Not the usual auto vs. manual question.
 

I have a question in regards to the horsepower output of the manual vs the auto. I have read that the manuals have around 238hp and that the auto has about 197hp. I have tried looking more in depth on this and couldn't find the answer. My question is how are they getting the extra 40 hp out of the manual. It is just the fact that the auto redlines at like 7500 and the maual doesn't redline til 9000 or so? And if that is the case could you not burn a chip or find a way to reprogram the computer to get the redline up and in turn get the more power? I have an 04 GT Auto and just thought that might be a way to get the power up. I've read that the auto might not be able to handle that much power is why it is cut down but figured its worth a shot. Afterall I have a warranty so... :)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It is a typical question, 4 port auto and 6 port manual for 2004 and 2005. They have different engines.

Young grasshopper you have much to read. All of this is common knowledge here on the forum. I would suggest search mode.

I'm not sure if you're gonna get the answers you want to hear....good luck finding out a solution tho.

2006 and above rx8 at have and a 6spd auto 212 hp......so yeah i guess with some tuning and higher redline theyll have just as much power as the mt.....but i heard the trannys dont last with that kind of a redline....and in a car with little torque it pays to have a clutch....so the mt will always be faster....

Different intake configuration...6MT has a 6 port engine, 04 AT has a 4 port engine..that's the biggest difference....the RPM range is lower as well....likely because it is done making power at that level, as well as the transmission range

The newer AT's went to a 6 port engines like the 6MT...with the corresponding jump in power as well

I believe alot of it is that there is so much power loss through the auto trans vs. the manual trans...

forgot about the whole 4 port 6 port difference. sorry about that i have read all sorts on this but didn't thought in the reading that the 6 port didn't come in til 2006. Sorry.

Embrace yourself, you will get FLAMED for this thread.

The auto 04-05 has a 4 port engine which is different from the MT's 6 port engine, the redline of 7500 also causes a power loss. The main reason why AT's are so slow is becuase of their inability to launch and lack of low end torque. Also, AT's lose more power due to more components before the horsepower actually touches the ground.

In other words.

197bhp = 120-130rwhp in an Auto

238bhp = 175-190 rwhp in an MT

Reason the gaps are so much bigger is becuase the AT's lose more power due to the automatic transmission.

And even if the AT's had the same horsepower as the MT, they would still be slower because of the inability to launch in the powerband.


There you go, that'll be 15 dollars to my paypal.

I would like to see if the auto could hold up. We might be surprised. Any 6 port autos here with full bolt-ons?

Boosted 4 ports are putting down 180-200rwhp. From what Ive seen

also realize that mazda kind of lied about the horsepower numbers.

the 4 port engine has ~160hp.
the 6 port engine has about ~215hp.

automatic transmissions have more drivetrain loss so that 160hp becomes 130 at the wheels.
the 6 port engined with the manual transmission goes to 180hp at the wheels. remove another ~15whp for the 6 port engine with the automatic transmission.

if you buy the accessport, you can raise the redline and gain back some of your horsepower. 04-05 autos have it the worst because of the lower power engine. 06+ can gain back more because they have the higher power engine.

from what i've heard, the auto trannys are actually pretty robust (stronger than the manual trannys) and should do fine.

you will lose your warranty if you modify your redline on both your transmission and your engine.

your best bet for a little power boost would be to get... boosted. if you want another small shot at power, go for a... you guessed it.. a 55hp nitrous shot.

accessport might net you 20whp with tuning. $700+tuning
nitrous will get you 55hp on demand. $1000
greddy kit, for the 4 port auto, +55whp/+150lb/ft torque. $2500 minimum.