Hey guys,

Just got my 04 RX-8 a few days ago. I autocross often, before the winter it was every week, but now it's only every other week or so.

Havent gotten a chance to race her yet, but coming from an 04 Tiburon V6, I'm dying to!

I've noticed with some of the Miatas, its pretty common to shift it back down to first due to the lack of low-end power...

What about in the 8? With all of those massive RPMs to go through, does the 8 bog down when coming out of a chicago box in 2nd? Lets hear how you work it.

 

Leave it in 2nd unless you're crawling. Miatas shift because they're 2nd gear runs out sooner than in the 8.

They're not shifting down to 1st... they're going up to 3rd and then back down to 2nd.

--kC

 

Agreed. Almost 10 years autocrossing Miata's - NEVER shifted to first at an event. The 99 especially (6 speed) - I hardly ever used first even on the street.

Did have to use third on occasion, but in the RX-8 I have never been out of second.

 

I've been into third once on the RX8, but never back to first...

 

Ok, I was just concerned about the lack of power, in the low rpms in 2nd.

Thanks!

 

the general rule is dont shift to 1st. but sometimes it is faster. the hard thing is that shifting to 1st will almost always *feel* faster than lugging in 2nd because you get that burst of torque, but it usually isnt because you lose time and/or concentration shifting down, you lose it coasting when you shift back to 2nd, and you lose lateral grip when you unbalance the car car by shifting (letting off and putting on the gas).

one other reason to shift to 1st is the additional engine braking can help the car turn better in really slow sections. but youve got to gain enough time to make up for the other stuff and thats not usually true.

james

 

Dude! You are goin to love the 8. I went from a GTI 1.8t to the 8 in the middle of last season and haven't quit smiling yet.

I have never found the need to downshift and we run some pretty tight courses in the Oregon region. Adjust your line to carry as much speed as you can through the tight corners and you'll do fine. I guess drive it like a chubby Miata.

 

I have never autocrossed, but you guys are making me want to start. You do have to start out in first, right? And then leave it in second unless you need third for some long section?

 

I remember hearing somewhere that shifting costs you 1/10th of a second with each shift. On a properly designed course, you shouldn't exceed 60 mph anywhere. Starting in first and finishing the rest of the course in 2nd gear would work out fine.