Maybe someone can clarify a noise I've just noticed in my 8. It's just started (this past weekend), or maybe I didn't notice before (which I doubt). When I start the car, I of course depress the clutch, when I shift to neutral and release the clutch, I hear a vibrating (not loud, but noticeable). Push in the clutch, noise goes away, release the clutch, I hear the slight gurgling again.

Is this indicative of a problem, or is this something normal I hadn't paid attention to before?

Also, at startup, and idle, the engine seems to be misfiring (I know, no pistons). A rhythmic (sp?) muffled belch once every 5 secs or so.

The car has 2600 miles and has been serviced nicely by me to this point. (2 oil changes so far), all fluids topped, oil kept at proper level, etc.

there was a thread about this a couple days ago, perfectly normal. i get it from my clutch too :)

Sorry All. After searching, I see this has been addressed quite a lot. Damn you laziness.

Good to know this isn't abnormal.

JaxFL_Rx8

Yeah I'm noticing the occasional misfire on mine too. I have 850 miles on my vehicle. I'm also one of the guys at the lower end of the mileage spectrum, around 13.5 MPG and I don't drive that hard so I've been wondering lately if the folks with the worst mileage are also the folks with the roughest idle.

Right after I purchased the car I showed the service writer that my shifter visibly vibrates quite a bit (but at that point in time I hadn't noticed the occasional misfire). We started up another new RX-8 and it had visible shift handle vibration too so I didn't push the issue further.

I'll probably bring it up again soon and get them to put it on a scope so I can see if it is a true misfire.

I've noticed all of the same in my 8-- I've got just over 550 miles on it and i hear a deep thud from the rear every so often. Also heard a strange sound after the car has been off for a while-- Like a belch of gasses from the exhaust? a slow sigh..

Um.. the shift knob is supposed to vibrate. Have you seen how everything is mounted up in this car? It's all very direct with few mushy rubber bushings isloating you from the "feel" of the car.

The clutch noise? Normal. My car has done that from the get-go, as did the demo car that I test drove. I'm totally unconcerned. I drive the car hard and the clutch has never slipped or caused any problem. Transmission has been an absolute gem since the WRX gearbox I am accustomed to. And yeah, I'm at the lower end of the mileage scale, and not upset about it either :)