View Poll Results: Auto or Manual
AUTO
15
13.64%
Manual
95
86.36%
Voters: 110. You may not vote on this poll
Manual Or Auto?
05-12-2003, 11:36 PM
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Manual Or Auto?
Hmm..Let's see how many are getting the auto or manual.
IMHO to appreciate this car fully is to have the 6 speeder zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom and ZOOOMMMM!!
IMHO to appreciate this car fully is to have the 6 speeder zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom,zoom and ZOOOMMMM!!
05-13-2003, 12:40 AM
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how to...
yeah... i'm considering getting the manual... my family has two automatic cars so i've never really had the oppurtunity to learn manual outside of driving my friends standard chevy sprint for brief periods of time...
so, neone who wants to impart knowledge on how to drive a stick well, PLEASE DO!
much thnx to those who help out!
so, neone who wants to impart knowledge on how to drive a stick well, PLEASE DO!
much thnx to those who help out!
05-13-2003, 12:45 AM
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The trick is to not let the clutch go too fast or too slow as you press the gas pedal. Don't rest your clutch foot on it's heel, use your toes and as you release the clutch slowly you will come to a "breaking point", then gradually give it some gas.
05-14-2003, 12:27 AM
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an hour
edit: i learned manual while i took "behind the wheel training" my instructor was cool and let me burn out. left a nice fat black streak in my neighborhood. lol.
edit: i learned manual while i took "behind the wheel training" my instructor was cool and let me burn out. left a nice fat black streak in my neighborhood. lol.
05-14-2003, 01:29 AM
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i didn't think too much and purchased the RX-8 even i drove the manual. i am the one who is learning manual now by using my friend RX-7 FC. I think it is too late beause i will get my 8 during the summer. i will be the professinal manual driver when i get my baby.
05-14-2003, 02:57 AM
#10
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I've owned about 30 cars with manual transmissions, and I've had too many problems with clutches, synchros, etc., that I switched to automatics. I haven't had any problems, and no more stalling or graunching gears.
05-14-2003, 07:28 AM
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If you live in an area with a lot of stop and go traffic, a manual tranny can be a PITA. That goes double for those in San Francisco with all those hills.
I will take the manual though. In most cars offered with both options, the manual is cheaper, faster and gets slightly better gas mileage. With the Auto equipped 8 having much less power, I would think the performance #'s are going to be fairly wide spread.
It is also more engaging and fun to drive a manual transmission. As for learning, keep in mind that it is a fluid motion with both feet and that the clutch take up point is going to differ from car to car (models that is - it should be fairly consistent with all RX-8s). If you're paying attention to what you are doing, wear and tear should be minimal. I have close to 140,000 miles on my car with the original clutch and tranny, and I am by no means perfect. I have had those occasional instances of mis-shifts, early clutch releases and grinding of gears.
Manual transmissions from the last 10 years are much better than they ever have been. Much Smoother operation, with self adjusting hydraulic clutches, and shorter throws. I hope that no one opts for the auto simply because they don't know how to drive the manual. People have their reasons - I understand, but it is much more satisfying, and easier than ever, to drive a manual tranny.
I will take the manual though. In most cars offered with both options, the manual is cheaper, faster and gets slightly better gas mileage. With the Auto equipped 8 having much less power, I would think the performance #'s are going to be fairly wide spread.
It is also more engaging and fun to drive a manual transmission. As for learning, keep in mind that it is a fluid motion with both feet and that the clutch take up point is going to differ from car to car (models that is - it should be fairly consistent with all RX-8s). If you're paying attention to what you are doing, wear and tear should be minimal. I have close to 140,000 miles on my car with the original clutch and tranny, and I am by no means perfect. I have had those occasional instances of mis-shifts, early clutch releases and grinding of gears.
Manual transmissions from the last 10 years are much better than they ever have been. Much Smoother operation, with self adjusting hydraulic clutches, and shorter throws. I hope that no one opts for the auto simply because they don't know how to drive the manual. People have their reasons - I understand, but it is much more satisfying, and easier than ever, to drive a manual tranny.
05-14-2003, 08:18 AM
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Given that I've seen my dealer's Inventory/Allocation report, the percentage of cars ordered and allocated seem to match the poll results pretty closely, if not a slightly higher percentage of automatics. Still, the acutal percentage on automatics to manuals will likely be one automatic for every four manuals or so.
I would think that automatic RX-8s will sit on the lot longer than manuals, which is why dealers are at least initially ordering more manuals (at least mine is). More initial sales usually means larger future allocations for dealers. Once the initial rush of 6MT "enthusiasts" have had their fill and the car becomes more popular, that might change a little though.
I would think that automatic RX-8s will sit on the lot longer than manuals, which is why dealers are at least initially ordering more manuals (at least mine is). More initial sales usually means larger future allocations for dealers. Once the initial rush of 6MT "enthusiasts" have had their fill and the car becomes more popular, that might change a little though.
Last edited by DTECH-RX; 05-14-2003 at 11:11 AM.
05-14-2003, 06:06 PM
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Originally posted by Stretch
heh, thanks for all the tips. umm...also just wonderin, how long did it take u to get used to the stick?
heh, thanks for all the tips. umm...also just wonderin, how long did it take u to get used to the stick?
05-14-2003, 07:58 PM
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Neither. but if I was getting one it wouldn't probably be neither since RX8's auto tranny sucks big time. Why couldn't have they just used similar tranny as in Acura CL and G35c? It would be shame to get beaten by sentra with RX8 auto. Let's hope mazda fixes this issue and makes RX8 auto a sports car and not a mazda sentra with rotary. At least if they use lower RPM and mazda6's 5 speed transmission, then it will be alot better. But anyways, auto always is better IMO especially with formula type shifters as in 8.
05-14-2003, 08:36 PM
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Auto, as much as I'm ashamed to admit it.
But it's not my choice; I swear
Neither parent can drive a stick and has no desire to learn, and it's their money so I guess I'll take what I can get.
I'd rather have an automatic RX-8 than no RX-8 at all.
But it's not my choice; I swear
Neither parent can drive a stick and has no desire to learn, and it's their money so I guess I'll take what I can get.
I'd rather have an automatic RX-8 than no RX-8 at all.
05-14-2003, 09:07 PM
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It's not that simple, sadly 
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
05-15-2003, 12:34 AM
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Originally posted by laferle
It's not that simple, sadly
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
It's not that simple, sadly
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
Parentals leave our cars alone, seeing how they have 3 cars b/t the 2 of them anyway.
05-15-2003, 08:40 PM
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Originally posted by laferle
It's not that simple, sadly
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
It's not that simple, sadly
The A4 wagon is my mom's, the G35 is my dad's leased company car, and the RX-8 will be a 'family' car, though it will be driven primarily by me (like the prelude it's replacing), but the parents want some of the RX action too, and it's their money so if they say we're getting an auto, it's hard for me to argue with that ...
05-15-2003, 09:19 PM
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I've never formally clocked it. It definitely 'feels' faster than it is, especially when you can see and hear the VTEC at high revs. In terms of it actually being fast, it's probably pretty slow; i'd estimate the 0-60 to be in the mid to high 7's and the quarter mile in about 16.
05-15-2003, 09:21 PM
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So basically it's like automatic Mazda6? Crap. I can't find a decend sporty car that runs pretty quick at 0-60 and 1/4 mile with automatic tranny. Only nissan has achieved that with infiniti but it looks ugly imo.
