Will AutoAlex Mazda RX-8 SURVIVE 9000+ RPM?! // Nürburgring 

NGL, I’m impressed the RX-8 made it to Germany! 😂

For a standard car, this is actually quite impressive that it doesn't look slow, handles quite well and just sounded the business. A+

Misha is like the best friend you never had.

No phones, No nothing - just 2 guys enjoying a lap in a fantastic car! Smiles and laughs - i love it! Great video, and a Great owner 👌

The 190hp RX8 rev limit is 7500rpm. The 230hp RX8 rev limit is 9000rpm. Car shown is 230 as distinguished by headlamp washers.Thank you Misha for many enjoyable laps of the ring.

Previous rx8 owner here! Would like to give you some tips to the owner of the rx8. First off, great vid and the engine seems super healthy! If you plan on doing some power mods look no further I got you! Best power mods I did for the car were: exedy stg 2 Clutch (do not go for stage 1, it is not compatible and bad reviews) and lightweight flywheel (BHR) BHR ignition kit (stops car from flooding) Poly engine mounts Catless midpipe Tune that increased rev limiter to 9600 ( I had racing beat v2) stock airbox mod For the track: SS brake lines (stainless steel) better pads, you do not need a big brake kit for the rx8 lightweight wheels - 245 wide tires or higher square stance premix the engine with 2 stroke oil at all times and make sure engine oil is almost full, you will guaranteed burn half a quart on the ring you could get go poly bushings everywhere shocks and springs ( do not make the car too stiff, it doesn't need it - the chassis is very very rigid as is) If you absolutely wanna squeeze more power, then get headers, catback and a streetport but that is very $$$ and what I mentioned will get you 25-30whp easily these engines are a nightmare to get passed 210whp without some good internal work Now for the transmission.... make sure the subframe is aligned, these cars are very sensitive to that and overtime the transmission gets misaligned Ive blown 3 of these transmissions, 2nd gear is very weak and it does not like the high rpm change from 3rd to 4th because of how long the gearing is between the 3-4 shift and finally, if you do not have the heatshield between the cat and the transmission, the plastic shifter starts to melt and you will often miss gears or even gear lockout can occur. My 2 cents, happy ownership! By far the best braking and handling car on the street I've ever had, no other car has replicated the balance this car has. Even the way it takes bumps mid turns is incredible and very few vehicles can replicate that.

I remember my first ride in an RX-8, year 2005. Awesome new car, a rotary, suicide doors, and rpms over 9000!!!!!!

Still have my 2005 231 RX8 . 20 years of ownership next year

So underrated as a chassis... everyone hates on em but put them on a track and they'll leave you in the dust.

Yes! I'm glad to see Misha using all the rpm of the Renesis engine! RX-8 isn't very fast but it wasn't slow when Misha driving it either!

Anyone who has owned a rotary and properly wrung it out loved this. Fond memories of my rx7. Never forget the balance of the chassis and how smooth it was.

That sounded awesome at 9k plus rpm. I never realised just how good they sounded.

Thanks guys the RX8 always punches well above it's weight , showed the BRZ a clean set of heals , at 20 years it's elder . Mazda engineering at it's best !!

And that lap after the new owner spun it in Brunnchen lol

The video says it all. I got a new loaded 2004 RX-8 6-speed in 2005. Stock but added a few things for looks. Also wheels, tires and MazdaSpeed exhaust. Daily drove it for 10 years of 9000 rpm, great sound and back road fun. It was super nimble and planted on the highway too. Traded it in for a 2015 Camaro RS 2LT 6-speed which is great, but not many cars in the world are more fun to drive than some Mazda's.

Best lap of this year so far. Love everything the car the owners enthusiast attitude And obviously Misha’s drive as usual amazing. Thank you!

It's over 9000? 😄 Super nice smooth flowing lap. Very enjoyable to watch.

I just subbed, just to see and hear this rx8, glad i did

I need to see Misha drive a proper rx8. not a stock one. One of the most underrated chassis ever

*_OVER 9000!!!_*

That engine was really at its happiest in this video.. never below 7k most of the time 😄 what an experience to watch and listen!

I really love the RX8. With the right mods this thing can turn into a tracktool for sure

coolest sound ive heard in a long time these rx8s are amazing track cars but you must tub the rims to maximise performance especially for a 1.3ltr engine, all that pure engine is now disappearing. JMO the big brother we wish we had

I've been considering an RX8 as a fun little track toy for a while, since most tracks in my area are too small for much more than 250-300hp anyways. I'd have to drive 6-8 hours to get to Calabogie or Mosport for some more serious stuff. The RX8 doesn't have brute force, it's a scalpel of a chassis and all about carrying momentum, cornering speed and keeping the engine in it's happy rev range. Fantastic driving as always Misha 👌

5:30 ahh love the noise 🔥🔥

The 192 Version of the RX8 only goes to 7k by factory, Nice to see you aren't afraid of the beep anymore.

"9000, huh? Yep, go for it" Takes it to 9500 immediately. Awesome! These engines can easily take 10k with a little work and balancing, although I'm not sure I would take it there with a lot of unknowns.

Fond memories. Had 2 rx8 in the past. Power isn’t great but absolutely a fun car to drive.

This is what cars are for- not for garaging and investing with no miles. They should be run to the edges of the engineering and enjoyed. He'll remember this lap forever! What a canny buy.

Misha is the coolest guy on youtube I've never heard him ridicule anyone or their ride

Back in 1970 in Ontario, Canada, I had the 2nd Mazda R100. There was no rev. limiter. It was just screaming at 11,000/12,000 RPM. Three engines later: well that was it.

What a helluva way to spend a birthday ! Rx8 love !

that owner was so much fun!

Love this kind of laps - full on enjoyment. Its always great to see an owner who trully enjoys the lap and is not shy to show their emotions. As for RX-8 amazing car - would like to own one some time in the future. Cheers!

Glad to see the Rx8 back again. And this time driven to its full potential. I own 2 of them and I have no Regrets. They are amazing cars for the Price they handle well and its a 4 door. So what Else can you ask for in a cheap sports car.

It was great to see the owner’s excitement. Congratulations on 8minutes 33 seconds!

That is one heroic little car: not only did it survive Alex’s tender mercies (an achievement for any car!) but also Knockhill and now the Nurburgring! All while being a mildly abused old “unreliable” car…

Fijn dat deze RX-8 in handen van een liefhebber terecht is gekomen, mooie ronde Nordschleife.

Had a red one, bring back memories, thanks for the awesome ride Misha

This car sounds absolutely amazing, especially the downshift rev match🔥

SO long as you take care of the oiling issues, rotaries are actually crazy stout little engines! Wonderful lap!

I always loved the rx8. Whenever someone's says it's shite, yeah it lacks the turbo but n/a isn't also bad... Great lap Misha!

4th gear is super common to go out, you'll tend to lose reverse as well.

I love the video! Keep it up!

Looked like a lot of fun wringing it's neck @ 9K RPMs and seemed to handle equally to the power... especially once you figured out stretching those revs between corners.. it really smoothed out. Nice morning drive!

Great vid can't wait until June.

The price of all Mazda Rx-8 just went up after this video! 😅 amazing drivning Misha! 👏👏👏👏

The Rx8 chassis is really good.

Drove FBO RX8 with weight reduction on GT7 and got sub 8min 😮😮 One of best handling car 😅

incredible sound

Good on you mate . Great driving. The RX8 is a great fun chassis and the 13B engine can be intoxicating and a lot of fun revving out especially with a cold air ram intake and exhaust.

That car sounds amazing! Nice lap!

I just realized these vids are great for learning what you should be doing with your hands at all times when driving a manual.

Loved this video! The owner of the car was a hoot! 😂

I had a chance to drive one of those years ago and they are definitely fun. No torque but revving them to the moon is a lot of fun!

love the sound!

My 2006 rx8 231 , i miss you. 😢

Perfect chassis for a little alloy block, dry sump LS

LOVE seeing normal every day cars driven on the ring!

That sound, oh my god, you just can't get enough. It just sounds phenomenal.

Thank You, RX-8 is my dreamcar, that video made my day!

As someone who used to own a 2004 RX-8 GT and loved it (I miss it), this made me happy. Slow as balls but "felt" so good.

I love how the subtitles just reads 'music' when the lap begins

I just watched the Hagerty video on GMA T.50 and was wondering, why are you shifting so early. Then I realised my slight bias :D

Always love rotary content!

Automatic RX-8s had a redline around 7500 if I remember. That one sounds pretty solid still. Since it's an S1, get an S2 starter if it doesn't already for faster starts. THere's another post in comments for other upgrades but the ignition system is key to keep up on.

Brilliant cars these. Super fun even as standard!

cool lap! great driver and passenger!

Glad you figured out the beeper and kept it up there. I hope turning off traction and stability control fixed the grabbing of front brakes but you cannot turn off ABS which is no big deal. You need to come out to Australia and try Phillip island and bathurst.

the 4th being crunchy is probably the synchros I've got that in 5th and 6th on my R3

another perfect video 👍

Just need a video of a track prepped rx8 now! Wish I could ship mine 🤣

i adore rotaries and this was such a joy to watch, to car sounded awesome, misha drover it superb and it really does seem to handle quite well. Boy those 9000RPM's are awesome :D

The way the car keeps its trajectory surprised me A LOT, even without very good suspension and tires… That’s impressive. Seems to have a very good chassis !

👏👏👏 Properly sent, well done! I don't know who has a rotary with a 7k shift light 🤣

Did you run on road tires if i looked correctly? If you had semi slicks i think the time would be much lower !!! I had an rx8 with the 192hp and 5 speed gearbox. Even slower than the 231 version but with a Tein Coilover and proper alignment it felt fantastic!!!

Amazing fun. Only hear good things on the driving aspects of the RX8.

LOL i had an RX8 too and the 4th gear was also "crunchy" :D

For being mostly a stock car this looked like a lot of fun. I hope the owner keeps taking good care of it.

Nice break system warning light at 5:29 😅

Thanks for doing the RX8 proper!! I have two track speck RX8s but sorry I live in Washington DC lol. Or I’d give you one for the day.

Nice! I miss my 8. Yeah for sure you want to keep the rev over 6500rpm at all times at a track. The more rev, more power!

I had 2 of this mazdas and it was my dream and my nightmare when I owned 😂😂 nice to see in your hands Misha.

Thank you Misha for this lap it makes me super proud. My dream is that I can drive my RX-8 on the Nord.

I had a new RX8 when I was 21. Had a lot of problems with it and lost a lot of money on it but it was a bloody great car.

I remember being at a car show where they first introduced the RX-8. It was such a spaceship back then and I guess it still kinda is!

TOP 5 BEST SOUNDING ENGINES of ALL time! change my mind!

おお、前期モデルですね。 後期モデルのシャープな顔もいいですが、前期モデルにしかないロータリーが入った椅子がお気に入りです。 ストレスなく回りますが、ちょっと上りだとトルクが不足しているかもしれませんね。

This went better than your own lap, James, saw you on the other RU-vid channels doing a pretty spin! 😂 Great that you guys got a lap in! Greets from the blue BMW!😊 😊😊😊

Misha, you make me a proud RX-8 owner! "Go Brap-Brap" (as you wrote on my engine cover at ShedFest). 🙂

Properly maintained rotaries plus track days will run happily!

What a fun car this remains! I also have an rx8 for trackdays and an mps as a daily car what do I love this brand say! 🥰

I must say, and as far I got "ear", this young lad has great radio voice

Lovely car, I adore the 9k+ RPM in a rotary.

20yo car and still looks beautiful (and more modern than most cars that age). Still remember when I first saw that car in Underground 2... good memories!

Gotta love RX-8s. Mythic car 👌🏼👌🏼

12:15 - 3:07 : 9min and 8 seconds BTG.... wow, what a pilot

Wow.. this is literally my car.❤❤❤ man i want back so baaaaad😭😭 much love man👍👍👍👍

I had a late '05 one many years ago, great little cars that came with a carbon fibre propshaft, 302 fr and 323 rear disc brakes, suicide doors, etc just cost a damn fortune to run and tax.

As a former RX-7 owner, I too love the noise!!!!