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Manual vs Automatic

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Old 11-17-2008, 11:39 PM
  #101  
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Originally Posted by alz0rz
Yeah I would kill myself clutching on the hills of SF.. been there a few times (not in the 8). I however have to deal with the shitty traffic associated with new york city streets.. I have no problem whatsoever driving a manual transmission car in stop and go traffic. No excuse.
Around the the second week after I got my 8 and taught myself to drive stick; I got stuck in bumper to bumper construction traffic. You know the kind where you move forward 2 inches at a time for hours on end.

It wouldn't have been that bad except I was in San Francisco. Going up a hill. God knows how many hill starts in a row, an hour long traffic jam tailgating me and NO WAY OUT.

Ever since, hills have been easy. Heck. I followed a cable car from all the way from the pier to the top of the hill.
Old 03-18-2009, 06:01 PM
  #102  
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alright i'm revisiting this because i want a manual now

2012 rx-9 standard here i come
Old 03-19-2009, 09:04 AM
  #103  
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I find the Automatic RX8 to be a wonderful car.

My Lotus is my 'sporty' car, and my RX8 is my touring vehicle. The interior comforts are a little bit better =D
Old 05-04-2009, 01:49 PM
  #104  
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I heard the auto does pretty well for itself on the autoX.

Last edited by quazmosis; 05-04-2009 at 01:49 PM. Reason: said AT twice
Old 05-04-2009, 02:22 PM
  #105  
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I got the manual because I come from mainly riding a motorbike, hence I like to have complete control over the engine rpms and the overall acceleration.
even though the traffic here in Houston is dismal from 1200-1700hrs, I have more fun driving a manual rather than a boring sensory depriving automatic vehicle.
A manual car lets feel connected to it, it gives more feedback, contributing to the overall exhilaration they provide when driving them properly fast... like they were meant to.
Old 05-04-2009, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by SPHINX144
I got the manual because I come from mainly riding a motorbike, hence I like to have complete control over the engine rpms and the overall acceleration.
even though the traffic here in Houston is dismal from 1200-1700hrs, I have more fun driving a manual rather than a boring sensory depriving automatic vehicle.
A manual car lets feel connected to it, it gives more feedback, contributing to the overall exhilaration they provide when driving them properly fast... like they were meant to.


but the plastic plate with dogleg automatic selector stick and **** are soooooo sexy!!!

WAAAAYYY better than the leather stick boot with aluminum trim around it.
Old 05-04-2009, 02:40 PM
  #107  
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aluminum? what kind of rx8 do you have?

you mean plastic?
Old 05-04-2009, 02:48 PM
  #108  
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There is no "versus" between manual and automatic.

Do you see your motoring as sitting in traffic - glass is half empty?
or
Do you see your motoring as grins and thrills - glass is half full?
Old 05-04-2009, 03:37 PM
  #109  
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
aluminum? what kind of rx8 do you have?

you mean plastic?


GADamn it. well, I guess this just goes to show my ignorance on everything possible for the RX8. I have nothing to offer, to anyone. (saving Kersh4w some time here).

I know nothing about anything. I hate all aftermarket mods.

I don't understand that automatic is just as good as manual. I don't understand that bigger tires is better in every case.


Basically i don't understand anything, yet claim that I do.
Old 05-04-2009, 03:47 PM
  #110  
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Originally Posted by renesisgenesis
GADamn it. well, I guess this just goes to show my ignorance on everything possible for the RX8. I have nothing to offer, to anyone. (saving Kersh4w some time here).

I know nothing about anything. I hate all aftermarket mods.

I don't understand that automatic is just as good as manual. I don't understand that bigger tires is better in every case.


Basically i don't understand anything, yet claim that I do.
So is this your last post?
Old 05-04-2009, 04:03 PM
  #111  
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Originally Posted by EDZRIDE
So is this your last post?
hell no!!

I have to stay here to offer useless information.

I need to let people know that natural aspiration offers more direct response to throttle inputs, even though we all know turbo'ing a car will actually decrease throttle response times, despite inevitable turbo lag.... Ya i know I thought things like that were crazy too but now that I have been informed, I will soon be purchasing wider tires, (because wider tires are better, obviously), lower, tighter suspension components, (because the car handles TERRIBLE stock), and of course a body kit to cover up the pathetic factory styling. Oh ya, I will also spend 900 dollars on an exhaust system which sounds annoying and adds 2 bhp.
Old 05-04-2009, 04:28 PM
  #112  
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^haha
Old 05-05-2009, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by kersh4w
aluminum? what kind of rx8 do you have?

you mean plastic?
I have the shinka, and the stick does have an aluminum ring surrounding it where it makes contact with the center console or whatever is called.
Old 05-05-2009, 12:55 PM
  #114  
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Attached Thumbnails Manual vs Automatic-bad-moon-rising-desert-wallpaper.jpg  
Old 05-05-2009, 01:12 PM
  #115  
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haahahha ^
Old 05-05-2009, 01:15 PM
  #116  
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Originally Posted by alfy28
lulz
Old 05-06-2009, 08:34 PM
  #117  
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Originally Posted by renesisgenesis
hell no!!

I have to stay here to offer useless information.

I need to let people know that natural aspiration offers more direct response to throttle inputs, even though we all know turbo'ing a car will actually decrease throttle response times, despite inevitable turbo lag.... Ya i know I thought things like that were crazy too but now that I have been informed, I will soon be purchasing wider tires, (because wider tires are better, obviously), lower, tighter suspension components, (because the car handles TERRIBLE stock), and of course a body kit to cover up the pathetic factory styling. Oh ya, I will also spend 900 dollars on an exhaust system which sounds annoying and adds 2 bhp.
yeah sure the rx8 is good stock. great. amazing even...but that doesn't mean its perfect. there's always room for improvement. after market 245/35's will lower your center of gravity (barely but will) and give more grip due to stickier compounds and more road contact. going too wide can reduce entry and exit speeds. a pair of GOOD after market shocks will lower ride (lower center of gravity) less body roll and what not, so just more g's you can take. exhaust will lighten the car, make it sound 'sportier', and like said give that extra bit of power 2hp is 2hp., every lb shaved helps for our torqueless cars. and body kits are of preference. and if tuned properly being turbo could result in almost no difference in throttle input and what not.
Old 12-21-2009, 07:48 AM
  #118  
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Originally Posted by Are-Ex-Eight
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 *** 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.
Oh to be so young. Well as you know I couldn't wait and ended up getting an R3 and will wait out the new RX-XX model when it arrives. Hopefully it will be of the GT-R level of performance.

I timed my AT 0-60 and my Manual 0-60 and so far I have equal times but then again I'm new to the manual and still suck at shifting and I use DSC for my launches.


Merry Christmas fellow RX-8'ers.
Old 12-21-2009, 04:12 PM
  #119  
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WTF?
Lol it's not hard. Even if you drop the clutch at 5k rpm you should be able toget a better 0-60 in your r3 XD
Old 12-21-2009, 06:14 PM
  #120  
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Originally Posted by shazy
WTF?
Lol it's not hard. Even if you drop the clutch at 5k rpm you should be able toget a better 0-60 in your r3 XD
lol it's hard for me - not making excuses but holding a camera, shifting and steering are harder than in an AT hit the gas and go... but I will be trying it again soon enough
Old 12-21-2009, 08:46 PM
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lol get a tripod, it's easier
Old 12-21-2009, 09:21 PM
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No matter how much power is under the hood, a true sports car includes a clutch and manual transmission. Period.

-1.3L
Old 12-21-2009, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 1.3L
No matter how much power is under the hood, a true sports car includes a clutch and manual transmission. Period.

-1.3L
Says who? Where is it written?
Old 12-22-2009, 10:30 AM
  #124  
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Originally Posted by 1.3L
No matter how much power is under the hood, a true sports car includes a clutch and manual transmission. Period.

-1.3L
You will be dissapointed by the future then. Almost all sports car manufacturers are going dual clutch now which is essentially an automatic with paddle shifters. It's faster...plain and simple - no one shifts faster than a computer.

GT-R by your definition is not a true sports car...
Old 12-22-2009, 10:44 AM
  #125  
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Originally Posted by 1.3L
No matter how much power is under the hood, a true sports car includes a clutch and manual transmission. Period.

-1.3L
fail.. hate to break it to ya, but i have to agree with are-ex-eight on this one.. i love traditional stick shift, and will always own at least one car with it, but the future looks bleak for us. the auto transmissions are now way faster and way more reliable.. it's all about efficiency, and they've got it.


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