mdw1000

I thought Phil had problems with shifting when he raised his redline.

Did you do anything besides the BHR radiator to help the trans handle the increased stress?

Red Rex

iTrader: (1)

Manuals can be more fun. They're more involved and you get more "wow" factor I suppose. Autos are great for cruising though. I'm 20 years old and have times where I don't really want to row through the gears. Imagine in another 10 years. It sounds like Easy E1 has a sick auto. The market is full of used auto RX8's begging to be sold for dirt cheap. The money you save you could easily dump back into the RX8 with Easy's mods (neither dangerous nor expensive) and be just as fast (with faster shifts) than a 6 port manual RX8. No biggy. Get what you want. Don't be worried about what everyone else thinks. Not much advice to be had in this area, just comes down to preference. Drive them around. This isn't a drag car, so while the manual RX8's may pick on you they're still SOL if a Mustang GT lines up against them. And again, a 4 port auto rigged to 9K RPM while gulping down a 75 shot?

Daaayum.

Red Rex

iTrader: (1)

Oh and BTW my old man's C5 LS1 vette has a 4-speed auto in it. It must be ***** slow too huh?

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Phil I believe went a little higher on the rpm's that I did. I think Phil was also having the same issues as I.
2nd to 3rd shift after sustained high rpms can "slip" or just not catch right away and spin the rpm's to 10,000 easily. But as I said this doesn't happen all the time. Only under a certain set of drive circumstances.

Oh and I don't have the BHR radiator ,,, yet.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I had my RPMs raised to 10,000. I find that currently at about 8700 to 9000 RPM is my "power curve" shift point and the tranny performs very well at that point. I had some issues before MM raised my redline limit to 10,000 rpm in the ecu. Yes I am having the same issue with the 2nd to 3rd shift after an extended period of high RPMs. At first I took it as a refusal to shift and since have realized it is another problem that needs to be addressed. This is under investigation by Easy and Ray (BHR). Yes I do have a BHR radiator.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

is the problem present with the 6 speed auto?

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

Since mine is a four speed, others will have to help you here. The "problem" is an occasional thing and if you wait for the same period that it would take to manually shift it will correct itself and shift nicely. It's a nusance since it should happen on demand.

renesisgenesis

don't take this as a sarcastic diss or anything, but I was under the impression that the AT's were equipped with a lower redline mainly because the automatic transmission can't safely deal with the flywheel/clutch input shafts revving to 9000 rpm.

If revving the at to 9000+ is fine for the transmission, then why did Mazda produce it with a 7500 redline?
Are these issues related to over revving the at transmission?

Again, not a diss, just a legitimate question.

exsequor

iTrader: (1)

From my understanding it's because of transmission cooling issues and the torque converter. That's why we're limited to 7.5k stock.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

I think the word you are looking for is Torque Converter.

It is most likely set at 7500 for a safety margin. When you go above that you have to know you may be taking some risk at damage. If you are performing mods to your car, you are willing to accept some risk. It is up to you to decide just how far you go.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

the "SHOULD I BUY AN AUTOMATIC RX8 QUIZ"

Question 1:

Can I drive a manual?

If NO, buy an AUTOMATIC.

If YES, go to question 2.

Question 2:

Will my significant other who cannot drive a manual cease sleeping with me if I buy one?

If YES, buy an AUTOMATIC.

If NO, buy a MANUAL.

Now, is there really a need for these threads?

renesisgenesis

haha yes

renesisgenesis

haha wow obviously I was not thinking considering auto's don't have a clutch...but ya still the same question really.


I guess I just naturally found it hard to get my brain around a sports car with no actual clutch mechanism. weird....

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Actually, this thread was getting along well by this point, with people discussing the differences civily. Please help keep it that way.

There are other reasons for automatics, such as injuries, sicknesses, or disabilities that prevent use of hip muscles or the left leg, ankle, foot, etc... My wife for example, loves MT and hates AT, but can no longer drive MT because of hip problems. Then you have people like the guy in a wheel chair at Skip Barber's free day at Lime Rock 2 weeks ago. He was gleefully hopping in the AT Mazda3s for the autocross course.

There are completely valid reasons to get a world class handling car as an automatic, and their choices should be respected.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

My wife used to drive and autocross cars with MT's. She doesn't want to put up with a clutch in traffic.

renesisgenesis

only problem is that i think most of the at owners here did not get theirs based on the "valid reasons" you have mentioned.


Probly the number one reason is something like this: "well hey thats a cool car, and yeah it's an automatic but I don't really care about shifting, and it's cheaper so I can modify it anyway.." Or something to this effect.



still a poor choice though, and i still like the "do you need an auto' selt test. It actually covers all bases pretty nicely.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Maybe they did, maybe they didn't. It's still their car, their choice. Different people value different aspects of a car differently. They didn't force their choice on you, no need to look down on them for it. It's not like they are driving riced out Civics.

And Mazda did make them. Would prefer all of the AT's to be crushed? I wouldn't. Still a great car.

renesisgenesis

Yes, sadly, Mazda did make them. Almost a sad as, but quite as sad, as when Honda made the automatic NSX.....yuuukkkk

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

Why don't you guy's quit beating a dead horse.
We have AT's We like the AT. And we're going to mod the AT. I have a ball driving my AT.
I have a great time whipping my friends on the Autocross course with their manual 8's. I just leave it in first and drive. Throttle modulation at it''s best.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

There are going to be noobs that come on here with a strong MT bias. If you don't work with them you aren't going to correct that and they will begin the bashing.

Soaring Eagle

I agree with RIWWP. I don't think anybody should assume the reasons someone buys an AT. I've been driving for 50 years, and nearly all of my cars were MT's. But when I decided to buy my latest, I made a decision that at this point I "didn't need" a MT to satisfy my fun factor, or "cool" factor, or whatever reason people want an MT. And for me, the power was adequate. Commuting to work in traffic with an MT can get old after awhile, and now I can relax in my drive, and if I do feel like shifting, I can! I do not miss the MT!

renesisgenesis

post deleted. alnielsen

RxMadness

iTrader: (2)

Here's the "should you care" self-test:
Are you paying for it?
no: stop whining about my "poor choice", while I enjoy my car.
yes: continue to be a judgemental and *****-hurt, while I enjoy my car.

This bickering is really quite ridiculous, your transmission choice is an option just like a sunroof or nav, and like every other option available on the car it boils down to personal preference. Why do you care what other people choose when it doesn't affect you in any way? I for one love my 6 speed auto.

renesisgenesis

1. the transmission choice isn't so much an option like a sunroof or Nav, but more like a fundamental aspect of a car. Selecting auto or manual is absolutely critical, and comparing it to a sunroof is completely ludicrous.

2. Don't worry about personally insulting me with the "***** hurt" comment. You probably won't be reprimanded, since you own an AT.

3. This is a thread titled "automatic rx8", so any comments regarding the auto should be welcome here....even if they are...oh dear brace yourself....NEGATIVE!!!

RXheart

Renesis, you seem to hate automatics with a passion. Why spend your time hating something that much? We need to stop this RX-8 on RX-8 violence.