First gear and low RPMs...
 

I did a search in the discussion area for this and couldn't quite find anything exactly related...

Being that this 8 is my very first rotary car (not to mention first manual :) ) I'm relatively inexperienced in identifying what is normal and what isn't, especially when it comes to small things.

It's a little hard to describe, so please bear with me. I first noticed this driving 5mph in a parking lot...of course it's in 1st gear and going less than 3k rpm. When the engine is slowing down from 3k rpm, it seems like the car has a very slight lurch or jerkiness to it (moving back and forth). This goes away once I start accellerating again. It's not the same thing as the big "lurch" you get when trying to shift into 1st gear while learning manual....it's only perceptible when you're in motion at slow speeds (less than 10 miles/hr).

Has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal? Or am I on crack? :doh:

Thanks in advance!

normal ... use the clutch .. every manual is the same .. this happens even in 2nd with low revs

u can master slowing down in first but you have to be very smooth

Agree, sounds like your clutch work to me. It'll get better with practice.

another thing that you can get with practice, is at 3-5mph (depending on how level the surface is) the car will pull itself along smoothly, with no clutch and no throttle. this is extremely useful when sitting in traffic. give it a little throttle and slowly release the clutch and when you are at ~4mph you can completely let off the clutch and you'll keep going.

this works on level ground as well as moderate uphill grades. after you've been driving the car for a while, you'll learn when doing this as to when it will cruise along by itself, and when you'll need to give it gas/clutch to keep it from stalling.

A-ha, I suspected as much. It's one of those "clutch/throttle balance" things that comes with driving a manual. Thanks for the confirmation guys! :ylsuper:

i know exactly what u mean, while i realize its a balance between the clutch and throttle, the 8 is the most pronounced jerking at low speeds then the previous 4 manuel cars i've had.

Thats called bogging, and is normal in manual cars. Well normal if you aren't giving it enough gas.

You can also be experiencing the 8's very sensitive throttle by wire. When you are moving very slowly even almost imperceptible pressure on the throttle will start a little acceleration and then you take your foot off the gas and you decelerate but your foot moves forward just a bit due to the deceleration and so you are ever so slightly on the gas again.

The 8's throttle is way more sensitive than a mechanical connection. You have to be very light on the throttle in these conditions. Use the old driving school technique - pretend that there is an egg between your foot and the gas.

The rx8 does feel like it is trying to pull a boat in first gear.

So that's the term! Thanks for the info :)

I think I crushed that poor egg a few hundred miles ago....LOL

Yea This is my frist MT and my first car. You will get everything eventually, the clutch is jumpy on the 8 if you let go too quick it will jump. Its tricky. If you drive any other sports car the clutch is alot harder. Give it some time and you will it all

Low rpm and missing hose
 

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...15766869e.jpeg
I found a missing hose and replaced it but the low rpms on first gear continues. Any suggestion?