Gord96BRG

For what it's worth, that technique is how ALL the magazine 0-60 times are generated on automatic trans cars. Nothing wrong with that, actually - it's far, far easier on the car than doing a neutral drop into gear as some people have suggested in other threads. As mentioned, for comparison purposes that is how the magazines generate their acceleration numbers for the RX-8 and everything else. You should see how they generate the numbers for the manual trans cars - rev it up, between 3K and 8K depending on the car and it's torque curve, and drop the clutch!

Regards,
Gordon

bwayout

:D

That would be nice, that's about the time I plain to get my RX-8 with auto (I'm married with 2 car seat aged kids too)

When I test drove an RX-8 last fall I got the impression that at the lower speeds, the auto seemd to have a little better acceleration ... but, what do I know ...

cruzdreamer

I have the auto and I am very happy with it........you may not beat the guy next to you off the line but once the power kicks in..matter of seconds it flies pretty darn good! The handling to me was way more important that the speed. How often do you drag race? I like the manual shift mode.....it's fun and gives the feel of the stickshift. It's a fun car and it's has killer looks in and out. People think it's a $50,000 car! Someone said they feel like they were in a Porsche!!! Many sweet looks and comments everyday!! You decide!!

Outlaws eXtreme

Notice the people that commented about Auto are some of the people that drive in OC or LA... the traffic here is one of the worse you'll ever face. Everyday my commute for 21 miles takes 1 hour coming to LA, and another 1 1/2 hour going back to home. It really is a pain.. Besides, in LA, it's all about All Show and no Go... You can't really race someone here on the freeway, the traffic is too congested.

G8rboy

I understand everyone that would rather drive auto because of traffic conditions, but I'm curious why those that wanted manual but bought an auto because of their wives don't just teach their wives how to drive a stick?

jackyche

Its actually very simple. If she's not willing to learn to drive an automatic WELL. What makes you think she's gonna learn to drive a manual WELL?

We all know there's a learning curve to driving a manual. For those who sees it as a chore rather than an experience, that learning curve is greatly exagerated and leads to .... uh, lets just say I wouldn't want to be any where near her when she's on the road ...

You know how there's that one dude that spends 10 minutes backing in and out of a parking spot "trying" to parallel park? Imagine that person with a stick shift! Ha!

Rx8Past

I have the auto, and even though many people my age drive manuals I dont feel any less of a driver with my auto. I like be able to do stuff when I'm in the car, sometimes I just need to take that important cell phone call, and I would never dream of talking on the phone while driivng stick shift. Anyways, the auto is great, no stalling, no clutch service, and a very smooth ride. I too bought the car for looks and appeal, and I would definitely trade hp for more mpg. However I've learned to live with the mpg issue. I think you would be safe buying an auto, no worries.

G8rboy

Fair enough... and those of us on the road thank you : )

However, if I didn't think my wife could drive well, the last thing I would do is let her behind the wheel of my 8 ; ).

Regardless- buy it, you'll love it. The paddle shifters are cool as hell... that was a very smart move by Mazda for that sporty feel.

MEGAREDS

There are a few things I have yet to see pointed out here...

Pros: An undisputed benefit of the AT is that it is $1500 cheaper... enough to buy the winter wheels or some of the extra fuel you'll need. The AT has slightly higher torque (164 lb-ft@5000RPM compared to 159lb-ft@5500RPM), but when I'm being serious I doubt anyone would really care about that small difference. The AT is easy to drive in traffic and is condusive to allowing others to drive your car, which I think is benefit -- although this has also been disputed. The highway mileage on the AT is supposed to be 1mpg better, but I think AT owners are doing a bit better than that in real-world driving. I'm getting about 19mpg in suburban driving.

Cons: On the down side, the AT is ECU limited to 125mph, so if you are planning on outrunning the police, you may find that you are handicapped by the 15 or so mph that comes from the MT's two extra intake ports. Its also been shown that the AT owners are flooding their cars much more than the MT owners (see this thread). I think it may have something to do with the two extra air intakes, but I'm not a mechanic. You will be unable to install Canzoomer's ECU mod to the AT as, last time I checked anyway, he said he had no plans to build one. (Then again, there's another $700 or so saved. Boy, the AT is looking way cheaper!) Gordon has also speculated that the AT may not hold its value very well when the 2006 5-speed AT comes out. There is also a distinct lack of respect from the MT owners to contend with. They won't admit it, but I think they talk about us when they go to their double-secret "MT only" area that they pretend doesn't exist...

I've got no basis to compare the performance of the AT to the MT. I'm coming from a '91 AT Civic, with less than 100 HP, so you can imagine the difference between that and the 197HP my 8 has. That disclosure having been made, I'm very happy with my "high torque" 8. I took it up to Milwaukee last weekend (about 1 hour highway driving) and was close several times to drawing a ticket. The car has a hard time driving 60-65mph... (where I expect the better gas mileage is). That's probably true of any of the cars that the 8 competes with, but I am often very surprised to see myself tooling along at 80mph passing everything else on the road. It just doesn't seem to be that fast. And, as noted, the car handles beautifully. I'm particularly in awe of the brakes. Again, with no basis to really compare to those of other cars, the brakes on my car amaze me. The car has also been handling very well in the snow (with winter tires, of course) -- the balance of the car is what seems to really impress people, and the AT owners have that right along with our lower-torque siblings.

My guess is that the AT is a good compromise for someone looking for a cool daily ride that doesn't want the hassle of shifting in traffic, but if you are someone that is used to driving a manual transmission, you may regret the AT... anyone want to trade me for a month or two so we can make a fair comparison?

SCiMMiA

I offered last month to trade my stage1 MT for an auto to try it out just for fun (I don't wish I had one, I'd just like to experience the car we know and love in a different way). Too bad we're more than a couple miles apart, Mega.

G8rboy

I'd take you up on the offer for a couple hours - I would like to try out those paddles in action : )

-Sean

Monique

hey guys, i resent that!! some girls (myself inluded) can handle mt's well. i can even talk on the phone, put on lipstick & flirt w/cops WHILE i'm driving! hehe. kidding.

but really sticking up for myself & other ladies in mt's out there. the only prob my 8 has seen is a scratch on the wheel while my HUSBAND was driving! needless to say no one drives my 8 but me... and i do it well.

ps was only on this thread to see how the auto's rate, but i dont see how they can be as much fun or as quick as the mt. :p

fan

Well, as hard as I've tried, there's just some things she doesn't seem to catch. All too often she would come to a stop at a light, then try to start off in 3rd, not 1st. There are other examples, but you get the idea. Anyway, tried to change her ways, but couldn't.

Figured the next car should be an automatic. I've replaced enough clutches now, thank you very much.

Monique

ugh! i do understand, a/t great choice for u!

aaymax

I just picked up an 8 last week, decided to go auto just b/c i commute in a lot of traffic and going auto was the smarter choice for my sanity. to tell you the truth, i have absolutely no regrets. if you're looking for a pure sports car, i'm sure you know auto is just not the way, but if are looking for a great car with great handling, good looks and some serious pep not to mention a decent amount of hp, this car is your dream come true. i'm a former gti and a4 driver, and the 8 beats them both hands down in terms of everything. i would have no hesitation in telling you not to worry, the auto should serve you more than well.

Outlaws eXtreme

If someone was trying to get a "pure" sports car, they wouldn't even get an RX-8 Manual.. come on, 238 vs. Mitsu Evo 8 vs WRX STi vs S2000.. it's not even fair.

G8rboy

Well, the S2000 is the only "pure" sports car you listed... but I agree with you with that choice. The RX8 is the closest 4 seater to a pure sports car.

hogleg.45

I sold an '83 Rx7 manual to get my auto 8. I don't miss it a bit. For a little fine tuning, I'll use the shifter or the paddles. Speed isn't my concern, or I wouldn't have gotten any 8 at all! If I want to rock and roll, lean and shift, smoke and rumble, I jump on my Harley. I am intrigued about the possibility of a 5 speed auto, but I couldn't wait another model year for my red 8.

rx8power

Hey dude,

I got an automatic just because of my wife, she can't drive a 6 speed and I'm sure wasn't gonna spend $27,000 in a car so she can learn.

The automatic is slow, but you can't notice that **** one you go over 70MPH, as far as other cars, yes, they will kick my butt in the 1/4 of mile, but lucky me, the ones I've found, were on the interstate, and that's were the full power of an automatic is.

Good luck

RX8Power

Katchoo

Rule #1: Always choose your races...never race them on thier terms.
Rule #2: Read rule #1 again.

Street racing...ahhhhh...zoom-zoom!

Anyway, I have an auto and, for my needs (daily driver to work etc.) it works for me. Plus...the steering wheel shifters look snazy.

Being 'cool' in this car is what it is all about. It is not a good race car as pointed out by numerous posts above. But it is cool - looks and technically - and that is what turns heads.

Rotary Nut

Don't have any real issues with the tranny or performance but yesterday it was raining pretty good out and twice as I was going to up-shift I got nothin' but windshield washer fluid! When the wiper stalk is in the normal speed position it sits right behind the center of the right hand Up-shift paddle. If you have fat fingers there is not too much space between the two and you wind up blipping the washers instead of the shifter.

Has anyone else had this happen to them?

my10ae

I bought my auto 8 because of the price (with dealer discount) and because I loved the way the paddle shifters felt. I can and do drive manual cars with no problems, along with my fiancée. Shifting or learning to shift was not the issue, I wanted something different. I have a 6sp Miata (same 6sp they used in the 8) and if I want to shift to my hearts I'll jump in. The plus side to the Miata is that the top comes down.

So here is one auto 8 owner than has a soon to be wife than can shift with no problems, but we liked the auto, so we went with it.

MrDave

my10, I gotta say, the black black/red combo is the best for this car, assuming it is clean and shiny - it just looks unbelievably awesome (good pics by the way on your site). I would have gone for that combo but I can't get leather with no sunroof, and therefore would have to have the seat all the way down all the time at my height. Good thing I could still get DSC/Xenon/Fog without the sunroof, else I'd be really pissed. Also good thing the cloth is of a good quality. Sorry to stray off topic, but I had a gander at your pics and couldn't resist the commentary.

My soon-to-be delivered 8 is Black w/Sport + Rotary, MT

And Megareds, don't worry - there is no haughty patronizing of you AT owners from me or most other of the MT drivers, I think/hope. It's not like when the automatic is installed, the car suddenly looks and behaves like a Neon, or worse, a 350Z! :D

ByeByeSaturn

Last post was by me, not Mr. Dave. That was my first run-in with the caching problem on this forum.

trinity77

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kaliken
[B]first off. Thank you for protecting us from your wife! I know too many girls that are like that.. QUOTE]

Watch it bud!!!