I recently (about a month ago) got my RX-8, and god I'm loving this thing to death. The only thing I want to improve, though, is my off the line acceleration. Until about 15mph, my car doesn't have that hot of acceleration. It's an automatic. What's the best thing I can do to help my acceleration at low levels? My first guess is probably going to be its how I'm driving it, this is my first car like this so I'm still learning, but I'm a very fast study. My second guess, based on what I've heard and read, is that's just how rotary engines work. I just wanted to pose the question out there for you guys with more experience in this than me.

 

thats a big factor there. i have an auto also and its not fast off the line, hell neither are the manuals for that matter. rotary engines have little low torque, its their nature because its such a small engine. also the fact that you have an auto means you can even drop the clutch.

short of F/I or nitrous you wont get off the line any quicker.

 

Once you shift to second, the 8 is unbelivably responsive. (for sum1 who has a manuel tranmission at least, but then again auto can probaly kick in a little faster). what is the red line on the auto anyways?

 

it will get off the line sharply with a manual, but it takes a high rev drop and knowing how to do it right

an auto will require a higher rpm torque converter, it would be a custom job for a TC company to modify the OE one, nobody makes a aftermarket one, market is too small

 

With an automatic:

1. Brake launch

Step on the brake pedal with one foot and the gas pedal with the other. Rev the engine to the stall limit, which is 2,000 to 2,500 RPM. Release foot off of the brake pedal. 2.500 RPM is the limit on automatics. A manual on the other hand could launch at 6,000 RPM which is why they can get off the line quicker.

2. Neutral slam

Not recommended as it can tear up your transmission. Put it in neutral, rev engine to high RPM, then put into drive. You could launch your Auto at 6,000 RPM with this technique, but then you could need a new Automatic transmission soon too.

3. Custom torque converter

You can have your torque converter customized to raise the stall limit to 3,500 RPMs or so.

4. ECU modification???

It may be possible to modify the Automatic Transmission PCM to change the flash stall limit and some other things. Does not appear any Pro Tuners have tried it and possibly because the market for the Autos is smaller. The upcoming Cobb AccessPort ECU flasher might change this if its possible to modify the Automatic Transmission PCM with it and because many people can produce their on maps, including more people with automatics.

5. Go FI

A twinscrew supercharger may be helpful in this circumstance as it does well at the 2,500 RPM range. A turbo that was tuned/setup to provide boost at this lower RPM would be helpful as well.

 

Unless there has been some significant changes in torque converters, you can't change the stall with anything short of a rebuild or new converter. A turbo or supercharger would be the easiest and best bang for the buck.

 

Feed 4.77 final drive swap, and some different wheels can get you there

 

Thanks for the recommendations everybody.

It's an automatic, but I should have mentioned that it's a sports shift, or whatever its technically called... the one where you can tell it when to shift, or you can let the computer do it. It's a 4-speed, not a 6-speed, and my 8 is incredibly responsive once I hit 15mph, at about 3k rpm... I know that the manuals are 6-speed, so I figure that's probably the equivelant of getting it to second like most people are mentioning, since at 6 gears the gearing is a lot closer than it is on mine. It's just getting to that point of 3krpm that's been the problem...

I'm going to go find a straight, empty road and test the brake launch bit... figure out where the stall is at exactly, and see how I can get it to react best.

Also, for those who asked the redline on an automatic is at 7,500 rpm.

One question: I saw a lot of people mention the Prolite Flywheel, and from the looks of it that may be the best upgrade for me to go with first... I do plan on doing a bit of modding with my car... nothing extensive or expensive. From the sounds of it, that would help some off the line, and improve other areas as well. Does anybody have any experience with this?

 

you cannot upgrade with a flywheel that is a manual thing..

beers

 

cut the weight in your car- take out spare, light weight wheels-loose the back seats- ect. . . .


get nitrous, 50 shot will give you a kick in the ***. if you shop around you could get it installed cheap, im getting mine done(with zex kit) for 850 bucks for kit and install + gauges and throttle switch

 

sorry for repost



when your doing the brake launch, make sure your traction controll is off

 

My best advice, buy a different car. The keyword for what you want is "torque". The only time I find that my RX-8 has acceptable off the line situation is with my autocross tires on and a higher rpm launch but that won't help you on the street on a day to day basis.

 

you can easily double your torque with FI.