I was at the Mazda event at Englishtown NJ last week, and drove an 8 as part of their "class."

The clutch was so much easier to press down, and had an entirely different feel than my '04.

My girlfriend drove a different 8 at the event and she noticed the same thing.

Have they changed the clutch for the '06, or was it just adjusted completely differently for the mazda event? The guys there claim the clutches are so beat on they feel different, but this was night and day difference, and my clutch has to have more action then thier '06 no matter how many people have driven it.

That being said, I like the way my clutch feels- it takes more effort, but it felt more precise.

Any thoughts on this?

 

I started a thread like this a lil while back, mine is the same way. Never any problems or issues though. I love the way my clutch feels over my boys (our build dates are also right next to each other) both first sets of 04.

 

I drove one at Arlington Hights, IL event. The thing I noticed is how smooth the car shifted compaired to mine. The gear change from first to second was buttery smooth. Where as mine, you cluck out of first and clunk into second or any gear for that matter. It's been that way since it was new.

 

wouldn't suprise me if they had not factory tranny components installed, to help take some of the beating they received.

at the atlanta event, the tires were most definately not one of the 2 stock tires, and i'm pretty sure they were using non-factory brake pads as well.

 

I noticed the same think when I was given an '05 loaner while my '04 was in the shop... After getting back in my car, it felt like I could barely press the clutch. lol Serious difference. Could just be age, though?

 

tell me about it the clutch was tottaly diffrent than what mine used to feel like but i replaced the clutch with a stage 2or 1 racing clutch. if u move the clutch down less than inch it already engages.

 

Not sure about clutch, but the spec-tire on ZoomZoomLive's RX8 is Yokohama AVS ES100 (in NJ). Most of cars (including non-RX8s) were outfitted with Yoko due to it being one the sponsors.

 

Same tires at our event also.

 

i felt the same thing when i went drove one on the 5th, very diff. i even ask one of the guys that works there, and the guys response??? he doesnt what the hell i was talking about. but anyway it was diff.
THANX MAZDA FOR THE FREE RIDE>>>

 

You can get a difference like this from the gear oil used in the transmission. My car (5/2003 build) shifted very smooth from the factory. I had the dealer change the transmission oil at about 3K miles and shifting became very notchy and clunky. I swapped out the dealer's oil with Redline MTL and its even better than what I had originally.

Can't comment about changes in the RX-8 clutch other than the general comment that performance clutch/pressure-plates are stiffer than what comes from the factory. Also, the sun rises in the east (yes, I know I stating the obvious).

 

most self-adjusting clutches get stiffer as the disc wears down

 

I went to the event in Orlando and the 8 felt exactly like my 05. Maybe there was some change between 04 and 05. I have 22000 miles so far on mine so it isn't new.