automatic vs:6 speed
 

I'm very close to purchasing an RX8 and need to choose between an automatic and 6 speed. The car will be driven by my wife and I. She has driven a stick many years ago (Datsun B210) but not recently...I recently, Saab 900s. We do mostly highway driving but it will also be used for general shopping etc. here in FL. Question is: Is there a signifigant performance difference between the automatic and stick and is there a reliability issue (cost to repair automatic trans vs> clutch, etc.) with the automatic vs: the 6 speed. I do plan to upgrade to the sport package should the automatic be chosen. Is the engine/ oil cooler setup/ driveshaft better( reliable) on the 6 speed model as well? Thanks, Craig Hollenback

There is according to Mazda a significant HP difference between the two. The 6-Speed is listed at 238 peek HP while the AT is listed at 198. Those 40 HP comes off the top end and can’t be added back. The 6-speed redlines at 9000 RPM while the AT’s is 7500. If your driving is routine and really “open it up” YOU might not miss the extra 40. Do you hit heavy traffic? If so then again the AT would be a better day 2 day pick. But doing a 5-3 shift to pass a car is pretty dam nice; if you will not miss that then go AT. As for to Oil Cooler / Drive shaft etc. that I believe is the same on both models should you have the sport package. All I can base reliability on is reading this board and I don’t recall reading any posts of people with AT problems. But there have been a few 6-speed problem posts but by its very nature a 6-speed will get more “abuse” than an Auto. Almost all the AT owners that post seem to be happy so either way you will be in a great car, test drive both

Yup, you have to test drive and decide for yourself. I personally hate automatics and have no problems shifting while stuck in traffic.

The preformance level and control of the MT is better than the AT, but then again, not everyone drives a MT very well.

As far as reliabilty goes, I tend to feel that MT's are better overall as they are simpler. I have never changed a clutch on any of my many MT cars. My father on the other hand, has had several AT problems through the years (granted they were Fords or GM's).

Either way the RX-8 is a great car. I feel the MT is a great sportscar and the AT is a great grand touring car.

I couldn't own an auto RX8...if I had to get an automatic car, it would be the G35 Sedan.....

I have an RX-8 MT and I enjoy it immensely. My wife, who is somewhat short, hates to drive it because she can't reach the clutch pedal and, in general, she is not comfortable operating the vehicle.

My personal opinion is that in general the RX-8 MT is not an easy car to drive. It requires a lot of attention all the time. There is a lot of power there, steering is precise but must be attended to and, while shifting is amazingly smooth, you need to pay attention to the vehicle speed, engine RPM, clutch, shift pattern, etc. Like any production car, it is a compromise between street-ability and performance and the RX-8 MT design has packed in a lot of performance (and fun) with only a modest loss of street-ability. However, this ain't your Daddy's family four-door sedan.

Bottom line is if your wife is a hard core enthusiast then you need the MT. However, if you are looking for high-style, good performance and comfort then the AT may be a better fit. As suggested earlier in this thread, a test drive should help you decide.

I would imagine the costs of ownership of auto vs 6-sp lie with the driver. I think that properly driven, the manual will be lower cost to maintain. If you ride the clutch all the time and grind your gears, go with the auto.
Personally, I would have bought auto. I think the novelty of the paddle shift would have kept me happy. I just couldn't be happy with the drop in hp. If it is ever addressed in future versions of the car, I would try the auto.

Man, I guess I'll once again be the advocate for the AT!! I love my AT!! Anyway you look at it, the RX-8 is not the fastest car out there, either in 6-speed or AT forms, and the RENESIS was never built to have huge torque needed for stop-light drags. So it matters if you want to shift for yourself or not.

With the AT, you still get all the beauty, speed (just a little slower acceleration times), handling, style, grace and technology of the RX-8. This is a car that is built around it's awesome handling and with the AT, this does not change.

The manu-matic funciton of the AT works extremely well and allows you to have full control over the transmission (it WILL NOT upshift for you, however, it will downshift coming to a stop light and if you floor it on the freeway and forget that you're in sport mode and the cars feels it needs to drop out of OD, it will do so).

You can ask any AT owner on this board and we all feel the same about our cars. I've never driven the 6-speed so I have no idea what the 238HP engine feels like so I don't miss the power difference at all.

Get the auto if you need it, you won't regret it.

Thank you all for your input. The AM trans would close the deal for my wife as she is not keen on a MT set up. If resale down the road is not bothered by an AM trans then it sounds like a terrific compromise for us both. I'm just thrilled that she likes the car so much! Thanks again, Best, Craig Hollenback

I'm female and drive the 6 speed, couldn't image driving this type of car as an automatic.


RACECAR IS RACECAR SPELLED BACKWARDS!!!

i have drove manuals for years , but decided i wanted the AT for my 8 and i do not regret it. The power is good and if i need more i just use the paddles. I believe between 1000 and 4000 rpms both have the same power. the extra 40hp is in the upper rpms and buy 4000 rpms my auto will fly. If there was a big diffrence in the lower rpms i would feel diffrent.

Whether you want to get a manual or automatic is based on your own driving skills, but more importantly your intentions. Personally, I have no problems in any kind of driving situation. I didn't have the slightest clue how to drive my 6 M/T when I first got it. Did I mention that I had to drive 25 miles in heavy traffic to school the following Monday? I forced myself learning how to drive this car. After almost a year, I'm pretty good. I got a chance to drive both when I bought my RX-8. I liked the automatic, but the time between the shifts (I used the manu-matic mode) was quite slow. I was determined to learn how to drive a stick before I left, so I went home with one. If you don't have time to learn how to drive the 6 M/T, then by all means get the auto. Don't be too concerned about the difference in power. As long as you are happy with your purchase, that's all that matters :). Good luck.

I've driven the MT and I own the AT. The MT just is not that impressive for day-to-day driving when balanced against the AT convenience. The AT makes more torque and more power up to around 5K RPMs. It is a sweet ride and the paddles add alot to the fun factor. expo1 talked about doing 5-3 shifts to pass ... I just do 4-2 shifts to pass. Unless you are going to wring it out all the time, the AT provides a very nice compromise between performance and convenience. MAZDA did it right ... sure an extra gear would be more fun, but unless you're above the 7500 RPM range you're using just as much power as us AT folks without the convenience. I doubt many people stay above 7500 RPMs all day, much less 3500 RPMs. I drove MTs for years, and the AT-SportShift is the only way to go. You watch, when the SMG transmission comes out in 06 all these MT zealots will be changing their tune and clamouring for paddles ...

manual...

auto is for lazy people
just my opinion

If you are going to get an AT, I would recommend a different car. The whole point of the rotary engine is so you can rev the hell out of it and have some fun. I can't imagine driving a RX-8 with automatic transmission because there is no torque. You'd be in the wrong gear most of the time. There are plenty of other vehicles you can consider if you are looking for AT.

FYI. The automatic transmission has MORE torque: 164 ft/lb @5000. The MT has 159 ft/lb @5500.

Wow. 5 ft-lbf of torque. BTW, torque is measured in ft-lbf. I have no clue what ft/lb is :confused:. You can still redeem yourself if you hit the EDIT button :).

aahhh.....the auto 8's owners battlecry. Just how much of this "extra torque" is being sucked by the torque converter......

The automatic drives great, handling is no different from the 5spd, and the auto-stick adds just the right amount of control over the revs for me. I don't spend much time over 5k, and on the occasion I do the 7.5k mark seems to be more than enough to power through any pesky on-ramp entrance around here (DSC off of course) - as close to boy racer as I get. For most of my commuting I just enjoy the smooth engine, smooth shifting auto, and comfy ride - marvelous car.

I got an AT so my girl can have as much fun in the car as I do. If I wonted HP on demand I would have got a 300HP car. A car like this I would not race. To me its a 198HP car and I just got out of a 150HP car so I like the HP gain I got and the car. I had the choice of getting a GT-6spd. But she cant drive a stick so we got the AT. I do plan on getting a second car. Maybe a GT-6SPD SUNLIGHT SILVER METALLIC RX-8... Yea thats how much I love this car that I would go out and get a second one.

Yeah! Lazy people of the world unite!

On second thought, that's probably too much work....nevermind!

stangmatt66: I could not agree with you more. I love my AT. The transmission is very smart. If I am in 4th and want to pass, all I have to do is floor the accelerator and the transmission drops to 2nd for me and pins me to the back of the seat. I also agree that the paddle shifting is awesome and more than enough to satisfy those urges I want to rev up the rotor.

Is it true that the 16" rims come on the AT and the 18's only come on the 6 spd.

ATs come standard with 16" wheels while MTs come standard with 18" wheels. However, both the Sport and Touring packages give you the ability to buy an AT with 18" wheels. You can check out the details at http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/rx8/rx8_main_flash.jsp by clicking on Build&Buy.

Being the owner of both the MT & AT... the above statement is obviously from someone who has not spent much, if any time, in the AT.... and is, of course, completely untrue... I can 'rev the hell' out of our AT in almost the same way as I can with our MT... The only difference is the AT only revs upto 7+k instead of the MT's 9+K... But in almost every day to day usage... there is little difference between the two.

Personally I prefer the extra level of throttle / rev control an MT allows.. but the AT is still a hell of a lot of fun.. and in some ways can be more fun than an MT depending on your driving style and where/when you are driving!

Try both.. and see which suits you and your style best. :)

auto here, the mt would have been an extra couple o' grand so that killed it for me as I was barely lucky enough to afford an auto. I really wish the 6spd folks would just get over it, as some of us aren't lazy or can't drive or whatever, some of us just prefer autos. I've driven both, liked 'em both, could only afford the auto so that's what I got and I love it. This is a magnificent car no matter how you slice it/drive it so enough with the auto bashing already, buy whatever you like and can afford and be happy...yeeesh.

canaryrx8, is right.
But I dont see a speed difference between the two 2?. After I see a AT Porsche kill a AT and a MT 8 on the track I dont think it would matter what RX-8 is better then the other unless you are running a FI RX-8 IMO. After all its still a RX-8 its a cool car. I think its personla preference;)...
~Gilbert.

To quote Hubert H Humphrey, "I'm pleased as punch" with the AT; last 3/4 cars have been manuals (2 Integras + 1 Miata; AT was a Mazda 6 GT). Less than 2,000 Km on the RX-8, so I'm trying to break it in sensibly, whatever that means, but I agree with all of the positive comments herein about (aboot?) the auto trans.... not a let down or a second bester..just not a Boxter beater off the line....for the first time in years, I have no residual feelings of, "Damn, why didn't I wait and get that.. ..G35, 350Z, Beamer, Audi.. etc."

Truly a unique work of beauty, grace, elegance and brilliant engineering, with power enough to scare the bej..s out of this geezer, if/when you know/ learn how to summon it up. Nuff said by me.


Afterthought re: 'Lazy' ( i. e. A T ) drivers? One man's (woman's) 'meat' is another's poisson.. :rolleyes:

IMHO it all comes down to , you have an RX-8, when people turn thier heads to look at it ,which i have found everywhere, no one is caring if it's AT/MT it's just damn good looking car that is a pleasure to look at and drive.

WELCOME TO THE NEW AGE SPORT SHIFTERS ARE HERE THROW YOUR CLUTCH OUT THE WINDOW OR SIT ON IT i DON'T CARE I LOVE MY AT I JUST WISH IT WAS A FIVE SPEED

I don't know what you're talking about... the MT only costs $1,385 more than the AT. But the MT can actually cost the same as AT because the AT packages cost more than the MT. For example, the GT package for AT is $3,957 vs MT at $3,355.

At any rate, given that the difference in price is virtually nothing, I don't think price should factor in the choice between MT or AT.

appreciate AT the feedback...sports package?
 

Thanks so much for all the AT/MT feedback. The AT will make it possible for my wife to drive the car (a necessity) and I'm sold on getting the RX8. My only thoughts are how important is the sports upgrade package. I realize the larger wheels/brakes over the base AT as well as the the Xenon lights, etc. But my concern is not having the Dynamic Stability Control. Just what does it exactly do and how important is it? I owned a 73 vette many year ago and posi traction (limited slip differential) was the big thing back then. Also, I'm told that the low profile tires come with a considerable extra cost for replacement and create a much harder ride than the standard 16 inch. Any feedback and thoughts would be most helpfull and appreciated. Thanks, Craig

I wouldn't worry too much about the replacement cost for the 18" rims.

A good set of Eagle F1's will run you $200 per tire, and will last you ~40k miles.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes

... and there are other good tires out there that can cost you half that.

The advantages of the AT over the MT that I have found are ease and convenience. My friend has a MT and we have driven each other's cars. I prefer mine - so does he. I like having that free hand for a drink, cellphone, or whatever/whoever is sitting next to me. My wife insisted I get an AT so when either one of us drive it, the driver always has a free hand (never know what the driver might want to grab). Not much difference in the power until you get into the upper rpms. I will echo the others who said the best thing to do is drive both, think about where and when you are driving and what you want out of the 8. Either way my friend, get the 8 - you won't be disappointed.

You can hold drinks and other things and still drive stick. The only real problem that I've found is talking on a cell phone while driving.

i have the AT with touring package and yes the larger wheels and brakes are a must IMO.I did not know that DSC was not stock on the AT GT? All i can say about DSC is, if someone i loved was also going to be driving the car, i would feel better with DSC . With the larger wheels and brakes the DSC would be very helpful in keeping control in bad weather. My DSC has worked so good that i can stay on speed in the hard rain and feel no hydro planning. In fact other cars pull over because of conditions and i can keep going.

I don't know what you're talking about... the MT only costs $1,385 more than the AT. But the MT can actually cost the same as AT because the AT packages cost more than the MT. For example, the GT package for AT is $3,957 vs MT at $3,355.

At any rate, given that the difference in price is virtually nothing, I don't think price should factor in the choice between MT or AT.[QUOTE]

Well when I purchased mine it did, as it was about a 2500-3000 difference, since I'm already paying 500+ a month you do the math on how much extra my payment would be, and no car is worth paying 700+ a month for....except for maybe this one..heh this is only my 2nd car I've ever financed so I took a hit when I purchased it and I got mine loaded minus the 6 speed and I'm plenty stoked with it. Don't make me bust out the window stickers :) as the ones I priced were significantly more expensive, and they weren't really dealing on them yet as they were only a few months old and demand was making it an easy sell no matter what the price.

and the 700+ a month does not include insurance....ouch

Get the Sports Pkg. Zenons, 18" tires,DSC & TC and if you exceed your limits it will take over and get you out of trouble . I have auto in my daily driver and MT in my RX8 for FUN.

Yea thats me right now.:D

As per Mazda USA...

"The Touring Car Package has everything the Sports Package has plus Bose, Moonroof & auto dimming rearview mirror with Homlink system.. The Grand Toruing Package has everything the Touring Package has plus Leather trimmed upholstery, 8 way power driver seat blah..blah..blah.."

So the TP and the GTP do have DSC as well as the LSD, 18" wheels, larger brakes and sports tuned suspension...

..and indeed, both of mine (TP MT & GT AT) have all these...

Then what package is he talking about without DSC? I guess thats what i was trying to say.I guess its the Base?

Yep.. only the base model comes without DSC as standard.

Exactly. From a complete stop I believethe manual and automatic take nearly the same amount of time to get up to the place they need to be to finally get moving. The difference isthat once you get up there in the higher RPMs in the manual you feel a lot more power. But again even w/the manual its still going to takeyou a little bit before youget to 5000 RPM where you begin to feel power justlike in the automatic.

For instance ifyou were in a city drivingsituation where say you were the first car in the left lane stopped at a redlight and you needed get in front of the car in the right lane for an upcoming turn or whatever as soon as the light turns green -- if he accelerates moderately then youre not going to have enough horsepower to pass him at first even w/the manual until youve gotten the car into the higher RPMs. The same problem occurs w/the automatic. In other words ittakes just as long for the manual to getto its fly zone as the automatic does.

Onthe other hand Id say the manual is superior in highway driving b/c w/the extra gears and RPMs it has youget more control of what part of the power band you want the carto be in at certain times. In the automatic - if you are already going above 65 then only have about 1000 RPMs left to use in the 2nd gear for pick up so you are basically limited to only the 3rd gear once for pickup at that speed since 2ndgear tops off at 80 on the automatic. The same is not true for the manual though.