meh, paddle shifts are still automatics lol Good luck with whatever decision you choose :)

I was actually surprised, the last couple times ive been to the cities i have stopped by the mazda dealer (whats it called? the one by the shopping center sorta) and i havent seen a single rx8 there :/

I agreed, nothing feels more controlling in a stick shift... Especially in winter, and I DID drive in the blizzard. :eek: Throttling the clucth helped a lot!!! (Also my Hankook Ice tires may have helped)

Morries Mazda in Minnetonka and Walser Mazda in Burnsville are the big ones, both by malls... No RX-8 at Mazda I have seen, but a few at the other "non- Mazda" dealerships... Probably has to due with the discontinuance of the 8? :icon_no2:

Ugh....The Automatic is down on power....the drive experience is not even remotely the same IMHO.

Pirelli SnowSport ftw Tony.... :p

I highly recommend Manual, you can play the clutch when you are having some grip issues, and I think when to roads are dry, MUCH more fun to drive.

That is MY two cents.

BTW I have had little trouble and still rockin' the summer set!!

Yeah, I'm crazy, but what was funny was the really icy day where I passed by a pileup...with a 4x4 SUV (same one that screamed by me a few miles earlier) at the front of it!!!

Just gotta know how to play the clutch, and that no matter what vehicle you have, they all can lose traction at any time...


On another note, got a Canon Rebel T1I 15.1MP camera, can't wait to test it out, anyone want to have some photos taken with their 8? I know I am going to take a few winter ones...

own a 2004 manual in mankato mn

I have an 04 automatic 8. I love it and don't regret buying an automatic. It has the paddle shifters but it only has the 4-port engine so a little bit less horsepower. The only annoying thing I have found is all the people that tell me I should have bought a stick. Thats when I take a look at their car and usually laugh. Real car people generally prefer manual cars but whenever I talk with them about my automatic they don't look down on me, they realize I had a choice and went with the AT because I prefer it. I can give you a ride sometime if you want in the spring when I take my car out of the garage. It will be juiced as well with a 55 shot, and I have a few other fun mods as well.

When is it going to get warm?! We need a meet! Also my uncle just bought an '05 Lambo Merc Yellow... we will see that at cars and coffee this year.

Im up to 34 degrees for once over here :ugh2:

Hey, i can't remember but isnt there someone in MN who has a Mazdaspeed bumper? Just curious as to where you ordered it from. Im contemplating one as well.

That's a great idea! I think MadeULook has one - in VR no less!

I was trying to buy a MS bumper from a guy in Iowa but he wanted cash plus trade of my stock bumper. I'm someone that likes to keep stock parts in case I ever sell.

Anyone autox'n this summer? I'm signing up for the novice school in april. Sign up opens at midnight tonight. They say it usually fills up in 24 hours.

Hopefully it warms up soon so that I can start installing all the parts I have stocked up in my basement.

What do you have planned for mods?

Currently have racing beat dual res midpipe and exhaust, cobb ap, and progress tech sways.

In the basement I have tokico dspecs, tien s-techs, and corbeau seat brackets.

I currently have the bhr ignition ordered and waiting for it to arrive. This friday I get my bonus and will be purchasing evo-r end links, corbeau forza seats, Hawk HP+ pads, enkei rpf1 17x9's, and hankook rs3 255/40/17's. I think there's some other stuff but I can't remember. Some friends are coming into town at the end of march so I'm taking the week off to hang out with them and do a part install extravaganza (well, as long as the roads are clear and I can get my car out of storage).

I ran into a small drift that cracked my bumper. :( If anyone has a front bumper they want to sell, give me an email or post a reply.

Ryan
http://www.wuchifightingarts.com

Sounds like a lot of fun Pstone! I'd like to see it some time. What drop will you be running?

It's 1.4 front and 0.7 in the rear. Hopefully the 17's are too small looking with that drop. Just ordered the wheels and tires today so I should have those next week.

Is that based on any science? Do you get more than my -2 camber in front with that? How did it work at Brainerd?

I was on stock suspension, all season tires, and stock camber. It had a lot of push in the front and a bit of body roll. Some of that was probably me trying to push the crappy tires too hard. I was still hitting over 120mph on the straight and holding around 110 on the first to corners. Hopefully the combination of parts will keep the car more planted in the corner. I'm not sure on what camber I'm going to run, thinking 2.5 front and 1.8 rear. I want something that will get better tire contact in the corner without destroying tires on the street.

All I could get was 120 on the straight too. That's at hp peak! Time to turbocharge!

Yea, I thought I was going fast until a 600hp corvette flew past me going 160 or so. Scared the shit outa me.

Do you have your software tuned? I have done several dyno runs up at HiTech near Rogers. It'd be interesting to see what yours pulls. Do you have an idea of your exit speed for turn 10? I was at about 70 and have been wondering if I increase that if my top speed would increase before turn 2. I am starting to doubt it. I think me HP was 183 stock on the dynojet. I added almost 12 hp at 8800 rpm when I went to the RB software and straight midpipe, but I never had that at the track. That could be enough to increase my speed before turn 1. I will be going with Northstar BMW in May, but don't have the midpipe anymore. It was way too loud.

Not sure what my exit speed was for that corner. I'm just running the cobb stage 1 tune right now, but I'll be getting the MM custom tuning the second I get my car out of storage. At the track I was running the racing beat dual res midpipe, but I did pick up a racing beat straigth pipe over the winter. I'm thinking about throwing that on for brainerd but I'm guessing it's going to be rediculously loud. Should shoot some nice flames though!

Hey guys I wanted to let you guys know in advanced that I'm trying to get a race day going at BIR. I just found out the other day my work works really close with them and sponsors their track so we can get a discount. I hope this will go thur cuz the owners son of the Luther dealership goes there alot so yea let's hope thanks

Sup guys havent been on here in awhile..... Sad to say but i had to sell my baby due to unforseen layoffs. Hopefully when this all gets better i can get another 8. Or a 9 perhaps...? Well anyways hope your all doing well... and your 8's too.

I am sorry to hear that! I lost my job in Dec but thankfully found another. I hope all goes well for you!