Ok guys, check this out:
I'm 17 years old and i'm ready for a new car. I've taken test drives and i've finalized prices and funds.
Heres my dilema: my father will not allow me to get the 6 speed manual. His main reason is that since i have no prior experience with manual transmission cars, he does not want me to mess this car up and have to pay for maintanence.

Its been a long struggle and a long fight over this issue, but i suppose if i want this car i must settle for an automatic.

Are there any rx-8 automatic owners out there?
If so please post/email how it runs. I'm sure that the fun factor is less but due to the sportronic and paddel shifting, i believe that the experience must still be quite awesome.

Also: the dealer here has a black w/grand touring package (red int). But i had my heart set on blue w/just touring package (they would have to order).
Although i will be getting the appearance/accent/and spoilers on it.

I'm only days away from this purchase guy, please ensure me that i will enjoy my automatic experience and help me pick the colors!!

(Also, are there any appearance mods for the rx8 yet? If so i'd rather make it better looking then use the stock appearance)

Monte
www.surreal-media.com
Web media at its best.

Ok...I'm over here in Santa Barbara, CA. My GF and I picked up a Titanium Grey A/T with a Touring Package about a week ago. Prior to that, I test drove a 6 speed Grand Touring model as well as a A/T Grand Touring model. While the 6 speed is definately an amazing piece of machinery, the A/T model is no slouch itself. So long as you get the A/T model with at least the Sports Package, you'll be alright.

The 6 speed packs a lot of high RPM pick up as well as better low end response due to gearing, but the A/T is smoother for daily driving in the mid-range. Either way...you need to keep an eye on the speedometer, or you'll find yourself going 90+ MPH at a whim.

Thanks for your reply, although can u tell me what type of speeds you've hit smoothly?

Meaning what top speeds have you gone and not had the car shake :).

What type of color would u suggest to me, blue or black (black is ready to be picked up, blue i'd have to wait) but i truely love the leather 2 tone on the black... but it just doesn't stand out as much as the blue on the road!

Keep up the posts guys, its definitly helping me!

I drive an automatic and I am quite happy with it. Bad knees from the Army and too much traffic jams here in the Hampton roads area require it.

In my opinion it would be better to learn on the manual then move up to the AT as once you learn on the manual you will never forget. Just in case you find yourself having to drive one in the future! It's like riding a bike once you learn you never forget it.

If you drive nothing but autos then what will you do when you are faced with a stick? Imagine not getting that much need job because the company truck is a manual! I know it's a stretch but I think it would be better to be prepared.

On a personal note I learned to drive on a 1967 Saab Sonnet 96 with a four on the column! In the snow!

I never regretted it!

Hmm thats quite nice. I actually took the manual home for 2 days because the dealership salesman was the nicest person i've ever met.

It was amazing i must say. Although i wo'nt be getting that because my father won't let me.

I'm pretty ready for this car and i CAN"T WAIT!!!

Now it comes down to the color, black or blue. I like to be noticed more, so therefore i wanted blue, u can spot that a mile away. The black i'm not sure... I've heard that you must take care of it extensively.

What color would you get?
The appearance i am looking at as well, if any of you have links to sites that sell aftermarket appearance parts for the rx8 please post them!

(Heres the car i took for the 2 days, www.surreal-media.com/monte/car )

I have the blue and yes it turns heads due its ability to standout. Thoug I will say, nothing compares to black when you polish the hell out of it...but yes, it's much easier to see dust and dirt.

Blue stands out the best without being obnoxious
Black looks the best when highly polished
Titanium with the black/chapparel interior is by far, the classiest for anyone any age.

ps - I'd continue the fight for your right to a 6-speed for reasons stated by a previous poster, "you never know when you'll need to drive one" besides, if you got one and were relatively smart about it, i'm sure the tranny could handle the learning curve.

True i will try to fight, but i can only push it so far.

I live in delaware, so its not like i can max speed everywhere and have mad straight aways w/no cops :).

I feel the auto is good, but the main thing holding me back from putting my heart into it is that its only 4 speeds!! YUCK!!

But i suppose i can deal with it, not like i'm going to go above 140.

Anyways, thanks for ur post, it is true black would look nice all polished up but damn man i still cannot decide!

keep up the posts!

Originally posted by monte
Thanks for your reply, although can u tell me what type of speeds you've hit smoothly?

Meaning what top speeds have you gone and not had the car shake :).

What type of color would u suggest to me, blue or black (black is ready to be picked up, blue i'd have to wait) but i truely love the leather 2 tone on the black... but it just doesn't stand out as much as the blue on the road!

Keep up the posts guys, its definitly helping me!

I've gone up to 120 with no shaking what-so-ever...in fact, it felt smoother at 120 than at 60 MPH...not that I advise it...but ya...mainly I didn't go any faster because I was paranoid about cops at 3 AM on a Saturday morning, and there wasn't much straight freeway left. I accelerated from 75 MPH to 110 like nothing in third gear...did it within 1/3 of a mile space.

Blue is a damn nice color. My girlfriend and I almost got it, but after getting a speed trap ticket by a plane radar in her blue Del Sol, I decided against it and convinced her to go with Grey, which was one of our other three choices. The other was silver...but from what everyone claims, it's cursed...even though you probably aren't supersticious...

Originally posted by monte
True i will try to fight, but i can only push it so far.

I live in delaware, so its not like i can max speed everywhere and have mad straight aways w/no cops :).

I feel the auto is good, but the main thing holding me back from putting my heart into it is that its only 4 speeds!! YUCK!!

But i suppose i can deal with it, not like i'm going to go above 140.

Anyways, thanks for ur post, it is true black would look nice all polished up but damn man i still cannot decide!

keep up the posts!

It's a 4-speed yes...but get any of the gears to 5000 RPM and it'll still fly.

True, True.
I never thought that a blue would be a cop magnet.
Thats a good point.

Although my heart sits on blue, although it will take longer for me to get my hands on the blue then on the black that is sitting at their dealership.

What a hard decision it is!

Blue.. cloth interior, tape, cd, wind deflector (yucks), touring package, spoiler, accent, and appearance.

Black.. leather (2 tone red), cd, grand touring, spoiler, accent, appearance.

Although i've heard from a friend that there are some appearance parts out recently for the Rx8, possibly new, better looking body kits instead of just the standard appearance package.

Anyone have a link to them?

Help me decide guys!! ONLY DAYS AWAY!

I have to get an Auto too and I keep trying to convince my dad to let me get a standard. No dice though. Oh well.

here's how i see it. the people that choose to buy the automatics are happy with it, because it all depends on what you're looking for. but if your heart is set on getting the manual trans. and you are forced to buy the auto, you'll feel buyer's remorse.

i know, because that's what happened with my first car. :)

In your case I wouldn't worry about wether it is an auto or a stick just be gratefull your'e gettin' an 8. Just think how many other kids would kill to have their parents get them a car like an RX-8! Hell I'd be a pissin' im my Joe boxers if I knew my dad would let me get a car like this!:cool:

Yea, I am not worrying about it. I just want a 8. Hopefully, I can get that nice navi system.

What would you rather see on an 8

Blue.. cloth interior, tape, cd, wind deflector (yucks), touring package, spoiler, accent, and appearance.

Black.. leather (2 tone red), cd, grand touring, spoiler, accent, appearance.


Truthfully tell me, its a 30,000$ decision :)

Although if look @ the top banner of this forum, every so often the gfx will be this sweet looking blue tone on an rx8, its much darker then the winning, i've never seen it except for on the top left graphics. That color is amazing!

Get the black. The 2tone leather is really nice.

thats what i think i'm leaning towards now, but man i gotta tell you, it just doesn't turn heads as much!

when i was in the test drive car, i looked over to the right and saw these too hot girls, i looked back to the road and next thing i hear "DAD I WANT THAT CAR!"

all i could do was turn back, smile, and zoom outta there :)

(that was a red car www.surreal-media.com/monte/car )

Although i feel the blue would do the same, but guys keep posting what you think is best, blue or black (check my previous post for the specs)

I have the A/T due to nerve damage in my left foot. I really like the 6 speed, though. It's sweet! The A/T is not bad,all in all. I routinely drive around town in second gear (can hit close to 80 in 2nd), and 3rd gear when cruising. Like a prior poster said, if you keep the revs up you can go fast. I've had the car to 130+. It's very stable at speed, and feels great. Handles easily as well as a BMW 328Ci I used to own.

I've had black cars before and it is hell to keep nice and clean. I have the velocity red, auto, with the works-everything except the nav (waste of 2-grand). I got the auto due to the traffic jams in northern virginia. The car has plenty of power to do anything you ever need. What concerns me is that your 17 and I know you will hot dog in the car and I don't want to see your name as a another casualty lost to teenager inexperience. I don't know you, but please respect the car and the people around you, because how you drive does affect others.

It sounds like a great oppertunity but be safe. Thru my nephew I have witnessed such carelessness. I've been to 3 funerals in 6 months all his friends from racing and just being stupid and involving inocent people. My nephew alone has totaled 4 cars in 2 years. His days of being lucky may end soon.

Good luck and be safe.

The dark blue car in the banner is a Mazdaspeed model available only in Japan. :(

I'd love to see them bring it over here to the U.S. Maybe in 2005??

Thank you very much for caring, mmmdowning. I am a very resonsible teenager. Much more then the others. Although i cannot change my mind, i love the car :).

And the person that posted above me, whoa, i love that color so much. Thanks for telling me that its only in japan though, i guess i can't get my hopes up to much, unless i get a custom paint job ;).

Anywho, what type of prices did you guys pay for your automatic w/o nav? I have a set price and funds already, just have to work out the final payment and BANG its done.

O yea, 1 more thing, the COLOR! He has a black one (with specs i listed in my other post) sitting in the show room (wouldn't that run the value down a bit? people sit in it all day long?)
Where as the blue would take approximately 1week to 2 months to come in :-/

Decisions. Please help!

Monte...depending upon where you live...

www.edmunds.com

Go to "New Cars" and enter your info, pick out the stuff you want, and check out the prices. The TRV is what you should be aiming to be close at because that is the average price most people in your area paid for theirs. Don't just straight buy from a dealer either. Call around and speak with the FLEET MANAGERS. Those are the ones that can give you close to invoice. Even if it's a grand over, it'll still usually be a grand under sticker price. Don't just call one either, call as many in your area as possible, hell, call in the next zip code if your pops is willing to drive an extra 50 miles to save and extra 300 bucks...that 300 bucks you save, you can take 100 out and ask a cool uncle of yours to buy a keg of beer so you can throw your dad a football party for being a dopea$$ dad for taking your ass to a farther dealer and for trusting you enough to let you have a RX-8 period.

BTW, where are you from?

One thing my GF and I did...we gave the dealer a 1000 down...had them locate the color we wanted...Kinda feel bad for them because we went from wanting Winning Blue, to Sunlight Silver, and finally to Titanium Grey...each time we told them we changed our minds, they found the original color we acquired about. They too had a fully loaded Black available in A/T. My GF doesn't prefer black, and my mom hates the color...everyone else in the family has white cars...

If we were able to polish it down daily with Zaino, it'd be a damn nice color to have. So Monte...if you know how to properly detail a car, go to www.zainobros.com and order a kit, and detail your BLACK daily, and it'll turn just as many heads ;)

I have the automatic and it is a lot of fun to drive and it has smooth acceleration. The manual obviously has more punch but the auto is also fun with the shifters.....love that option. The 8 is a awesome car....enjoy whatever color you get!

I've got a black 8 with AT and the grand touring package. Test drove both 6-speed and AT but chose the AT so that my wife could also drive it. To be honest, the 6-speed that I drove idled a bit rough. Plus I felt guilty because the last car I purchased (Acura RSX Type-S) was 6-speed and my wife could not drive it (many have tried to teach her and failed :) ).

Overall I am happy with the AT. Using the manual mode with the steering wheel paddles is a blast. Funny, after I had purchased it and was getting ready to drive it off the lot, my salesman said that the car would haul a** using the paddles.

Like others have said, dude, you're getting an 8. No matter which, you will enjoy the heck out of it. It's fun to drive and it turns heads.

Enjoy.

Ah yes, -=Zeqs=-, that is exactly what we have been doing over the past 2 weeks.

So far it seems we can get 500 above invoice! Which is quite nice i would say.

The local dealer has stated that if i do choose the blue one, he would have to find it, and so far the only one he can find is something i don't prefer. It has cassett / wind deflector / touring / spoiler / appearance. I don't want cas/def. Although the black one in the dealership show room has what i want, except the appearance / accent / spoiler (so i could get a better price on that one), although thats grand touring.

Such a hard decision.

Any ways, question: i really like the spoiler on the blue one (only avail. in japan) in the top left banner of this forum, that spoiler is so much better (seems to be a bit lifted) then the factory one. Where can i get that spoiler? i can't get over that color, whoa, but hey, nothing a custom paint job can't do :).

-=Zeqs=-, i live in Delaware, but after 1 yr i will have the car in boston (if i get accepted to college there).

Sum up:
Where can i get the spoiler from the blue 8 in the top left image of the forum?
Black or blue?
MP3?!?!?!??!? It doesn't come in the 8, and it doesn't have a plug so i can't put in an ipod?!

Thanks guys, really helping :) keep up the posts!

Hee Hee!

I also traded a '03 Acura RSX type S in on the RX-8 because I couldn't stand all that shifting! Yes the paddle shifters ar the bomb and you never have to take your hands off the steering wheel to play!

If you get the black one then you could get presonalized plates
that say "BLK SHEP" and then you mom would really have a fit!

:p

The car still comes with the CD it just has a dealer installed cassette player mounted in the lower part of the head unit. I plan to install one to get rid of that unslightly blank space. And you could always remove the wind deflector if you wanted. they are not permenantly installed.

:cool:

Monte...cool. East coast.

500 Above invoice is a pretty good deal. Just don't pay retail. I'm sure your dad won't let you anways.

Ok...as for the blue one you want. How patient are you of a person? Do you HAVE TO have it tomorrow? Or are you one of those that can wait a couple of months knowing you'll be getting the one you want, exactly how you want it?

If it's the latter. Have the dealer order it for you, straight from Japan. Make sure he gives you the 500 above invoice still. It's BS if he says that it'll cost more because it'll be brand spanking new. The bank gives them a 2% hold back and the sooner the sell it, the sooner they'll get the hold back and as most business majors know, a dollar today is worth more th an a dollar tomorrow ;)

Good response, Although i'm one of those that WANTS IT!!!

Never even thought about having him order it from japan.. hmm.

I'll have to ask him that when i meet with him. That is truely the best color i've ever seen.

As far as the spoiler, where can i get that?
And the mp3 player? How do i go about that?

i want this car, and i want it very badly :)

Oh...as for the spoiler...try...www.optauto.com They specialize in getting JDM parts straight from Japan. Chances are, if people can get the Mazdaspeed parts in Japan, they can get it for you.

As for the MP3 player...just tell your dealer. They'll swap out your stock CD player for it for a fee of course.

Hm, that site did not have anything for rx8 spoilers.

Man such a hard decision. I just got back from the dealership to check out the blue color, but i couldn't find it, yea well now i am starting to sorta like the gray :-/. Damn color is such a hard decision!

Blue!
Black!
Gray!

I'm pretty sure i'm going to go for the BLACK!!

But keep posting guys, good discussion we have going :)

I have the AT with the grandtouring in the nordic green. If you want class, check out the green with the two tone interior. It can't be beat.

Green with chapparal interior is real nice..

Hey guys, this is the color i was talking about

http://www.mazda.co.jp/customize/rx-8msv/design.html

That is hands down the absolutly hottest color i've ever seen on this car.

NOTHING can match it (in my eyes o_O) :)

Anyways, decision nears, i believe tomorrow night i will be deciding, Black or Titanium gray or Blue. (possible custom order from japan?)

Well keep up the posts.

Remember i'm 17 and like to stand out :)
So therefore a color could suit my personality.

My Titanium Gray arrives tomorrow, can't wait. I had a hard decision on color as well. 1st I wanted the blue, too flashy, then i wanted the black, to hard to keep clean so I decided on the Tit Gray. The dealer gave me a black one for the weekend until mine arrives Mon. Just driving arround I noticed everyone looking at me, black def gets looks when clean, I just hope my Tit Gray does the same. You definately gotta get a spoiler, without a spoiler the car looks basic. But yeah, im 23, so I can't wait to pick up some girls in this car! I traded in my 01 Millinea for my 8, figured i don't have a family yet so why drive such a big sedan.

hey monte, I got the auto titanium gray, and I think you'll enjoy the auto. I started out driving an auto so I'm used to talking on the phone in the car and changing cd's etc... so when I bought a manual it just wasent safe to do any of those things while shifting. Also if you not a racer, the auto is fast enough for you. Plus the people that see you driving by wont know the difference. The blue color you posted is only available in japan, as far as I know, no one in US has been able to get their hands on it. All the cars are custom ordered from Japan built to your specs. Oh, yeah, the automatic is also cheaper. I got my titanium gray, with appearance pkg and the spoiler for a total of $25,500 which is even less than the posted $27,700 MSRP. To me the app pkg really adds definition to the car, so you should consider that. Good luck with your purchase, and enjoy the car, your gonna love it!

Monte, try this site then for the spoiler...

www.mazdaspeed.com

It'll direct you to another site that'll offer it. Mind you though, it runs a cool 1000+ just for the adjustable spoiler...

Well Well.

I seem not to be able to find the spoiler anywhere!

If you have a direct link that would help the most!!

Please post if you guys have direct links to that awesome spoiler.

Also what was the link to that kit that you use to keep my soon to be purchased (black a/t gt 2tone red spoiler/appearance/accent) rx8 shiney and clean :)


Also, just a though, if you guys have any care for web media, or are looking to purchase a website for your company or any use.
Please check out my companies website.

www.surreal-media.com
(There is MUCH MUCH more portfolio then what is listed there, if you are interested in a purchase please let me know and i will provide you with links to the rest of the portfolio).

The half-full glass way to look at the auto is that it gives satisfying performance if you use the paddles on the wheel and the lever on the console to keep the revs high. The half-empty glass approach is to point out that the 6-speed gives a sharper response, and working the clutch and shifter skillfully is rewarding.
I chose an auto, but only because my clutch/shifter skills were not as sharp as they were 54 years ago, when I was your age.
You're right about the four-speed. IMO, Mazda just couldn't afford the best auto, a 5 or 6 speed. In Mazda's own history of the car's design, they say they modified an old tranny, which doesn't allow more than 7,500 revs. The result: you use first (to 40) and second (to 80) gears for real acceleration. If you're cruising in fourth and come to an upgrade or headwind, you need third for acceleration. I haven't had the car above a (smooth) 97, but third should take you to 120.
The paddles are fun to use, and shifts are fairly -- not super -- fast. What makes it even more fun is that the paddles are not handy when you're turning the wheel, but reaching down and hitting the console lever is.
Don't worry about learning a stick. Since you've already driven the demo two days, you know that it's just a matter of practice, no mystery.
I have a sunshine silver with black cloth interior, and love it, but that's a question of individual taste. And I have no idea what is meant by silver cars being cursed. Silver has been the most common color for the last few years, but I have read that the cycle is swinging so it will be less common in years to come. It goes beautifully with the black/grey cloth. IMO black belongs on big dignified luxury cars, not small sports cars with lots of character lines that stand out when the light shines on highly reflective metallic paint, like sunshine silver or winning blue.

Originally posted by Mitch Strickler

I have a sunshine silver with black cloth interior, and love it, but that's a question of individual taste. And I have no idea what is meant by silver cars being cursed. Silver has been the most common color for the last few years, but I have read that the cycle is swinging so it will be less common in years to come. It goes beautifully with the black/grey cloth. IMO black belongs on big dignified luxury cars, not small sports cars with lots of character lines that stand out when the light shines on highly reflective metallic paint, like sunshine silver or winning blue.

Don't get me wrong. I love silver. My Civic is silver. However, I was jokingly quoting a thread I saw in another forum in rx8club. Something about silver being the cursed color of the 8's. A few owners got into some unfortunate situations and the on-going joke was that people are too awed by the 8 as is, that when they see it in silver, it's sensory overload and they don't respond to the fact that they are about to collide with one...

Yo Monte,
I just got my auto today and I love it. I can drive stick to but like some of the earlier guys, i like to do other stuff while driving, i'm only 22. Just watch out for the ladies they'll get u in more trouble than the car will! I drove mine around for 40 mins today and 2 girls were looking at me like they wanted to jump on me immediately!! Just get the car, auto or stick, just hurry!! :D :D