Just picked up our new RX-8 yesterday. Automatic, as wife will be commuting 30 mi on US Route 1 every day. Stop and go (with a lot of "stop").

I was surprised when I read the manual and it says redline on the automatic is 7,500, but is 9K on stick. I plan to break this in properly, so I won't be revving it for a few weeks, but WHAT GIVES? Will the engine in the automatic rev to 9k too?

 

i dont believe the auto tranny can handle it so its limited to 7.5k rpm's. should have got manual tranny

 

beef up the torque converter for a higher stall rate and get yourself a AP. Thats really the only way to get the use of the full power band.

 

it's no secret. says so in all the brochures too, not to mention the tach. 7500 is still pretty good, but if you were fancying the 9k redline, should've gotten the manual, always...

 

you are going to have fun in the car regardless if you get the pretty beep at 7500 or 9000

 

Much less power too..

 

....who says the AT transmission can't hold 9k redline? There's plenty of AT's running stock torque converters with unlocked redlines. Not to mention, there's quite a few FI AT's now that are still running stock torque converters.

I'd like to pose a question - How many AT's have had transmission problems, and how many MT's have had transmission problems?

 

guys (and i know most have been helpful and the others just giving a funny jab) - if he were considering whether or not to get an AT with a 7500 RPM it would be one thing to mention the lack of power. since he has already purchased, there's no reason to start adding to any buyer's remorse for him. someone coming to these boards new is looking for help, not looking to be told they made a mistake.

to the OP, you can unlock and get to 9000 RPMs if that's important to you but if you're just looking to run your car stock, you won't have the 9000 RPM level but you still have a great handling car. enjoy it and be sure to post some pictures.

i'll get off my soap box now and i'm sure i've been guilty of mentioning the lack of power of the AT but before it went down that road with everyone jumping on that bandwagon, i figure i'd at least try to see if the remainder of the thread can remain kind to our new user.

 

Big plus one.

 

The A/t transmission will handle reving to 9000 rpm quite nicely and even higher while reving. Notice I said reving, when driving the tranny does not like to shift above 8700 RPM but does not have a problem reaching the 9000 mark. If you do not have a Cobb AP I doubt that you can get the higher RPM as the stock system is set lower. So far only JinDesu as given you good advise.

 

Guys, thank you for the feedback and, no, I'm not offended at the "shoulda bought stick" comments, nor do I have buyers remorse.

The real reason I asked was - last night I watched the 11 minute informational/promotional DVD that came with the car. And one of the things they stressed was the high revving nature of the rotary, and the fact that it makes horsepower at the higher revs. So I was surprised that they decided to limit the revs with the AT - seems like if that's where the engine makes power, they should have mated it with a stronger AT.

But buyers' remorse? - not even close. This is one fun car to drive.

 

As has been noted in the previous answers, strength of the AT itself is not the issue.
The motor (in its NA form) doesn't make a whole lot of power above the OE redline and the shift quality starts to suffer when the RPMs go much above that.

 

I've read on here somewhere that possibly Rotary Performance www.rx7.com has/can make some sort of shift kit for us but I haven't been able to confirm this yet. Maybe with the shift kit and the Cobb allowing the higher rpm the tranny would shift better around 9k or higher. Like I said, I have no confirmation that a shift kit exists for us I've just read it on here in very few posts.

 

+1

sorry i didn't mean to be discouraging. i know if it were me, hearing the beep at 7500 is just as thrilling as hearing it at 9k, as someone else already said. i'd get an auto 8 as a daily driver...if i can afford having 2 =P if i have an auto 8 as a daily driver, i'd definitely drive a lot more, too. i wasn't aware you can *unlock* the rev limiter on the autos. sound pretty awesome, but if you bought the car brand new, i'd wait a bit before doing that, if only to avoid the dealer voiding the warranty if they find out...

 

Stu

Drive the car and enjoy it. In all honestly both auto/man cars in N/A form don't hold up to the competition in a straight line. Bring the car to the back road twisties and that's where the fun is to be have with the 8.

I'm driving an auto as well ( not by choice) and still have a great ride every time I turn the key. There are way to get more power out of this car but the money involved can make the everyday driver a little discouraged. The guy's here will tell you the same.

Oh. Welcome to the club!

 

Here I found a nice video for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F81A3...eature=related

 

Welcome. We love to see pics so show your 8 somewhere on this site. It is a fun but high-maintenance car.

 

sweet. tempts me to mess with my stock setup just for the extra rpms

 

One thing many of you overlooked is the fact that he said.
New Rx8.
Breaking In
He has the Owners Manual
He has Instructional DVD

All of this leads me to believe he has an 09-10 (S2) RX8. Thus, he's not unlocking anything, at least via Cobb anytime soon, seeing as how S2 Rx-8's are not supported yet.

I'm in no way trying to burst your bubble or instill buyers remorse, I just don't want you to be misled in thinking that this would be a feasible task at this time.

Nonetheless, Gratz on Purchase,
Welcome to the Addiction.
Enjoy your car.

 

ive owned 2 rx8s one AT and one MT

AT transmission just died on me

MT transmission one bad synchro

 

Very good observation symbiotic, that would be a bummer. But I guess it's up to OP to care or not. 7500 or 9000, it's still a wonderful feeling to get up there.

 

I'm interested on the reason for the AT failure, did you investigate??? Tell me more. I only know of three failures, one by design and two internal problems that were factory related. Always interested in the AT.

 

95,000+ miles on stock AT. Consider it somewhat reliable. I've had no issues in any way, shape, and or form.

Please explain how the AT tranny just died.