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Automatic RX8!

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Old 02-18-2003, 06:52 PM
  #26  
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Originally posted by wakeech


i suppose you're not down with the engineering, eh?? well, FYI, to the extent of my knowledge, it's impossible to make a slushbox (which is what the RX-8 will have) with more than 4 forward gears and reverse... those 5 and 6 speed autos are SMTs, i believe... and there's a rumour about Mazda developping a 5 speed SMT for future auto RX-8's...
I thought BMW had a "regular" 5spd auto tranny in their cars before?
Old 02-18-2003, 07:02 PM
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*nod* it's true...

The new Volkswagen Touraeg has 6 speed auto.
Old 02-18-2003, 07:20 PM
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If you are physically infirm, I could see the automatic Rx-8 as a viable car.

The automatic Rx-8 is really slow, 0-60 in 8.5 1/4 in 16.5 @ 85, compared with 6.5 for the 6 speed Rx-8 and 15.0 @ 95. The Rx-8 auto is as fast as the new Accord 2.4 I4 automatic.

It has only been 13 years since the 5 speed automatic was introduced, and 10 years since you could get one in a car.

http://www.sovereign-publications.com/auto-art-2.htm

http://www.zf-group.co.uk/Press/6hp26pressrelease.htm

And now the heavy duty 6 speed from ZF, is in the V12 7 series-ZF 6hp32. in addition to the ZF 6 hp 26 The E49 new 5 series will have 6 speed automatics from day one, ZF 6 hp 19 for the new Valvetronic I6's, so the only BMW line that is in need one, is the 3 series. The new Audi S4 will get one a little latter this year.
Old 02-18-2003, 07:26 PM
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"walk up to it, look inside, and see an automatic. (Shaking my head)"-ohhno15

seriously...
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Old 02-18-2003, 07:27 PM
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*yawn* If people are mentally infirm, they may try to use words and specific numbers to sound like they know what they are talking about.
Old 02-18-2003, 07:53 PM
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Originally posted by MikeW
If you are physically infirm, I could see the automatic Rx-8 as a viable car.

The automatic Rx-8 is really slow, 0-60 in 8.5 1/4 in 16.5 @ 85, compared with 6.5 for the 6 speed Rx-8 and 15.0 @ 95. The Rx-8 auto is as fast as the new Accord 2.4 I4 automatic.

It has only been 13 years since the 5 speed automatic was introduced, and 10 years since you could get one in a car.

http://www.sovereign-publications.com/auto-art-2.htm

http://www.zf-group.co.uk/Press/6hp26pressrelease.htm

And now the heavy duty 6 speed from ZF, is in the V12 7 series-ZF 6hp32. in addition to the ZF 6 hp 26 The E49 new 5 series will have 6 speed automatics from day one, ZF 6 hp 19 for the new Valvetronic I6's, so the only BMW line that is in need one, is the 3 series. The new Audi S4 will get one a little latter this year.

That's waaaayyy to slow. It seems as they made that for show only. I though cause it was a sport, it should be faster than mazda6. If u think about it, mazda6 stick shift 0-60 is 6.8 too.
Old 02-18-2003, 08:16 PM
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Originally posted by Haris
That's waaaayyy to slow. It seems as they made that for show only. I though cause it was a sport, it should be faster than mazda6. If u think about it, mazda6 stick shift 0-60 is 6.8 too.
Haris, Buger was just pointing out that MikeW is just guessing with those performance numbers, because no official numbers exist: in reality, we really don't know how fast or slow either of these cars will be. but, unofficial and preliminary testing of 0-100km/h (which is 62mph) came in at about 6.2s or something, which could very well mean that an American spec RX-8 doing 0-60mph with the right conditions may sprint it in less than 6s... again, speculation, as were Mike's numbers.

and Mike, thanks for the links... but i still can't see in my mind the design of a 5 speed slushbox... or it's advantages (other than MAYBE cost) over a pneumatic or hydrolically actuated SMT...

Last edited by wakeech; 02-18-2003 at 09:33 PM.
Old 02-18-2003, 10:30 PM
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Originally posted by Y&Y
Hey puppy1,

try looking for a place in culver city I heard the neighborhood is not bad and the rent is not all that expensive. The only thing is that parking sucks sometimes depending on the apartment.
Thanks for the info, but I'm already in escrow for a 75 year old historical home in Moterey Park. This is ONLY 21 miles from my job in Santa Monica! But its right near my parent's home. They are over 70 now, so I want to be close. I'm going from a $1.4m mansion to a $400k fixer-upper.
Old 02-19-2003, 05:29 AM
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Originally posted by ohhno15
I just can't imagine why someone would want an automatic in a sports car. The whole idea is the driving experience, right? If I only wanted two pedals to push in a fun vehicle I'd buy a go-kart.

I understand that Mazda HAD to put autos out so they can sell more cars, but I feel that it removes the soul of the car. If I were Mazda and could ignore the financial aspect I wouldn't even offer it in auto.

But that's just what I think.

-Also, I'm gonna be pissed when I'm looking for a used RX8 and I walk up to it, look inside, and see an automatic. (Shaking my head)

Ohhno15: i know how u feel... but where i live, some of the Royal Family in Brunei have Ferrari Modena Station Wagon in an auto!!! :D now this is a family Sport Car!!! so not everyone is like u dude...

it will definitely be a plus if its a 5 or 6 speed auto... just my 0.2..
Old 02-19-2003, 06:48 AM
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There are a bunch of "stick snobs" here. It's one thing to prefer one tranny, or even despise another. But once you get to the point of telling someone else that they or there car aren't worthy because they prefer an automatic (for whatever reason), you need to get over yourself.

---jps
Old 02-19-2003, 05:01 PM
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SMG?

Originally posted by WankelWannabe
I you want the automatic I'd wait a year or so. It sounds to me like Mazda will be releasing an SMG type of tranny and the current auto is just temporary.
I had never heard that Mazda was going to put an SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox, aka, semi-automatic, F1 type transmission) in the 8. Has there been confirmation of this?

If so, I am probably going to wait. The SMG would seem to be the best of both worlds: the performance of a manual and the convenience of an automatic
Old 02-19-2003, 05:02 PM
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Originally posted by Sputnik
But once you get to the point of telling someone else that they or there car aren't worthy because they prefer an automatic (for whatever reason), you need to get over yourself.
Do you laugh at people who order a double cheeseburger and have a diet soda to go with it? I do. I think buying a sporty car and neutering it with a slushbox is the same thing. "Drink deep or not at all."

HOWEVER--my fiance has an automatic RX-8 on order because of her personal preferences (she can drive stick but doesn't like to in commute) and I'm sure as hell not gonna laugh at her. Life is full of compromises and if you're set on an automatic why not get a sporty one?
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Last edited by PUR NRG; 05-01-2011 at 02:12 AM.
Old 02-19-2003, 05:21 PM
  #39  
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Originally posted by PUR NRG
Do you laugh at people who order a double cheeseburger and have a diet soda to go with it? I do.
You shouldn't laugh. How do you know that the person is not diabetic or otherwise physiologically sensitive to sugar? :p I order a diet soda to go along with my double cheeseburger all the time, not because I think I'm dieting, but because I will feel dizzy and shaky if I have all the sugar in a regular soda. At 6'2" tall and 165 lbs, dieting is the last thing on my mind

HOWEVER--my fiance has an automatic RX-8 on order because of her personal preferences (she can drive stick but doesn't like to in commute) and I'm sure as hell not gonna laugh at her. Life is full of compromises and if you're set on an automatic why not get a sporty one?
I couldn't agree with you more. Just because you want the conveniences of an auto doesn't mean you should have to go buy a Camry.
Old 02-19-2003, 07:42 PM
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Re: SMG?

Originally posted by gusmahler
I had never heard that Mazda was going to put an SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox, aka, semi-automatic, F1 type transmission) in the 8. Has there been confirmation of this?...
There has been no official confirmation of either a SMG or an MPS RX8.

We only have reliable information from a couple of sources that both are being seriously considered. I know for a fact that the SMG in the Toyota MR2 Spyder was delayed over a year because Toyota needed that extra time to develop it to their satisfaction. And they knew well before the release of the car (something like a year) that the SMG would not be ready for initial release. Now, this is speculation on my part, but notice how the concept and prototype RX8s had SMGs up until the yellow concept (about a year ago).

The thing is, we won't know for sure until things are officially announced.

---jps
Old 02-20-2003, 10:07 AM
  #41  
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Re: Re: SMG?

Originally posted by Sputnik
Now, this is speculation on my part, but notice how the concept and prototype RX8s had SMGs up until the yellow concept (about a year ago).
Can you elaborate? According to the press kit the production car has paddle shifters. Unfortunately the shift time borders on 1 sec.
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Old 02-20-2003, 02:39 PM
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Re: Re: Re: SMG?

Originally posted by PUR NRG
Can you elaborate? According to the press kit the production car has paddle shifters. Unfortunately the shift time borders on 1 sec.
The prototypes had SMG style trannies (manual trannies with a hydraulically activated clutch controlled by a computer), while the 2004 production version either has a 6 speed manual (5 spd avail. outside the U.S.), or a 4 speed automatic that can be controlled by paddles on the wheel.

---jps
Old 02-20-2003, 08:09 PM
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Angry

Originally posted by Cihuuy



Ohhno15: i know how u feel... but where i live, some of the Royal Family in Brunei have Ferrari Modena Station Wagon in an auto!!! :D now this is a family Sport Car!!! so not everyone is like u dude...

it will definitely be a plus if its a 5 or 6 speed auto... just my 0.2..
Just because rich people have a ferrari in an auto doesn't mean that's it's a good idea. Don't even get me started on the fact that it's a station wagon.

Originally posted by Sputnik
[B]


There are a bunch of "stick snobs" here. It's one thing to prefer one tranny, or even despise another. But once you get to the point of telling someone else that they or there car aren't worthy because they prefer an automatic (for whatever reason), you need to get over yourself.

What are you talking about? I need to get over myself? I'm probably one of the least wealthy people here talking about the RX8, I'm a Junior at Saint Louis University (an expensive school but I have a big scholarship). I only hope to one day buy a reasonably priced used RX8, and wanted to make the point that I'll hate seeing autos that someone bought for their 16 yr old daughter and she decided she wanted a jeep instead. Sorry I'm such a "stick snob". I just think that sports cars have a purpose, and that a 210 HP auto rx-8 is just a sheep in a wolf's clothing. At least I won't be buying the car for the image.
Old 02-21-2003, 01:20 AM
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About the possible SMG:

That is what I'd like. I'm sure Mazda won't say whats planned now, they don't want people to not buy the car to wait for an SMG (and their plans may change in 6 months). I won't be in the market for a RX8 for 2 to 3 years anyway so at this point it dosen't matter if I know what their plans are or not...

In the picture of the steering wheel on this page...
http://media.mazda.ch/dossiers/RX-8/Photo-RX8-F.htm
...you can see the "Up" and "Down" shift paddles on the wheel. That would tend to indicate something might be in the works. (these aren't the brake paddles on the Evolve right?)

As far as peoples choice of Auto or Manual (or SMG)....take your choice, enjoy the car....live and let live. I find the whole idea someone else cares what somebody else drives silly....unless of course they are driving a GM car, THAT would make me scratch my head, poorest quality you can buy (I know from experiance!)....sorry, I got off topic there heehee
Old 02-21-2003, 01:24 AM
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Jeff, in response to the paddle shifters you noticed... those actually just control the tiptronic transmission on the RX-8.

Just like you can shift on the shifter itself with the + and - pulls of the shifter, you can click it in with the paddles.

I believe however that Mazda should offer SMG on the MazdaSpeed version when that is released.
Old 02-21-2003, 01:38 AM
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Hi Herc,

Thanks...but they don't have a tiptronic planned currently, right? Was that from one of their prototype cars?

I was also just going to add that in the next image on that web site (craftmanship9.jpg) it shows the gauges, and in the left dial is a big red numeric LED...looks like the gear indicator (just like on my Acura TL)
Old 02-21-2003, 08:39 AM
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Originally posted by JeffNY
...but they don't have a tiptronic planned currently, right?...
Wrong. The automatic offered with the 2004 RX8 is a tiptronic automatic.

---jps
Old 02-21-2003, 09:12 AM
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>>Wrong. The automatic offered with the 2004 RX8 is a tiptronic automatic.<<

Thanks for the blunt reply, but what am I missing? I though Mazda was only going to offer an hydraulic automatic or manual gear box in 2004? I thought the "tiptronics" like you find in Porche or Audi are basically a manual (sequental) tranny controlled by fast solenoids...that can also be controlled by computer to act like an "auto". Humm....but maybe I am wrong...

Someone please enlighten me...

So you WILL be able to shift the auto tranny yourself? Like I can now in my TL? They call the tranny in a Boxter a "tiptronic"...is that hydraulic? Guess I misunderstood "tiptronic"

Last edited by JeffNY; 02-21-2003 at 09:22 AM.
Old 02-21-2003, 09:47 AM
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Originally posted by JeffNY
I though Mazda was only going to offer an hydraulic automatic or manual gear box in 2004?
A "standard" stick shift uses a lever to engage drive, 1st or 2nd gear. If you think about it putting it in 1st then manually "shifting" into second is no different than having steering wheel paddles that do the same thing--just with all the gears instead of just two. Same deal with a shift lever you pull to one side and then flick up or down to go through the gears. The interface for each is slightly different but the automatic transmission is the same in each.

SMG is a true "manual" gearbox with a computer controlled interface instead of foot-operated pedals. So while the operator controls (paddles) are the same the device operated on is completely different.
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Old 02-21-2003, 10:02 AM
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As far as peoples choice of Auto or Manual (or SMG)....take your choice, enjoy the car....live and let live. I find the whole idea someone else cares what somebody else drives silly....
Here, here! Buy what you want; drive what you want. What do you care what someone else drives?


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