RyanX-8

iTrader: (1)

Comes down to practicality.... which will YOU enjoy more.

VikingDJ

I never drove a newer auto RX8. I did have an auto base 04 RX8 with the 16 inch wheels as a loaner when mine was in for problems a couple of times. That car was just a good looking machine to cruise around in, nothing more really. My GF at the time loved it though.

Anyone driven both the old auto and the new? I'm sure it's at least gotten somewhat respectable. Nothing was more embarassing during the week I had that loaner car then when my friend's 03 Eclipse GT destroyed me. I'll never forget that. hehe

motorups

I'm not the one to ask since I have an 07 auto. Did not drive the manual long enough in a test to be able to swear an auto is the only way to go. For sure...mostly the manual is what you want to feel connection to the car at all times.

Came from a mx5 07 auto though only put a few thousand miles on that ride. Did jump in a stick mx5 when my brother and I stopped by the mazda dealer (it has a retrackable hard top same color copper red mecia). It was great fun to drive down the road changing the gears. Got back to the dealer and drove off in my mx-5 and started to smile being able to toss her into auto mode with the flick of my wrist.

Most sport car owners would die before giving up a manual but I would think if I did the same test with an manual rx8 same result would take place. I would hop back into my auto rx8 and smile as soon as the desire to toss her back into auto mode happened.

She is my 75% solution....
I will have to go check my login/password list cause I think I have two log ids on this site....way too many login ids and passwords I'm telling you.

Anyway, buy what you want. If you enjoy driving a stick you will know it when you drive the rx8. If you try the manual then drive the auto and say to yourself 'heck I can live with what the auto offers' then that is the way to go. They are not the same and you won't do many modes (I'm guessing) with the auto.