ACRX8

I ordered my RX-8 Automatic with the sport package.

Has anyone else ordered an automatic?

:D

cueball

I don't think many people are willing to give up the 40 HP for a little extra convenience every once in a while. Not to mention rowing your own gears is very satisfying.

Z's Nightmare

it would be more convient for me to get a automatic since none of my family knows how to drive a stick but i dont want to sacrafice the power and assessories... so stick it is

said7

Go with the manual. I got an auto for the same reason you posted on my last car and boy did i regret it!!!

Trust me you want the manual :D

bbertha37

And this is going to have quite a manual transmission. The RX-8's gearbox has been getting a lot of praise from whoever has driven it so far. And I quote. "the gearbox is a delight to use. Throws through the narrow gate are short and positive, requiring no more than a hand flick to swap cogs." Now why would you want to get an automatic?

RotorMotor

Oh come on now... Don't be rediculous. Not everybody wants this car to race stop lights, dude. There are thousands of people in this world that don't know how to drive manuals (not that I'm one of them, but still). Regardless, eventually manual transmissions will probably disappear all together except for a very few cars. Get over yourself.

rotarynews.com

While we at rotarynews didn't get a chance to drive the one automatic at Laguna, the folks from Car and Driver did, they were un-impressed, almost to the point of cringing.

I don't know if it was just the fact that the slushbox zaps that much more horsepower to the rear wheels or what, but they said it was disappointing, after driving the 6 speed.

Fëakhelek

Less forum posts, more Laguna Seca test drive article. Somebody lock the doors at RotaryNews until that article's done. I'm about to wet myself in anticipation. :D :D

rotarynews.com

Well, I'm done, just waiting for Berny to get back from the race to proof my stuff...

No mention of the automatic in my article though (to keep this thread on topic)

nk_Rx8

I've noticed that automatic versions of sports cars seem to be made for the female market that just like the looks of a car, not performance( i.e. secretarial chariots). You can't buy most sports cars with an automatic and wanted it for performance. It's really like buying castrated car.

91vert

"Secretarial chariot.....castrated car" LMAO!! :D

good....analogies.

B-Nez

Funny, I've met more men befitting that marque than women. Hell, several people have posted on this forum about the RX-8's ability to lure ladies...I think your sexist remarks are a little nearsighted, friend.:D

Kasmiur

I plan on getting a automatic one. I dont mind manuals but I plan on using this as a daily driver. Which involves a lot of stop and go traffic.

IGOZMZM

I'm getting a 6-spd, and this is going to be my daily driver as well. As far as the stop and go traffic if you don't like a manual in that, (as I don't prefer it) it helps me find time to find more fun ways home with less traffic and more curvy roads that are fun to play on :D

psukhu

I think some cars are built from the ground up to be manuals. The automatic version is offered to get more sales.

Some cars are built from the ground up to be an automatic. (lexus es300)

Hercules

To each his/her own... If you can't stand the manual for your driving routine then don't get it -- your choice.

But I'll also say... your loss

But you have to get what suits you.. the manual tranny will suit me for the rest of my life.. having had an automatic for almost 5 years now gives me aches for a good manual car

DonG35Miata

What did they (C&D) think of the six-speed version? I believe someone asked this before...

KKMmaniac

As I explained before in this forum, I first ordered an automatic, for the sake of being easy to drive in traffic. I wasn't too keen on giving up the 40 HP however.

Then I realized, although the handling would be incredible, (if reports are true) and the car would no doubt be nice to drive, the acceleration would certainly suffer greatly. Straight-line performance would probably be comparable to V6 powered 4-door family cars, (Camry, 6, Altima etc.) when you look at power to weight ratios.

Also, the 4-speed auto. seems to be kind of a temporary marketing thing; Mazda supposedly doesn't have any other auto tranny available at this time that can handle the high-power Renesis, but I'm sure they'll develop one in the future. (6-speed sequential has been discussed)

The 6-speed manual box is reported to have smooth and precise shifting. Think hard about all the factors and do what you think is the right thing for you. I changed my order to the manual.

ACRX8

Where can I read about the test results on the Automatic?

WankelWannabe

If you really want an automatic, I'd wait a year or so before buying. I'm sure Mazda will release a new version with a much better 5spd auto...maybe even an SMG style!

I think they will also replace the digital speedo...but I'm just guessing based on what I've read somewhere.

RotaryXTypeSH

I got auto and i'm not afride to show it off, from what i've known the engine is only detuned to lower hp, i think by rasing the rev limiter u could easily gain like 40hp back. (from the understanding of the rev between the higher version and the lower version) I also think that it's very cool to have auto transmission cuz it have peddle shift (like the F1 cars) and it also has sport tronic which is really fun to drive with (i had a 01 BMW330 ci with auto transmission) i think it's really cool. I could bet u that if u have 2 cars of the same car, with one auto and one stick shift most of the time u will win with a auto unless if that person is pro at shifting gears. I know this might make no sense to some people but i think it's very true.

RotaryXTypeSH

I think turbo charging it is the best way, then u will be faster than stick shift

Telepopmusik

Don't be a *****, *****. Because ****** don't deserve RX-8's.

Gord96BRG

Nope. The engine installed in the auto trans cars has a different intake manifold setup (only 2 tracts instead of 3) - it's not capable of breathing at higher revs like the manual-trans engine. Raising the rev limiter would NOT get anywhere near 40 hp. Further - the reason Mazda lowered the rev limit is because the auto trans could not handle the high revs - if you raise the rev limit on your auto trans car, say bye-bye to your transmission warranty!

Quote:

I also think that it's very cool to have auto transmission cuz it have peddle shift (like the F1 cars)

No, putting some fancy electronics and shift paddles in front of a regular slushbox automatic transmission is nothing like the F1 transmissions, which are true manual transmissions with hydraulic actuators on the shifter and clutch, with electronics to control the actuators. Most of the tiptronic et al shifters on the market these days are nothing more than fancy electronics on regular slushboxes. F1-style hydraulic-controlled gearboxes are
in the Ferrari F1 system, BMW's SMG, Toyota has one in the MR2. Maserati and Alfa also have these true auto-manual gearboxes. Even those systems are poorly suited to street use, Audi's new DSG transmission on the new TT3.2 is a much better version.

Quote:

I could bet u that if u have 2 cars of the same car, with one auto and one stick shift most of the time u will win with a auto unless if that person is pro at shifting gears. I know this might make no sense to some people but i think it's very true.

Sports cars aren't just about drag racing in a straight line! (You also don't have to be a "pro" to be any good at shifting ) There's a lot of driving pleasure and enjoyment to be had from operating a good manual transmission, it's simply a lot more fun (especially in twisty back roads). I would never give that up and go to an auto trans that takes away that involvement - we have 3 vehicles for our family, and every one is equipped with a manual trans, even for our daily commuter.

Regards,
Gordon