ayap888

Ok, this is a question for RX8 auto owners. So, auto owners can go up to only 7500 RPM .... what's your highest Redline? Did you reach the 7500 limit? I've reached about 6500 RPM but I'm still breaking in (now below 700 miles on the odometer). I didn't intentionally do it. I also went up to 6200 RPM today even though I didn't mean too.

Sp, what's your experience in pushing your auto tot the 7500 redline?

sjt

I've actually accidentally over-revved my auto to fuel cut (I think). I was WOT when I went to shift I wasn't looking at the stick & hit the vent controls & I was past redline & it kinda bounced off it (7700rpms or so, not entirely sure cuz the needle was flucutaing between 7600rpms & 7900rpms) but the car was noticably decelerating during that time.

mazdabob

The fuel cut-off in the manual mode is around 7700-7800 rpm. I've been there many times. The problem is when you hit the fuel cut-off, you have have to wait a moment for the speed to come down before you get power back. So, you need to shift around 7400 because of the delay in the transmission electronics.

ayap888

I guess the fuel cut-off will always protect the engine (or transmission)? So, knowing that this safety feature exist ... do you guys feel you can go over a couple of times ? hmmm ...

VelociRedBeast

7900

JeRKy 8 Owner

I wishyou fellow automatic Rx8 owners wouldstop making posts like these which unintentionally highlight the negatives of my car andthen indirectly bring back the urge of mine toget rid of my automatic and find an Rx8 in stick. Dammit the truth doesnt hurt -- it stings like a bitch.

Tayninh

Ah I am an Auto RX and I have no problems with the auto. Each to their own I guess. Don't want a manual. Drive a Toy beater with 234,000 on it and its a five speed 4 cyl wonder or wannabe but the gas mileage is great. Saw a post somewhere on here where a guy has two RX-8s one auto and one manual and he can't hardly see what all the talk is about autos and Ms. Its about the same so just enjoy the ride regardless of the tranny.

JeRKy 8 Owner

I know Imjust starting to get a little bored of my car afterhaving it for a year I guess. And in this case Im just remembering how much sweeter it feels to get 9000 on the manual thanthe 7500 on the automatic. Infact thanksto my bad decision of test drivingthe manual before I got my automatic wayback in August 2003 I seem to alwayshave this "its already over?" sensation when I get to 7500 in the automatic sinceit feels like it can/should take another 1500 RPM.

Then againIm sure that if I hadthemanual Id probably find something elseto be bored about w/that after a year as well.

ayap888

I personally don't like driving manuals ... so I bought an auto. To each his own. I love my auto and will never ever trade it with a manual. BUT I just want to know the limits of my car ... knowing its limits allows you to use it wisely. Remember, it's the driver and not the car ... the turtle can beat the rabbit. And my favorite scene in .. 2 fast 2 furious ... "we can never beat those american muscles with 460 horses ... well yeah, you know the rest. the Jap cars beat the American muscles" :D

Tayninh

I am not a bit remorseful that I have an auto. This jerk kid salesman told me one day before I bought my auto that the autos are for girls and that its a "low grade" car. He was trying to get me to buy a M black model fully loaded. It sold the next day however. 2004 too. I told the my salesperson that they needed to have a sales meeting and not to tell potential customers the autos are low grade!!!! Geesh. I knew he was young, 23 or so perhaps and was trying the sales talk to me which did not work anyway.I was only there checking out my car before I bought it without my sales person with me. Was interesting anyway. Still a car this expensive in no way is considered a low grade car because its auto. That might not make you feel any better. Keep your car however!!! Mine is new and I dont have a year on it and its a 2004.

Tayninh

this car can beat the American muscle car in the twisties!!! They can take their muscle cars to the local drag strip.

ayap888

Right on! It's not all about speed. Having an auto means you can drive the car long distance without getting tired of shifting. You ride the car for enjoyment too ... listening to the great sound system, enjoying the handling, or just enjoying the drive of the open road. Enjoying the car does not mean you have to be the fastest and meanest drag racer.

Tayninh

Ok I would like to know how many miles this car can go before something serious goes wrong? I guess soon as the warranty expires. That's the old saying anyway. Two Fast and Two Furious? Well they had it all or most of what can go into a sports car and its Hollywood anyway. Would not want one of those cars for around town driving! Not really sure if I would want to know my redline. I would gather its just past what the dial says is red to protect the rotary.

ayap888

That's right! I've driven on uphill twisties and the paddle shifters are great!

Tayninh

I have not tried the paddles yet. They look cool on the steering wheel. Have not driven it much anywhere to need the paddles yet I guess.

Tayninh

I guess I could find out the max redline it I drove the car for that purpose. I would think safety cut-out features in the car would not allow many of us to many gs past the speedo red line. Perhaps Mazda should put in a voice message and tell someone "your engine is about ready to distruct".

VelociRedBeast

I use autostick all the time if I'm just going down the highway and start getting bored, I only used the paddles once and they work pretty nicely, especially if you want to pass someone when your in 3rd gear and wround 3500 rpm, just drop the gear into 2nd and give it some gas and your acceleration zooms..it's fun..

Liquid Rhino

Yeah... and what about dropping from 4th to 2nd @ 60? That'll shoot you to about ~100 in no time!

Honestly after driving both many times, it feels the same (no matter how much rant you'll hear about pushing your car to it's limits... whatever, it's not something people do everyday on the way to work). And after driving it on a couple of long road trips, the auto is mad comfortable without tiring you arm & leg rowing the box and still gives you a great sense of speed & control.

Can't really say i've used the paddles but once when I first bought her... the stick isn't bad at all - truthfully I like it better than the VW/Audi Tiptronics.

G8rboy

Don't worry about the engine... the auto-tranny RX8 comes nowhere near destroying it... you're rev-limited so low because of the limitations of the transmission. The Renesis at 9000+ rpm is still so silky smooth that you know it has another 2 or 3k in it, if the rest of the drivetrain could take it (and if it were actually making any useful power beyond 9k).

ayap888

Exactly my thought. If you can rev up your Auto to 7500-7700 ... that's still safe for the engine, which could take 9000.

bxb40

The original question was the red line: I shift (in manumatic mode) when I hear the buzzer. From the plots of torque and HP I've seen, the optimum is around 5500 RPM, so no point pushing that limit. I did jump over the redline by mistake and car sputters when it cuts fuel off - let off the gas and wait 1 second, than select the right gear, no problem.
Most of the time I drive it in auto, unless I prepare to pass or the terrain is hilly. From ridding with fellows RX-8 with manuals, they have the option to drop the clutch from a dead stop, hence faster off the line - if that matters. But, you will shift faster than them and your gears have wider span (hence less shifts to get to the same speed) so you are not too far behind ;o) As for running with other cars.... few will take the auto - and we all know those (STi, M3, etc.) so just don't touch those and everything is just fine. Also, do not race from dead stops. Let them go and catch/pass them later. It's in a way more fun ;o)
Also - everybody talks about twisties. Another great thing are the brakes. This car actually really stops and most people following you way too close on the interstate have no idea... Just last weekend I had to stop for stopped traffic on the Parkway and was "admiring" the Olds Cutlas behind me in full breaking serving and trying to stay in lane, while the huge SUV behind it just got on the shoulder to stop as it had even worst breaking that the Olds.... I was ready to jump on the shoulder if the Olds brakes weren't enough, no problem, the car keeps control at all times.
Want to see what the car can do (or not)? Go autocross with fellows manual RX-8. You can do everything in first gear while they need to shift. It will come down to the quality of the tires (given equivalent driving skills, of course). Now those are "twisties" ;o)

menace1227

I know this is kinda stupid to ask - am new with the "manumatic" transmissions, if you are in the auto mode can you shift it to the "manumatic" mode while you are in motion? say driving at 30-40 mph? Will this cause some problems to the engine and/or transmission?

ayap888

YES! You can anytime you want. Even at 120MPH, you can shift from automatic to tiptronic.

menace1227

Thanks ayap888. will try it out later tonight.

ayap888

Yep, good thoughts on the automatic! Are you implying you won in the auto-x with your automatic against the manuals? You're right, the automatic can shift faster and the torque is at 165 at 5000RPM. But I'm still feeling a great pull at 6000-7000.