I have the opportunity to pick up an 04 AT for a very decent price. I have a history with Mustangs and the 1/4 strip But now I am older and I dropped all that in preperation for my Baby. My trade in would be a 4 door Saturn Ion so nothing blazingly fast. i want something that is still "practical" (the read doors are a huge selling point) and I have been smitten with the * since it was introduced. I know the AT is significantly slower than the MT. What I want to know is, does the engine perform like a 190 ish HP engine should? I am excited about the handling and the overall balance of the vehicle but I want to know that I am not going to get beat in a spur of the moment stop light dash by a neon.
So, is it a good 190 HP car?
Cheers
Cooper

 

The car is not for you.

 

The engine performs like a 130hp engine. The car still performs great otherwise. Automatics and rotaries have never been a good combination. The stock stall speed is too low for a torqueless engine like the rotary, and the auto trans eats up about 60hp or more. Plus it is twice as heavy (the trans) as a manual.The engine performs fine once you get to about 25mph. It's getting to 25mph that takes so long.

Also with a new baby they have to sit in reverse facing car seats...meaning the car seat will hit the front seat unless you are very short and can slide forward.

IF your kid is 1+ and sits in a normal car seat then there is no problem until he gets to be like my son at 6 years old and his feet are big enough to have problems wedging between the front of the back seat and the back of the front seat.

 

You need to step back and ask yourslef why and what. The Rx8 is a unique set of wheels that has plus and minus. If it's 04 AT it needs a new engine and a price around 10 grand.... if not pass and find a stick with a new engine. Do not buy an 04 if it does not have a fresh engine. This would be my advice. The transmission is a personal choice I don't want to offend any AT owners but AT rotary is just.... it's not the whole zoom zoom to me. I have driven tons of Rx7's so I am used to the mazda stick. It has a certain little vibration from the rotors that I get off too.

 

Not the car for you. I went from a string of F-bodies and a corvette to an Rx8. Its a great little car, but if you are used to V8s this car will never satisfy you, not even close. I recently went back to a vette

 

Awesome answers! Thank you.
Ok, so how about a 2006 Auto? I understand they adjusted the transmission for the later years. Is that still not a wise idea?
My Baby Girl is now in a forward facing car seat thats why I have been looking out at other vehicle options.
I love the honest feed back!!
Cheers
Cooper

 

No auto... this car was meant to be a stick.

 

If you're hellbent on auto trans you should seriously consider a different car. About 80% of the fun I have in my 8 is achieved through the manual transmission.

 

Alright then. I will avoid the AT and if I run across an MT then I will happily jump back on this forum!
Thank you very much.
Cheers
Cooper

 

cooper i have an automatic and still love my 8. if you love the car and really are set on an automatic buy it....I would honestly do a trade with cash on my end for an MT now but there are so many times I love my AT.....1hour of 0mph to 5mph traffic?

 

Go for a newer AT with the 6 port.
I'm not sure but I think the newer ones also have an extra oil cooler.

If you want a MT an 04 is ok.

 

Although we've got nothing on NYC or LA's traffic jams, Wisconsin is often said to have two seasons: winter and construction. Even so, I've never wanted to switch back to AT autos regardless of the traffic conditions.

Despite that, Cooper, you should honestly drop by a stealership and test-drive both, if possible. Popular opinion is not always the best compass when trying to decide a matter of opinion.

 

He just needs to drive it and decide for himself.

 

For your own sanity, please don't buy a 4 port AT unless it comes with a reliable turbo.

 

Ok but pay attention to my advice about the new engine. Do you have 2000-4000+ to spend on a new engine?

 

If you get an 8, get a manual.

Yes, I know there are many with automatics here that love them, and that's fine, but there are four indisputable facts as to why I say this:

1) The manual has a more powerful motor with it;

2) The manual has two oil coolers versus the the automatic's one oil cooler;

3) Manual transmissions are historically more reliable by a wide margin than automatic transmissions are (in the RX8 or ANY other car);

4) Far more automatics have had motor problems than manuals.

 

Dude...what the heck are you babbling about? What is the difference between 04 and 05-08 models with respect to engine replacement frequency?

Are you aware that other than port layout changes for the 6port 06-08, there are NO internal differences between any of the 04-08 AT or MT models with respect to longevity or engine failures? They all uses the same rotors, rotor housings, rotor and coolant seals. The only parts that are different relate to port layout and redline (shaft, gears, main bearings). None of the differences relate remotely to engine failures as seen in renesis engines.

There are certainly no engine differences that make the 04 worse than the 05-08 models. IF there are any reasons for 04 models having more failures than 05+, it is likely due to PCM flash differences and most likely due to the fact that there were more 04's than the later years and they are also the oldest and highest mileage...meaning there were more failures for 04's...meaning that people equate 04 to be an inferior model due to logical fallacy and misinformation (which you are promoting).

All things being equivalent an 04 is no worse off than an 05-08.

 

i think he is talking about the upcoming warranty expiration.

i love this car...i have an 04 auto, bought in december (and only got an auto so the wife could drive if need be)...yeah, its not fast, but if your streeting racing your opinion is null and void anyway. if you want the car go for it...take car of it and it will take care of you.

 

my 5 month old has been fitting fine in the rear seat.

my wife is short and she can still sit in the front passenger seat too.

can you get an extended warranty on it?

 

You can get an aftermarket extended warrenty on almost any car.

Butt, they are a rip off.

Get a 6 port AT and you will be fine.

 

Choices, from best to worst

1) Manual

2) 06+ Auto (6-speed)

3) 04-05 Auto


bear in mind, youre driving a 16 second car with an auto. This needs to be known and accepted before you jump into it. If you're coming from V8's, this may be a culture shock. Test drive it and make sure you like it; because aside from making it louder, mods do not do a whole lot to this car unless you boost.

Either way, good luck with your search and hopefully you'll be official soon!