Hi Folks...

I've decided the RX-8 is my next car. This site is great and I've learned a lot. Thing is, I need an automatic so my wife can drive it when necessary. I'm torn between getting one now and waiting for the 2006, so here is what I need to know that I haven't been able to find here already:

Any AT owners - do you think the 6-speed AT would be a significant improvement, or in other words, do you find the 4-speed lacking? Do you think the 6-speed tranny would be worth paying $4000+ extra for? (Seeing as how the 2005 is heavily discounted right now...) I'm not gonna be racing it or anything, so...

Also, I have seen intro dates for the 2006 on this forum ranging from February to June! Does anyone have any SOLID info - not just what you heard somewhere, but info from a Mazda insider or something?

Sorry if I missed relevant threads in my searches; please feel free to steer me to them. Thanks everyone!

 

I have an auto and since I'm not into street racing, or trying to prove something, it is absolutely fine. While everyone else is getting cramped legs in rush hour, you will be well rested and looking around to see others admire your car. Thre only give away that it is an auto is the 16 inch wheels if you get a base model....that can be taken care of.

 

As a very happy AT owner...I would honestly say the AT RX-8 is quite a dog if you're driving it around in full automatic mode. I personally drive just about 100% in the manual shift mode, which IMO is really the only way you'd reap any performance differences between 4 and 6 speeds anyways. That said, this car really needs at the very minimal 5 gears to make good use of the rotary's quick and high revving nature. With only 4 gears, it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R to redline 2nd gear because it's so insanely tall. If you're driving around town with the 4 speed, don't expect to play around with the rotary's higher RPMs much because of this. 6 gears would make the AT a much greater joy to drive IMO since you can hit the rotary's higher RPMs faster at lower gears.

The only drawback I think to having 6 gears on the AT is the fact that the shifting is completely sequential...you can't skip gears. So it would be a PITA to do a 6 -> 4 or 6 -> 3 for passing at highway cruising speeds. Even as it is I find it a PITA to do a 4 -> 2 when I need the power. This is what would keep me from camping out in line at the local Mazda dealer for the 6 speed AT RX-8.

 

I have a '03 JDM 4-speed AT. I'd wait for the new 212 HP 6-speed if I were you: having 2 extra gears to play with more than makes up for the sequential downshifting. Just my 2 cents.

 

Wait for the 2006 to be released, test drive it, and then test drive the older version of the automatic. That way if you don't care much for the increased performance, you can get a hell of a deal on the older ATs since they are going to take a huge nose dive in value once the 2006s roll out.

 

^What he said! Test drive them both with the 6-speed is out and you'll know your answer.

 

Thanks, that's good advice... except it means I'll have to wait until the 2006s come out in godknowswhen. I don't know if I can hold out!

 

Ngo:

 

the AT is slow
if speed doesnt matter than get it now

 

I seriously doubt you will see that great of an increase in power from the 6 speed AT. But we'll see... I can burn out on 4 speed AT fine.. =/

 

There is always the option of teaching your wife to drive a manual.

 

Yyyyeah... let's not go there...

 

either way its a huge difference in speed

 

I've got the 4AT.... they aren't changing the drivetrain just for fun. The AT could really use the extra gears even though I doubt you'll notice the bump in HP that results from Mazda using the 6port engine.

 

If you do get an auto, remember to rev that thing daily or at the very least weekly. From the sound of it on this board, some of the auto people forget about this and are having issues with carbon.

 

I hear ya, buddy. What sucks is, I KNOW my wife could learn it quickly if she wanted to. She just doesn't want to. Ah well... someday when we can afford a second RX-8, that one WILL be a manual.

 

Oh this is such a classic comment...I must use it in my sig. Thanks for the laugh!

 

Wait for the 6spd no question. If anything, it will drop the prices of the 4 speeds even more. I think this car with a 6spd auto could make quite a good combo.

 

Thanks to all for the advice. Weighing all of these opinions really helped me to make my decision. Cleoent's comment especially made a lot of sense to me.

If anyone's interested, I've decided to (sigh) wait for the '06. Very tough decision as I was all primed to buy, and I'm the very definition of impulse buyer. Still, I tend to keep a car a long time once I buy, so I guess I can wait a few months for an improved model. Good thing I drive a Toyota now - I can be reasonably sure it will hold out.

In the meantime, I'll spend a lot of time checking out my saved configuration on the Mazda site and reading posts here. And I ordered a Winning Blue die-cast to drive around on my desk at work. ("... zoom, zoom...")

Guess I'll post again in a few months...

 

I'm sorry...this thread hurts. MT is the way to go when you're driving a performance car, especially when we're talking about the rx8's gearbox.

Unless you have a disability, just learn to use the stick. It does wonders for the driving experience.

edit: tell your wives that, too

 

wives, eh?

so you've got a few of them back there? just teach em all how to drive stick!

 

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We've all heard it before. You drive what you want and leave every on else alone. I drive the auto, I can drive manual, I could care less what you think I "should" be driving.

 

Your purchase is up to you. You're just missing out, unfortunately, but yea, I shouldn't care either.

 

Nope, not missing a thing in my driving experience.

 

yes you are, sad you can't see it. I dont care what you do or dont do. There is a reason sticks are better and you clearly dont know why.