Hey guys, my name is Brian/HardHitter and I am a regular over at the rx8club.com forums and just signed up. Anyways, I've had my RX-8 since February of this year and although I absolutly LOVE this car, I am so dissapointed in the power. I really don't want to get rid of my RX-8 but I constantly see myself searching for a car with more power and I was really wondering if I should go to an RX-7.

Now, the only reason why I wouldn't go to an RX-7 is because this will be my daily driver and I've heard that these cars are not too reliable for a daily driver, plus they are older cars. Second, it's a two seater. Although I usually never have more than two people in my 8 (my gf and I) sometimes a third or forth person does come along and it's great to know that I have those two extra seats in the back for them. Also, the RX-8 is getting about 17-18MPG the best with my driving like a grandma shifting around 3-4k, how is the RX7 compared to the 8? I know the RX7 has turbos and everything on it, but what is the average MPG for you guys.

I really do not know what to do, cause I've already put around 5-6k into this car, and this car was my graduation/birthday/christmas present from my parents and I feel like a real ******* wanting a different car now. I'm thinking of buying an RX-7 while keeping the RX-8 and working on the RX-7 myself, but good conditioned RX7's are going around 10-15k for a good already turbo'd and in good condition car and I really don't have that kind of money right now, especially going into college. I have a job, but with school, I don't think I'm going to be working enough to know that I'll be able to pay off the loan.

So what do you guys think?
www.cardomain.com/id/silverrx8 is my cardomain with pictures of the current mods and what I've done to the car.

 

so far i havent seen any good FDs for under 12k.

 

Three Words -

GREDDY TURBO KIT.

That will yield between 260-280 RWHP, is bolt in, and will offer
you plenty mor torque for the "pull" you are looking for.

I would love a nice RX-8 (with a three rotor turbo), but a
Greddy Turbo'd 8 would do nicely.

 

keep your car.
consider yourself lucky to be driving such a new car w/o having finished college and not having to work to pay for it yourself.
finish school.
get a job.
save some money.
then think about spending money on stuff you don't need.

 

When going for an FD, you will most definitely lose the luxury of having cargo space, come across problems and loss of money (haha!). But you will gain the killer stylin' curves and performance that the RX-7 is. RX-8's are pretty nice once modified. To be honest though, I'd keep the RX-8 if you're always used to having buddies riding backseat (unless you have a second car with backseats) and like the security of driving a new car w/o problems. Also, as always, have emergency money for when the FD breaks.

I currently have an FD and a 2003 Tacoma 4DR TRD both of which I switch every now and then...I definitely love the extra space when I need it in the truck or when my FD is having issues.

 

That's the thing, the Greddy kit is only yielding about 230-240rwhp to the wheels max with lots of tuning and everything. One I start buying injectors, boost controllers, all the other things, then that is when it will get up to 280-290ish but that's the most this Greddy kit can push because it's such a small turbo. I'm just scared if I do go with the Greddy turbo, it won't satisfy me enough even when I go to max it out around 300-320rwhp and if I still want more, I'll have to sell the turbo and everything and redo it all. That's the only thing I'm scared about on taking the plunge into it is seeing that 290rwhp isn't enough.

 

get a turbo 2 and be done.

 

You are seriously coming off like a spoiled little brat...

You're just starting college and you are fortunate enough to have a nice new car, under warranty. You are going to college, you don't have to have the fastest car on campus. Enjoy your new car, most people don't have $30k cars just bought for them.

 

Tell you what. I'll trade you my 1994 3G with 51,000 for your RX-8. I get 22 miles per gallon average city/highway mileage. The mechanicals are perfect. New Fuzion ZRI tires. There are some minor paint issues of course. THis is a pretty good car for RX-7s. Paid $17,500 for it last year. Good compression all around. If you are lucky, the engine will last another 30-40,000 miles. Engine replacement will only cost you around $5,000.

Now, you little idiot, think about it.

 

nonsense...just use the passenger seat for storage and drive alone

 

..haha, true!

 

Rx8 has 238 hp at 8500rpm. Thats not dissapointing. If i were you I'd redline it all day long, It's still under warranty right? This chick I know bought a new integra type r and had engine replaced twice for free.

 

you want performance but dont want to deal with having to upgrade turbo kits? lighten the damn car. get stock looking carbon fiber hood and trunk. that will take off about 50lbs and have them color matched. i think there are also carbon fiber front fenders if im not mistaken. get some lighweight 18s. just lighten the thing as much as you can. the 8 weighs a tad over 3000lbs find a way to lose at least 300lbs on the car and you will feel a difference. i know i did when my dads fully stock GSL FB weighed 2900lbs and after some unecessary parts and interior pieces: A/C emissions, rear carpet & insulation, pillar covers, center console, new exhaust the car now weighs 2300lbs. ETs stock were 17.6s after engine rebuild and lighening: 15.2 with him looking for a small turbo to push a max of 12psi he should be seeing mid 13s

 

actually the 8 has 184hp & 130 ft-lbs at the wheels. that sounds like an s2000's power to me

 

If your going to school and have no money really live with the rx-8 man.

 

2004 RX8 238hp@ 8500 rpms. 2005 is same except for auto trans only has 197 hp.

 

rynberg you are so right! I am over 40 yrs old and no one gave me a new car for finishing high school and going to play at college (LOL).. you should feel very lucky to have such great parents. be happy with what you have and take care of it.

 

Don't ge me wrong, I am absolutly greatful for the gift that my parents gave me, there is no doubt about it. Yes, I've worked really hard through high school and have been very responsible, no drinking, no drugs, everything like that, but it's just a little more "motivation" to see that if you do work hard, you do get some kind of a reward, which is hopefully once I finish college, will be a job.

Everything you see that was done to this car was paid with my own money, and everything that is going to be done with this car will be with my own money, so it's not like I'm saying Mommy Daddy, I want a turbo kit, buy me it! But I understand where you are coming from with a 19 year old kid getting an RX-8, I understand.

As some may not know, the RX8 is rated at 238rwhp, however, Mazda over-rated the car. Dyno's are only showing 170-180rwhp max. With the Greddy turbo, people are getting around 230-240rwhp. I'm not cheap by not upgrading the turbo, just I'd like to have the power to compete with STI's and EVO's and cars like that. Even with a Greddy turbo, the 8 cannot compete with these cars.

It's just all the RX7's I have seen are pushing 350+ as a daily and with our RX-8, it's basically going to be impossible to push 350-400rwhp with this engine, and I cannot stand to think if the gas mileage is horrible now 17mpg (shifting 3-4k) with 100-150 more hp, the mpg is going to drop. I would understand the 17-18mpg if this car was pushing some decent numbers, but 170rwhp isn't.

 

I would probably visit the Mitsubishi or Subaru dealership at this point.

 

www.pettitracing.com
or
www.rx7store.net

 

Hey man, I suppose one can understand where you are coming from, but the rx-8 is a sweet car. Besides college doesnt last forever, just enjoy it with that nice car that you have. FD's are amazing, but they are just cars. Just enjoy college and take your time with the car, you can buy a car any day, but college will be over too soon. So you dont want to have to worry about paying for and keeping up with another car. Good luck with whatever way you choose though.

 

As with most folks here, keep the 8 and continue to be happy and grateful for it. When I was in highschool, my first car was a POS 82 escort wagon, all rusted up, bought it at a junkyard for 300 bucks which I earned at Dairy Queen. It had a blue door and I had to spray paint it white to "match" the rest of the car. The rest of the rich kids had new cars from mommy and daddy. I drove that car through my 2nd year of college... I'm 27 now, bought a new car with my first job out of college with my own money... I can now really appreciate hard work and what it brings.

Be happy with your 8. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders. Keep working hard and you'll be fine.

 

Keep the 8. Read up on the forum about the 7

This post is leading me to believe you're one of those people that will keep modding your car until it blows up (without taking precautions).

Are you serious that most FDs in your area are pushing 350 as a daily? A FD with intake,dp, ic, ecu, exhaust at 12 psi is maybe at 300 rwhp.

For 350, you'd be pushing the stock injectors/stock turbos. You'd probably need to be tuned & running a high boost as well.

 

1. Keep the RX-8. A 19-year-old doesn't need any more power than what that car already has. If you're looking for more thrills, I suggest you take up autocrossing instead of drag racing. The RX-8 was NOT built to be a straight-line monster.



2. With regards to rated horsepower vs. dyno charts: there are two methods of measuring horsepower: power at the wheels and power at the engine flywheel. Mazda is advertising 238 HP at the flywheel, and people are measuring 170-180 HP at the wheels. That sounds about right to me.

More info about flywheel vs wheel horsepower ratings: http://www.enjoythedrive.com/content/?id=26050


-s-

 

Dude, if you want something fast, go to school after you dump your woman and start hitting on fat chicks. You will get VD pretty damn fast.

DO more research before you make your move. You will want a reliable car while you are in college. A garage would also be nice for an FD. If you want, I can watch your girl while you go off to college. I wouldn't make that offer to just anyone.