Thanks to www.rotarynews.com we finally have the answer that we have been searching for. The 5/6 ports on the preproduction RX-8s were all stuck. Check out the front page for more tidbits of information from the press session.

Could be that the 0-60 time might start taking a walk down from the current 5.9. :D

 

Great article in Rotary News. Thanks for the referral. I'll probably pick up a subscription. I think this car may be a hotter seller than I thought. I know the only reason I am getting one is because it seats four and that works for my family. Okay so it's uniquely sexy too. Nevertheless, I am not alone in needing four seats but wanting a sports car that actually looks cool and does not look like the Incredible Hulk squashed it into a compressed VW Beetle.

The photos of the RX-7 next to the RX-8 were fascinating. I think the Mazda engineers did a great job putting a four seater in the space of a two seater. I'd like to see the two seater come back. It would be lighter and faster. Finally, I was surprised to see the gray fabric interior. THe color is inconsistent with all advertising I have seen to date. Hey, don't get me wrong, I like it! The lighter color won't be as hot here in Las Vegas.

 

The actual quote:

I think it is more likely that some of the pre-production cars had the problem. If R&T had a car that went into "limp mode" at high RPM's I think they would have mentioned it and I don't think they would have gotten 5.9s in the first place.

People who have entered all of the performance numbers for the RX-8 with 250 hp into computer analysis say 5.9s is a good estimate for the car. If car was only doing say 200 hp or so in the higher RPMs then the 5.9s would be more like 6.5s (which is what some of the other magazines got)

I think the 5.9s will hold, but it doesn't mean we won't hear "Dude, I did 0-60 in 4.9s!!" when forum members get their cars.

-Mr. Wigggles

 

I agree with you about the numbers, but since the stuck port was caused by a SUPPLIER problem, I would think that that would have affected more than just one car. I don't think they would have been any more likely to catch it on 10 cars than on 1. Interesting points, though...we shall see I guess.

 

I agree here but see this, I entered all of EVO's technical numbers in the computer program and tried several runs with the manufacturer's numbers and with wheel "dynoed" numbers from several magazines. I got between 0.3 to 0.5 s slower times to 60 mph than what the magazines have been reporting as their acceleration results. What if this is true for the 8 as well?

 

I think 5.9 0-60 time is accurate because Mazda used that time in some of there advertisements. I doubt Mazda would post that time if it was made with a car that had the port opening problems.

 

Bern from rotary news just posted and stated the rx-8 should accomplish the 0-60 less then 5.9! He stated it should be a couple tenths of a sec less.

 

Ay Yai Yai!!!!! This is good news for me. I thought the "8" was great before . . . but NOW!!!

 

Sometimes it is good to be wrong.

 

Regarding the stuck thrid port, here is a quote diectly from a person who knows ALL the facts:
"There were issues with a few cars but not every car. The 5.9 second 0-60 cars were fine, we expect the production cars to match or beat the Road & Track numbers."
You can take this to the bank.

 

I was juss restating what bern has said on the forum. Where did you recieve your information?

 

Boo is a long time insider for us.

 

theres still one question...WHERES THE WRITEUP!!!!
all i can find is the q + a, of course, i could be a moron
________
Zoloft Settlements

 

I'm still waiting!

Hopefully tomorrow!

 

There's a reason Boowana has a forum section with his name in it... He reported on the RX-8 introduction in Detroit for RX-8 Forum, and over the 6 months prior to the introduction often posted inside info from a contact high up in Mazda. That contact, and in fact Boowana's true identity (to protect that contact), are strictly confidential. We all have no problem with that, since to reveal either would dry up the source of inside info. You aren't going to get a name - but you can be assured that Boo won't post something if it isn't true.

Trust Boowana! :D

Regards,
Gordon

 

now everyone chant that together!

Trust Boowana!
Trust Boowana!

 

We at RotaryNews now know the elusive Boonwana and we even have a picture of him. We didn't and won't reveal his identity, because it's always good to have several good sources of info. Boowana has good contacts and has always given correct information.

My information regarding the 0-60 time comes from both the Mazda party line, but more importantly from my actual comparison of the pre-prod and production model. The production model did actually feel stronger. The things is, the DSC needs to be deactivated and the clutch dumped hard to get the magical sub 6 second 0-60. This is not to say that the car felt or is slow with it on, but the DSC will cut in hard if large wheel spin is detected, hampering forward progress.

I hope Dan post the write-up soon!

-Bern

 

Me too, I can't wait!

 

Maybe the first batch Japanese production models have this stuck port problem as well. Afterall, the Japanese models were made around the same time as the American pre-production models. That could mean the first batch of Japanese models tested by media over there are all underpowered as well.

 

The port sticking problem was discovered a while ago, even before the Japanese 8s went into production. So none of the production RX8s should have this problem.

 

I thought I read some where that their were some fixes made from early japanese production models to the US spec models, and that caused delays in production of the US spec cars? Could have just been a rumor i picked up.

 

with the ports now "unstuck" is it realistic to expect 0-60s of aroud 5.4-5.7?

5.4 is m3 (convertible) time btw, so that would make a lot of people think this is really a "serious" sports vehicle

as a side note, why do the convertible and coupe versions have different times? the coupe being 4.8, last i read anyways...
________
LovelyWendie

 

convertibles equal more weight, more money, and less rigidity. I really don't understand the whole convertible thing. I think its just for looks or hot weather I guess.

 

Having owned a convertible, they are NOT for hot wheather. Only for April and October. Any other time it is too hot or too cold even in sunny California.

 

Feh.

Here in Texas, where it often gets to 110+ in the sun, the only time our Miata tops go up is when it's precipitating. A baseball cap and a bottle of SPF30 lives in each car.

That's the one thing I'm gonna miss in the RX-8. If they ever decide to build a rotary-powered Miata variant, I'm there!