First time on the track

[jaydog07cx7]

Hey guys, I just neede some information since im a lil confused. I purchased my 07 CX7 in Jan of this year and have loved it ever since. I have ran at the Bristol Dragway on their street car nights for years now with various cars. This past Sat(April 25) was the first time I got to the track with my CX7. I don't run alot of passes because I like to watch also.I have read various articles in magazines and seen some test drives on tv also on the CX7. According to all info iI have seen and read, even the AWD 7's(which is what I have) Should run anywere from a 15.8 to a 16.1 in the 1/4 mile. This last Sat was hotter than 40 hells in east tn. Temp was around 96 and anyone who has been at the drags on a day like that will tell you that if you are sittin in line waiting to make your run, it feels alot hotter than the ambient air temp. Anyway, I decided to make my first run just leaving it in drive and letting it shift for itself and after I let it have some cooldown time I would make 1 more run in manual mode. This is were I am very confused at. The first run, I left and it seemed that my 7 just bogged down and was struggling to go anywere. It never really did get the acceleration that im used to going and it ran a 20.4. Like I said, im confused. I asked myself what the hell that was all about. Well I let it cool off for a while and watched some races for a couple of hours before I tried it again. This time my father in law who owns a Mazda 3 suggested that I don't go WOT at the start, he says when he does that to his 3, it seems like it loads up and has a hard time getting off the line. So, after that last run, if you want to call a 20 second time a run at all, I took any advice I could get and tried his method. This time I left in manual mode and went about 1/2 throttle till I got a few feet out of the starting line then went full. I shifted at around 5300 rpm since I heard that was the best spot to keep it in the power band and bettered my time at a 17.5, but I was still expecting more. I know that it's hard to launch a automatic turbo car and that getting off the line is key. So my questions are these. What the hell happened in that first run and what do I need to do to get the best time out of it. I don't run too often I just do it for fun every now and then. I realize it was extremely hot that day and can effect a turbo powered car but even at that I still expected it to run at least mid 16s. I welcome any help, tips , tricks , whatever is offered is very much appreciated. thanks

 

[ls six]

Nope, sounds about right.

The Mazda MZR DISI motors are known to be in-consistant on the dyno and track so it's not unusual for you to run a lot slower under those conditions.

It's also understandable for Mazda to be conservative with it's boost and timing retard settings since the DISI technology they rely on for this engine is relatively new and they want to avoid a lot of warranty work due to blown motors.

 

[Mazda3]

Weather that hot drastically effects the way the CX-7 runs. 96 probably measn it was 120 on the track. I find the optimal shift point at about 5600-5700 rpm. But I don't think it would make much difference under those conditons. With high temps and no airflow waiting in line in the pits the whole system becomes heat soaked, the cool down you gave it wouldn't have done much good in that extreme heat. On top of that the programming Mazda has in this vehicle sucks all the life out of it in extreme hot or cold temps. That is my biggest complaint with my CX-7.

 

[jaydog07cx7]

thanks, i figured it had a lot to do with the heat i just wanted to make sure.

 

[astraelraen]

I would agree that Mazda's programming for the ECU really sucks in extreme cold or extreme heat. In either of these conditions my CX7 runs like poop.

I would also say, without any "official" testing, that from a stop - if you slam on the gas the CX7 doesn't like it very much. I don't think the ECU likes to see WOT in 1st/2nd gears or from a stop. It seems to be faster if you slowly roll into the throttle from a stop. That's just my opinion through driving around town though.

 

[SVTfangs]

There is a member on mcx7.com with a short list of mods that ran these times...

QM: 13.94
0-60: 5.34

Extremely hot weather will definitely affect your vehicles performance. My Cobra runs a lot better when it can get some good cool air. With weather here in NC around 90-100 through the day I usually run it pretty easy.

 

[Alpha Wolf]

Shift at 5800 rpm
Turn traction control off.
Power jack car up to 4,000 rpm and then release and floor gas when light changes. While hard on the tranny this will cause it to launch much harder than leaving at idle.