I'm guessing you've never really driven a manual.

 

I Love my AT Rx-8, I've had it for one year and couldn't be happier. I always test drive the MT's when i'm in for oil changes, I honestly don't think you need more of anything in the AT or MT. I've driven both and neither of them are fast. The AT is quick and so is the MT, but neither are really fast. Mods for the Rx-8 are a WASTE of time/money. Some of you guys have you're head up your *** putting thousands of dollars into mods that make the car louder with **** performance gains. And you can't say that the AT is slow, cause it's not. And the difference between the two is THE DRIVER. I say skip the mods, enjoy the car and keep it clean. I'd say trade in for the MT Rx-8 but after you test drive it you wont be blown away vs. your AT. The MT is alot cooler sounding but it still wont be enough to impress you over your AT. I almost traded my AT in for an '04 WRX STI, until I got up close to it. I also test drove the 350z, and still I can't compare it to the look and feel of my 8. Sure I'd like the acceleration of the STi or the torque of the 350z, but I wouldn't trade in my 8 for either. I just couldn't do it. I have all the handling and style I could possibly want. I am a huge fan of the Corvette Stingray, and that's what the 8 reminds me of, looks wise. I always wanted one. Some guy had a sick looking white one rolling around my town when I was in high school.

 

Only if the driver shifts early

 

To all of you guys talkin crap about autos, Im a proud owner of one. If it wasnt for the auto, Id still be driveing by the dealer wishing I could still drive a stick. They are still really fun cars. The 8 is the best handling car in my opinion for the price. Ive run a couple of cars in stock trim and in the long runs they couldnt hang at 120 constant running, acully had a mustang cobra blow his motor trying to stay with my crazy crippled ***. Guess the handicaped tags make them think, im not letting a cripple take me or somthing. Now, with the blower, when I brake stand it, I can out launch just about anything with a stick. I had a BB exaust on it [ piece of crap it is, any one want to buy a BB exaust] only gained me 5 real wheel horse power over stock with the K&N together. After the BB cracked I put the stock exaust back on and it runs better down low and much smoother. For all of you who own an auto or mn save your money for the real thing. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, spend it on the chassis. Like wheels or Brakes. I bought Bremmbos and now I hang on the seat belts when I do a brake check LOL. To all drive safe and enjoy what you have, Moon

 

It depends on whether you get an entire unit or if you can change the gear set. An entire unit can cost anywhere from $800 to almost $2,000 depending on the unit. I'm not sure what individual gear sets cost.

 

This thread has turned in MT vs AT.... i'm shocked....

 

 

Hey pashelle, Welcome to the club!
Don't let all the A-Holes get you down.
I drove an AT 8 for 2 years and I was only disappointed with
my poor gas mileage and weak launch from a start.
You won't get much more power with quick bolt-on's, save your $$$
As for Brake or Power Launching = our motor mounts don't like this
procedure and you'll most likely have to replace them if you do this.
Make sure all the recalls are done, your dealer can help you with that.
================================================== ==============
HEY GUYS...
NO WONDER WE CAN"T KEEP FEMALE 8 OWNERS HERE...
HAVE YOU CHECKED pashelle's PROFILE?

 

............lol?


KEEP DREAMING. Even a driver in an MT who is new to driving stick will pull car lengths and car lengths ahead of the AT at any speed.


Once again, you show how much you don't know.

 

 

The guys that "couldnt hang at 120 constant running" just aren't as stupid as you are.

 

You are saying that the AT isn't quick ???? I was clearly saying that NEITHER are really fast, cause they're NOT. I said that BOTH are quick, read my post above again, I defend both sides of the table and base my words on my actions and experience. Out of all the cars I test drove before I bought my AT Rx-8, the MT and AT 8's were the absolute SLOWEST cars I drove. I did not buy this car for speed neither did alot of people on this board. If I wanted speed I would've bought an EVo or Sti or SRT-4, or something more tuner friendly like an Acura Integra Type-R. It's so funny how everyone says how slow the AT is even though the 0-60 is practically a second difference than the MT. NEITHER ARE FAST, my winter car is faster than the AT and MT. I was telling this new kid not to waste his time/money on mods cause the performance gains are **** right now. This is not a AT vs. MT thread, most AT drivers like myself usually end up being the defendant after asking simple questions and saying that "I've got an Auto Rx-8" like this kid did. If he leaves it alone, doesn't mod it, keeps it clean, it'll at least hold it's resale value until a faster version of the 8 comes out. I'm talking about one that is actually FAST. Mods aren't worth it right now on this car, pretty much everything available sucks.

 

Both are quick, and both are slow, despite the big difference in 0-60 and quarter mile times. Right.


It's more than a second, and that's a HUGE gap.

What is your winter car? 0-60 in 6 seconds is fast for a car (meaning, faster than a majority of the cars on the road).

 

I'm guessing, Puch96, that your age is a little less than the 58 years that I drove shift cars -- and loved doing it. So, when I could no longer throw consistently good shifts -- and hated that -- you would deny me an RX8. Thanks a lot.

Mitch

 

you guys are all crazy. we all have rx8s. autos we like to cruise and sometimes speed a little. 6mts are great for speed and cruising a little. who cares guys.

 

i like to cruise, speed, occasionally park, and once in a while sleep in my car, oh and then curise, speed, cruise, crusie, turn, speed, turn, downshift, brake, turn, speed, stop, go, wait, go again, OH GOD WHY AM I STILL AWAKE!!!

 

Lalala

 

Thats funny, you made me laugh, who are you, or better, who do you think you are. Im a driver, love it almost as much as my job [R&D for pettit]. I love driving so much I own a kart wich I take out when I feel like cutting lose. 120 for 10 or so miles in my 8 isnt much for me, try 80 1 inch from the ground. Or stunting on a quad is fun also. I like to live man [6 lives left], but im definitly not stupid. A little of my rocker but not stupid.

 

I'm someone that has gone over 100mph 1 inch from the ground in my 125cc shifter kart, and faster than your slushbox can top out at in a friend's 250cc superkart. I also had a modded 650cc snowmobile that topped out over 110mph. Which brings me to my point, there's a time and a place for that sort of thing. Going 120mph for sustained periods of time on public roads is moronic. I guess it's funny to you that I value my license and other people's lives enough to not do it. That quite frankly IS stupid.

Capiche?

 

the banana has spoken

 

Its really sad to see so many dump on the Auto RX-8 owners... I think that if it was not for the Auto RX-8 that Mazda would be forced to discontinue the RX-8 from lack of sales.

If you are in an urban area, deal with lots of traffic, don't like sticks/can't drive stick, etc... than the Auto is the one.

I've drove both the Auto and the MT. I feel the Auto was more fun and because playing with the MT in traffic was annoying.

Also, I think Mazda HUGE mistake on the RX-8 was not doing a better job on the Auto 8 model. They have made up for it a bit with the new 6 speed AT, but they should have done that a long time ago. Many Auto 8 people are the more older or calm and relaxed types, that enjoy the 4 doors and back seats of the RX-8. A 235 HP to 250 HP Auto 8, would have allowed for even more impressive RX-8 sales. It was a mistake for Mazda to attempt to detune the Auto 8 as oppose to try to make it match the MT as much as possible.

I'm not an expert mechanic or rotor god, but here are some things that you can do:

1. Hold the brake down with one foot, rev the engine to 3,000 rpms or more with your OTHER foot, and then let go of the brake.

You will get faster take offs. For some reason, there are many people that drive automatics that don't know this. They just think all that can be done is to press down on the gas really, really hard and wait.

Closely related to that is you can manual shift the Auto 8. After launching from 3,000 to 4,000 you would manual shift it when it reaches the red line. You would want to try to keep the car at the red line (7,000 or more), as best you can.

This technique, versus just mashing the gas pedal real hard will give you some improvement in take offs.

Note 1- this technique takes some practice to get used to.

Note 2- Just playing around, I've beat numerous MT cars (various kinds) with this method. MT shifting requires developed technique. Many people are not at a high enought skill level, so just because they have a MT, it will not mean much.


2. Cold Air Intake

There is a bunch of them. The AEM or Mazdaspeed or highly recommended, but so are REVi and some others.


3. Automatic Transmission Fluid cooler


4. Oil cooler

Note- The above also helps with problems with the 4 speed AT in terms of 4 port intake, only 1 oil cooler, lack of ATF cooler. The mods will help get some of the performance back, that Mazda should of gave Auto owners in the 1st place.

5. Get your car tuned.


At this point things will start to get more expensive.

6. Mid-pipe

7. Exhaust

8. Turbo or Super charger

So far, I only see the Greedy kit for the Auto, but I question the horsepower gain of just getting into the 260 to 275 range.

The PTP Turbo kit would seem to have the most promise so far, because you can get over 300 and people that get turbo are often looking for massive power.

 

... now some more people are going to come here and talk more smack about this because you revived it... oh boy...

 

yay revive!! i just noticed alfy's retarded comments also.

 

 

search the asian forum for RE amemiya ecu flash for auto, it give a few hp more, raises the red line, makes the fans run sooner so it keeps your car cooler and inhances trotle response.