After giving my daughter my G35 coupe [auto] and getting the RX8 I can tell you so far its great [6spd], could be the trans, but I love the Wankel, should this engine be reliable long term?? Can this drivline take much abuse as my 16 year old son is learning to drive "stick" on it ??

 

It was built to handle 9000rpm so I would say yes. The one I thing I would say, is that it may be a more difficult car to learn to drive a stick on. I recently switched from a Honda Accord to the 8 and found the clutch much less forgiving on the 8. It is after all a sports transmission.

Good luck!

 

I wish my dad would just hand me a G35 Coupe!.... Can you be my daddy too, MikeD? :D


I have a 2000 Accord and test drove the 8.... I actually found the 8 to be easier to drive and the clutch is a lot less harsh.

 

When my son was 16 I taught him to drive a stick on the Dodge Stealth I had at the time. It wasn't pretty but the car survived it. I suspect the rx8 will too. The gear box on it is great and the clutch seems solid too. I must say however, that I never did let my son drive the stealth on his own and I wouldn't let a 16 year old drive the rx8 on his own either. I'll probably get flamed for this but I don't car how "mature" the 16 year old is, new drivers should not be in this car alone.

 

try an ACT six puck clutch if you want harsh

 

Personally, I think this car would be very forgiving with a new "stick" driver.

 

Personally, I don't recommend teaching a newb on any new car if it can be helped.

 

Well gosh,

Just decided that I'm going to surprise my 17 year old daughter who just graduated from high school by taking her to our "clutch training place" and put her behind the wheel of our new RX8 titanium gray that we brought home last Friday.

Our previous clutch training was in my '88 Merkur XR4Ti. This will be a total surprise to her,,and will of course put some more gray hair on me

BillyC