I'm a novice manual driver at best. I just started driving stick and just got the car Friday, Dec 26. Eventhough I'm better now than I was on Friday and I've already put 200 miles this past weekend (mostly city and traffic...damn post christmas sale shoppers!!), I've still got lots to learn.

Well, everybody tells me how much these rotaries loved to be revved up. I usually rev the engine to 4000 -5000rpms in first gear before switching to 2nd. When I was practicing on my friends Integra, I usually switched gears at about 2000-3000.

Am I fine or should I adjust to a lower RPM?

Sorry guys, I'm just a new stick driver and I'm still trying to adjust. By the way, I haven't been too bad on the clutch or gearbox. I did grind a gear once but ...hey...it was once so far.

Depends on how you want to drive. Im new to the manual shifter myself. i've had my RX-8 since october though. You will get more comfortable soon. If you want to rev it up let if fly, but you can manage shifting around 2-3 K if you want to save a bit of gas. It is way too tempting to let her rip up to 8000 RPM though. You'll get it down soon enough...starting it out in 2nd occasionally, revin it up to 8K in 2nd and just jumping to 5th...just let it develop.

if you want good gas mileage keep it up 3750 rpm. thats a little trick around here in rx8 land, keeps the car running under only one injector i believe.

if not.....just let the rotary spin until your heart begins to beat quicker than it usually does on your average commute :)

you get better gass mileage if its up around 3750?? How is that better than shifting closer to 3k?? Looks like i need to get a bit more familiar with RX-8 land....