Just wondering if this is normal. Normally when you put the auto RX-8 into the manual shift mode and start slowing down to a stop, it should downshift automatically when it reaches speeds that the current gear can't sustain. It has no problems doing this from 4th to 3rd, and usually jumps from 3rd to 1st if I don't jump to 2nd myself before 1st.

What bugs me though is when I do row into 2nd before 1st, which is often, sometimes it will stay stuck at 2nd when I'm at a dead stop. I rely on it to shift itself back to 1st as from what I know, shifting into first when already moving isn't all that great for the car, so I try not to do it myself. I figure, let the car shift itself, when it knows it's time to. It's annoying when it sticks, as I'm expecting the pickup and it's not there, only to see it's still stuck on 2nd. I've had to shift it back to 1st a couple times in order to get pickup power after moving slightly in 2nd, which really doesn't feel very good.

That's happened to me too - if you don't come to a COMPLETE stop it won't shift all the way down. Slightly annoying but I got used to using the sportstronic mode to fix that issue. ;)

I noticed it doing this a couple of times. I realized it was due to not coming to a complete stop. Hasn't done it in quite a while for me.

Here's a guess. Starting in second is an option, and a useful one for icy conditions. In other words, the computer does not consider being in second while fully stopped a wrong setting that won't be accepted -- like trying to downshift into first at 60. So, if you manually choose second, it figures that you want to be in second -- same as if it was at first at full stop and you upshifted to second before hitting the accelerator.

All this is easily dealt with. If you find yourself in second when you want to be in first, just hit the downshift paddle or the shift lever.

Mitch

If I shift from 1st to 2nd and then come to a complete stop it will stay in 2nd. :mad:

If I shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd (to 4th) and then come to a complete stop it will downshift to 1st.

I'm going back to the dealership to have them look at this… again.

It's actually stuck in 2nd when I'm at a complete dead stop. If I'm simply rolling the car through a light or stop sign, it'd stay in 2nd. But even then, sometimes it'll drop itself back to first if I do a very brief stop. It's just not very consistent at doing 2nd to 1st. I realize it can be started in 2nd, but at a dead stop, it *should* go back to 1st, and leave it up to the user to put it in 2nd if needed.

The car *should* downshift to 1st no matter what; that is why I'm taking mine back later this week to look at the issue.

buy a 6 spd :D