I recently bought and 8 and am still learning how to drive it though I am encountering something weird in third gear.

The car revs great in first and second gear, but often when I switch to third the RPMs drop and the car really chugs... even when floored. If I switch to fourth gear, the RPMs jump from roughly 2000 to 4000 immediately and the car takes off.

What's strange is that if I'm driving aggressively and shift fast, third gear seams OK. This really manifests itself in everday stop and go traffic.

Anyone know what might cause this?

What speed and RPM in 2nd when you shift to third? Shouldn't take much, but if driving "aggressively" is fine, I'm wondering if you're just shifting too early?

Sounds like youre hitting 5th gear instead of 3rd gear

Sounds like youre hitting 5th gear instead of 3rd gear

^+1 What really puts the iceing on th cake is that you said when you shift into 4th the RPM's jump up. With the car off, shift into all the gears slowly and see if maybe that is what you are doing. Hit the gears and count 1-6. You may find you only shift into 5 gears.

I'll give that a try this afternoon and see what happens.

I'll give that a try this afternoon and see what happens.

You are going from second into fifth gear as previous poster said....???

Isn't this OBVIOUS to YOU!!!

Why do people buy an RX-8 to Learn how to drive?..

Do it in a shit box CIVIC first..then get the 8...;)

RX-8 Abuse!

Shifting from 2nd to 5th isn't as bad as shifting from 5th to 2nd at greater than freeway speeds.

Was really surprised when the rx-8 trans survived that...

You guys were right. I was slipping from 2nd into 5th. I paid closer attention and realized my mistake. I was worried there was something wrong with my car!

Now if can only figure out why shifts from 1st to 2nd are rough...

You are going from second into fifth gear as previous poster said....???

Isn't this OBVIOUS to YOU!!!

Why do people buy an RX-8 to Learn how to drive?..

Do it in a shit box CIVIC first..then get the 8...;)

RX-8 Abuse!


Not obvious if you haven't driven a manual before. Gotta learn some time...

Not obvious if you haven't driven a manual before. Gotta learn some time...

Yeah, that is how it looks mate..:)

As a suggestion, take it easy, learn the shift gates, don't be in a hurry to change fast all the time until you are more confidant and you get to know the cars capability and when to change down or up..

Don't (NEVER) rest your foot on the clutch pedal, polish up your technique of pushing in your clutch pedal and releasing, sometimes if you are not synchronizing the change correctly you can crunch gears or they appear rough.

As far as 1st to 2nd change, when was the last time the gearbox (and differential) oils were changed, how many miles has your RX-8 done.
Sometimes fresh oil can help to smooth the change, but obviously will not fix any mechanical damage or wear.

Since you are a clean slate, before shifting becomes 2nd nature, read up on heel-toe shifting but more importantly on double clutching. Practice both on a daily basis and learn it the right way from the get-go.

Why do people think they need to double clutch a syncro equipped tranny ;)

If you are shifting a dog box...yes....our trannies don`t need to be double clutched :)

Learn to shift slower and more precisely...leave the heel-toe and double clutching for when you get to be a better manual driver..and go to the track

I double clutch all da time. Much smoother downshifts, especially in performance driving.

We are talking about a beginner here...:lol:

Why do people think they need to double clutch a syncro equipped tranny ;)

If you are shifting a dog box...yes....our trannies don`t need to be double clutched :)

Learn to shift slower and more precisely...leave the heel-toe and double clutching for when you get to be a better manual driver..and go to the track
cuz it's fast and furious yo.

^ Isn't it good to match engine speed before engaging? Especially for 2 gear (or more)downshift.

cuz it's fast and furious yo.

And that too :icon_no2:

^ Isn't it good to match engine speed before engaging? Especially for 2 gear (or more)downshift.
U mean the tranny speed!? ya, its good. takes a load of those syncros, and in racing thats basically all u do. I cant imagine someone showing up on a race track and first brake and then downshift. lol. It would take forever and he would totally loose the momentum and da speed.

Agree with Dannobre...

Why complicate the issue for a Stick "learner", and WHY double Clutch, we are not driving bloody trucks here, or crash boxes, this is why you have triple synchro's and or synchro's in general..

Agree with Dannobre...

Why complicate the issue for a Stick "learner", and WHY double Clutch, we are not driving bloody trucks here, or crash boxes, this is why you have triple synchro's and or synchro's in general..

Cuz if done right, it is fun. It is also a much smoother downshift and prolongs tranny life. I'll start a new thread if we want to continue this discussion, we have taken over this thread!

:facepalm2:

Cuz if done right, it is fun. It is also a much smoother downshift and prolongs tranny life. I'll start a new thread if we want to continue this discussion, we have taken over this thread!

rev match sure, double clutch?

you should just delete everything you have ever posted!

really..

vana, buy a vowel!

beers :beer:

Double clutch makes the VTEC kick in yo