I am thinking about installing the 6-speed tranny to my 4-port engine. I am getting sick of my 4-speed. Anyway... I have come a long way in the past 5-months of ownership and I have payed off 1/2 of the car, while installing $4k+ worth of crap. You can read my mods in my sig.

6-speed tranny, MS OEM bodykit, possibly Imola Red leather interior (BMW M3-color red), and of course new light-weight MS 18" wheels. I am going to buy a set for the track, and a set for the street. Michellin Pilot Sport Cups for the track & Michellin Pilot Sport 2's for the street. Also, I will eventually get the MS 3-gauge cluster for the middle console if the price ever goes down from $1,200.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pf1f409a3257f46bb687279411648ecc4/f75114b5.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p35547db2d84a94dcd35fbf119f7a983d/f75114a4.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pd42ee925d83370a39b74d6e88e565fd3/f75114e9.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pfdf1fd0e8e998fc9ed0c68a43a5c76c6/f75114df.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/ped550fcd2ba6351257e831481a3e60a2/f751150f.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pfdf207b634d28e33f922b0d2f35f3bab/f75114f6.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p927db8714cf7f5b469d5bf514c22c649/f75114ab.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p087c2194074d5e7f34172a4421042727/f7511519.jpg
I will post pics later of my revised twin 3" air intakes in the front bumper. Let me know what you guys think. Not too bad for being 18 :)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p5b5802203babdc2c15e81fcd4f6d1fed/f75114c1.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pb6a4f806d18f0ac5523d7049360901bf/f7511503.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/pf1769a99c4e4ecbf0e539f405a7edeff/f7510c34.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid136/p232f5db31705597fbd6744f73a6d1080/f7510c3e.jpg

it might be cheaper to unbolt your add-ons, and trade in the auto for a 6M instead of modifying your auto to a 6 speed tranny.

Cheers to a fellow automatic guy :cool:

Youregoing to replace your transmission w/a 6 speed? Andthen whats next going to swap engines too? That is a really dumb wayto blow money. Butwhatever floats yourboat man. Youd takeless of a hit by selling your car yourself the way it is andthen buying a 6 speed. Even tradingit in would cost you less thandoing all that shit you just mentioned. Your carwillstill not keep up with a 6spd manual Rx8 sowhats the point? On a sidenote-- gee I wish I had a richdaddy like yours whocould help me buyall that extra crap for my car.

On a sidenote-- gee I wish I had a richdaddy like yours whocould help me buyall that extra crap for my car.
completely meaningless comment

i'd hang onto the AT for awhile. auto->manual tranny swaps are a bitch, especially with new cars, and if you're planning on FI you'll need a tranny thats stronger than the oem 6 speed. wait and see what happens in the future.

I was thinking the same when epitrochoid mentioned the strength of the 6-speed. Quite frankly, it's weak. If you're looking for the easy way out, just swap a TII 5-speed. I'm sure an adapter an easily be made.

little ugly for an $4K mod...

eh, all that work on an auto tranny? come on..........

The auto tranny was not my first choice, but I am past that. It will probably be the same price range to either get a 6-speed manual tranny, or a FI for my car. The good thing about any performance gains are that they are at a lower RPM than the stick engine. For example: a car with 240 bhp @ 7,500 is faster accleration times than a car with 240 bhp @ 9,000. That is the only advantage of have a lower rpm engine. I had exhaust finishers, lowering springs, mud flaps, etc.; but took them off a while ago because I didn't like them. After I have the MS kit, light-weight wheels, & FI; I will be happy with this overall project. I am in the middle stages of modding my car. I predict around $10-15k total when I am done. I will have my car payed off in 3 years, with my own money. I work 55+ hours a week, and the only thing my dad pays is my insurance, which is $680 a month (but a tax right-off). My parents may be millionaires, but my dad is not giving me anything; so he teaches me what I think are valuable lessons in life about earning what you have.

Troy J.

Troy J.

Your insurance is $680 a month?

dude , I'm around your age ... you shoulda got the 6 speed , have no idea why you didn't get it at first, I got had rx-8's and they both are 6 speed and insurance seemed cheaper for the 6 speed in my state too (no idea why) . The advantage of the 6 speed over the auto is 6 speed of course, launches , 6 port , and maybe some other stuff also that I am forgetting. .... but save your money and just sell the car without the mods and buy a 6 speed and put the mods on there.

$680 a month for insurance is insane - even if you're 18. Unless you have some serious history of accidents which I hope is not the case. What is that - $8160 a year? Geez... it's time to find a different insurance company.
Oh, and please ask your dad how does he write off the car insurance... although I suppose he must have some sort of a business that may allow him doing that. I wish I could write off stuff like that :)
As it was mentioned, forget about the manual tranny swap. Those jobs are a pain in the ass and would cost you an arm and a leg. Doesn't make sense. There might be so many things to swap. you would end up at some 10K job... much better to sell and get the 6-speed if that's what you desire.

it might be cheaper to unbolt your add-ons, and trade in the auto for a 6M instead of modifying your auto to a 6 speed tranny.

First thing I thought of as well!

$680 a month for insurance is insane - even if you're 18. Unless you have some serious history of accidents which I hope is not the case. What is that - $8160 a year? Geez... it's time to find a different insurance company.
Oh, and please ask your dad how does he write off the car insurance... although I suppose he must have some sort of a business that may allow him doing that. I wish I could write off stuff like that :)
As it was mentioned, forget about the manual tranny swap. Those jobs are a pain in the ass and would cost you an arm and a leg. Doesn't make sense. There might be so many things to swap. you would end up at some 10K job... much better to sell and get the 6-speed if that's what you desire.
Wow holy shit .. thats allota money for insurance .. I'm only paying about 2900 a year for mine ...

oh my god, what a load! im 24 and deal with the "oh you must be some little rich mamas boy" crap ever since the first day i had my car! my first car (17 years old) was a $300 87 626 LX. and none of the LX crap worked. but never the less i servived and now the mazda god has truely smilled on me because i have erned my 8 threw hard work and billding good credit. my mom and dad would fall out if i ever asked them for a co-sign. i guess we all think we diserv in our own way. but come on iv said it once and ill say it agin "my X wife" wanted the auto:D

Crap, even 2900 is way high!

I'm sure that is either quarterly or every six months. I can't believe it would be $680 a month. Unless he's had several speeding tickets, DUI and some accidents...

Crap, even 2900 is way high!
thats for 2 rx-8's dude , well not anymore , for some reason they still charging me the same as 1 rx-8 when I use to have 2 ....

But anyways , thats not bad .. considering I have 8 speeding tickets from my titanium grey ... and totalled a few cars ....

nice 8 jeup. I was thinking about adding in those carbon fiber inserts too. Did you get those from rosenthal? How was installation? FYI they have a cf for the shift box on your auto too.

I'm with Jason just remove all the mods and get a 6 speed. Preferbly yellow :P

thats for 2 rx-8's dude , well not anymore , for some reason they still charging me the same as 1 rx-8 when I use to have 2 ....

But anyways , thats not bad .. considering I have 8 speeding tickets from my titanium grey ... and totalled a few cars ....
COme to australia mate... my insurance is AUD$1300 per year.

That is why US car are so cheap... that much for insurance

Time for my .02 cents.

I do not get you, bro. You are willing to WASTE money on getting the automatic (when you know in the back of your mind you want PERFORMANCE). Then, you proceed to want to WASTE more than you HAVE TO in order to get a 6 speed feeling in your 4 port engine.

What is this babble about your car making power quicker in the revs. WOAH? Did you stop to think about the GEARING in our cars. It was designed more along the lines of our redline with our 6 port engine. The 4 port mixed with the exact 6 speed in my car would be even MORE of a WASTE.

I am not flaming you either, bro. I am trying to help you. I guarantee that, if you go through with all of that, you will drive around for maybe a week and say to yourself "I need the 6 port now." Or "I need this", or "I want that".

Being different is what sets us apart. Being wasteful not only makes you look like you don't know what you are doing, but it MEANS you don't know what the hell you are doing.

Good luck. Think about it. A lot.

How does the auto perform with those mods compared to stock? I plan on adding aesthetic mods to my 8 vs. performance--I'm happy with my auto; my next vehicle will be the performance ride I'm after (whether its an RX8 or not). As for why I got the auto it came down to my $--at 22 this was my first car that I bought myself so all the internet talk is great but RX8Club isn't in my wallet--I couldn't afford the premium for a 6spd--so after Dental school it'll be a different story.

Just what I was thinking , iono , when I think of someone modding a automatic rx-8 for speed or performance ... I just think ... wow what is this guy thinking ....



Anyways Taka , my ex girlfriend's dad's ex girlfriend was from australia and came by to visit my ex girlfriend , she had a son that was pretty cool , Had a weird accent tho , always said bloody and booger .... lol anyways , If I was in australia , I'd get one of those holdens or what ever they are called , heard some of them run 12's stock :eek:



Oh ya for anyone who wants to know .... a 6 speed BASE rx-8 (no sports package) is only 23500 NEW, if you know how to talk , no bullshit .... my friend owns a dealership .... so its only about a grand more than the 6 auto ... there is no excuse on getting a 6 speed .... unless you can't drive manual or are handicapped and have one leg or just lazy or lastly don't want performance (no offense to the auto owners)

But the paddle shifters are cool , gotta admit that


Edit: oops my bad , its 23800 for the base model 6 speed , still only 1-2 grand difference and you would have so much more car ...




Time for my .02 cents.

I do not get you, bro. You are willing to WASTE money on getting the automatic (when you know in the back of your mind you want PERFORMANCE). Then, you proceed to want to WASTE more than you HAVE TO in order to get a 6 speed feeling in your 4 port engine.

What is this babble about your car making power quicker in the revs. WOAH? Did you stop to think about the GEARING in our cars. It was designed more along the lines of our redline with our 6 port engine. The 4 port mixed with the exact 6 speed in my car would be even MORE of a WASTE.

I am not flaming you either, bro. I am trying to help you. I guarantee that, if you go through with all of that, you will drive around for maybe a week and say to yourself "I need the 6 port now." Or "I need this", or "I want that".

Being different is what sets us apart. Being wasteful not only makes you look like you don't know what you are doing, but it MEANS you don't know what the hell you are doing.

Good luck. Think about it. A lot.

680 a month and he says his dad doesn't give him anything? Who cares if it is a write off - you still gotta pay the 680 per month.

Dood - You have a lot to learn about the financial aspects of life. It will be one hell of a smack in the face when you have to pay for things other than just a car...

Like I said titanium grey--every little bit counts. My credit was good but I was just able to make it--and my RX8 sport package was used--had about 5,000 miles on it because the previous owner's wife got pregnant so they needed an suv or whatever; So I got a good deal--so get the f*&k out of my wallet. RX8Club doesn't pay the note -- I do; because if I wanted serious straight line performance for the money I wouldn't have gotten any RX8--I would have gotten any of the numerous cars that can out accelerate a 6spd RX8 for less money.

hey are u selling all those parts u took off? let me know...

You know, I'm getting tired of these BS posts by people who have no real good informaiton to dispense. Dude, you seem like maybe you've hung around people who know what they are talking about, got some stupid idea in your head about doing something original and came out looking like an ass when you tried to sound like you had an incling of what you were talking about. Your dad is not paying $680 a month for insurance, you won't ever swap out your auto for a manual, and the rest of you are fools for paying service to this moron.

I work 55+ hours a week, and the only thing my dad pays is my insurance, which is $680 a month (but a tax right-off). My parents may be millionaires, but my dad is not giving me anything; so he teaches me what I think are valuable lessons in life about earning what you have.

What do you do for a living?

Your profile says you work for you dad and you are still in highschool. Maybe it's outdated.

My advice; If you really love the car, and have to have a maual trannny swap, get all the parts from a European spec standard power 5 speed....you'd need the tranny, drive shaft, maybe the power plant frame, and most important the PCM. The auto PCM would freak out trying to adjust the throttle and tryong to shift a tranny that isn't there. I think the clutches and flywheels are interchangable from the 2 versions. Obviously the clutch pedal assembly and other little things. Good luck and it'd be cool to see it done.

I'd just wait for awhile regardless and see what the aftermarket has in store in terms of F.I.-- as well as the potential for a more powerful Mazdaspeed version. My plans are just to wait and trade up. Auto to manual conversion on the 4 port would not be worth it--you'd would come out cheaper out of pocket expense selling off the parts and trading up to a 6spd.

Great car, everything is awesome. It would be better if you gave me 1 mil so I can do same thing as you. :) Im young, cool, love rx8, love everything about your cars, but money isn't there. Good luck with your future mods.

The insurance is $680 per month. I have 0 points and I am the only one of the car & it is in my name. The Nissan 350z is a little cheaper believe it or not. The only reason we have the car in my name is becuase it I hit anyone, they will sue me and I have no money. Otherwise, they would sue my dad and he has a 10-million company, etc. It is more than I pay for my car payment, but it is the only safe way to go.
In regards to why I got an auto, it was becuase my dad pays my insurance and he didn't trust me at the time driving a stick as a daily driver. He said I could sell my car and get a 6-speed, but I would lose $6k in the process becuase all dealers sell @ invoice by where I am at. Ford family discounts are the usual around here. I just want a manual tranny becuase I dislike automatics.
I work for my dad roughly 50-55 hours a week, but that will be cut in half now because I start college. Buying an auto had absolutely nothing to do with the price of the car, it was just my dad's preference. That decision has bugged me everyday since I bought this car, but I like it better than my previous 3 cars. The quality isn't as good as my '04 9-3, but it is way better than my '03 Tiburon that I had. I plan on keeping this car for 4 years, and then I will get a used M3 hopefully.

I'm not calling you a liar, but I have serious doubts that your insurance is that high with no violations on your record.

When I was 19, I lived in NJ and drove a 993 Porsche. My insurance was a lot less than what you're saying, and I don't see how insurance in MI could be anywhere as bad as NJ.

As I've said in other threads, the RX-8 insurance rates are so low, that I pay less for full coverage on my RX-8 than I do on an old beat up 1988 4 banger mustang with 87 horse power with liability only.

how can your dad have that kind of networth and not have every car under a umbrella policy.............? to protect every asset in the home............that would much cheaper............

my dad is not giving me anything

I work for my dad

hmmmmm. Don't fool yourself kid.

go to progressive.com and enter in Michigan driver, 18 years old, 0 tickets, and 2004 Rx-8 full coverage. It will e-mail you the insurance price.


Troy J.

shit I pay like $380 a month for my car, full coverage, on my parents plan (3 cars, mine, 03 Audi a6, and 03 VW beetle). $660 is high, but I can believe it.

$680.00 per month for insurance is more than most people pay for their monthly car payment!

I pay $120 a month for insurance.....

$680.00 per month for insurance is more than most people pay for their monthly car payment!
heh, no joke.

I put nothing down, bought my car with GT, Navi and MS spoiler, and my monthly payments is less than that.

$680 x 12 is nearly $8000 US... now you can buy another RX-8 in 3 years with that sort of money right?

Time for my .02 cents.

I do not get you, bro. You are willing to WASTE money on getting the automatic (when you know in the back of your mind you want PERFORMANCE).


I'm getting really sick and tired of shitheads like you saying the automatic does not have "performance."

Yes, in straight line speed the 6-speed is quicker but I will GLADLY take on a 6-speed on a twisty road. I'll take my torque advantage to straight line speed. (And yes, the auto does have more torque than the manual.) Oh yeah, so you don't get confused: the on-ramp to a freeway is NOT a twisty road.

And before you run your mouth, take a look at my sig. I've modded my 8 for a purpose: performance driving. I have spent some time behind the wheel...

Damn Guy, sounds like they hit a nerve.

edit :nvm , i an't starting a flame war lol , not worth it

we all have rx-8's , so who cares ... reminds me of the rsx forums I use to goto , especially clubrsx.com .... always bashing on the autos ... errr but your theory is wrong 310 ...

Again I don't want to start a flame war ... but torque isn't everything in the twisties ...

First off , In the corners , its all about keeping your revs up , the manual has 9k redline ... anyways, with a manual you can heel-toe and match your revs so you don't slow down each time you downshift in the corner ... with the auto .. your gonna have to use your paddles or let the transmission do it yourself .. it doesn't match the revs and usually slows down.

Theres alot more you can do with a manual transmission than you can do with a auto , anyone knows that ... its a hella lot more control .. thats why almost all sports cars use manual except maybe the M3 ... but thats a different story

anyways don't want to start a flame war , lets keep it simple , automatic - not performance, but still a rx-8 , manual - performance ...

I RX-8 handles great on the track, no matter what engine. My auto with all MS suspension, and my performance goodies can keep up with a stock 350Z every time I go. Now, my buddies 330 bhp 350z is a differant story, but a stock Z is easy. I just wish I had a 6-speed so I could toast my buddies Z on the track. Besides, that 6lb-ft of torque is not that big of a deal. Anyone who knows even a little about an engine knows that 6lb-ft is no big deal.

Troy J.

Yea seriously, I dont get it with all the auto bashing. It's like a totally different car. It's an rx8 with an automatic transmission. Get over it. Oh and BTW, RX8 manual or auto is not some extreme performance car. Both are slow (comparing other performance cars in same price range) in straight line, and there isn't a big WOW difference between the auto and stick.

guys whats the argument about who cares lets take it for what it is
we all own rx8's thats it.

Insurance
im in nj any my insurance is $112 a month
but now im adding a winter car(im ashamed to say whta it is right now)
up we go:(

Haris, I own an auto! and I can admit that it is a differant feel when accelerating. I test drove it 3 times 2 weeks ago when I was close to either ordering an '05 or getting an '04 6-speed. But this has been argued so many damn times that I am tired and I need to go to bed.

TRoy J.

Perhaps the $680 a month is part of the family plan. Like, adding him as a part-timer to the Lambo, Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, TVR, Winnebago, Stealth Bomber, and Vespa that are already in the parking compound.

Apparently as far as forced induction goes--Blitz will have a supercharger out for the Automatic RX8 for $5000-$6000. That should be good for at least 50HP if not more. Why don't you wait for that?

Apparently as far as forced induction goes--Blitz will have a supercharger out for the Automatic RX8 for $5000-$6000. That should be good for at least 50HP if not more. Why don't you wait for that?

Really? Sweet!!

Jeup: If you're interested in saving more money, it might have been wiser to have had your dad purchase your car--also as a company tax write-off--and then you just make the monthly payments to him (thus no accrued interest). Just a passing thought, though.

Apparently as far as forced induction goes--Blitz will have a supercharger out for the Automatic RX8 for $5000-$6000. That should be good for at least 50HP if not more. Why don't you wait for that?

That's awesome, but $5000-$6000? I would expect S/Cs to be around 3k.

LOL--this is what i'm hearing from another post on the board here. We'll have to wait and see; once one company gets FI to the market--competition will drive the price down as others will surely emulate.

wait for the Mazda FI kit...it will be an electrically assisted turbocharger (the electric motor will force air in in the low RPM bandwidth)

Jeup: If you're interested in saving more money, it might have been wiser to have had your dad purchase your car--also as a company tax write-off--and then you just make the monthly payments to him (thus no accrued interest). Just a passing thought, though.

Thats what we do. :) My dad doesn't have a loan out for anything, except our manufacturing plant.

Troy J.

$680 a month and your dad is still in biz?!?! when i was 19 i bought a used 92 stelth twin turbo awd and aws. i gotb a great deal on the car but my ins was $505 a month! the agent told me that i was a 19 out of a posible 20 due to my age and record and oh ya and IT WAS A TWIN TURBO!!!! the 8 has no turbo and two more doors..... so why would it be more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ?

It is more a month, because the crash tests, and insurance claims will be higher cost for the Insurance company. My mom's 2004 BMW X5 is cheaper per month for insurance that my RX-8 becuase the X5 is the safest SUV ever tested, AND BMW's are built like a rock. The RX-8 is in the same quality level in regards to crash-tests as my 2003 Hyundai Tiburon that was still more than my mom's BMW X5 for me to have it my name.
The problem is that I can't insure myself on the X5 because I don't drive the X5 and my car is the RX-8.

The problem is that I can't insure myself on the X5 because I don't drive the X5 and my car is the RX-8.

I've been insured as the primary driver on an 1975 4WD ford truck from the time I was 15 to the time I got my '8. I only drove the truck for a total of 15 minutes once. If you are on a family plan, and you have lots of cars, it's best to put the high-risk persons on the cheaper to insure cars. A good insurance person will get you the best deal, even if it means them asking you to lie to them.

i want to know what your going to pay after your first dwi:D i would guess it would be somewere in the 1100 area. i dont think daddy is going to be very happy when he gets that bill. or maybe he will be....sounds like something you would post

If you are on a family plan, and you have lots of cars, it's best to put the high-risk persons on the cheaper to insure cars. A good insurance person will get you the best deal, even if it means them asking you to lie to them.

My RX-8 is the cheapest car in my family. The order goes... '04 Mazda RX-8, '04 BMW X5, '04 BMW 745i, '03 575 Maranello~soon to be traded in for a silver/black/silver caliper gallardo e-gear when it comes in.

Troy J.