Manual vs Automatic
 

Ok here is my thoughts:

AT with Paddle Shifting that is responsive is pretty good for those of us that WANT to hold in gear, ie to fully red line the 8 off a start which you cannot do in Automatic Mode.

Other bonuses as to why many of us drive AT's

1. Cheaper (at least at my dealer the AT was cheaper)
2. More selection, again the only Manuals at my dealer are R3's. Cannot find a GT of any year in Manual.
3. Some of us have gf's, wives, friends that will be driving the 8 (especially when I am drunk) and most of which do not know how to drive a manual.
4. My insurance is cheaper in an automatic because they are deemed safer by my insurance company.
5. Resale - believe it or not, most people only look for AT's even on sports cars for reason number 3.
6. A lot of us live where we drive through a lot of traffic daily where a Manual is more of a pain in the ass then fun.


The paddle shifters in the RX-8 are pretty good for a Mazda.
I would not be surprised if an AT and a Manual raced the AT would win using paddle shifters if the Manual guy didn't launch. Only to 60 or so though then the extra HP would probably pull away.

Having said all this the next 8 I get (or 7 or whatever they are releasing in 2010/2011) will be a Manual since I never let my wife drive my car anyway because she still doesn't understand how the car has no pistons.

1. Same price over here

2.There's more Manual ones then Autos over here

3. I'd rather shoot myself in the foot then let someone drive my 8, I also drink only when the situation allows at least 24 hours before I am to drive.

4. Insurance is same price here, they don't even care if it's auto/manual

5. True

6. I drive in a city, but half the day I'm at work, so it's not like I have to bother with the stop and go much. I really don't mind shifting, it gives me a reason to not pick up the phone or do other things while driving, keeps me focused.

I can't comment on 1,2,4,or 5 as i didn't look for an AT, compare prices, or inquire about insurance. There was no question when searching for this car. Not only the HP but the bigger wheels and nicer features. I bought an 04 the AT in 08 now have all the same options as the manuals.

3 - i do find it annoying that more people don't know how to drive a manual. I live in a house with 5 other people and sometimes the parking lot gets full and you need to move cars around and i wouldn't car if someone was moving my car to park. I think people should just learn how to drive it period. It took me a few hours and that was it.
6. I have a job that i drive in Manhattan many weekends which is probably one of the worst traffic places in the world. I have to say i don't mind the manual. Its just so easy to use. The feel and position are just perfect. So while you may have good points on number 3 and the rest depending on the area of the country. I just don't think 6 is an issue, unless your just that bad at driving stick. I also have the lightened flywheel and its still so easy.

^Admirable drinking policy darklord

Another thing to consider (not really a strong point) but AT's cannot be pull/push started in the event of an engine flood. Makes you have to rely on outside help in that case.

Also, unless its been changed, the AT isn't as powerful as the MT, and people already complain enough about the power level of the rx8. It really makes people want to drive the car to the limits, and in the case of AT it would make for less fun I think. BUT I haven't driven the AT so I cannot fairly judge that.

Personally, I don't have a lot of confidence in paddle shifters unless the name on the back of the car says Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes, and it is a $50,000 or higher high performance machine.

Admittedly, I don't have a lot of experience with paddle shifters, but they seem like too new of a technology for me.

As much as I like Mazda cars, I have to wonder if they have worked out all the bugs, whereas some high end Lexus would have.

Plus the only paddle shift car I have driven was an RX8, and I was not pleased with it.

....
 

The fact that you even posted the last one about a MT losing to a AT makes me wonder how much knowledge you have on cars and the RX-8 itself.

1. the AT redlines earlier
2. Less HP and shifting with the paddles isn't nearly as effective

Now, on with why I think you lack proper knowledge.

1. A MT will almost always beat a AT unless that AT is packing a crap ton of HP and has a good AT tranny.

2. Have you even driven an RX-8 MT?

I see you will be getting a MT anyways and will give you kudos for that, honestly MT is the only way to drive a car in my OPINION. You get more out of it and become a better driver because of it and the MT is generally a little cheaper since AT cost almost 900 dollars more on most cars like the Mazda 3.

I went from driving a AT Mazda 6 V6 to this car as my second car. I will have to say that the MT has by far really made driving fun, I have driven MTs in the past, (Other peoples cars like mustangs, vets, speed 6s, and speed 3s) and the RX-8 has impressed me the most.

good thing about manual, is that no one else CAN drive your car :P

My favorite feature :lol:

Had a friend grab my keys and run to my 8 shouting "I'm going to drive your car!," he opened the door, and stopped dead and said "dude wtf, you got a manual.. I can't drive this.. f*ck" :)

LOL:lol::lol::lol::lol: ahaha i laughed so much same situation here :P. my favorite is when they dont even realize its a manual till they try and start it. *scrathes head* "why are there 3 pedals?"

I think the best though is when they dont notice the pedals either, put the key in, and turn it, and then turn it again, and again (need to disengage the clutch obviously), and are like "dude.. I think I just broke your car.. oh shit.."(had one girl do that) :lol2:

There's a video somewhere on youtube of an AT and a MT racing... it wasn't even close btw so OP's last statement is false.

#5 is a fallacy for the RX-8, even though it might be true with other vehicles.

Unless RX8 offers Dual clutch automatic transmission, I will definitely go for 6-speed manual transmission.

sure the at rx8 is fast, it all depends on how you define fast, and your past vehicle experiences. 1998 chevy blazer, yeah the rx8 is fast. 2004 ford expedition, yeah its really fast. 2004 ford f250 turbo diesel, oh.

(my dad's truck does 0-60 faster than the at's :lol:)

If only i could find my RX-8 Futility demotivation jpg "But it's better in heavy traffic! Really it is! Oh god, I've wasted my money!"

OP's point #5 contradicts #1. OP failz. Every RX-8 ad I see, automatic versions always fetch well below MT versions.

For point #3, I am sure glad my wife knows how to drive a manual. In fact just recently after >10yrs of owning cars, we just got our very first automatic car - Mazda6 GT wagon to replace our 5spd Saab 92x (her car). Besides having less people who can drive my car is a plus.

[QUOTE=Are-Ex-Eight;2724551]Ok here is my thoughts:

1. Cheaper (at least at my dealer the AT was cheaper)
2. More selection, again the only Manuals at my dealer are R3's. Cannot find a GT of any year in Manual.
3. Some of us have gf's, wives, friends that will be driving the 8 (especially when I am drunk) and most of which do not know how to drive a manual.
4. My insurance is cheaper in an automatic because they are deemed safer by my insurance company.
5. Resale - believe it or not, most people only look for AT's even on sports cars for reason number 3.
6. A lot of us live where we drive through a lot of traffic daily where a Manual is more of a pain in the ass then fun.

1. All RX8s are cheap, resale sucks
2. More MT's than AT's
3. I wouldnt revolve my decision of a car on friends, or a girlfriend; not married, cant comment there.
4. Insurance is the same.
5. All Resale sucks
6. True, but most people who buy this car want it for pleasure and fun moreso than for comfort.

Truth is, the AT's are just as nice as MT's, but the inability to launch combined with low torque and more drivetrain loss and a lower redline makes the car significantly.....well.....slower.

Thats the reason why the S2000 is only available in manual, it would have the same problem.

I assume that you are talking about 06 and up AT because older are big slugs.
AT is definitely better when you have 300+ hp (except 04-05) and want to drag race (if AT trany can handle that power) , otherwise manual for the win.

You guys are also forgetting that there is way more drivetrain loss in an AT. So that 20bhp difference actually is translating to a 30-50 whp diffence.

This is hilarious.

I bet he can't change oil, battery, or windshield wiper fluid.

^also had something like that happen to me tried to take of in my car until he saw it was manual then he just walked away haha....I'm stick with manual for any vehcile

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t67PB-W3wc
check this guy out he chirp third in his mt...cant do that in an auto

what's up with all these threads??

anyways...he did 0-60 in 9-11 seconds. That isn't good imo, but that was cool. And the MTX rx-8 I ran from 0-100 with chirped his tires in pretty much the same fashion.