Just came back from a trip through Manning park there and through the Coquhala on the way back with my girlfriend. Here are what I noticed:

-I got estimated 500km in one tank!! (270km by the half tank mark)
-When you're at highspeeds in 6th gear, I didn't find the need to downshift to accelerate, the revs just builds and swells with power.
-My AC is cold enough but I hate it when I keep the vents aimed at my hands and they turn freezing cold all of a sudden (randomly, not even related to vehical speed or engine speed?!) and then back to normal. As my car's built after the recall date, I'll have to settle it with the dealers next time...
-Not sure if it's elevation or the fact that there's 2 ppl with their overnight bags and 20lbs of fruit but I find it gets harder to pass ppl uphill (have to downshift to make ~7500rpms and still it builds speed rather slow...). I'm thinking it's the weight cause I can literally feel the difference between this drive and a drive by myself with zero cargo up to whistler.
-When you keep the windows open and use the windshield washer at highway speeds, the fluid collects on the upper driver side window and drips back onto my shoulder and pants!
-Had to keep the fruit we picked inside the car cause the trunk was like an oven! My clothes in my bag felt like they came out of a hot dryer lol We were going to put our over night pizza in the trunk to warm it up in the morning
LOL
-The stock Dunlops wear amazingly well considering what I put it through and there was a big 10km stretch of the coquhala that was covered in rough gravel during construction and the tires there wasn't any chunking or scars. The grip was also amazing and I love how progressive it is and lets you know in advance if you're about to lose it (the tires or the 8's suspension geometry? hmmmm..)


All it all it was an enjoyable trip that the 8 mader better by improving the time in between destinations :D

oh and nothing new to report on the synthetic issue, changed over at 8000km and now I'm at 19,000km and plan to switching over to Royal Purple at next oil change (claimed 3% increase in hp by Hotrod TV and other mags!)

 

Elevation high in the Coquhala can take 10-15% off any naturally aspirated engine power rating....not surprised you'd notice!!

 

its not accurate to calulate your gas consumption based on reading the needle but still 270km at the middle mark is quite impressive... :D

 

thats cool!

 

its a fun drive, now you see why I hit 200 while driving the coquihala eh Usoff?

 

I can vouch for the top speed, of 150mph. Except I actually broke it when going up to kamloops and have got 153mph/246kph .

I highly discourage going this fast as cars truely have no clue that you are coming up behind them, I just merely state that it is possible. I have a 6spd standard with default GT options, no mods have been done yet.

Has anyone got a chip for theirs?

 

Your A/C is fine. THe Rx-8 is setup like the FD (Rx-7) so that when you are at WOT/idle the compressor turns off.

 

the elevation can take 10-15% off?! wow.... didn't know it'd be THAT bad.... hmmm so what was it again.... the higher the elevation, the less octane gas you should use (easier ignition?) but the hotter the tempreature, the more octane you should use (less premature detonation/pinging?) or is it the other way around??
well yea I understand how you could've went 200 but the max I went was a slight bit less than that (I always have this horrible image of a cop car around the next corner or over the hill...) but yea when you're going that fast you gotta watch out for ppl who are driving on the left lane for NO APPARENT reason and you don't have time for them to move to the right and when you get near them at high speeds and try to pass them on the right, THEN they swerve into the right lane in front of you.... didn't happen to me but I can imagine it could happen... guess the "flash to pass" thing comes into play...
well something's up with my AC that turns it cold to colder and back and forth for no apparent reason, it act like it's got an auto temp setting when it doesn't....

 

See my above post about your A/C..

 

RT ive noticed you have a wild imgination

 

hmm.... I see...... well I'll get the dealer to look it over just in case anyhow :p