I need help deciding...AT or MT
 

First off...hey guys!! I'm new on this board and a soon to be "proud" owner of a RX-8.

Well, here's my situation. I want this car no matter what but I also don't want a blow my whole savings on it. So, I want to save some money and get a good deal and I figure the Automatic will save me money!!

I'm not a huge speed guy (even though my history won't indicate that) but I'm more into the cruising and looks thing. And since I live in a Stop-n-go area (NYC metro), I feel the auto will be more suitable. I also have little experience on the manual and always drove an automatic.

But I know...the manual is the way to go!!! It's "ballzier" and it's probably a sin to put an automatic trans in this car (or any sports car for that matter).

So here's the bottom line:

Should I buy the AT because I'll save money and have a more suitable car for my driving conditions or..

buy a "real" RX-8...spend a little more and burn the clutch...??

I need some feedback...

seriously get a manual....i got a titanium manual and it is amazing, more hp than the automatic.....plus chix dig a manual

Had the same problem, execept i'm a bit younger and have 0 experience other then a few drives in a manual car.

After i learned to drive stick on the rx8, i'll tell you bud, there NO FEELING LIKE IT!!!

The sound the engine makes is just amazing.

Although your sitchuation of living in NY and especially busy areas, there is no need to even consider manual.

Your probably a pretty busy guy so not only are you in heavy ass traffic (and have to worry about stalling out if u don't press the clutch in while breaking while going slow) but u'll be on the phone and ur attention is diverted.

And not to mention weather. I live in delaware and it just snowed.. i'm sure 8 can make it through, but having a clutch in snow.. is just not too good ;) unless you like to spin out alot.

Anyways, go for the A/T due to your location.

I"m getting one within this week.
i think i've decided on tit. gray w/2 tone red interior (and most all exterior apperance mods)

Lemme know what you think :) what kind are you getting?

Stick

RX-8 is stick. A/T is just a wannabe.

its true, the a/t is a wannabe. there is no comparing the a/t to the stick.

however like i posted above, consider your location and your daily travel.

get the manual, at first it will just be kinda annoying with the stalling :-D (me being a beginner at stick) but hell you get used to it and its just fun.
If money is a REAL BIG ISSUE, then do what you can to save, but if you can DO MANUAL!!!:-D

well one thing woudl suck if you are in a high traffic area i.e. LA, then you may want to reconsider the manual.

RX-8 and another car like --350Z-- in auto for example is a harder question. The interior AT gear box and an inferior engine make it a no case/

The original poster JUST SAID he lives in a very high-traffic area, with lots of stop-and-go traffic.

I have a manual. I love it on the open highway, and it's frustrating in bumper-to-bumper traffic. In fact, it often drives me crazy, but I only hit very heavy traffic for about 15 minutes a couple of times a week. If it was non-stop bumper-to-bumper, it'd probably drive me crazy.

Above all, my one real piece of advice, melikeRX8, is to not blindly follow the people on this board that say "get the MT no matter what!" A lot of people here are transmission snobs -- "MT bullies." These bullies scream very loudly, and they will try their best to make you feel like an idiot or a pussy for even considering AT. You should just think about what's best for YOU.

And before you MT bullies jump on me -- I've had a manual rx8 for over 4 months now, so you can all go to hell :P

:D

New York is way worse than LA dude...

Honestly, i dont see the point of getting this kind of car if you're getting an AT...


simply a waste of metal and money

If I were you I would get the auto.
Manual transmission would be less preferable in all that stop and go traffic - although I drive an MT now, I would choose the AT in your situation.
The AT is still a great car! It will be more fun for you in stop and go traffic and easier on your wallet.
Whatever you decide - you're going to enjoy it!

I don't find any problem in driving it in stop and go traffic, but after an hour or so my leg will start to cramp. However, it's a very easy stick, so if your drive is shorter it might work. I think, though, if I was in your shoes, I would get the A/T just for convenience sake.

Personaly I drive an AT because of two bad knees due to 20 years of military service an I also live in a metropolitain area with hellacious traffic jams. If you ever had to drive a stick in a 1-2 hour traffic jam on the highway then you know what it is like. If not shut your pie hole and understand that to each his own and these choices are made based on real world situations not on some preconcived notion that a "real Sports Car" only comes with a stick.

This whole rigamorole about MT vs AT is a bunch of crap. True high performance cars and I mean F1 and Lemans cars all use Automatic shifting transmissions. Micheal Shumacher's car has paddle shifters in his car not a stick so is his car a waste of money? No, all your high performance cars are going that route. look at most of your Ferrari's and Lambos.

F1 cars now have paddles only for starts and pitstops, during races it is ALL automatically managed by computers and the driver has to steer and use gaz-brake only.

In NYC metro you are way better suited for the AT .

I drive manual Rx8 but drive mostly HW.

My point exactly. I guess since the driver doesn't have to row the gears then this means it is not a sports car. You tell that to F1 and Lemans drivers!

Guys...the MT is freaking awesome. But you know what? The A/T with the sports package still kicks the asses of half the other cars available. Hell, the A/T 8 can give the RSX Type S a run for it's money! And we all know the Type S only comes in 6 speed...so god forbid a "sports car" loses to an A/T "wannabe"...

If a sports car can't hold it's own in A/T, then it wasn't a real sports car with the 6 speed in the first place :p

Type-S would beat the AT RX8 easy FYI. The Type-S RSX does 0-60 in the mid 6 second range. From AT RX8 users posts it appears the best the AT can do is 7.2 using the brake and upper 7s with a regular start. Now I'm definately not going to say its a waste to buy a AT RX8 if it fits your wants and needs. It still is a damn nice ride that looks sweet and has a lot of nice bells and whistles but don't underestimate how much performance you are losing.

Tough choice for your cicumstance, but the clincher for me was that I'd like other people to be able to drive my car. I don't think my wife would ever drive it if it were a manual, and I'd probably never be willing to lend my car to friends if it had a standard transmission. People are really excited when I offer them the chance to drive it.

Well, I guess I'm going to go with the AT. I'm hoping to get one in Blue, Touring package, black interior for no more than 26500 (out the door!!) I figure I can throw some negatives in the dealers face such as
1) It's an AT (less power) and the current price is still based on the original HR readings: 210 for the AT
2) bring up some issues that the car has (flooding, inaccurate MPG)
And, I'm hoping if I buy the day after X-mas he can give me a good deal.

...is that a far fetch???

ok I used to feel that autos were the only way to go if you were in trafic at all. but the clutch on the 8 is so short and the gears are also a short throw that unless you drive 100% in heavy traffic they you are going to miss the manual when you do get a chance to open it up.

with regard to buying it the day after x-mas you might want to consider waiting until after the new year beacause the prices usually tend to drop a little more when the car actually hits its model year. (2004) however i am not preaching either i couldnt wait if I had the cash. the price you quote is not all taht likely unless you can really get teh sales manager uncomfortable. catch him in some lies then bring out some of the negatives to keep them off guard. Dont forget to bring in documentation of them (i.e. oil pan fix heater knobs etc...) Remember that actual invioce (the price the dealer paid is 15-20% below what they actually admit it is. In any case good luck.

*Sigh*...I'm not even going to start about how there is more to life than a straight line...because if I were wrong, everyone should be driving around in Old Detroit Muscle. So in short, I'm going to quote someone very dear to me in regards to all of the "M/T or death"...SUCK MY DICK!

well if you're into saving money, an AT for 26.5 seems a little steep. i got my 6MT for less than that...a LOT less than that.

how about no...

I'm new here so don't blast me, but I bought the AT simply because I'm a Field Systems Engineer and constantly on the road and constantly on the cellphone. I've had 4 manual RX-7's in my lifetime and thought it was time for a change. In my opinion, the AT RX-8 hauls a**! Eventhough, much less HP than the manual I still think it's one hell of a ride! On a wide open highway in the middle of BFE Texas last week I came close to breaking 140MPH. This was a long stretch of road and probably with some tail wind but it was screaming. Loved it! ,Lewis