Hey there-
I bought my rx8 (auto-blame wife) 4 months ago (06). Previously I owned an auto Supra that I have babied but time for something more practical.
When I would launch with my auto Supra, I would hold the brake down and gas it 2-3 seconds before the go. I am unsure though if this method is the best way to launch the rx8? (I take my cars to the drag strip, dont worry. I wont be tracking this car much anyways - until i get a turbo that is).
Also, is it better to use the manu-matic mode or just leave it in D? I like the fact that I can shift at higher revs for better performance, but then this is totally different from my supra.
Thanks!

 

hmmm...something tells me that you wont be running the 1/4 mile times you runned with your supra at the drag strip.... in fact they might be substansialy less....

 

might be? good luck with your drag racing AT... or your drag racing 8 for that matter.

 

as a previous owner of an auto rx8 im sorry to say that there really isnt much you can do with the launch. if you try to hold the brake and rev the engine it will only allow you to get up to 2500 if i remember correctly. it doesnt matter if you hold the brake and floor the gas pedal it will go up to 2500 and hold there. now as far as putting into neutral reving and slamming into drive, also something bad for this car. everytime i was about to go out and try that i would read on this forum that the transmission will be destroyed once you go from neutral to drive. i never tried it and dont recommend. so basically you cant do anything as far as launching is concerned. you stated that you would eventually turbo. well this will help your time big time. i always liked to use the manual mode but that was me. i became tired of the auto eventually and traded it in for manual. so thats my own experiences with the auto when i had it. mine was an 04 4 speed. if yours is a 6 speed you will probably run a little faster because of the 6 port engine. sorry to be the barer of bad news but hope this helps.

 

and also the rx8 isnt exactly a drag car so even the manual rx8s are doing 14s-15s stock so dont expect anything close to the supra.

 

Oh yeah I know for sure, as I stated I wont be really dragging this car, but just for fun. And I know that this car is primarily a handling car, ie Tracking is the way to go. I still have the supra, but its now gutted and only drag use, 850hp but still not as fun as the Rx8 ;D

I feel the torque in the higher RPMs, 4-5k and up, and I usually redline before shifting when in the manu-matic mode. Love the sound, love the feel, just lacking the torque.
My wife also recently bought a new 07 Subaru Legacy, feels powerful and sounds great. Never been a fan of AWD though.

 

damn 850hp!!! wat the 8 lacks in power it definitely makes up in the handling department. on my auto i was running a K&N typhoon 2nd gen, Rotary Performance "Supercat", and the Greddy Sp2 cat back. these definitely make the car more fun to drive and turned alot of heads. way to loud after a while. well enjoy your 8 and dont let the guys on here make you regret your auto purchase. theyll give you a lot of flak but just ignore it.

 

Thanks man, Yeah I already love this thing. Its so smooth and..different from my Supra / Legacy. Just for the record, I know how to drive stick, I owned a 98 Impreza 2.5 RS, built it up to GC8 standards (05'STi Turbo, HKS Hi power exhaust, etc), nephew wanted it so I sold it to him for cheap. Growing up is a pain.

 

So if your wife just got a new car how did you get stuck with an automatic? I'm just happy my future wife will only drive manuals, I think that's half the reason I like her

 

She has this philosophy that one day I will be hurt at Location A, with me not being able to drive to the hospital she wants to be able to drive. If I confront her with the fact that an ambulance is there for a reason, she goes on with another reason. I gave up after awhile.

 

are you for real?

 

Someone needs to grow a set

 

Are you?

 

I've tried the whole rev it up in neutral and throw it into drive. Granted I never tried this on an 8, but it certainly didn't destroy my transmission. I find the brake technique to be tons o' fun even if it will only let you get to a few thousand rpm's with the brake down.

Long live automatics j00 manual n00bs!!11!

 

The MT RX8 is slow and the AT is slower.

OK, got it in.... continue.

 

We now know who has the COJONES at home.

 

AT and launch are oxymorons. Maybe AT and crawl would work better together.

 

Dont be so bitter.

 

No bitterness...I'm not the one with the slushbox in an 8.

 

Where exactly is Location A? And why would your wife expect you to drive yourself to the hospital? Seems kinda harsh.

 

Im not bitter about it anymore, just sad.

 

But its still fun to drive.

 

To actually answer the questions:

There's no torque, so the brake stall launch is hardly noticeable at all. If you could get (were willing to pay for) a higher stall converter, then maybe you'd get a benefit. Custom is the only option in that direction.

In my experience, in full automatic mode the computer is retarded. I can't deal with it's inablility to behave reasonably, so I leave it in driver controlled mode.

 

There is torque -- otherwise the car wouldn't move. And by revving to 3k or something and then letting off the brake you've got the engine revved higher so it'll take less time to get into the real powerband.

I'm not going to say you're going to win against a Veyron or something, but it absolutely makes a difference.

 

I can win against a Veyron. Wait, win at what?