AC_SB

Hey all;

Just wondering, I've never driven a 6 speed manual before. I've driven a 5 speed manual for the last 5 years, mind you it was a neon (please dont hit me)..anyways, is 6th gear virtually the same as 5th? If I'm crusing the 410 on my way to work...would I use 6th or keep it in 5th? Oh god, someone help me before I make an *** outta myself when I t-drive the 6 tomorrow!!!

Thanks

aggietiff28

6th gear in this car is pretty much just like 5th gear in every other car. Basically an overdrive. I put it in 6th when I am cruising at highway speeds. Not much pull in 6th gear, I usually downshift back to 4th or 5th (sometimes 3rd, just because I can with the high RPMs in this car) if I want to get somewhere a little faster. Don't worry about it, if you drove a stick shift before, you will get the hang of this car easily. It is very easy to drive, it likes high RPMS...so even if you were to be driving in 5th to work, it wouldn't hurt the car. Your gas mileage wouldn't be as good, but the car would be fine. Sometimes I will even shift into sixth at 45-50mph to conserve gas (when I am feeling a little bit more reserved in the car). Hope this helps to answer your question.

Gord96BRG

Relax, it's no big deal. 6th gear is your top gear - use top gear for cruising on the highway. If you're on a 2 lane road and want to accelerate quickly to pass someone, downshift to 5th, 4th, or 3rd, depending on how quickly you want to get by! Start in first, accelerate and shift up until you get to your highway cruising speed and top gear. 6 speed, 5 speed, only difference is the number of shifts to get there. (Unless you're like some of us and skip a gear on the way up occasionally, then it's the same number of shifts! :D)

Relax, have fun! Read the owners manual, and get used to the handling before you push it. (Especially if you've never driven a RWD (rear wheel drive) car before).

Oh yeah - the stock tires are SUMMER tires, and are useless and dangerous in any sort of snow, ice, slush. That's not an RX-8 problem, it's a function of performance summer tires on ANY car trying to use them in winter conditions. If you plan to drive your 8 in winter in Canada, you MUST fit winter tires. You will hit something if you try to drive on the summer tires in slippery conditions - including the lightest amount of snow or slush, etc. There's lots of threads here in the Canada section and in the Tires and Wheels section discussing this - just do a search for 'winter' or 'winter tire' and you'll be able to find the relevent threads.

Regards,
Gordon

AC_SB

Thanks guys, I definelty appreciate all the feedback. I went on a testdrive with Oakville Mazda, and the salesguy I was with (after I drove the car) showed me how the car is SUPPOSED to be driven in his own rx8..... I'm trading in my Sport Trac for this beast and I caaaaaaaaaaaaaant wait!!!!