If the S2K gets moved to AS from BS... I am going to seriously consider buying an 8 for auto-x.

I've been following TPryors success with the 275s... and I think this car would become a better contender for the class.

Question is... what do I look for when going to buy?

1st thing I know... no moonroof! There's no headroom. The 3 8s I've taken runs in all had moonroofs. At 6' tall, 240ish lbs (and decreasing), I have to do the ghetto lean. The moonroof definitely cuts into the headroom bit.. and I can do without it.

What other packages should I look for? Or would a bare-bones non-optioned one be the best bet? Are there 'must have' (or as the case may be: "don't get x") options?

Any help/opinons would be greatly appreciated.

--kC

 

i dont auto-x so take what i say with that in mind and await confirmation from more experienced others. but i feel that rather than the base car you should get the sport package. the sport comes with the limslipdif where the base doesnt. unless i misremember my packages.

 

Why would whether or not the S2000 stays or moves to or from B Stock have any bearing on your desicion to buy an RX 8?
I have a base 6 speed and I think it has every option I need for auto crossing the base model comes with limited slip but doesnt have traction control. You will not use traction control while auto crossing. I also live in Utah and we had one hell of a winter last year .I live on the side of a mountain and ran Dunlop wintersports and had no problems with traction.

 

you want the lightest model available, which usually means minimum options. sometimes you can order a specially stripped model.

the base 6sp comes with all the go-fast goodies, so no worries there.

james

(the 350Z base model comes without a limited slip, perhaps thats what you were thinking. also its limited slip isnt all that great, viscous i think)

 

damn i knew i had something incorrect. yep get the base - limslipdif and no electronics to get in the way if you forget to turn them off.

 

I have a sport package and love it :D But the only diff between base 6 speed and sports is the headlights and DSC/TCS that you'll be tunring off eery time at track anyways.

But I do love them headlights :D

 

6MT, no options would be best. FWIW, mine with Sport package (DSC/Xenon) and navigation on OEM wheels with 245/35-18 A3S04s and ~6 gallons in the tank weighed 2,888 on the scales at the DC Tour this summer.

 

Ok. THat's one thing I wasn't sure of is if the Base had an LSD. Good to know.

It won't be seeing snow, it won't be a daily driver... so no issue there. Traction control? There's a little thing called a right foot for that.

Even if I were to drive it on the snow, I grew up driving a '74 Dart with a 318 in New England winter/weather. Just good tires will be all I will need.

Thanks... keep the inputs coming.

--kC

 

Because he's a nationally competitive autocrosser who doesn't want to blow $30k+ prepping an RX-8 and drive hundreds or thousands of miles to events only to have the S2000s make mincemeat out of him?

Sorry for asking newbie questions, but a) how little gas can you run in an RX-8 without fuel starvation, and b) how much do the stock wheels weigh?

Thanks!
Steve

 

try getting an 8 on the "S" plan. You can link to it from the Mazdausa web site and go through Mazdaspeed.

 

"Mincemeat" may be a wee bit excessive... :p

I'm not sure how little gas we can run before starvation issues. After the second day of the DC Tour, it had about 3.5 gallons left and we didn't have any starvation issues.

I think the stock wheels are 21-22 lbs.

 

Yeah, yeah, let me enjoy my big head in what may be my last weeks of owning a class-dominant car...

Ok, I hate it when newbs post FAQs without searching first, so I'm going to answer my own questions.

Q: How much do the OEM wheels weigh?
A: 20-21 lbs.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...33&page=2&pp=7
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...7&page=2&pp=11

That's pretty light for an OEM 18" wheel, but there's still twenty pounds of rotating mass savings to be had from switching to lightweight aftermarket wheels.

Q: How low can you run your fuel before starvation kicks in?
A: 1/4 tank.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...3&page=2&pp=26
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...26&page=2&pp=9

Steve

 

lol. You have no one to thank than Jason for that... I beleive it's the driver in combination with the best setup that got him where he is, and no one can deny that. Just one of them things.... a few BS S2Ks were faster than AS this year... again. Which means... they can still be faster next year too.. just tougher competition. Just like the ESP war with the Rally Cars vs Domestics. Top 10 had many rally cars.. but the top 2 were domestics. Which shows... they're competitive.

Then on the flip side.. what's going to happen to the numbers in the class for BS if they do get moved? You're going to lost a bit and BS may flouder for a year until it builds up more numbers by way of 8s, Zs, Maybe even the Mazdaspeed Miata, and let's not forget some of the well prepped Porsches that I've seen in the class. Everyone who left due to the S2K virtual dominance, can come back now. Mix things up a bit more for next year.

More good information on the gas. That's something that I hadn't even thought about. My WRX.. you can start your 3 runs when the light comes on.

I'm off to research what the 'S' plan is... never heard of it. Thanks.

--KC

 

I think that the fact that you're considering an RX-8 if the S2Ks get moved (and I know that you're not the only one) is evidence that BS wouldn't just wither up and die.

 

You could always trade in on another 9k screamer.

BTW, thanks for putting together that weight list on s2ki.

 

I agree it won't wither up and die, but I suspect participation numbers would be low for an year or two while people wait to see if a dominant car emerges before blowing $30k on one themselves -- we saw the same thing happen when AS was split out of SS. The new BS would be a fascinating class to watch, though, with the 350Z, RX-8, Z4 (if it stays), Boxster (ditto), 968, and possibly the Mazdaspeed Miata all contending.

Steve
- the reason why I joined this forum should be becoming obvious by now

 

You're not the only one.

 

At high rpms, throttle response is fantastic, you have a huge amount of control. That said, during every day driving, and wanting to have a little fun, traction control (dsc) is great and can be a life saver. To really enjoy this car, turn it off in a safe location. The bottom line is I reccomend the base 6 with sport. Because mine is my daily driver I went with the GT, but would love a sunroof delete option for more headroom and lighter weight, and lower center of balance.

 

"A litte fun" is saved for the auto-x. I've had my fun on the roads... years ago. Been bitten by it too. It's those 'little bits of fun' that become expensive. I feel that years of experience and taming the right foot/hands is leap years above DSC and Traction control. Just don't get into the situation in the 1st place. (I can go on about safe driving... but this isn't the time or place.)

If you're tempted to drive beyond what is considered 'normal driving' to the other 85% of the people on the road, then certantly get the DSC. Around here.... there's hardly any chance anyways of having any fun as it's congested with cars and cops.

 

Sport package you get larger brake pads, unless you getting custom brake pads..

 

I own the base model. I have the big brakes, LSD, no moonroof...it's perfect for auto-X, drag racing, or if you're just on a budget. I plan on going to an event whenever I have the time.

 

The secret's out, Steve - now I know why you were asking about 968s on the SCCA board.

Heck, it doesn't look like B Stock would wither up and die. Seems like a lot of people are just waiting to see what the SEB does before they commit to swooping down and staking out a spot in an S2000-less class. ;-)

 

got the most base model... no any package u need. !! U don't wanna need DSC right?! contender !! let c... by the way?! y consider 8 to be a contender?! sorry I don't get it?! y don't consider about evo rs?! lighter. faster car.. and with a good handling.(and hack easy to boost, with many parts) 8?! (not much parts right now) it's really got a good handling.. but.. it's not light. quite heavy for a track car!! and it's not cheap at all.. even is 2-hand.. this car still new.. u can't find cheap 8 in the market right now. never mind..
if u still think 8 is the one.. my suggestion is.. got the base model..(option 8?! is no different with base model. DSC. ya... but u are going to track.. who the hack need it?) try to put a harder suspension on it.. 8's stock is quite soft.(I think it is) and.. the steering!! I don't like it.. I think it's too light.. and light the car up. u can throw out the rear seat. it might lose some pounds. no spare tire sorry.. skip this. and a light wheel is necessary. and wat eles?! not much u can mod right now?! turbo?! (speed force's) I don't have much info about it.. don't know about the heating problem of it?! and supercharger? I don't like it..haha.. and a lighter hood.. magic's hood is prety cool.. and I think it will help cooling the car. brake.. na... 8's brake is good.. don't waste money on it.. after light the car up.. U don't need a biger brake.. just IMO........

 

dude.. sprot package?! just auto will got a biger brake.. 6 speed?! na.. it's the same...

 

It doesn't sound like you really understand what SCCA Stock Class autocrossing is about, nor why we're discussing buying the RX-8 to compete in it. Here's a link to the rules, in case you're interested in reading up and contributing useful information to this thread. FWIW, the Evo runs in a different class (A Stock, as opposed to B Stock, where the RX-8 runs), and there are no turbos, seat removal, lightweight flywheels, lighter hoods, etc., allowed in Stock class... which is what this discussion has been focused on.

Wow... the signal to noise ratio on this board is a lot lower than I would have expected.