Buying any sports car with an AT is like dating Salma Hayak, and having her tell you she'll never sleep with you: at first its like "woohoo! Salma Hayak!, then its like "wtf?! **** "

 

Exactly. If this was a Miata, where there's a negligible difference between auto and manual, then Phil could say none of our arguments hold water. But since its an indisputable fact that the AT 8's don't perform as well as the MTs, he doesn't have a leg to stand on.

 

Well, here's the thing. I'd like to see a comparison of the difference between total AT RX8s made and total AT RX8's actually sold. I'll bet the gap is significantly larger than MT's manufactured vs. MT's sold. Just because Mazda sells the cars doesn't mean they made a profit on it, and dealer lots are always jammed full of AT's.

 

I somewhat agree that we are not on a level playing field and that there are differences to the two transmissions but to imply that anyone who chooses the AT is somehow less of an enthusiast is going a little far. I will admit that mine is not the average AT but when we go on a run, I am always faster than the M/T boys and I am the one who is pushing the corners. Oh yes my 4 port has always had less HP (stock) and always will (unless I find a way around that). But I will never agree that it is substandard. It's just another version of a great car.

 

OK then we're in agreement.

I think the MT is more involved and more "sports car like" but that's strictly a personal opinion. It's a great car either way.

 

MT interferes with road head... end of discussion

 

i hope this is true. im looking for a AT, and if theres a ton of them around, itll be lower price and easier time to get the one exactly how i want it, woot!

 

So, there's way too many posts so far to read, but here's my .02

I've gotten to drive both on the lot, and the new auto is a a 6-speed sport shift and actually feels really good in shifts. I can still shift faster on a manual, but out of the sport shifts out on the market, this one is definitely one of the better out there.

Now the bad news... going from a manual to an auto takes you from 232 hp to 212 hp, and caps the rev limit from 9k to around 7k. I would pick a manual over an auto on any car, but this one particularly takes a significant hit in performance just looking at the numbers. However, I drive on the track and I'm all about performance.

Now a little good news again... the auto still hauls *** and you don't really notice much difference in performance unless you were trying to race. And if you're just buying the car because it looks good or you want something sporty to drive, the auto is still an awesome choice. I took it on some turns in the neighborhood and it was still fun.

If you want to try them out, let me know and we'll set up a test drive. You can take it on some fast turns and see how you like it.

 

Hence that is true, but given the fact that only a percentage of 8 owner's are on here, can you imagine how many AT were sold just because the car looked pretty. Exactly why I stated the GENERAL public.. now if your on this board then of course that doesn't imply.
An old lady in the neighborhood nearby has one.. Now I can't imagine her as a speed nut.

 

I'm certainly not going to say that an auto is somehow less of a car than the MT. Both are the same RX8 so there's no reason to suggest that MT owners somehow feel superior than those who drive autos.

Still, the proof is in the pudding and the numbers plus the engine design put AT drivers at a disadvantage plus the issue is further complicated by aftermarket parts being developed for the manuals before the autos due to the larger possible market and complexities brought by the automatic transmission.

I'm certain that your more likely to find an enthusiast with a manual than an auto. If you feel that's being stereotypical then I guess I'm guilty as charged. To say that those with automatics are less of an enthusiast is pretty silly imo.

I admit it's a personal choice. Some people hate having to do the extra work, some people simply don't have the physical rhythm, or others just want to have ease of use with the vehicle. I'm the kind of person where I want to make as many decisions for the vehicle as I can. Hence, why I opted for an RX8 with no traction control or DSC. I've driven RWD in the snowy midwest for 8 years before coming to AZ without anything but ABS. I feel those other gadgets get in my way while clearly others on this board swear by them.

If performance is #1 on your list, having an auto will add more problems to combat than a manual will. If you're looking for more ease of operation or the occasional performance use of the car then an auto is your best bet.

Sure, an auto can be made faster than a manual or driven harder. I watched Easy E tear up the autocross course taking one of the AZMC's fastest times of the day in his auto and he's sporting much less WHP than I or other Mazda drivers were. Maybe it was cause he had less to do, maybe cause he knows a thing or to about driving.

You be the judge.

 

think of it this way,

buying an AT over an MT is you sacrificing some power in order to be lazy

^hmmm, yea that sums it up

 

Hey Guys! I found this horse...I think he's dead!

Lets continue to beat him!!!

 

Why not!?

Then once were done beating this one to a pulp we can move to here:

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/auto-rx8-chick-car-142609/

 

O'come on find another horse, lets let the manual vs auto group beat us some more

actually though this would be of interest to me if someone would not mind posting the link to a graph for the performance difference as indicated/inferred in this post
And just so you know, as if you could not tell, I'm still a newbie so I don't know by default what a 20hp and 2k upper range would really matter; at least from a 'how soon does one hit the top of the power band and how long the power band range is'.

I realize I'm not saying it right but you know what I mean. Some cars you have to be at the top of the rpm range to get really power while others offer it in the lower rpm range and it runs somewhat horizonal across for several k then drops off.

guessing a rx8 starts at 4k then really begins to give the power at 6k, 7k and up through 8,500 or so.
even if that is the case, and even if I wanted a stick rx8, I still would not enjoy having to take a rotary engine up to 8k to 'enjoy' the ride or the 'true' power of what a rotary has to offer the driver.

then again, I guess dead hard rx8 owners feel 8k is the sweet spot. 5k to 6k works fine for me the vast amount of times I in the car and more times then not it is in the 4k to 5k ish range then it is in the 5k to 6k though I do force myself to go into 6250 and then 7k for red line of just a drop under. heck after 2nd in the 6sp auto I'm in ticket area once I'm out of 3rd gear.
enjoy what you have and rider her.

 

too many post to sort them all out (valid points of views from 'manual bashing' or 'auto bashing').

I would think most of us would simply agree that:
1. To enjoy an rx8 to it's most it should be driven as a stick; considering the extra 20hp and higher red line.

2. even with an auto, both cars to a very large degree retain the forward/rear 50%ish balance which also is part of what makes an rx8 such a great car

3. a person can own an auto and be happy...because it makes them happy.

end of story

 

i like this answer.

 

That may very well be true for were you live....

But here, at the main dealership in San Diego Country, they have about 12 Rx8's. Two are Automatics. One is a 2004 Sport Silver, the other a 2008 40th Anniversary (I strongly think this is the one we're going to get). We asked them on why they are so low on automatics, and their response was that they sell like hot cakes. In my case, the manual transmission RX8's are the ones who rot on the car lot.

I didn't know people would fight over this so much, I was just plain curious. I love the RX8, and I simply was wondering if there was validation to how superior manual supposedly was. I have been told that if I want an Automatic car in this class, 350Z is my best choice--- but I dont find it appealing, it lacks seats for my friends, and I doubt my parents would approve of it's power.

 

i like the paddle shift on the auto there fun besides the mt rx8 isn't that much faster than a auto i race a green one kept up pretty even........ mt owners look away

 

more torqe with the auto feels faster

 

no you didnt....stop lying to yourself.....

 

lol


....

 

Semi-Automatic ( dual-clutch transmission ) would end all debate. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-au...c_transmission

Arguably, Mazda should have went in this direction. 1 engine type and 1 transmission type would have saved them money. If they wanted to do something else, they could have focused on FI. Instead Mazda lost its mind with different engines and different transmission, causing numerous issues.

If you have a 4AT or 6AT the thing to do is get the rev limit removed (via ECU flash), get an automatic transmission cooler or BHR radiator, and upgrade the automatic transmission fluid. For a 6AT, this should put them closer in performance to the 6MT.

Something that MT people keep forgetting is that the 4AT and 6AT have a manual mode that allows you to shift gears, kind of like a semi-automatic, but still limited by the torque converter.

Furthermore, there has been so many times that I have watched people with manuals misshift under pressure (even experienced ones), that its ridiculous. You get the performance from a manual, provided you shift properly, and that does not always happen. Automatics and semi-automatics also provide more consistency.

There are many reasons to go automatic and high performance sports car like the new Nissan GTR compromises by having a semi-automatic. However that 3.3 in 0-60 with the semi-automatic is not much of a compromise.

Traffic (being one of the biggest), movie watching, car navigator adjusting, sex, cel. phones, etc.... are various reasons why people want automatics, even if they can drive a manual.

 

if the rx8 6 speed automatic is anything like the 6 gear AT in the cx-7, you can keep it. It is just a fancy slush box that pretends to give you power, and doesn't shift the moment you push the paddle.

 

The slushbox holds up good against abuse, arguably as good as our manual tranny that has synchros dying and clutches buring prematurly, etc etc

I used to drive my AT rx8 MUCH HARDER than I am driving my MT right now (because I was a reckless bastard back then, happy?) and the tranny didn't give, nothing broke, period, my MT right now.......nothing broke either but still, transmission whining, and i need to replace my clutch real soon, and the stupid clutch pedal bracket = failure

there is a delay on the paddle, its like 0.5 seconds, omfg! I cant stand it, go **** yourself, 0.5 seconds, looooooooool, my wife didn't bring home the receipt for the 2$ worth of peppermint! OMG IM GOING TO DIVORCE HER!!!!!111!!!ONEONE!!

 

Back then = 6 months ago

And I cannot figure out what the hell that last part is supposed to mean...