Socket7

It's a question of how much control over the car you desire. AT gives you ease of use while sacrificing some power and control. The MT will give you the power and control, but theres a bit more complexity involved.

Both designs have advantages and disadvantages. Take the one you enjoy more.

4me2

AT=female
MT=male
done deal.

grimnar13

lmao, 4me2 must be a caveman. that philosophy doesnt really hold any water at all. whats your IQ 4me2?? 4? maybe 5?

4me2

^ damn good come back.

Flashwing

I think on various other piston powered vehicles you can get away with an automatic and still maintain a competitive edge when it comes to racing or track days. Piston motors have enough torque in the lower RPM band to allow some short shifting without compromising power.

The nature of the rotary pretty much demands a manual in the sense of doing anything performance related because of the need to take the motor to the edge of the RPM band. Sure the rotary puts down power at 7,000 RPMS but there's still another 1,500 worth of power generation there that's not being taken advantage of.

Obviously development of performance products are made with the manual in mind so there's that element you have to deal with.

Overall, if you're concerned about performance beyone stomping it merging onto the highway, I'd learn to drive stick. I agree with MM in that this car is one that requires more responsibility from the owner. If you're interested in the car driving you instead of you driving the car then sounds like you've mad up your mind.

Ericok

Remember. Child conceived in back seat of car with automatic transmission grow up to be shiftless bastard.

N rider89

really its just preference. sometimes i want a stick just for fun time but i also like not having to shift some times.

Rootski

iTrader: (1)

Buying an AT is like admitting you're a bad driver.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

what about the driver who had a leg blown off in a war? or the driver who fell on his motorcycle and has a bad left knee?

your choice of transmission really is a preference. even if the 4port AT makes 120whp.

mysql

heh.. kersh4w, the devil's advocate in me wants to know then what your opinion is for people with two functioning legs.

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

do they have 2 functioning arms?

mysql

Trick question. the answer is, only if they also have thumbs.

DMRH

Based on used car sales from 03-07 models the RX-8 has about 20% - 30% AT versions up for grabs at any one time.

If Mazda were dumb enough to accept the whinging from all the "****" MT guys on here then they could have missed out on up to 48,000 sales since 2003.

Obviously the "****" MT guys dont care for a companies profit levels but thankfully the bean counters at Mazda agreed with the AT option plus the additional profit levels & overall sales they bring to the company.

So (again) this is another wasted thread designed to bring out the over opinionated to show how far out of touch their personal levels of understanding is..............

REgards

Wind Dance

iTrader: (7)

Don't you mean Were?

Keep in mine that if Mazda were in fact only releasing MT.
Our car's would be more exclusive towards enthusiasts only.
General public in America buy AT because its easier to get from point A to point B.
Not saying AT are bad, but in the 8's they are ridiculous compared to the MT.
Mazda choose to gain more profit than to stick with car nuts because the 7 flopped and they don't want the more "affordable" 8 to do the same.
Also.. Honda s2k never had a AT and are doing fine..

Ericok

Note: the current S2000 is being discontinued after this model year.

mysql

It's been out for 9 years. All the models have basically the same power levels, chassis weight, and look the same. Unless Honda revamped the model significantly, it should be expected to end due to buyer disinterest except for a few in the niche market.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I wish the original poster would have posted this to the trash. The majority of posts are by MT fanbois who have never been in an a/t 8 but like to think that they are superior. Their arguments don't hold water so they start attacking the owners. Oh well I'll subscribe to a more balance discussion and just forget this one exists.

JRichter

I agree this deserves the trash can but I'm going to get my 2 cents in anyways to hopefully make some auto drivers understand.

Like has been said a zillion times, it's your preference but let me give a few key reasons for choosing the MT 8. For one, it's clearly more fun IMO to drive a manual transmission car. Especially one where IMO, one of the biggest pleasures resulting form this car is taking the engine beyond 9000 rpm. One of the other big pleasures I find in this car is the feel of the shifting, clutch, and drivetrain in general. I would think an auto, like in most any other, car mutes this. This is a car that makes its peak power beyond the rev limit of the auto. Too me this holds a shitload of water maybe an oceans worth for what I look for in a car. If these things mean nothing to you than don't worry about it. Not everyone buys a car for these reasons but this is exactly why I and many on here will always buy a manual. There is no "fanboi" about it. There is a reason manual cars still exist and a reason the majority of sports cars are sold this way.

As far as traffic, I've owned manuals all my life and when you are used to driving this way traffic is no more frustrating in a MT car than a auto car. It's completely natural to cope with the stick shift in traffic if that's what your used to. It feels awkward and unnatural for me to drive an auto in traffic. I feel like I could nit a sweater on the side of something with my right hand. I'm sure San Diego or LA or whatever is horrible but DFW metroplex had its share of traffic nightmares when I lived there but the fact is I don't anymore it's not a big deal for me.

It's not a matter of superiority. The fact is, some benefits of any car hold more weight than others to different people which is why different choices and options are available.

tajabaho1

yea, I first started out with an AT, i end up with an MT 8 right now

I love both of them, to be honest, The MT is faster, yes, but the fastness difference can only be seen (by you) from the dashboard

the feel is the same, completely (except the MT has transmission whine sound, which is pretty cool)

I live in OC, i am in stop and go traffic all the time, and I tell you, there are some days that I get very pissed off and want to kill someone for owning an MT in stop and go traffic, however, I love the car, I go fast, so i'm fine with it

ps: if you haven't caught that already, you HAVE TO REDLINE YOUR CAR IF YOU WANT HER TO LIVE LONG!

so, if you don't like to shift your car, don't get an 8!, you'll just kill her

dozer

iTrader: (3)

i have an MT, and i love it, even in traffic

dozer

iTrader: (3)

^^^+1 with taj, i got an 8 cus i like to shift, drivin an automatic is plain boring......

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

I have the same redline as the MT, 10,000 RPM - My shift point is 8500 RPM but I can go to the limit and there are few if any MTs that are still gaining any power above 8500 RPM. I personally like my off road vehicles to be MT for the obvious reasons.
I drove both at the dealer before I purchased and was very unimpressed with the MT in this car. Sorry you do qualify as a fanboi due to the fact that you feel the only way one can enjoy the 8 is thru the MT. You might change your mind if you ever get to ride in my AT. Boring? Maybe.

Rems31

Well I think we should be comparing stock AT and stock MT (apples to apples). I mean, of course, you can do all these mods to an AT. You can add wings on yours and make it fly and it'll definitely be more fun than an MT...

JRichter

Unimpressed with the MT in this car - that's a first but that's your opinion. It also sounds like your AT is clearly not the norm. I would like to take a ride in your car as it sound impressive. Then I would imagine my MT 8 with the same mods.

The bold part in your quote is exactly what I didn't say. You said "the only way one can enjoy". I said I and In My Opinion - in other words what I'm looking for in a car. Here I will quote my statement for you and highlight some things it sounded like you missed the first time:

This clearly implies that others may not see these as benefits so it's their choice what they drive. I went out of my way to imply that its whatever you prefer in a car but you reversed that with that one statement. It seems some auto 8 drivers are super defensive for some reason rather then MT drivers being fanbois.

mysql

Phil, I think you're a good guy and all, but you're barking up the wrong tree. If the AT was on a level playing field with the MT, then I would agree that it's purely a matter of choice. Unfortunately it's not level and there are significant drawbacks to AT on the RX-8. So it's more than opinion and preference. Call it being a fanboi, but you're fighting an uphill battle.