manual trans. question
 

I don't have an 8 yet, but plan on getting one in a month or two. All along I have been planning to get an automatic, but this weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to learn stick, so now I certainly plan on getting the 6 speed. My question is...on the 8, is there a small light that goes on when you are supposed to shift? On the car I learned on, there is one in the area of the spedometer. It wasn't long before I could "feel" when I should shift without watching for the light, but I was just curious if the 8 has something like this.

no but it has a buzzer/bell that tells you when to shift. it's very quiet tho and most of the time is hard to hear.

mjd -
If I read you correctly you're asking if there is an indicator
light that comes on to tell you when to shift under normal driving conditions.

There is no such light.

There is a quiet warning beep at about 8500 rpm's - before the red line- to help keep you from redlining it.

Mine doesn't ... or are you implying (tongue in cheek) that you should only shift at 8500 rpm when the redline warning buzzer sounds?

There is no light but you can add an aftermarket (annoying as anything) Light real easy. The 350Z has one that is programmable and comes on as Rev. You will learn to shift based on sound and feel

you can always buy a shift light.

People keep saying the rev limiter buzzer is quiet - mine is pretty damn loud. Is it just mine or what?

Once you learn the car, you won't need the light. But if you want some indicator, that big old tachometer is right in front of you.

:) although i guess i could have been more informative with the new driver.

No big deal zoom, I was just checking :p

No, no, silly! That's the engine that you can finally hear at those rev's. Although, most people refer that sound to a "zoom", rather than a "buzz".

Also, the owners' manual provides suggested upshift speeds. The upshift speeds are surprisingly low. For instance, the manual suggests using 6th gear when cruising at speeds in the high 40 mph range.

I coudl have sworn there was a shiftup light on the prototype models. I'm sure I remember all sorts of grousing about this "idiot light" and peopel saying how they were going to pull the fuse for it or what not?

So from the responses in this thread am I to assume that they removed that light from the final production model?

yup they listened to us on that of all things!

Haha, I'm not sure if you're joking or not, but I wasn't referring to the sound of the engine. I called it a "buzzer", but whatever you want to call it, the "ring", "beep" etc. that the car makes when you hit the rev limiter, mine is really loud.

This has already been said but it bears repeating. Use the Tachometer to judge your shifting and as time goes on you will be able to do it by feel or sound. Just make sure that you don't watch the Tach or Speedometer and not the road. Those shift lights may seem useful in the beginning but as time goes on you either ignore them or try to destroy them.

In traffic, just accelerate until you almost hit the car in front, then shift.
Really, you will feel it when you drive the car. For everyday driving you will learn the sound of the engine, etc. It becomes natural quickly.

Hehe...yeah dude, just razzin' ya. :D

But, mine can barely be heard over the "zoom". It's more like a "ding dong --- 3rd floor; women's lingerie, bedding & accessories"

Anybody else have a loud one?

You won't have to worry about a light ;-) my current car being a 96 Ford Probe GT was very simple to learn the engine tones and where to shift at optiomal points, i can only dream and wait untill i can own a great car such as the RX 8 with a 6 speed trans and join all the other proud members.

I know that may be surprisingly low for performance reasons, but it sounds like they are perfectly reasonable for normal driving/fuel economy reasons.

For example, I regularly throw my current car (not an RX-8) into 6th on my drive into work. I wouldn't do it if I were accelerating but since I'm just cruising and am not bogging the engine, it helps my fuel economy considerably compared to letting the engine run around 1500 RPM higher in fourth...

Need to hear....
 

I find I cannot shift without the sound of the motor,

Really, it is embarrassing. The Borla really helped, now I can hear what's happening, and me and the gearbox are getting on much better!
The catback has a nice throaty growl around 3k, so in traffic I can just listen for the 'purr' and shift nice and smooth.

But that's just me, a better pilot might not need the 'aural feedback'.

S

Nice muffler... where'd ya get it? I would like to see a picture of it installed please.