VBprogrammer666

You will get used to the manual very quickly and it will become second nature to you - so I wouldn't be too worried. I've been driving manuals for 24 years - I learned on a '76 MG Midget. Compared to an RX-8 that was like shifting gears in a truck.

To get more comfortable shifting, I would definitely find an empty parking lot or very lightly traveled roads so you can concentrate on the mechanics of shifting without the concern of having to stay with (or out of the way of) other traffic.

Also, find a road with a hill on a dead end or in an empty parking lot - you want a road where you don't have to worry about any other cars. Face your car going up that hill and stop. Since you won't have to worry about anyone behind you, you can really get a feel for how much throttle you have to give the engine while letting out the clutch without stalling or rolling back too far. I think you'll discover that you really don't roll back that far, even on the steepest hills if you learn to gauge the timing of the throttle and clutch properly. I taught my sister and wife this way and they're old pros now.

Does anyone else use the emergency brake when staring on a hill? When stopped on steep hills (in my earlier cars with manual trans), I have applied the emergency brake. When it's time to go, I would shift into 1st, give some throttle and let out the clutch. As I'm letting out the clutch, I would disengage the emergency brake and move forward without rolling back at all. I only would use this technique on the car when I knew exactly when the clutch would start engaging and time the release of the emergency brake so I'm not overloading the transmission.

shakRpahX8

Hello
haha for many of you wondering about my english skills
Yes IT sucks to tell you the truth I'm an immigrant from Asia. I don't even have a green card yet. I came here to study and that's what I did. I managed to get 4.0 and that was the deal with my dad. So i could choose any car around 30k, and M3 was mentioned by my dad, but I couldn't possibly take it, even though it was a dream car.
My RX-8 is my dream car.
haha I want to see you guys go to a some complete strange country and get used to its environment to where I am right now.

truemagellen

I've posted this before somewhere RENT A BEATER CAR AND PRACTICE STICK...better off running that car's clutch into the ground instead of yours (easier to destroy your clutch too considering the power of the engine)

congrats

EyeBall Fixer...(o)(x)

I'm a product of the U.S. Education System.
My parents are retired teachers (Public School System).
I'm a Veteran and I worked my way through Medical School.
I love the USA, even with her faults.
I suspect the Canadian Public School System is far from perfect...

Will I buy my son a graduation vehicle? You bet!

BrilliantBlack8

Unlike our friend, i am 20 years old and bought a 2004 rx-8 with all of my own money. I have been saving up for the past three years. I have a full time job at a hospital while also going to paramedic school. I put $10,000 down and did not a have a co-signer either. seeing that i wanted this to be on me, no one else. I pay for gas, insurance, and my car payment. So please dont lump us all into this group of just cause we are young and have a 30,000 that we didnt pay for it. Not one other person has put any money towards my car besides for me. And lets put you into this kids shoes. If your parents said hey we will give you a rx8 or a M3 im sure you would have said no, i want a POS that runs horrible and looks horrible and would have taken that over the 8 or the 3...i think not.
robert

Paul_in_DC

My dad was an immigrant and a Veteran.
I'm a Vet too and I also worked my way from undergrad through graduate school.
I love every country. (Well okay, with a couple exceptions...)
No public school system is perfect, but it's the student's dedication that makes the biggest difference.

Will I buy my daughter a new graduation vehicle? Hell no! Sorry to differ, but I believe that a person needs to work for something to truly appreciate it.

My $.02

StewC625

BrilliantBlack:

I have the utmost respect for you. You earned and earn every dollar needed to own your dream car. You went out and bought it. I don't begrudge youthful -8 owners. I begrudge ANYONE who didn't earn what they got. And you can't say "I got a straight 4.0" qualifies as earning. I did that. Guess what? I did what was expected of me!

The only thing I'd counsel you on, is perhaps delaying your dream a bit - in 20/20 hindsight, even though I loved my 1985 RX-7 and it was my all time favorite car I've ever had (even beating my beloved -8), I wish I had the money I spent on that back, and wish I'd bought a cheap used car then, and waited a bit longer.

That said, it probably doesn't make a hill of beans difference 20 years later here, but I still think it was an irresponsible decision.

I guess, quoting the movie Risky Business here, every now and then, you gotta say "what the ****."

Spazm

=/

I wouldn't flame the poor kid who got the car. If it were the parent posting, it would be more appropriate. Just as someone stated before...I can't think of very many kids who would turn down the opportunity to drive an RX8 or a M3 over some beater.

Personally, I'm 21, purchased my own RX8, and hopefully will be purchasing my own home within 1-2 years. I've worked my way up through the ranks of the banking system, starting when I was 18 years old as an hourly teller. All I can say is that when I turn the key in the ignition of my RX8, it feels that much greater that *I* bought that car.

Funny side note...at a management meeting at the Hyatt in Sacramento, CA, one manager from an outside area who didn't know tried to get me to valet his car for him while I was waiting for the real valet to pull up my car! A week later, I was pissed off and bought a $2k suit...now THAT was an irresponsible decision!

greg-

nice :D yea that s4 man. It gets you and holds you tight. Ive been in love with audis for a few years now, and i saw a chance at an rx8 and was all over it. Not looking back.

StealthFox

Ahh, yes the b5 s4's are formidable cars. my dad has a 2.7t equipped audi and its amazing. Like the others , my two loves are the s4 and the rx8, except i dont have either yet as im still 15 and saving up('07 sunlight silver rx8 here i come)

Nubo

shakRpahX8 - 1, Detractors - 0

LOL. Anyone from America who's moved to Asia, then gotten perfect grades and can write effectively in the foreign language, feel free to criticize. Otherwise I'd say you're pwned.

jtimbck2

Guys, DO NOT turn this into another "kids don't deserve nice cars" flamewar -- that's a guaranteed way to get warnings and have this thread closed.

mitchmiller

must be nice