motorups

Honest it was not like I felt it hurt to drive the 4 speed automatic 2005 today. Yes I know...flame on. Anyway, I sort of liked the 4 speed (well the auto padder shifter/stick shifter aspects of it).

2nd gear gets you up to 40+ then move it into 3rd for 40 to 50ish. Did notice if in auto mode and in 4th then you stomp on the gas padel it drops pass 3rd back into 2nd. Was ok with that though thought once it got back into 4th it was at a certain rpm then seems to drop the rpms down another 500 or so all by itself about three to five seconds later...it was a short test drive so maybe I did not read/notice things correctly. Used car place says I can have it for 24 hours to see if I want to keep it. Tempting for sure.

Only a base Touring model (in 05 touring was the base)...not dcs button on it. Asked if they would take my 07 touring mx5 automatic in trade 'key for key' but they counter with a 'give them $1,000' request. Well at least that is better then the $2,000 they wanted yesterday

Do like the galaxy gray color on the car a lot more then I would have guessed and the black frabic seems ok. Too bad no sunroof. Only 7,000 miles on it and car fax report appears ok but I wonder...since they got it at the auction, if I should worry about this car. No way to know if it was broken in correctly, gas type used. Mazda dealer says first service is due 7,000 to 7,500 so guess that is an ok thing. Then again, only 7,000 miles and two years left on warranty are two for the plus column. Still a car that only had 7k miles put on it in two years (based on in service date) has to make one wonder I would say.

Would cost around $350 for them to move my sirrus unit from mx5 to rx8.

Have a few leads on left over 07 automatics so might hold out for one of them instead. Not sure I want black leather in florida but might be willing to live with it (famous last words no doubt). thinking the sand leather would be much harder to keep clean if I take the doggies for a ride.

Yes...still aiming for an automatic. Traffic sucks in my part of the county and mazda has sold me on thier auto/manual setup. Old age I guess.

thanks for any comments on how you like your 4sp autos.

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

If you feel inclined to make excuses for the 4at before you buy it then it's not for you. In fact, not to seem antagonestic, but you sound like an at is something to make excuses for. Most likely you would be better served to buy an MT. I have a 4at and happen to love it. Stock it was slow from the stop light but once going was just as much fun as any MT (at least to me). While the 6at is a little better, you obviously would not be satisfied. I decided to go FI and have not regretted that move.

From your post I would believe that you should reconsider your lowering yourself into purchasing an AT. Don't be unhappy and cry about it like so many others.

motorups

Hum...
actually I guess I was wording my post based upon the replies given anytime I spoke the word 'automatic' in a thread before. I'm sure 90% of the members on the site do not feel 'rx8 and automatic' should be used in the same sentence.

Have not driven a 6sp auto recently so cannot compare to what I just drove today. Compared to my auto mx5 I felt the 4sp auto rx8 was ok (though maybe not as nice as a 6sp auto...will ride one when I can but only new 08 autos out at many places...will try tampa tomorrow and drive a left over 07 auto).

so long story short, if the 6sp auto rx8 is much like my 6sp mx5 and price is right I might have to make the switch. really liking my mx5 but I feel too much like a foot sliding into a tight fitting shoe at times. top down is a blast at night then again I'm so close to the windshield (when one looks up) that you see the top window frame instead of a traffic light.

Sorry but I just cannot see driving a stick in dense traffic without curves when the mazda auto shifter works so well. but that is just me. most others feel it has to be a stick to be a sports car

Shini

+1 I agree completely.

I started out a whiner about the AT, but after driving it for a year, I can't imagine having an MT, I don't think I'd like one at all.

tajabaho1

^ for some reason, I now own an MT..........

j67345

I've only ever owned/driven manual cars, and I can't imagine having an auto...once you get used to it (for me, anyways), I don't even think about whether it is a pain to have to shift when I'm sitting in traffic...so I'd say go with the 6-speed manual, but heck if you want a manual go for the manual. It's your car!

Phil's 8

iTrader: (3)

You might consider posting in the AT section. Negative posts are not as prevalent there and you may get some good advise as to mods. The AT, either the 4 or the 6 can be a lot of fun to drive if your mind set is receptive and understand it's short comings. Mods are out there for all Ats but slow to come on newer technology. If you decide to purchase the AT I wish you good driving and enjoy.

c0ldf1ame

iTrader: (5)

^ +1

manual comes automatically to me, i dont think about it anymore, but i've been driving manual since 16 so i dont know what its like for you,

but i cant drive autos anymore cuz i fall asleep, seriously no joke, hot cali sun + traffic = drowsiness

j67345

And for the $$..you might want to jsut get a new Sirius on ebay...you can probably get one & install it yourself...or pay to have it installed at Best buy or something and save probably more than $100. It's pretty easy to install yourself (I put the antenna on the dashboard on the passenger side because I didn't want the curves of my car messed up with a black bump for the antenna....works great)

SlayerRX8

First of all, don't listen to the dealer about "having 24 hours". All they're trying to do is get you on an impulse buy. Test drive any car you even remotely consider, and know that there are ALWAYS other rx-8's out there. The one you are looking at is not special, no matter how much they'd like to convince you of that.

If you are considering a 6 speed AT, test drive it. They are definitely better than the 4 speeds.

Also, if speed is of any concern to you, do not get an automatic rx8. There are plenty of automatic cars out there that can be fast, but the rx8 is not one of them.

However, if you aren't really concerned with speed, an auto rx8 is a great car.

Personally, speed is very important to me, so I cut my losses and sold my 4AT to get a car that is actually fast.

CarAndDriver

If you're just cruising get an AT. If you want any sort of speed get a 6M. Other cars with a lot more torque would be fine with an AT like a 350Z or Mustang GT, but high revvers like the S2000 and 8 just suffer with one.

SageJMP

I personally can't wait till Mazda finally starts to put in some Dual-clutch transmissions into their cars.

That will be the one automatic transmission that will change the minds of soooo many people.......well, as long as they put the same engine in the car for both instead of a weaker engine in the automatic version.

Old Rotor

I have the 4sp A/T. It's been great and read in this forum they have had way far fewer problems then the M/T. Of course it's easy to abuse a M/T and thats what happens there. I have had five M/T Rotaries and two A/T and enjoyed them all, but I never abused them. You can't rev it up and drop it in gear, it will bite you eventually and you deserve it.