1.3 Mazda RX-8 as track / sprint car
Discussion
I just chanced upon these today when browsing the clasifieds. Looking like a good deal - you can get a 6+ year old one for c. £3500 and I can't belive it - 194bhp!
I do a bit of hillclimb and sprinting in a 306 gti-6 and i would imagine the rx-8 would easily give others a run for its money.
Because it is a rotary engine it would in the under 2.0 class, efectively a 1950cc (or close to that). but with 194 bhp!
so how do they perform on track? I hear they have a LSD as standard? how is the handling? Is there much improvement to be had through modification?
How are they in general? Expensive to run and maintain? I hear they use a lot of oil but could prob live with that.
Would be great to hear all experiences, especially from those who have tracked / raced them.
I do a bit of hillclimb and sprinting in a 306 gti-6 and i would imagine the rx-8 would easily give others a run for its money.
Because it is a rotary engine it would in the under 2.0 class, efectively a 1950cc (or close to that). but with 194 bhp!
so how do they perform on track? I hear they have a LSD as standard? how is the handling? Is there much improvement to be had through modification?
How are they in general? Expensive to run and maintain? I hear they use a lot of oil but could prob live with that.
Would be great to hear all experiences, especially from those who have tracked / raced them.
I dont know why you are looking at the 190 model when you can get the same car with 230bhp. You can tell the difference by the gearbox. The 190 has a 5 speed box and the 230 a 6 speed box.
The size of the engine is to do with the swept volume of the engine IIRC.
The engine would also benefit from a turbo for sprinting due to its lack of torque in comparison to piston engines of similar size and power.
The size of the engine is to do with the swept volume of the engine IIRC.
The engine would also benefit from a turbo for sprinting due to its lack of torque in comparison to piston engines of similar size and power.
torqueofthedevil said:
Because it is a rotary engine it would in the under 2.0 class, efectively a 1950cc (or close to that). but with 194 bhp!
I'd check the regulations, most have different rules for rotaries.A Honda Civic Type-R makes 197hp and also falls into the 2.0 class. Or if you spend the £3500 on the 306's engine you'll get even more power. You might have some left over to sort the rest of the car as well.
doesnt sound too good.
I didnt look at 231 model as i thought this had a larger engine.
the way regs work is rotary engines have a factor of 1.5 applied so a 1.0l would become a 1.5l.
so if it was a 1.3 it would become just under a 2.0l.
If its a 2.6 it would be in scooby / evo class! Turbo charging it would do the same.
I have looked into tuning the 306 - it just isnt worth it. Cant do down FI route so would be cams, pocketed pistons, ITB's, management, etc. Basically easily 4k for maybe 50 bhp!
I'm just going to spend some money on a plate diff and better suspension see how that does. The RX8 just seemed an interesting proposition. A cheap S2000 maybe? but obviously not.
I didnt look at 231 model as i thought this had a larger engine.
the way regs work is rotary engines have a factor of 1.5 applied so a 1.0l would become a 1.5l.
so if it was a 1.3 it would become just under a 2.0l.
If its a 2.6 it would be in scooby / evo class! Turbo charging it would do the same.
I have looked into tuning the 306 - it just isnt worth it. Cant do down FI route so would be cams, pocketed pistons, ITB's, management, etc. Basically easily 4k for maybe 50 bhp!
I'm just going to spend some money on a plate diff and better suspension see how that does. The RX8 just seemed an interesting proposition. A cheap S2000 maybe? but obviously not.
They use either a 1.4 or 1.5 multiplier for rotaries depending on what class of racing you're doing. A couple of years ago I was at 'Combe watching one of the race series and an FC RX7 single turbo jobbie ended up in the same class (<3000cc, 2wd) as an E36 M3 GT, so I think that's right.
not sure which would be best hillclimb / sprint car. there is a 306 which wins a lot of championships, but it is generally still dominated by 205 gti's and GT5's etc. you cant really beat how little these cars weigh. no amount of power seems to beat them. that is until i watched an S2000 / cammed elise / RS focus. Trouble is these generally cost a lot more, so not as keen to potentially trash one.
Having said that S2000's are maybe becoming affordable now?!?!?
Having said that S2000's are maybe becoming affordable now?!?!?
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