a lot of **** think that a manual car makes them a "man". there is more to life than cars. why talk **** about an automatic? the rx8 is slow compared to a lot of cars.

 

I thought your posts in this thread were very worthwhile, too. I'm amazed at how many people here don't realize that there can only be one class clown at a time...and that class clowning does require some skill.

Back on topic about autos... I've only driven one autocross, and that was a very long time ago and very wierd, so I don't know what they're really like. But wouldn't an automatic be an advantage for that kind of thing? Keep both hands on the wheel, just gas and brake? I remember when Jim Hall cleaned up in USRRC and Can-Am with automatic transmissions.

Ken

 

I wasn't bashing autos...that why I put "in my opinion" cause i know some ppl around here would tear me a new one for saying stuff like that...I'm just not into auto

4 Port=less power stock
Auto= lower redline(revving this motor is what it's all about not speed)
Auto=One oil cooler stock
Auto 04= lots of problems prob the most problematic 8's

If I were to buy an auto it def would b the 6 speed/6 Port and I would be installing a second oil cooler....then it wouldn't be bad

but when it comes down to it I love being able to use the clutch with rev matching etc etc....

 

Q: Why do they make automatic sports cars?
A: So women can drive them too.

I don't really feel this way, it's just a comeback I used when a coworker with an auto Firebird called my 8 a girls car.

 

Well, I'll be going tomorrow morning I hope to check it out and possibly test-drive it. It would ultimately boil down to how much they would give me for my Jeep on trade-in. They lowball me with a crappy price and I'll just walk.

If this doesn't go through, I'll be looking again in the spring for an RX-8, probably.

 

That would be a great line to use on Hap Sharp.

Ken

 

by the way, the 6 port isn't much faster than the 4 port..i have driven both..maybe the engine is more reliable for the 6 port since they are 06+

 

If you're going to get the automatic, at least get a newer one that has the same engine as the stick. They didn't upgrade the engines in the newer automatics to the 6-port version just for the hell of it; they figured out how to make those two extra ports useful below 7500rpm.

 

Automatics just don't shift the same as manuals. You can't do things like revving the engine and slipping the clutch, or dropping into neutral and then back into 5th gear, and stuff like that. I've only had my RX-8 for three weeks now and my driving style is already starting to account for the fact that I can engage and disengage the engine from the wheels whenever I want.

 

How much do you trust the previous owner to have taken care of the engine properly?

 

you'll enjoy the car not matter transmission it has... I've never driven a 4port AT but the 6port AT is no slouch and it goes if you want the car to go. you can use the paddles to have good time and it to the red line and hear it roar. The Paddles are very forgiving about going back and forth and all over the gear board unlike a lot of other sport shifters, the lag in gear change is quick.

get what you want after you've tried them out, don't worry about people saying the AT is **** just because they said so.

again, you'll have fun either way and have a unique awesome car.

 

I'm going to make special point that the OP was interest in AutoX. If it was a track, where you may get into 5th gear or if you would need to drop a gear to enter turns, then yes the manual has the advantage there.

But my understanding of AutoX is that a car that can carry speed and avoid shifting will do best.

 

Aside from hypermiling and certain situations on ice, what advantages do you get out of being in neutral or slipping the clutch?

FWIW, other than a couple of interim beaters I've always had manual transmission cars. I enjoy shifting gears and having control over them. But there are also times (driving my wife's car on long trips, and off-pavement stuff in rented 4WDs) when it's kind of pleasant to let the auto take care of that stuff.

Ken

 

Yeah i know that lol. I had to go to work and I couldnt say that.
But I drove one and it was poop.

 

If you're seeing alot of city driving, the at may be worth it to you.

I'm totally content with my 4 port at. While I admit sometimes I wish it was an MT (mainly for the two extra gears & power), Its nice to just shove it over to auto mode and not worry about it.

It also handles amazing, just like its mt counterpart

 

this thread is full of mature posters...

If you don't mind the Auto and the purpose of the car is solely for auto-x, then I guess an auto RX-8 probably won't be all that bad for your situation.
Tell him you don't want to trade the Jeep in (regardless if you really want to or not), and if you're able to haggle it for under 9500 dollars I'd do it.

 

I fully believe that there is a virus out there that effects certain people to become anti AT. I only wish the OP had posted first in the AT threads so that maybe he could have missed some of the BS. Both the AT & MT 8s have problems and the transmission has little to do with it.

 

Well, I went by the dealership, but I wasn't able to test drive it as they haven't had a chance to clean it up yet. He said there was about 41k miles on it and it has a sunroof/moonroof. For an '04 it looked pretty good. Only a minor rock chip in the windshield and a hairline scratch on the rear driver door. Hopefully tomorrow they will have it cleaned up and priced so I can test drive it.

 

I've got another question. Did the 2004 'GT' with moonroof come with HIDs? Was it standard or an option?

 

Yes. Standard equipment.

 

Honestly, do what you want its your money, don't let other people on this forum tell you what to do. These cars aren't built for torque/hp. They are built for handling and being able to take turns and allow you to test the suspension, reason why its 50/50 distrubution. 4 port is a bit slower than the 6 port, but in the end even 6 ports aren't the fastest either. So if you want to buy the car for racing purposes, go find another car, otherwise buy it for what its built for. good luck

 

I'm really only wanting it for a bit more practical replacement for my Jeep. The only Racing I would do is AutoX every couple of months. I don't really need anything that goes fast, just something that looks nice and can handle real well. Granted, I just hope the 4AT isn't slower than a civic, even though I won't be racing them.

 

There's a lot of fast civics out there though. As far as I know, the 4AT is faster than your average stock civic.

 

This an 8 will do very well.

 

You will enjoy the 8. Ask your dealer if all the latest "flashes" have been done. Don't expect great gas mileage as you will have a car that is ready for the occasional AutoX that you want to do.