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.
You must have meant 7500 RPM not 5500. Our automatic Rx8s reach a max torque of 164 lbs-ft @ 5000 RPM and the 197 horses isnt achieved until 7200 RPM. Optimum is not around 5500 - its at 7200. If youshift around 5500 youre not making max horsepower. Also theonly way you can get to 7200 RPM w/the automatic is by driving to nearly redline (which can only be done in tiptronic mode b/c in regular D the computer typically shifts at or before 7000 RPM and never gets close to redline.
