WickdMonkey

I think the AT guys need there own section on this forum. It is freaking rediculous that they can't carry on a simple discussion about their car because some jackass has to bitch about AT owners. Hell I drive a manual and I am just sick of all the other MT guys and there crap. You should all focus on your cars and not the difference in options. Oh and Lex my 8 will be an AT so bring it, I will rip you a new *** hole. If your car is an MT and my car is an AT why the hell do you care? You don't have to drive my car. I'm sorry guys but I am just sick of all this. The whole idea of this board is to talk about your cars and learn from each other and no one is doing that right now because there are stupid *** discussions like this. I for one want more testamony from AT owners because there is very little out there but it is hard to get becasue the MT guess screw up the post by blast AT owners. Anyway, I can't wait to see some numbers from the AT because it is what I am getting. A MT is just not practical for me anymore. It doesn't matter if it out performs or is an enthusiest thing to do it just isn't practical anymore to me.

The Wicked MOnkey

Sorry about the rant, but damn is this AT vs MT crap getting old

emailists

Living and driving in Manhattan- I want a fast automatic.

That's what I have now- a modded probe gt auto- that has a decent amount more grunt than stock.


AFter having driven the 6speed and auto RX-8- I want the manual trans- but only for the power. (and I love the idea of shifting when you want- or full AT mode- well implemented on the 8's AT-)

If mazda had a newer tech auto transmission that doesn't have the HP losses fron a traditional AT- like on the high end BMW's- most of this debate would be moot -

Both cars would be within a few tenths of each other and it would just be what flavor was prefeered.


It's pretty obvious the fully manual transmission is going away-

When we soon have things like solenoid activated gearing on every car - like is already available on high end models- I doubt that in 10-15 years there will even be a true MT- just an auto that is just as good and can be shiffted manually when in that mode.

That being said I think I am ordering the MT this week- not for the transmission - but simply for performance. I will pretty much have it in 2nd gear most of the time.

I do wonder what a modded AT would be like-

Lex

Uh, sorry WickdMonkey, but my new arsehole shan't be ripped by you.

Actually, I've been an AT supporter on this forum since day one (do a search). My previous post in this thread was sarcasm. I'm just as sick of the MT bullies as you are.

Cheers.

Sputnik

That's enough of that.

---jps

Shard

Great analogy! No offense to anyone...

Skyline Maniac

I don't mean to jack this thread any further than it has gone..... but where exactly did the 4AT in the RX-8 come from? Unless Mazda designed a whole new tranny, the 4AT is likely shared with other Mazda products. The only reason I brought this up is because a Mazda technician once told me the 4AT in the RX-7 was the same they lifted out of the MPV, which was a frightening discovery to me.

btw: if you want some raw data on 0-60 for the 4AT, check the thread on 'performance data' or '0-400' in this forum.

Pete

About 95% of 2004 Rx8's in Canada are sold out.

People are pre-ordering for 05 Rx8's.

You were saying?

Lethalchem

I plan on buying an automatic for my wife. You're more than welcome to bring your attitude my way and see where it lands you.

Lethalchem

If you love fast cars, why do you have a WRX?

I'm curious how your holier-than-thou attitude holds up against a Buick GN or SVT Lightning. Both of those automatics would tear you up.

This debate is getting old. Putting someone down for tranny choice is assinine. I'm just as disapointed in the power difference between the MT and AT as the next guy, but I'm certainly not going to set out to put someone down and make them feel bad for their personal preferences. You're both purchasing the RX-8, you should be 'brothers' in the fact that you both have a love for the same car. Geeze, I've never been to a site so full of canibals so ready to tear up one of their own.

kittychester

when the chat room becomes a place for namecalling and foul language its time to shut it down.

Lex

Haha. Read the whole thread and you'll see I was being sarcastic with this comment.

I've been considering, and defending, the AT for quite some time, and have repeatedly asked for AT performance reviews on this forum. Every single time, without exception, some dumbass decides it's time to bash the AT.

It's unbelieveable how angry people get at the thought of an automatic transmission RX8. They are "MT Bullies." It's like they are personally affected by this matter. They become aggressive at the thought of someone else buying a car they would not choose themselves. It's as ridiculous as my earlier post, quoted above.

WickdMonkey

sorry lex I guess your sarcasim didn't translate well. Sometimes it is hard to tell on these things. No hard feelings.

The Wicked MOnkey



AT guys still need there own place to post.

Ike

As far as the GN and SVT lightning go, I love the GN but it's not exactly a good daily driver and is rather dated. Fast as hell, sure, but it's basicly a muscle car. When I say I like fast cars I'd like to be able to turn in them as well, unless I just wanted a drag car. This is the reason why I'm here, the straightline performance of the RX-8 doesn't do much for me, but the handling of the car (if it's as good as people say) does. I don't think I meet the mullet requirement for a lightning either, it's one hell of a truck, but it's still a truck, no thanks...

The WRX has so much potentiel and is very easy to make a 12 second car that will be a good daily driver, can be used in autox and rallyx, and I can drive it in the wintertime. I fully expect an american V8 driver to say the WRX isn't fast, it's pretty typical of many of you guys. There's a lot more to fast cars than what they can do in a straight line. If I only cared about straightline performance I wouldn't be intrigued by the RX-8, and frankly I'm not sure why you are. No way in hell I would ever own a high powered american RWD muscle car in the midwest, I've driven a mustang in the snow and I value my life too much. For me the WRX is fast, and will soon be faster, it's reliable, I can drive it year round in all weather conditions, it has 4 doors, and the insurance is reasonable.

Ike

A 6s Owner

I'm trying to find a dealer that will allow me to test drive a 6 speed MTX, but it seems futile. People that want a test drive have to lay down at least $1,000 and three of the STEALERships told me that deposit is non-refundable. Looks like I won't be test driving one for a long time..

But to stay on topic, I've got another thing to bitch about with ATX that I might as well add here. It's nice to know that people are actually trying to chart its 0-60 times for the hell of it..

The RX8 only takes premium gas. You also have to take into account the "standard" rotary engine procedure of needing to add oil and gas every OTHER time you stop for fuel. Assuming you don't floor the car around too much, with a rating of 18 mpg, you'll be stopping at least once a week for gas. That means at least twice a month you're stopping for the extra oil insertion too.

Conversely, an auto 6s (220hp v6) gets 19 mpg, and all versions of the 6 take regular gas.

I think that for the added inconveniences (more expensive gas + oil) which come with the RX8, we should get a little more kick outta the ATX.

I guess that when you buy an RX8 in ATX, the trade offs you need to consider are style (being the biggest item), cheaper price, and the convenience of not having to do any manual shifting, over costly maintenance and of course, the slower pickup and straight line speed.

Ike

By the way my "hollier than thou attitude" thinks I could beat most SVT lightnings, or GNs around an autox track in my WRX or my go-kart.

Ike

Ike

Scary thing is, I think people that drive a little more spirited will be struggling to break 15 MPG, I know I would be. I would imagine there's a thread here somewhere about what people have been getting so far, I guess I'll take a look.

Ike

Hercules

I'm averaging around 15mpg, my best has been 17mpg

I can't bring myself not to redline it now and again... and again

This thing loves to rev.

Quick_lude

Here's my take on the auto tranny. For me it would depend on where/how I drive. If I had to endure 1-2hrs of stop and go traffic on the hwy on the way to word every day then I would drive an auto. Otherwise it's a manual for me because at this price point no auto tranny can control the gears as well as I can. I don't want a stupid computer choosing the gear that it thinks the car should be in. Especially in a small displacement, high revving engine. If the tranny was the true SMG kind a la M3, Ferrari, etc then sure by all means I might consider it. Otherwise only a manual tranny will give you FULL and INTELLIGENT control of the engine/gears. You cannot deny that. No auto box computer in the 8 can do a better job than me.

But people have their own circumstances and reasons for choosing an auto and that is fine. To each his own. But the auto will NOT be able to extract more performance out of this engine than a manual.

pelucidor

Actually the manual does not say fill up with oil every other fuel stop. My dealer recommended that I CHECK the oil every other fill-up until I could see a pattern of how often it needs oil (may not have to add any), and then check less frequently (perhaps every 1k-2k miles after break in period is over).

I can almost guarantee that 25,000 of the 30,000 cars sold next year will never have the oil checked except during servicing every 5k-7k miles - most people never read the manual or ask a dealer these kinds of questions. I know that for my last 4 new cars I NEVER checked the oil at all - just had it changed every 3k-7k miles. Hopefully Mazda have allowed for that with the RENESIS.

Ike

A 6S owner, I'm not sure where you are located but the dealers have plenty of all types on RX-8s in my area. In addition, they will deal on them and go below MSRP, which is pretty rare for a car this new and is part of my concern fpr the success of the car.

Ike

zoom44

personally, i add gas every time i stop for fuel :p

and what many people seem to be forgetting in this auto vs. manual duel is that the auto is on the low-power engine. the trade off in performance is greater because of this than it would be if they had the auto in the high-power.

Lethalchem

I've run several modded WRX's both at the drag strip AND at the Autocross. Don't kid yourself. I've beaten them in both areas. If you think I'm blowing smoke, then you need to get some first hand experience instead or reading internet threads and magazine articles.

As for the RX-8, I'm here for my wife. She's the one looking at the Mazda, not me. I want to point out, though, that I think the WRX is a fun car(we were about to buy one right before the RX-8 came out). It's a cute little car that's peppy and fun to cruise around in. I'm not bashing the WRX at all. I like the thing. I'm just responding to your attitude about automatic cars, not your vehicle itself.

As for your kart, let's compare something in the same general category shall we?

Ike

Ok great, point out one time where I said anything about an 03 cobra, or any other mustang. Unless you own an SVT lightning or a GN that's not in your sig I see no reason for your post other than to show us the size of your internet *****. Let me repeat, NO ONE BUT YOU IS TALKING ABOUT AN 03 COBRA. Understand?


Ike

billdo

So all lightning owners have mullets, or just truck drivers in general?

Canada

It seems to me that this thread is finished...unless and until somebody comes up with a helpful on-topic post containing further USEFUL information on 0-60 times for the AT. I for one would like to see that.