Hey, i'm starting this thread to find out all the pros and cons of the manual rx-8. I have a 2004 4-speed automatic, and I love it. But i'm planning to move to Florida at the end of summer for school and wanted to trade mine in for a stick-shift. Yes, I know I could get some google answers for it but i'd trust the responses I get from this forum more than anything else. So help me out, any opinions you have (good/bad), share, so at least I know what I would be getting myself into.

Thanks in advance :-) I really appreciate it.

 

Pros: too many to list

Cons: this is a dumb thread

 

are you asking for the pros and cons of the trading in as well (aka cash)? or just between manual and auto?

 

Pros: More fun, more power, much faster, more mods available, better gas mileage (depending on driving style), no longer an embarrassment to yourself and us, genitalia increase in size, menstrual cycle ceases (male drivers only)

Cons: you'll lose money on the trade, stop and go traffic is more difficult if you're incompetent, probably going to cost more in gas because you'll spend more time driving with your foot in the carpet, slight possibly of becoming TOO badass

 

To be, or not to be, that is the question.

 

yeah, any pros or cons you can think of would help. I want to know everything I can before I trade or sell for a manual 8.

 

Pros of Manual: More Fun to Drive, More Power, Higher Redline, Lighter Weight, oh yeah More Fun too

Cons: None? Lazy drivers don't like it in traffic

(whoops, I was too slow...sorry for the repetition)

 

rootski got it done!

 

unless u live in an extremely hilly area, manual all the way... end of discussion

 

+1 for Rootski's post.

 

yeah, where I live, it's always bumper to bumper traffic and lots of hills around my house, like I said, I love my automatic and definately didn't think driving it was embarassing. but since I am moving to FL, and traffic there is a joke compared to Jersey, I was looking into a manual.

 

Pros; Manual RX-8 0-60 7 sec to 6.3 sec. Auto 0-60 8.3 - 7.5 secs.
More power because of the 6 ported engine compared to the 4 ported engine. Higher rpm redline from 7500rpm to 9ks. Smoother faster vehicle. More control from pickup to slowing down with or without using your brakes. Light Clucht adds to slick easy shifting 6 speed tranny. More respected RX-8. You get to experiment with faster and more efficient ways to drive. 6speed cost less new. More desireable may cost more used. Manual tranny Lighter and cheaper to replace if you had to.


Cons: Light Clucht can be tricking uphill. Autos easier to drive but a lot slower. The RX-8's 1.3 Wankel is better with a manual tranny. Your car can stop on stop lights if you don't give it gas as you release the clucht. With teh auto You don't get to experiment with faster and high reveving methods of driving. Being less desireable Cost less resale. Auto Cost more New. Auto tranny heavier and more expensive to replace if you had to.

 

I thought the automatics were cheaper than manuals when new???

Anyways

Pros: Everything that has been said so far

Cons:

If you dont know how to drive a stick and your on a hill...........yeah that can be tricky at first........


People might rear end you because your foot isn't on the brake when you're at a stoplight

Rolling back when you're up a hill and the car behind you freaking out

 

Go try Burger King cheesecake. Then go try it at a 5 star restaurant.

 

where in jersey do you live that a manual is bad??.....i live 5 minutes from manhattan and i deal with it every day.....the manual isnt bad at all even here

 

I live in NJ too, 15 mins from the city, and I must say there are def steep hills in the area. All of Hudson county deals with it and Cliffside Pk, Ridgefield, Edgewater and even small parts of Fort Lee. Still working on getting my RX8 =( this weekend might be my big one.

 

Manuals are definately more fun and more power
Autos SUCK and are boring to drive!

 

The real question would be, what are the main pros and amateurs?