Exclusive: Mazda's RX-8 1/4 mile Time Slips

subject:	1/4 mile time slips
author:	No Rotor
date:	July 15, 2004 - 12:04pm

You all also have to realize it has a lot to do with weight of the car and gearing. Gearing makes a huge differance so does a manual transmission if you know how to shift it. A good driver can take a second or more off of a timeslip. Another thing that changes times is wheel spin when your starting the more you can eliminate it and still get that crisp hard launch the better your time. and on the 180 hp issue were did they take the reading from are you sure they didn't get it from the rear wheels? cause that takes a lot of horse off from the tranny and differential and what kind of excessories they were running etc it all robs power on the dyno.

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subject:	more timeslips here: http:
author:	No Rotor
date:	June 12, 2004 - 8:59pm

more timeslips here:

http://www.dragtimes.com/Mazda--RX-8-Drag-Racing.html

and

http://www.dragtimes.com/

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subject:	power output
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

these times slips are very nice however they still dont answer the reasons why most of the cars dynod in the us are getting a 175 or 180 hp figure .

imo mazda used to carry on their bussiness in the way of bushido(honorable just japanese warrior code ) however since ford came on board they seem to carry their bussiness ( by way of deception )

a few un proven time slips are not enough convincing imo.

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

That will be forthcoming too... But we may have to face facts... the cars don't perform on the dyno the same as what they do on the street.

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

Cool.. It sure looks like Mazda is going out of their way to prove the car is what it is. If these slips are genuine, which I would believe they are, it looks like the RX-8 is the same whether it's 247 or 238 on paper. I'm sure there are pundits, however, who want more proof, like dyno charts and such. Us rotary folk are a strange bunch...

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subject:	Relax
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

People who are freaking out over the output of the Renisis need to relax. It's not important what a dyno says. If you're looking for street rep or a badge with a big number on it maybe the RX-8 isn't for you. If everyone would just head to thier local Borders or Barnes & Noble and pick up the September issue of EVO magazine (a UK import) their worries would be put to rest. There is a comparison test between the RX-8 and the R32 and EVO manages to give the most effective description and characterization of what the RX-8 is really all about.

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subject:	Mazda has set a bad precedent - they lie. . .
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

No, we dont need to relax. We need to get angry.

We need Mazda marketing to stop making claims the R&D group can not meet. We need a sales network which do not or can not add 5 - 7 thousand (!) markup on 'limited edition' Rx-8's (Menlo Mazda, Ca). From a company trying to sell a $30,000 sports car, we need MORE.

Mazda lied to us, the consumer, _again_. Remember the Miata HP scandal? That hurt Mazda's bottom line big time. We lost _owners_. California is Mazda's #1 market (No, I didnt say the US, I said California). You know as well as I, that Mazda R&D knew the power output numbers long ago. No organisation can launch a flagship product without thurough testing, development, and analysis. This is just bad 'spin'.

What happened to the video of the Rx-8 eating up a Rx-7 Type R at Leguna Seca? How can we believe a car that weighs more, has less horsepower and was designed to hold four could compare with that Rx-7?

CA emissions was no last minute afterthought. This is a 'world' vehichle, which can pass crash safty and emissions in every market it sells in. A product FORD has overseen from initial design to make it a viable product.

The Rx-8 is, yet again, a flawed Mazda vehicle. Overpriced and underpowered, dont expect to see this car lead the renissance of rotary motoring or Mazda profits.

For the few who will own one, it is an EVO five star car, and as Matt said, EVO know their stuff. What that rating will fall to when the UK enivitibly finds out their cars are underpowered, is anyones guess.

-Ian

Ex Rx-7 owner.
Ex Mazda owner.
Ex rotary enthusiats.

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

The difference between the track performance and the dyno data, could it a result of ram-air charged effect? I mean when the car is being tested on the dyno, air in front of the car isn't moving at high speed. Maybe someone should put a high speed high air volumn fan in front of the car to simulate air flow during a dyno test.

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

Everyone needs to relax!!! The car performs. They didn't have one correct number, the HP number, but the rest of the numbers jive.

Mazda has layed down the ultimate steet racer trophy: Time Slips.

HP numbers are nice to brag about, but these prove the RX-8 is a performer.

If you can't be happy with this, then you can't be happy with Mazda at all.

NB: This comment has been modified by an administrative person on Aug 29, 2003 (05:01 pm)

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

I'm definitely in the "people need to relax" category on this one. The time slips are pretty comforting, really, but I would like to see some independent confirmation, using new cars being sold in the US, of these times. I would also like an explanation that I can believe as to exactly what happened and why. There is far too much rampant speculation in the air which is being taken as gospel in some circles.

This is not a deal killer for me by any stretch, but it is certainly embarrassing.

jds

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subject:	still believe them?
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

Right. Tiem slips form Mazda. Same guys who claimed 247HP, now claim 238HP.
Who was there to witness and certify these slips?
How hard would it be for them to re-flash some cars with J-spec ECU maps?
"Honest, the cheque is in the mail"
"Really, I love you"
"I promise I will pull out"

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subject:	No title supplied
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

Please confirm that the ECU on the procuction cars tested that ran the 1/4 mile in the 14's had the US spec ECU like my car has.

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subject:	The speed of the hand...
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

I may be being too cynical but...did anyone really expect Mazda to release unfavourable time slips?

How many time slips haven't we seen...hmmmm?

C.

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subject:	1/4 mile time slips
author:	No Rotor
date:	December 31, 1969 - 4:00pm

Mazda PR and RotaryNews have worked out to release some of the testing data they used in their evaluation. I cannot stress enough how rare it is for a car company to release the actual time slips used in internal testing to the public.

Motorcycles in the 1970's had a tester for the drag strip times called Pee Wee Gleason who was light and could post 1/4 mile times that nobody could beat and we knew that.

Road and Track told us how to launch at the track for their time that is also an independent confirmation by the way. Don't forget the horse power ratings were targeted for months.

Tim Johnston
1974 REPU stock daily driver
RX-8 very soon

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