Hmm..Let's see how many are getting the auto or manual.
IMHO to appreciate this car fully is to have the 6 speeder zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom and ZOOOMMMM!!

pretty obvious a large majority of the people here are going to get manual. :cool:

Yeah but I know there's a few who say that but don't even know how to drive a stick.

yeah... i'm considering getting the manual... my family has two automatic cars so i've never really had the oppurtunity to learn manual outside of driving my friends standard chevy sprint for brief periods of time...
so, neone who wants to impart knowledge on how to drive a stick well, PLEASE DO!
much thnx to those who help out!

The trick is to not let the clutch go too fast or too slow as you press the gas pedal. Don't rest your clutch foot on it's heel, use your toes and as you release the clutch slowly you will come to a "breaking point", then gradually give it some gas.

when i drive i let go of the clutch very slowly,and when it grabs then i push on the gas and then let go of the clutch.

heh, thanks for all the tips. umm...also just wonderin, how long did it take u to get used to the stick?

an hour

edit: i learned manual while i took "behind the wheel training" my instructor was cool and let me burn out. left a nice fat black streak in my neighborhood. lol.

i didn't think too much and purchased the RX-8 even i drove the manual. i am the one who is learning manual now by using my friend RX-7 FC. I think it is too late beause i will get my 8 during the summer. i will be the professinal manual driver when i get my baby.

I've owned about 30 cars with manual transmissions, and I've had too many problems with clutches, synchros, etc., that I switched to automatics. I haven't had any problems, and no more stalling or graunching gears.

If you live in an area with a lot of stop and go traffic, a manual tranny can be a PITA. That goes double for those in San Francisco with all those hills.

I will take the manual though. In most cars offered with both options, the manual is cheaper, faster and gets slightly better gas mileage. With the Auto equipped 8 having much less power, I would think the performance #'s are going to be fairly wide spread.

It is also more engaging and fun to drive a manual transmission. As for learning, keep in mind that it is a fluid motion with both feet and that the clutch take up point is going to differ from car to car (models that is - it should be fairly consistent with all RX-8s). If you're paying attention to what you are doing, wear and tear should be minimal. I have close to 140,000 miles on my car with the original clutch and tranny, and I am by no means perfect. I have had those occasional instances of mis-shifts, early clutch releases and grinding of gears.

Manual transmissions from the last 10 years are much better than they ever have been. Much Smoother operation, with self adjusting hydraulic clutches, and shorter throws. I hope that no one opts for the auto simply because they don't know how to drive the manual. People have their reasons - I understand, but it is much more satisfying, and easier than ever, to drive a manual tranny.

Given that I've seen my dealer's Inventory/Allocation report, the percentage of cars ordered and allocated seem to match the poll results pretty closely, if not a slightly higher percentage of automatics. Still, the acutal percentage on automatics to manuals will likely be one automatic for every four manuals or so.

I would think that automatic RX-8s will sit on the lot longer than manuals, which is why dealers are at least initially ordering more manuals (at least mine is). More initial sales usually means larger future allocations for dealers. Once the initial rush of 6MT "enthusiasts" have had their fill and the car becomes more popular, that might change a little though.

manual

Originally posted by Stretch
heh, thanks for all the tips. umm...also just wonderin, how long did it take u to get used to the stick?

Took me 2 days without having a single stall. But I did stall occasionally after I learned. Hey It happens.

i miss the manual soooo much. dont think i'll get an auto agian!

Neither. but if I was getting one it wouldn't probably be neither since RX8's auto tranny sucks big time. Why couldn't have they just used similar tranny as in Acura CL and G35c? It would be shame to get beaten by sentra with RX8 auto. Let's hope mazda fixes this issue and makes RX8 auto a sports car and not a mazda sentra with rotary. At least if they use lower RPM and mazda6's 5 speed transmission, then it will be alot better. But anyways, auto always is better IMO especially with formula type shifters as in 8.

Auto, as much as I'm ashamed to admit it.

But it's not my choice; I swear :(

Neither parent can drive a stick and has no desire to learn, and it's their money so I guess I'll take what I can get.

I'd rather have an automatic RX-8 than no RX-8 at all.

You got like 3 other auto cars. Why would you get RX8 auto if you like stick more? Can't your parents drive your nice new G35 and A4? Maybe they want piece of rx8 too. hehe

It's not that simple, sadly :)

The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...

Originally posted by laferle
It's not that simple, sadly :)

The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...

My what a dilema you're in. Only my dad and brother know how to drive sticks. My brother and i love our cars so we treat each others like if it was our own if we ever borrowed one anothers.

Parentals leave our cars alone, seeing how they have 3 cars b/t the 2 of them anyway.

Originally posted by laferle
It's not that simple, sadly :)

The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...

Since you have automatic prelude, let me ask u a question. Is it fast? How much do you think runs 0-60 and 1/4. I know its similarly made for track like RX8, but just wondering.

I've never formally clocked it. It definitely 'feels' faster than it is, especially when you can see and hear the VTEC at high revs. In terms of it actually being fast, it's probably pretty slow; i'd estimate the 0-60 to be in the mid to high 7's and the quarter mile in about 16.

So basically it's like automatic Mazda6? Crap. I can't find a decend sporty car that runs pretty quick at 0-60 and 1/4 mile with automatic tranny. Only nissan has achieved that with infiniti but it looks ugly imo.

If my parents were buying me a RX-8 - I would kiss their As$#$S!
Auto or stick:D

I'll bring this thread back to the top for interested parties and to prevent a duplicate poll from being created again.

To keep it on topic, I'm getting the manual. :D

manual, my first car was an auto and there is no way no hell i'm ever goin back to that hell, both my parents drive a manual as well (mom has a stock 02 civic, dad has a modified 03 wrx), the paddle shifters on the auto sound cool in all, but i need the clutch to drive, i learned that the mazda rev it up event when i was forced to drive an auto

Everyone shouts about how the auto will be "under-powered."

People make it seem like the manual rx-8 will throw you hard into the seat, while the automatic will sluggishly crawl across a flat highway ("move it, grandma!"). And everyone here seems freaked out by the extra second or two on the 0-60.

But for "normal" aggressive highway driving (i.e., NOT street racing), how much power and speed difference are we *really* talking about? People here make it seem like the auto will be 50% weaker. I'm guessing the difference is less than 7%.

Anyone care to offer a better guess?

Originally posted by mazdabob
I've owned about 30 cars with manual transmissions, and I've had too many problems with clutches, synchros, etc., that I switched to automatics. I haven't had any problems, and no more stalling or graunching gears.

LOL, do you know how to drive a manual?

:eek:

Manual

How do you drive an auto tranny?

Digisan, are you suggesting I don't know how to drive a manual? I've autocrossed, know how to double-clutch, have driven cars with non-synchro 1st gear, and driven hundreds of different cars with manuals. I was just saying that automatics are pretty indestructable, but my cars with manuals have had mechanical problems with synchros, clutches, through-out bearings, etc. And no matter how good you think you are, everyone at some time misses a shift, grabs the wrong gear, or stalls out with a manual.

Shifting gears, downshifting specifically, is what cars like the RX7 and RX8 were made for. If you can't get the RPMs up to 7500 or 8000, why have a rotary?

Just curious: what about people who have a disability & can't drive stick because of it?

After reading these replies, it seems to me that y'all would advise them NOT to get an 8, even if it's an AT.

A sports car with an automatic transmission has no soul.

People buy cars for different reasons. Some want everyday transportation - driving in traffic, running errands, etc. Some people want a show car and rarely drive it, and are paranoid about keeping it clean. Some want to race. I like to take long trips - mountains, interstates, small towns, gravel roads, etc. An automatic is easier to drive on steep roads and unfamiliar territory. Driving a car like the RX-8 on a long trip is fun no matter which transmission it has. To each his own!:p

1) the 8 is actually a great sports car for those with handicaps: sports car with free style doors. probably much easier to move into and shift a chair in behind with both those doors open.

2) i found i had trouble driving manual until i took my shoes off for about an hour. amazing how much better you can feel that grab point in sock feet. disclaimer: this is illegal most places, something about proper protective foot wear or something

//ejw

Originally posted by JaxFL_RX8
Shifting gears, downshifting specifically, is what cars like the RX7 and RX8 were made for. If you can't get the RPMs up to 7500 or 8000, why have a rotary?

The automatic is shiftable, so it's possible (though unconfirmed) that you can still push the revs.

Still, the "why have a rotary" comment bugs me. There's more to this car than just wankel. There's the look, the handling, the doors to impress your friends, etc.

I, along with a ton of other people, don't consider myself to be "buying a rotary", I'm buying an *RX8*!

Originally posted by Lex


The automatic is shiftable, so it's possible (though unconfirmed) that you can still push the revs.

Still, the "why have a rotary" comment bugs me. There's more to this car than just wankel. There's the look, the handling, the doors to impress your friends, etc.

I, along with a ton of other people, don't consider myself to be "buying a rotary", I'm buying an *RX8*!

Chill dude. I'm sure the AT will be fine, but if I'm not mistaken, it comes with 40 less bhp. Anyhoo, whoever mentioned automatic sports cars not having soul was on to something. ATs are for chicks.

The look you speak of was inspired by that Wankel, the car was built around it. It resonates in the ashtray. LOL.

I'm getting an RX-8 for me, not to impress anyone.

Originally posted by JaxFL_RX8


Chill dude. I'm sure the AT will be fine, but if I'm not mistaken, it comes with 40 less bhp. Anyhoo, whoever mentioned automatic sports cars not having soul was on to something. ATs are for chicks.

You know, after my quote above, I figured somebody might actually catch a clue and ease up on this but I guess not. There are people out there who want a sports car, but haven't really had any good options until this car came out. They'll not only not be stepping on the clutch, they won't be stepping on the gas or brake either. THERE HAPPEN TO BE SOME GOOD REASONS TO GET THE AT FOR SOME FOLKS beyond not knowing or wanting to learn to drive manual.

JaxFL_RX8,

Thanks for posting the image in your sig line. I'm changing my avitar to that. I was getting tired of the old one, people started using it after me, and last, it didn't fit my username.

To keep this on topic, :) , and not being labeled a "high-jacker", I have to think back - I believe this is the first manual CAR I have owned since my 78 Fiat X-19. Got rid of it right before I got married in 81. What a super-handling go kart on wheels. Money pit though, but it was a fun drive, especially with the removable targa top.

Didn't think it was that long since I owned a manual car. I guess it was convenience - my "family" vehicles automatics, my "work" vehicles (trucks, never owned a SUV) - manuals.

I don't understand why people are making such a big deal about transmissions. Is a Yugo with a 4-speed a sports car? A sports car has many features - a strong engine, quick steering, a taut suspension, great seats, good looks, and a quick shifting gearbox. Shifting a manual gearbox is just one part of it. By the way it is possible to shift an AT manually, which I often do. Everyone has their own priorities and preferences.

I drove a manual supra for 3 years *(nonturbo) all I can say is NEVER AGAIN!!!!


I had my car in the shop to get new shocks and I got a rental (auto corolla) and OMG what a joy to mindlessly sit in a car and just push the gas and go. No more hand cramps and stiff legs.


Nope sorry from now on only AUTOs.

I WISH the rx-8 has the Seq. Manual shifter like the BMW m3 and Toyota mr2 does. Those things are sweet and put the manu-matic to shame...


Flipside is that thread with the auto 0-60 time at 9.5 seconds... um oh my.

i dont understand it either about these transmission wars!! I personally dont care if someone buys the 8 in manual or auto. the Rx8 can and should be driven by any1 who have the money and love the car, PERIOD! And Rx8 is not a sport car!!

I wish and wish everyday, that the 8 would be sold like hotcakes, in manual form or auto. All i want is that they bring back the new rx7, a real sport car!! :D ...so we should all encourage the consumers to buy the rx8 no matter what... hihihi ;) just my .02

Originally posted by Cihuuy
i dont understand it either about these transmission wars!! I personally dont care if someone buys the 8 in manual or auto. the Rx8 can and should be driven by any1 who have the money and love the car, PERIOD! And Rx8 is not a sport car!!

I wish and wish everyday, that the 8 would be sold like hotcakes, in manual form or auto. All i want is that they bring back the new rx7, a real sport car!! :D ...so we should all encourage the consumers to buy the rx8 no matter what... hihihi ;) just my .02

yea I agree with you. Also manual transmission in any car doesn't make it a pure sports car or whatever. Same for automatic transmission. RX8 will be a GT car. Not sports car. And I still believe that 0-60 = 9.5 sec. for automatic rx8 is a bit weird. It'll probably be more like 7-7.5 seconds.