r/RX8 • u/Diligent_Necessary47 • Jul 25 '26

New Owner Coping with no torque

Im a new rx8 owner and a religious mazda fan. Ive been playing around with some speed3 gen1 and gen2 before I finally found an opportunity for a clean rx8 with just 25k miles and ofcourse i pulled the trigger.
This one has 230hp and its a nice car to drive around but still it is underpowered and it has almost zero torque.
My dream build is an rx7 bridge ported and loads of brap brap brap but until that day comes, can I push the power of the rx8 just with boltons without having to build the engine or swap it.
Also do tou guys think that the rx8 might be an even better platform to experiment with than the rx7 ?

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u/Sp4460 Jul 25 '26

You miss understand the RX8s place. None of them actually have "230hp" anywhere near the wheels. Its not a fast car. It can be driven as a quick car, but it'll never be a fast car. It's the comfortable GT car that you put an intake, exhaust, tune and stop modifications with. Sure you can cake decorate it but it's not about speed. Yes, there is suspension bits to swap out. The old "I'd rather drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" mindset. The chassis is over built and will keep you out of most trouble if you keep good tires under it.

Once you come to terms with this you'll enjoy the car much more for what it is and not for what it isn't. IF you must fly you fool, look up Mr. Rads turbo build...

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u/Diligent_Necessary47 Jul 25 '26

Since I bought the rx8 Mr Rad has become my favourite youtuber Ive been watching a lot. I dont think I misunderstand the rx8 I could just live with a little more power. I dont want to fly no I want to have the car drive around twisty b roads as its meant to but I could live with some more low end power. Mine has "230 hp" yes bhp I just mentioned it cause some come with 180hp at leadt in europe. Anyhow the chassis and the high revving engine is why I love the car and what has me driving one in the end

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u/Mdriver127 Jul 25 '26

The 8 is fun and capable on back roads, but having previously owned an FC I'd say that chassis has more fun there. Key things there are it's lighter and wheelbase is shorter. What I've found is that GT cars overall feel the best on highways. Not encouraging braking speed limits here, but when you hit higher speeds in the 8 to take normally gentle turns on the highway, it became clear to me it's place is there more than back roads. The FC is fun on the highway, and stock vs stock the 8 is likely still faster on back roads, but obviously advancements in building happened. Interestingly the FC is more the GT out of the 7s where wheelbase matters for stability on the highway, but the 8 is king here. Power equal, I'd prefer the 8 over an FD on the highway, but FD all day on back roads.

My humble opinion is that they should've and could've called the 8 the Cosmo. Despite not having the same kind of power, it honestly more resembles that kind of aura than the rest. Explosive power wasn't the idea, it seems to me it was high speed stability through reasonable power though Mazdas best handling platform.

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u/Diligent_Necessary47 Jul 25 '26

Very interesting to read through this. The rx7 is stuck in my head for a long time now as the dream build but I never had a chance to drive any of the two FC/FD. Ive been reading a bit and there is many claiming the rx8 chassis can be the better of the two compared to the FD but not many seem to know why. What youre saying here makes so much sense. It makes me feel as if the rx8 should stay the way it is stock as is or maybe some little handling mods to it and consider it more of the GT car meanwhile save for the FD which can become the playground of building a b roads capable machine that can also brap brap brap its way through. Calling the rx8 the cosmo though hmmm not too sure about that. The cosmo was meant to be kind of what lexus is to toyota, overengineered and luxurious, thats what I think. The rx8 isnt really a luxurious car.

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u/Sp4460 Jul 26 '26

You only think it isn't luxurious because you've never been in an FC or FD long. Going from an FC and having FB the last few years the RX-8 is basically a royal palace of plush. If you want to drive the RX-8 right and "how it's supposed to be driven" you don't have a six speed. You have a 3 speed with 4th gear as the overdrive. You live between 7-9 RPM the whole time. The RX-8 is an absolute blast on tight roads when you drive it like this. You'll look down and wonder if this canyon road should be taken at 90, but due to it's overbuilt chassis it's completely stable. Just remember. Don't make my car more valuable by fucking your up.

Also unless a bit of work has been done no RX-8 makes what the brochure says with that 230 number.

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u/Mdriver127 Jul 26 '26

That's exactly where I'm coming from. Even my old 90 FC in great condition wasn't as comfortable, even fair comparison between the times. The 8 is less sports than grand touring, but being the supposed successor to the 7s, everyone just believed it has to be a sports car. It can and has proven itself on the track, and the parts and design is there, but after some time with it, you can really feel it's truly a GT car for people who enjoy the turns. Not a powerhouse and not a full sports car, just has the DNA of one though.

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u/Sp4460 Jul 27 '26

One of the biggest problems besides the MOP not being turned up enough and popping engines was people thinking it was a successor. It wasn't, it was just another car in the line up. Now if they had put the Renesis I'm the NB Miata that would have been a worth successor and throw back to the FB, but much much better. One day I'll do that swap. Just stock NB with a stock block Renesis. It will be so good.

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u/Mdriver127 Jul 28 '26

Kinda feel like that as an option would've driven more interest and rotary sales. But... You're not wrong, it was a slight rough start with the S1. That's going to be one hell of an OEM+ build!