the PLANET that will outrun an RX-8

You got lucky my friend!!

Too many variables, but let's play with the numbers just for kicks.

RX-8: 3000 lbs., 180 WHP (typical stock)
FB: 2350 lbs. depending on options

Assuming a 180 lb. driver in both cars, you'd need approximately 143 WHP in an FB to match the RX-8's power-to-weight ratio. Does this mean much? No, not really. Gearing, aerodynamics, powerbands, tires, and especially driving ability will all come into play as well. But it gives you an idea, anyway.

RX-8s aren't really slow cars (at least, not the manuals). Congrats on your win.

I say you having better driving skills was the factor. I killed an 8 also on my 82 fb with racing beat exhaust everything else was stock.:lol:

Well as I said it wasn't stock. Adding a body kit and rims added some curb weight and he did have an extra passenger. And I really don't count his cold air intake and offbrand exhaust as an upgrade so power/weight was worse. I don't have any idea what power mine is but I know the carb/intake/exhaust/header did add a lot of pep after it was tuned properly. Maybe I did get "lucky" but still wasn't too impressive.

the weight is killer on a car with no torque. especially the wheels. when i put the 19's on mine it was extremely noticable. acceleration was slower, and i lost a few mpg highway. and the rx8s really do come maxed out from the factory. a cai and exhaust will get you maybe 3-4hp over stock.

imma say your light car + drivers skill = FB win.

the coolest car ive taken in the Rx8 is a porsche 911 convertable. when i pulled on it, i was more surprised, but they were mad!

the rx8 isn't slow, but its a heavy low tq car, so you need to know what you're doing

I took an auto 8 from a roll in my fc. All I have is an intake and exhaust with a gutted cat. I got him on the jump but he almost kept up when he was in his gear range. When I finally let off I was about a car and a half on him.

Ok ya maybe he just wasn't. The best driver... but next time I'm out there I might try to get a good heads up run and video for yalls viewing pleasure =P....(on a closed road in mexico of course)

take the 8 to a road course w/ a good driver and you'll understand the car better. It's not a stop light to stop light car. Then you will be saying are rx8's really that fast. Insert rant about street racing.

I would love too... looked into every track in my area but for the fun run days they are all super expensive and I work too much.... the only thing we have in my area is 2 drag strips so I'm limited to what I can do. There isn't really much autocross unless I drive 3 hrs or more which is actually what I'm setting the car up for anyways if I can ever get time off to do one.

Rotaryinspired is spot on. The RX8's not staight-line warrior though it's no slouch either. Shifting efficiently is key to getting a pathetic 15.5 1/4 mile or a good 14.7 1/4 mile. The chassis of the RX8 is what makes it shine.

I had my FD at VIR a few times in 2006 and it ran great. Made about 310WHP with stock twins, power FC, full exhaust, upgraded intakes. Nothing super special. But a year later when I got my RX8, my average lap times were 2.3 seconds faster around the track with 201 WHP. Only the Racing Beat Intake and Ram Air. It's so precise in cornering and it's such a forgiving car if it breaks loose. But my friend's 136 WHP supercharged D16 Honda CRX will hang right with her in a straight line.

At a local truck scale the Honda weighed in at 2,210 lbs WITH a sound system and amps. >__> Kinda scary.

They really are great cars. It's just the mentality here in the states that 1/4 mile times determine how fast a car is even if it can't corner. Sometimes I feel like I need a mullet and look like Joe Dirt when talking cars to some people.

To the OP I hope you get to spend some time in one at a track its fun. Mine was right on a buddy of mines STI at the track last time we were out. I have since sold the 8, but it was a good car.

Increasing overall tire diameter without increasing power equals a slower car, too.

Simple ratios & leverage. Every inch of added outside diameter costs 3.14 additional road-inches per tire rotation that the engine has to somehow power, at the same RPM.

Well if I had some sort of facility to run around here id love to. I've been done with drag racing but its the only option I have at the moment

I dunno, when I had my RX8 brand new it sure felt fast, it would smoke my wife's 05 Corolla XRS, and my wife's Corolla would smoke my stock 12a 85 RX7.

Was yours standard?^^

we took the rx8 and an ITS prepped FC to the track once, the rx8 was showroom, and they were running about the same laptimes... the 8 needed more tire, but had more power

i agree. take the 8 to a track and you'll see its true purpose.