The RX8 brochure I downloaded from Mazda USA states under Mechanical Features that the automatic comes without the carbon-fibre driveshaft. Hmm, makes me look again at getting the manual instead of the automatic.

 

OMG if thats the only reason your thinking of the Manual?

Auto sux. totaly. its a sports car.

 

RobDickinson,

No no, not the ONLY reason, there are significant others. But don't worry about whether I will be driving cars with automatics or manuals. I have driven manual cars for the last 30 years and I still do and will, RX8 or no RX8.

However, what I should have written was more like "makes me rethink if I should get the RX8 at all", because I can not for specific reasons get the manual.

 

Sorry to disappoint you, but according to the 2004 RX-8 Technical Hightlights CD, the manual has a carbon fiber driveshaft while the automatic does not.

 

it is so amazing how some things will stop someone from buying s car. after reading all the diffeerent post everybody make im surprised more people are not canceling their rx-8 order....

 

Yer right... AT has a steel drive shaft, MT is carbon fiber

 

I did not know they were making drive shafts out of carbon fiber. But, considering steel drive shafts have been around a few years, I guess I'll take my chances.

 

ph and the tech highlotes have a lot to say on that carbonb fiber driveshaft.

Any nicks, deep scratches etc, and it in the bin.

Prolly cost a fair few quid to replace too.

 

In the case of the manual tranny RX-8 a CF dive shaft is lower cost in addition to lighter than a steel counterpart.

 

We make our purchase decisions based on many things, not all rational. So what if Mazda initially caught my eye with words like "carbon-fibre drive shaft"? My respect to them. They found my weak spot. I love carbon fibre :-(, and I do like good, balanced engineering. However, after reading through the replies, I must balance my too negative reaction to finding out that the automatics come with a steel drive shaft. Steel drive shafts do indeed have many good things going for them :-)

 

I doubt that very much.

 

The 350Z was the first production car to have a carbon fiber driveshaft. I wonder how much of a difference a carbon fiber vs steel driveshaft makes, if it's noticeable or if it's just a gimmick to try and catch your eye.

 

You can doubt all you want. The one piece CF drive shaft eliminated: one drive shaft, one yoke, one u-joint, a support bearing and the saddle for the bearing.

 

Considering where it is located, I highly doubt that it is "just a gimmick to try and catch your eye".

---jps

 

... which eliminates a source of vibration to the floor pan. Also, a CF driveshaft itself provides additional vibration dampening compared to a steel counterpart, and quicker response. Solid engineering indeed.

 

Don't forget that the new'ish Montero has a carbon fiber driveshaft (rear, not sure about front)
It aids in crashworthiness, by progressively collapsing

 

are the nissan ones one piece? and i think the book said the rx8's was carbon fiber an "something" composite.

 

Having just rebuilt the drive shaft on a thirty year old mercedes with U-joints, yoke, center support bearing, flex disc, and center doughnut, it was not the Carbon fiber that attracted me to the design, but the "one piece" that I thought was coolest. The vibration, clunking and lagging that was coming out of that thing was destroying my cool old floaty ride. I would guess that a steel drive shaft would still be one piece, and even if it doesn't permit winding up as quickly as the CF shaft, that's still an improvement over any other rear wheel drive car made.

It is also true though that I like the idea of the CF. It reminds me of my youth and rowing with CF oars.

 

It says a carbon and plastic composite, which I believe is the definition of carbon fiber (as we know it). You have the carbon fibres and some sort of resin or epoxy or something? Not sure, but it is undoubtedly a polymer, which fits the carbon and plastic composite statement.