Greetings all! I've been a fan of the RX-8 since it's intro and a "sponge" on these boards for about three months. I am ready to become an owner and have decided that the AT suits my conditions, needs, and wallet. That said, can someone tell me, other than by ear or a standing start, how do you know which gear you're in? How does the car communicate to you your current gearing; and does this apply to the both full-auto mode and the paddle-shift mode? Pictures of said display(s) would be great - just don't try to take pics while driving!

bump

there is a PNRD type indicator in the left gauge pod. i dont know if it displays changes while in sport shift mode. there was a pic around here of that dash but i couldn't begin totell you how to search for it. i believe i did see it on mazda usa though. also look around here for the big press pack from the launch at NAIAS, there is bound to be a pic of it there.

edit: the press pack is in the sticky thread in multimedia.

Thanks mike & zoom: I guess I have some hunting to do - or maybe I will just go in to a dealer for a test drive... I have only test-driven the MT so far.

According to my (Canadian) Owner's Manual, there's a PRNDM indicator at the far right of the gauge cluster. In manual ("M"), there's a number next to it showing which gear your're in.

The book has a line drawing not a photo. The gear number is probably the same size/colour as the speedo numbers. Never seen it myself.

The gear # indicator only comes on when you are in MT mode. It's a redish digital LCD that located to the left of the PNRD in the dash. Using the steering wheel paddles and/or the stick to shift gears will change the numbers.

This display comes in real handy b/c lots o times, I can't hear the engine over the radio and the LED really stands out on the dash.

I'll take pics tomorrow night and post them for ya.

OmegaBob - Thanks and yes please!! I have a mental picture of everything I want my RX-8 to be with a few exceptions- your pics will surely help!
For safety's sake, have someone in the back seat take the pictures, okay... I don't want you to have a fender bender on my account.

No problem and no worries! I'll just drive around in the parking lot at work -I usually leave late and there are very few cars at night.

Can't promise that the pics will turn out though... but I'll try... ;)

I'll post them sometime after midnight .

With the paddle-shifting, do i have to shift down everytime you break for a light and stuff or does it automatically shift down?

You don't shift down, the transmission automatically goes to 1st.

Originally posted by Bankotsu
With the paddle-shifting, do i have to shift down everytime you break for a light and stuff or does it automatically shift down?

In MT mode, the transmission should shift down for you if you come to a complete stop -doesn't matter if you're using the paddles or the stick to shift b/c they are interchangable at anytime.

Four things of note:
1 - Though you don't have to shift down when coming to a stop/slowing down if you don't want to, I'd really recommend that you at least shift down to 2nd (if stopping) if you're not already in that gear. If not, you might feel like you're going a tad too fast as you're stopping.
2 - A quirk I noticed is that sometimes the transmission will just stay in 2nd (in MT mode) at a stop. If you notice this as well, just shift down to 1st. From my expirence, I think it happens when you're already going slow as you approach the stop (ie. you're creeping up to a stop light).
3 - You can't shift to 3rd or 4th unless you're going a certain speed (noticed this when I was trying to take the pics I posted)
4 - I only took the car up to (almost) redline once and I did not hear any beep. Not sure if the ATs have this feature and/or at what RPM it's supposed to sound.

Here are the pics I promised:

1 - This is what the dash will look like when you start up the car and/or you are in full AT mode
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/352000-352999/352051_46_full.jpg


2 - Here's a slightly blurry pic of what the gear readout looks like in MT mode.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/352000-352999/352051_47_full.jpg

3 - A zoomed in pic of the MT mode.
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/4/web/352000-352999/352051_48_full.jpg

Hope this helps! :)

I should have set the ISO to 400 in the 2nd and 3rd pics. If you need brighter ones, let me know.

Originally posted by OmegaBob
In MT mode, the transmission should shift down for you if you come to a complete stop -doesn't matter if you're using the paddles or the stick to shift b/c they are interchangable at anytime.

Four things of note:
1 - Though you don't have to shift down when coming to a stop/slowing down if you don't want to, I'd really recommend that you at least shift down to 2nd (if stopping) if you're not already in that gear. If not, you might feel like you're going a tad too fast as you're stopping.
2 - A quirk I noticed is that sometimes the transmission will just stay in 2nd (in MT mode) at a stop. If you notice this as well, just shift down to 1st. From my expirence, I think it happens when you're already going slow as you approach the stop (ie. you're creeping up to a stop light).
3 - You can't shift to 3rd or 4th unless you're going a certain speed (noticed this when I was trying to take the pics I posted)
4 - I only took the car up to (almost) redline once and I did not hear any beep. Not sure if the ATs have this feature and/or at what RPM it's supposed to sound.

I've noticed point 2 on occasion as well.
Point 3 - interesting, wasn't aware of that one
Point 4 - yep the beep is there, but it's pretty quiet. I think mine goes off around 7500 RPM.

Originally posted by VelocityRedRX8
I've noticed point 2 on occasion as well.
Point 3 - interesting, wasn't aware of that one
Point 4 - yep the beep is there, but it's pretty quiet. I think mine goes off around 7500 RPM.

#2 - Slight clarification for those who haven't expereinced it. What I meant to say is that it sometimes stays in 2nd when you're already in 2nd and you slowly come to a stop (engine braking?). Doesn't really happen that often.

#3 - Yea, I was driving around my work's parking lot tonight trying to get the damn thing to shift to 3rd and it would only go to 2nd. I was going a max of 5-7 MPH in 1st and 2nd while trying to take the pics and wanted to shift to third but it wouldn't let me.

Of course, if I was thinking clearly, I didn't even need to drive around to take the pics -the pics #2 & 3 are an example of that. All my other pics (while driving) came out way to blurry or jumpy.

#4 - Cool. Thx for the confirmation. Next time the opportunity rises, I'll attempt to listen for it.

Bob, thanks a million!!! Great pics! The more I see and read about the RX-8, I am absolutely, positively sure that the AT is the right car for me!

Not a problem at all! Hope they helped.

I wish I could drive a MT; however, I do like having the option of NOT having to shift if I choose. Granted it's not the same as the transmission in the 6 speed, but it's perfect for my needs. Plus, it fast enough for me.

One more thing about the pics: the red RPM numbers and displays (not the MT mode gear #) is how it looks at night (though you can override it if you choose). During the day, the color scheme of the RPM #s, etc is white.

The beep is around 7500, but faint. In the auto mode, it shifts up around 7200 in each gear. In the manual mode, with the engine warm, it shifts around 7800. I've done this several times in 1st and 2nd - it's pretty consistant. The fuel cutoff varies according to conditions - lower when cold, higher when warm.

When you are in 2nd or 3rd, it will downshift to 1st when speed goes below 6 mph.