MacrosTheBlack

Hi,
I am looking at either getting an automatic rx-8 or a 5 door mazda6. In looking over these forums I have noticed a lot of issues with flooding. Starting in the fall I will be driving about 45 minutes each way to school, three times a week. I am worried about flooding because i will be stranded far away if it should happen, and it would be a major inconvience to everyone. I also drive about 10 minutes each way to work almost everyday. People have stated that the car needs to warm up before shutting off the car, but should i forget to do it, i dont want to have to deal with having my car towed and all that crap because the car flooded. I have read a bit on the M-flash, but am still not sure if that has fixed the problem? Any info would be appreciated. Also, please don't post any replys about getting a manual over the automatic. I don't like driving manual, and i don't need the extra speed. I am more into the looks of the rx-8, and don't plan on racing anyone. I have 2 speeding tickets in the past year and don't need anymore. Thanks in advance for any help

Redlinin 8

Flooding seemed to be an issue with the first batch of cars that came out.Now we rarely see someone flooding his/her car. If you wanna be careful just rev the engine before shutting down.

8_is_enuf

I have an RX8 stick.. .I think if I were going for an auto I might look at the 6, with the V6 in it.

Good luck..

Riccio

Like 8 is enuf, if I was looking for a nice automatic commuter, I think MAYBE I'd take a long look at the 6.

I have my RX8 for enthusiast driving - it's a very special car.

mysql101

The five door 6 is pretty nice. I'd consider that if I were looking for an auto.

Logan072

Traders, How dare you suggest any other car other than an RX-8. J?K

cas2themoe

Depends on what you want and need. Both cars have great styling if you ask me, but ofcourse the 8's is better. I have an auto 8 and love it to death. Best car I've ever driven!

complex

DAMN you automatic haters!

loco4rx8

If most of your driving is going to be the 45 minute drive to school, you don't have much to worry about. The car will be well warmed up by the time you get there.

As for the 10 minute trip, you won't have a problem in the summer, as the car warms up pretty fast when it's warm out. In the winter, if the temp. needle isn't at its normal spot when you get there, rev the car to 4K for a couple secs and kill the ignition.

As for whether or not to get the AT RX-8, just remember that when Mazda replaces the 4spd AT with a 5spd AT, your car will probably take a pretty big hit in value. If that doesn't bother you, go for it!

Logan072

I have an automatic and have not had any flooding problems as you have discribed. I drive about 45 minutes to work myself, and if any thing were to come up you have the 24 hour road side that comes with the car, FREE. Get the 8 man.

NavyDood

Just picked up the wife up an Auto RX8. She loves it and so do I. I dont have a single complaint with the auto. Driving around in it in the manual mode using the paddles or stick really adds to the fun of this car having the auto.

I may get an 8 later this year for me. I am not sure which tranny I want though. I am so sick and tired of driving a stick shift for the past 8 years, I may just go with the Auto also. We'll see though.

MacrosTheBlack

I test drove the auto 8 and it has plenty of power. You can only go so fast while driving around, without getting owned by the cops. I don't go around racing people. I love the look of the 6, hell i even had one, but i prefer the rx-8's looks over that of the 6. What worries me about the 8 is the flooding issue. I know there is roadside assistance and all, but it is still a major inconvience if it happens.

MacrosTheBlack

When is the 5spd AT coming out? Will it be on par with the manual?

Bankotsu

2006 models I think. I don't know about the power.

rx-7~rx-8

the Rx-8 rarely floods... dont stress it... it 99% wont happen cause you know about it... and what pre-cautions to take... people that had it happen to them.. learne from it... we have a poll in how many RX-8 were flooded... and it was a small portion... very small..

If i were you ... i would wait til August or September to purchase a RX-8... when the 2005 model comes it surely will have the little bugs fixed...

Also about the 5-Speed Automatic... majority of the car companies make enchancement every 2 years ... rarely the next year of it comming out... So 80% sure that by 2006 the RX-8 will hve enchancment such as 5 speed auto... and much more...

Overport

only the first cars to come out had a minor flooding issue. They fixed that, so if you buy an 04 RX8 you should not have any problems, especially with an automatic. You would be more at risk of flooding with a manual because you can stall it easier, and when you stall it while cold, it can flood. You should be ok though.

EatMyBanana

My new Auto has not stalled and I feel sure the problem is solved.

CryoMax

Heh, getting an automatic RX-8 won't help with the speeding tickets, if that's your bag.

I live right close to I280 south of San Francisco (I take it to head down to friends in San Mateo and points south all the time), and fortunately, the police presence there tends to be a little thin (though I've been told they've just started cracking down on people). Outside of rush hour, though, the road is practically unused (unlike 101, which runs parallel on the other side of the peninsula, there aren't a lot of high-tech businesses built on 280, which borders a beautiful, untouched reservoir area)... And it's REALLY easy to get things going.

I've actually shocked myself at how quickly I notice I'm driving 85 MPH. (BTW, the automatic runs at 3500 rpm when doing 85. )
I pushed it to 90, "just to see", and it took no effort at all, and the car was not straining in the least.

Compared to my Aztek, which I have gotten up to 85 before, it was quite a shock (but then again, my Aztek had a heads-up display telling me quite clearly how fast I was going, so maybe I noticed it more )

Don't let the automatophobes get you down.

...Paul

Gord96BRG

The 5 spd AT is due for the 2006 model year, and it will be matched with the high-power 238 hp engine and have the full 9000 rpm redline, instead of the low-power 197 hp engine with only 7000 rpm redline.

Re flooding: the only problem was if the engine was shut off immediately after a cold start, ie turned off within a minute or two of being started from cold. If the engine was warmed up more than a few minutes, then you could shut it off and restart it as often and quickly as you liked without risk of flooding. So, after you've driven more than a few minutes, then there was no flooding risk at all. If the engine was warm, ie if you'd been driving it for a while then parked it for an hour, then there was still no flooding risk if you immediately stopped it after starting - it was only with a COLD engine being stopped after a minute or two of running.

BUT - the most recent powertrain computer module (PCM) reflash from Mazda, the M flash, included recalibrated fuel injection parameters to compensate for cold starts that has eliminated the flooding problem - so far, it seems nobody has been able to flood an M flash RX-8, and a few people have deliberately tried. End of problem.

Regards,
Gordon

stangmatt66

I have an automatic and LOVE IT TO DEATH!!! I've never had ANY flooding problems and I shut my car off cold all the time when I move it out of the garage and into the street. The RX-8 is still a blast with the auto, sure it's not as fast as the 6-speed, but all the great handling, fine chassis tuning and amazing balance of the RX-8 are still present. Get the auto, you won't regret it!!!

Mazda6 is nice...had a 4-cyl rental while my RX-8 was at the body shop. Be weary though, the Mazda6 turning radius is HUGE!! Embarrassing for such a small car!

MacrosTheBlack

Good to hear, it looks like i will go with the rx-8 I had a Mazda6 s and it was really nice, but nothing compares to the rx-8. I love it to death, and now that the flooding seems to be fixed, its rx-8 time.

MacrosTheBlack

I guess after I have the 4spd AT for 2-3 years, i will upgrade to the 5spd AT. Hopefully there will be some other goodies by that time as well, like a replaceable headunit!

MacrosTheBlack

True about the speeding tickets. My first one was when I had my mazda6 and the second was with my mazda3. I guess i gotta be careful no matter what car im driving, at least until february . Then it will have been over year since my last ticket, and wont have to worry about getting my license suspended.