I'm about to buy an RX-8. Titanium Gray 6MT.

I'm not a fan of sunroofs or leather interiors but I'm considering the sport package for the fogs and xenon lights.

What is the real value of the DSC and traction control? I've never appreciated the concept of turning over control of the car to a computer. When I had the system on a 2000 Mustang GT, I turned it off.

 

DSLeach,

Can't see a location for you, but my opinion is that DCS makes the "8" drivable in the winter (with snow tires) and safer in the wet. So if you're stickly xcrossing or shoing or just driving on nice days, I would say you wouldn't need it. But of course that's just my opinion.

Here's some additinatl information on DCS you may find helpful.

But ultimatly, just get one!

 

For times when you're 100% concentrated on the car, the road, and your driving, DSC/TCS can be unnecessary. Trouble is, even the best of us doesn't give 100% all the time, even though we know we should - there are just too many distractions, not to mention the other maniacs we have to share the road with.

For those times when you're perhaps not totally focussed on the job at hand, the electonic systems can be a lifesaver, quite literally. I leave them enabled almost all the time during normal driving, only disengaging them when I'm on the track or ready to focus on having some fun on a particular stretch of road.

 

I agree with eccles. And it's not as if the car handles like a truck with DSC on.

 

DSC saved my butt more than once.
Normally, when driving hard, on the dry ground, I don't need it. If I plan for being aggressive , I turn it off, but ussually leave it on.

About 3-4 weks ago, there is a roundabout neear my house that I love to enter fast. This time I entered faster than normal. Typically I am in 2nd when I take it, but this time I was in third when I entered, then downshifted to second. However, I forgot to rev match, and the sudden load broke the rear end loose.
I was sure I was going to do a 180 into the curb of the roundabout, but the DSC kicked in.

Now, I did counter steer, so I am not sure how much of it was my correction, but the car straightened out real quick, and I was able to hold the turn. (My wife was pretty pissed though).

Like I said, I leave it on, Unless I intend to get squirlly AND know the road I am on real well.

 

If it is in your budget get the DCS (IMHO) It will save your bacon. I had an old farm truck pull off a side road and into my lane on a divided highway. The only way I could miss him was to go off into the muddy median. Once I cleared him I turned (a little too quickly) back onto the road. Instead of a spin the car wiggled a little, the "You F#%!*ed up" light came on and it instantly settled. I was honestly amazed I missed him let alone was able to gather the car up and drive on undamaged.

 

The SportsPackage is pretty lousy man. Onlyreason why I got it is b/c I own an automatic Rx8 andyou get a lot more from the sportspackage w/an automatic Rx8 than youdo w/a stick Rx8. I think allthe manual sports package adds is DSC and fog lights. If I did it over again and Iwere buying stick shift Id save the money and buy a stock manual andthen add fog lights later on. A lot ofpeople w/ Rx8s believe that you can get .1 - .3 seconds faster on track times whenever you disable DSC as well so if you plan on racing your car you might want to take that into consideration too. I havent been in a situation where Ive ever needed it but I guessits more of a good thing you have it when you needed it type of thing. If youdont drive like an ******* all the time I dont think it is that valuable. If you do then it can save you from stupid mistakes tho. Basically manits up to how you want to spend your money. Thats just my opinion.

 

I got the sport package because I didn't see the need for leather seats, sunroof, better sound system. My other car has all that. I wanted the DSC. The 6-speed sport package includes only the DSC, fog lights, and Xenon headlights. I did'nt want the Xenon's, but they are quite effective.

In North Carolina we get infrequent snow, but with little snow removal equipment even a little snow can be a problem. It snowed teh first week I had the car--only 3-4 inches, but enough to disable my pickup truck. The Rx-8 handled the snow very well on the stock tires--better than my Accord V-6. In deeper snow the summer tires would no doubt begin to show their shortcomings, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The sport package was worth it to me.

 

I just picked up my Velocity red RX8 with sport package last Sat. I wanted the Sport package only for the following reasons:

Xenon lights - had them before and they are way better than halogens.

Fog lights - should be standard IMO.

DSC - had it before and have been saved by it a few times. With this car being RWD with 3 season tires it helps a lot. It kicked in a few times over the weekend driving in slush and snow.

My last few cars had leather and I don't care for it. The cloth seats in the RX8 are very nice and look pretty cool too.

The sunroof makes the roof a little too low for me at 6'2", it's small and I don't like the way it goes on top of the roof when it's back.

I know there is a weight savings there by not getting leather, roof and stuff but I don't know how much.

 

I don't have DSC on my base level RX8 manual transmission. The car drives fine without it. The rear end can be a little lively on snow, but the slightest amount of countersteer, and all straightens out lickety split. The car is not very prone to swapping ends, and if the rear starts out a bit, it doesn't really go far preferring to track straight. Slightly lifting off the accelerator will bring it right back in as well. For rear wheel drive, it's eminently driveable, and handles considerably better than my '78 volvo wagon did. It is livelier than my '67 Alfa and more prone to breaking away than that car is. On dry roads, pushing it a bit, I have no problems with the handling of my 8. It hasn't tried to slide out on me yet. Could be I just haven't pushed it hard enough.

Basically, I haven't missed DSC, but I can see a place for it in this car. The rear end is lively, and I have felt it sliding a hair here and there, but if you don't want DSC, it won't kill you. The car is very controllable using counter-steer and accelerator lift.

Oh yeah, I do have four wheel snows on the car.

 

I have a base 6spd Titanium Gray, and i live in Pittsburgh. As long as you use your head when you are out there in the snow you will be fine without the DSC. I do have Dunlop M2 Winter Sport tires which are amazing in the snow. If you dont care about the fog lights and Xenon bulbs, i highly recommend the Base RX-8. Save your money for some snow tires and wheels if you live up here....drive smart when the weather is bad and hard the rest of the time.

-D

 

I have a DSC video to show you

http://www.step-hen.com/rx8/files/DSC_demo.zip

for explainations: go to http://www.step-hen.com/rx8spec.htm and scroll down to the bottom of page

 

the DSC in the rx8 is well integrated with the handling of the car. it isnt like some systems that completely numb the handling.

i teach and race autocross in many different types of cars- i did not want the DSC but it came with the leather. after i experimented with it, i actually leave it on for street driving. even with it off, the rx8 is extremely stable and well behaved.

james

 

The Real Value is:


Infinite...
If this system saved yours or someones life, it would be priceless. From my experience with DSC, it has prevented many accidents in the past, and will continue to do so. As long as one has the feature, and doesn't turn it off.

 

Yes the DCS is a life saver for sure. I rarely drive with it off, and hate that you have to restart to reengage it after a full off. IMHO it is well worth the cost!


takahashi-san,

Awesome video, thanks for posting with the link explaining, it really shows two things. 1. Computers are much faster than humans in reaction time (RT) and can recover much quickly from a spin out situation (DSC on, partially off, and fully off). and 2. Suspension and stiffness go a long way in increasing control (reg 8 dsc off and MS 8 dsc off).

 

I knewI forgot something. The Xenon lights. Thoseare actually really great. Again I thinkyou could always get those done aftermarket as well. Sports package on the manual is all about the extra DSC. And DSC is up to you. Even w/video I wouldnt be sold.

 

The DSC is also able to do things that the driver simply cannot do, such as apply the brake to only one wheel. No matter how good a driver you are, I defy you to do that!

 

Great video...if you notice he holds the DSC button down for a few seconds to totally turn it off. I think with the ability to turn the DSC off it's really a no brainer to get it. Use it when you need it and turn it off when you don't want it to interfere.

 

That is right....

I found to turn the DSC off improve the fuel consumption... don't know why... the car is so stable that I don't find that DSC turns on very frequently.

 

On my commute from work, there is this long sweeping bend which I usually take at around 130 Km/h. If I push the car a bit more to 135 km/h I start feeling a bit of a shudder in the rear wheels. Could it be the DSC working? I used to do the same bend in my BMW 325Ci (No DSC) at about the same speed without feeling any unstableness. If it is indeed the DSC working, then it does turns on rather early, since the 8 is supposed to hold the road better than the Beemer. When I have the guts, I'll do that bend with the DSC off.

 

i also had the rear shudder, which i traced to inadequately torqued wheel nuts. better tighten your nuts soon!

james

 

I'm actually a bit surprised by this.

I love Xenon headlights, but the extremely sharp cutoffs on the RX-8's makes them very annoying, not unlike the HIDs on the Honda S2000.

Drive an Audi TT, a BMW 3-series or Porsche with Xenons sometime and you'll see what Xenons truly can be - all the increased illumination without the obnoxious "either it's lit or it's not" excessively sharp cutoff seemingly a hallmark of most Japanese HIDs (and that requires the use of high beams in many occasions where they would not be needed with either other Xenon headlights or conventional halogens...)

 

I'll have to take your word on that, since it's unlikely that I'll take any of those cars for a test drive any time soon, and especially not after dark.

I am, however, puzzled as to how the Krauts manage what appears to be an impossible solution. As I understand it, the sharp cutoff is required by federal design rules which are designed to prevent dazzling oncoming drivers. If the Germans are putting out light above that line, then surely they must be in violation of said requirement?

Or are you saying that the light gradually tapers off before it gets to the cutoff line? If that's the case, then they're actually putting less light on the subject!