The Z's redline
 

Sorr if this is a repost.

I've always wondered why the Z's redline is set pretty low at 6600rpm. Why is this? Other cars like the S2000 and the RX-8 redlines to 8000-9000rpm. Sorry about my ignorance, I was just curious if this was a good or bad thing.

The Z has a whole lot more torque than any of those cars. It doesnt need to rev all the way up to 9000 rpm to make use of all of its power. Plus, the Mazda is a rotary, and the S2000 is a 4 cylinder VTEC engine, where as the Z has a much larger 6 cylinder engine. Generally six cylinder engines rev lower than 4 bangers.

It's basically set by the rod/stroke ratio of the motor. I can't explain it very well but you can either build a motor to make lots of torque down low, or build a motor that can spin higher easily. You can't really have it both ways.

Does the Z have a rev limiter on it that protects it from some dumbass (me) trying to shift too late? I've done this twice on accident while still learing how to use the manumatic and it's made the needle bounce. The engine just sounds pissed at me and I immediatly changed gears. I'm just trying to learn how to shift while maximising the use of the RPM range.

Most modern engines have some sort of fuel/spark cut to protect itself from over-revving so I doubt you can hurt the motor by bouncing off the limiter occasionally.

One way you can kill it is to mis-shift though. If you are redlined in 3rd gear and accidentally hit 2nd instead of 4th...that's called the Money Shift.

well it's reasons like that, then I'm glad I have the auto, cuz it doesn't let you shift to 2nd if it know's it can't make it. I just can't believe how fast this car is. I traded in my 02' IS300 for this. I thought the IS was quick, but it was nothing compared to this. I find it funny in the IS people would constantly rev their engines next to me to get me to race, with the Z people don't even pull up to the line. They hang back and just wait for the light to turn green. :eek: It's rather similar to the submissive lion conceding that the leader of the pack is bigger and badder, thus won't look him in the eyes :icon18:

thanks for the info guys