I test drove 2 different Rx8's one with 206 miles, and another with 130 miles on it. I noticed that the throwout bearing is incrediblly loud. It's noticable from inside or outside of the car, with the windows up or down. It almost sounding like pinging at one point that's how loud it was. Push in the clutch and it dissappears. Also the gear shifter vibrates and moves back and fourth more than any other car i've seen before. I've had 9 Rx-7's and this was never an issue. The gear shifter shakes like the car is idling at 200 rpm and it's about to stall, it's that bad, but the tach purrs at just under 1k rpm. Do you think the tranny just isnt broken in yet? Odd that 2 cars did the exact same thing, I am going to drive a 3rd today and see if it does the same.

alot of cars have vibrating shifters. evo, 350z, sti, etc

I agree, sounds like the clutch throwout bearing is bad.

You just have to idle, and put the clutch in and out, the noise drops by 50%.

I have lots of experience buying used cars, but if a clutch made that noise, I would not buy it.

We will have to see how it performs over the next few months, maybe it will 'quiet down'.
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doc

I agree, the shifter shakes more than I would like. And the trans at idle sounds scary, metal on metal sound (with clutch out, clutch in and it's silent). Not really loud in my opinion but hard to ignore once you notice it. I'm glad to hear mine's not the only one though, I was just about to post something about this. Any other potential sources for this sound? Anybody not hear this with their car?

It almost seems that all RX-8s are like this. Which would indicate the sound is normal. Here's another thread concerning the same sound.

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7404

Isn't that the Plot bearing (makes noise with clutch out) but depressed is no noise.