In all the discussion of automatic vs. manual, no one seems to mention the fact that the automatic is shiftable. I've driven many different manumatic/shiftronic/tiptronic systems, and the responsiveness has ranged from atrocious (Hyundai) to better-than-nothing (VW) to pretty cool (Mazda6).

The bad shiftronics really limit you on when you can shift down or up. The good ones just let the driver decide when it's right.

So, any thoughts on the performance of the shiftable automatic (esp. with the paddles)? I'd love to hear from anyone who already has an automatic.

Thanks!

The RX8 auto with the paddles is probably a decent auto. The main down side is that it is still an auto. You only have four gears to play with and a lower redline. That alone should drop it down quite a few notches compared to the manual. You also don't have a clutch, which in my opinion is one of the best parts.
So the shiftable is better than a regular auto, but not nearly as good as a true manual.

Right, I understand that it's still an automatic and not as fun as a manual. Four gears vs six, etc.

What I'm wondering is, has anyone had any experience driving the RX-8 automatic, who can comment on the shiftability? If it still lets me push the revs when in shiftronic mode (that is, if I can force it to upshift late, and if it doesn't prevent me from shifting down too hard), then it's probably a good deal of fun.

Not Laguna Seca fun, but the 101 freeway in Silicon Valley doesn't really resemble Laguna Seca.

Originally posted by Lex
Right, I understand that it's still an automatic and not as fun as a manual. Four gears vs six, etc.

What I'm wondering is, has anyone had any experience driving the RX-8 automatic, who can comment on the shiftability? If it still lets me push the revs when in shiftronic mode (that is, if I can force it to upshift late, and if it doesn't prevent me from shifting down too hard), then it's probably a good deal of fun.

Not Laguna Seca fun, but the 101 freeway in Silicon Valley doesn't really resemble Laguna Seca.
Sorry about not really answearing your question. I don't have any experiecne with the 8. Sorry.:(

Good question Lex!

Maybe one of the Japanese owners have driven an AT.

Here's a another question....didn't the 3rd gen rx-7 have an auto option? Why didn't the redline decrease on it? (or did it?) Or does the 8 have an all-new transmission (smaller?), not the borg-warner style? If the torque converter in the 7 can handle it why can't the 8? I'm just confused as to why all of a sudden high rev is such a concern for the autos.
Anybody have thoughts on this?

The RX-8's redline is also higher than the RX-7's redline, maybe that has something to do with it

Originally posted by norats
Here's a another question....didn't the 3rd gen rx-7 have an auto option? Why didn't the redline decrease on it? (or did it?) Or does the 8 have an all-new transmission (smaller?), not the borg-warner style? If the torque converter in the 7 can handle it why can't the 8? I'm just confused as to why all of a sudden high rev is such a concern for the autos.
Anybody have thoughts on this?

The FD auto's redline was 7krpm ... compared to the 8krpm on the 5MT. I'm sure the RX-8 book says something about the auto tranny, but I haven't read that section yet. Also I'm too lazy to go look it up ;)

According to an article in the R&T RX-8 special issue (p. 20): "The automatic version's lower output is traceable to rpm limitations of the torque converter." Interestingly, the peak torque on the automatic car is higher, 164 versus 159 lb.-ft.

Aren't these autos with manual mode about the same as manually shifting a regular auto (L-2-3-D)??

yep, there're the same, only this does it electronically

There is one important difference with a tiptronic-type automatic - the transmission matches revs when shifting (blips throttle when downshifting). I have a VW Passat with tiptronic, and the manual shifting mode is great.