Canada

On my AT RX-8, the rev limiter kicks in at 7500 rpm, which is around the start of the redlined area on the tachometer.

mngpao

I've got 1500+ miles on my Winning Blue AT and just love it. I traded in my '90 Miata 5sp MT on the 4sp AT and don't miss shifting gears at all.

I've only used the paddles a couple of times and they seem quite responsive.

I, too, sometimes forgot what gear I was in with the Miata (maybe it's my age) and when I was in So. Cal traffic it seems that all I was doing was shifting gears.

I'm out of smogsville now and the AT works well for me. By the way, even though the HP is lower, the RX8 AT has more torque than the MT. The AT is also rated at 1mpg higher than the MT.

The bottom line: Any RX8 is better than none at all.

Voodookhan

This will be the first MT car I've ever owned (although I did own a crappy little Nissan for about a year, but I wouldn't really call the thing a "car" :D )

Why MT over AT (especially since I'm used to AT)? 2 reasons. One, I wanted the the HP and I couldn't justify paying more for less in a sense. Two, I really want to learn how to drive a MT properly and well since I intend to buy a 1980's Porsche as a "project" car in future.

Also, I asked people how hard it would be for me to learn on this car. If the car was "out of my league" so to speak. Everybody told me that I wouldn't have a problem learning, and that the car was pretty forgiving (unlike the Porsche I want). So far, that's been true.

I had a friend do the break-in for me and I'm keeping my AT beater until I feel worthy enuff to switch over to the RX-8 as my daily driver and deal with my slightly crappy commute.

My 2 cents for people debating between them...get the MT. You won't be dissapointed and you won't miss the AT a bit.

- VoodooKhan

o_town_racer

I learned on an AT and never even drove a MT until I had a summer job my first year in college at a Ford dealership. They told me to take a Ford Ranger (4 spd) all the way across town to get a camper shell installed. I told them I'd never driven a stick before. They told me I could learn on the way...lol. Since then I've been a devoted fan of MT. There is no substitute for pure fun and control. I know there are reasons to get an AT (traffic being the most convincing), but if you really want to enjoy driving, MT is the way to go IMHO. All my babies have MTs (1 5 spd and 2 6 spds...all with different shift patterns!).

Irish_in_a_RX8

iTrader: (1)

I purchased an AT in July, it was the last of the 8's within the first shipments here. Had I waited, I probably would of gone for the MT - and I did not feel like having Mazda repurchase the vehicle and myself re-buy another. From the threads seemed like too much hassle. The 3 second wait to kick does bother me, but it still is an awesome car. Still is alot faster than other autos out there, and there seems to unlogical to debate which is best - AT or MT. MT is of course better :-) , but age, and whereabouts are the considerations.

...can anyone actually smoke the tires in a AT? Curious...

Mitch Strickler

[QUOTE]Originally posted by graphicguy
[B]6 MT owner myself, but just curious.....is the AT with paddle shifter pretty quick when you use the paddles when changing gears? How intrusive is it...for example, will it let you hit the rev limiter? DO you have to use the paddles to shift back to 1st when at a stop light?[QUOTE]

Paddle shifting is satisfyingly quick, although not super-fast. The tranny will let you hit the rev limiter, but it won't let you do stupid things like downshifting to second (about 80 at redline) when doing 75. Third and fourth are direct drive (no slush pump). It automatically goes to 1st when you stop, but you can start in 2d (for ice/snow) by upshifting while at rest. It also includes some auto features. If you're in too high a gear, you can stamp the accelerator and it will kick down, even though you haven't used the paddles. Those paddles are an ergonomic delight most of the time, but if you want to shift while vigorously turning the wheel, you can just grab the shifter and bop it.
Now, as for the virtues of the auto as a whole, that's another thing. Mazda obviously didn't have the money to do the thing right, with a new 5 or 6 speed. Instead, they reinforced an old model a bit -- but not enough to allow more than 7,500 rpm -- and put on up to date electronic controls. For example, it will downshift if you're struggling up hill, or do the same for engine braking downhill, according to the manual. As I don't allow the car to get into those situations, I haven't experienced these particular tricks.
BTW, I'm a lifetime stickshifter who would have loved to have the 6speed, but I keep my cars about ten years and was afraid I would not be such a swift shifter as I approached 81.

mikeb

I'm enjoying my auto trans
I just heard the rev lim chime for first time last night when I was using paddle shifts

my10ae

Mikeb:

I am contemplating purchasing an auto RX-8 myself. I am not worried about the HP issue. I have driven both the maunal and auto and find the auto much more refined. If I want to shift, I'll take out my 10th Anniversary Edition Miata with 6sp and shift to my hearts content. My local dealer is offering $2K off the top of any in-stock 8 before any dealing.

Do you regret getting your auto? The local dealer has a beautiful black/red auto. I am seriously thinking of making it mine :D

mngpao

I've had my Winning Blue AT for 2 1/2 months and cannot tell you how much I enjoy it. I traded in my '90 Miata (5sp) which I enjoyed quite a bit but in traffic the shifting took up too much of my right hand (I'm in the US). The RX8 AT has more torque than the MT and it's perfectly suited to my style of driving.

The AT can be shifted manually via the paddles as well as a tap up or down on the gear shift.

I test drove the MT and found that it was a bit more powerful but I also found that I was shifting gears all the time. If I drove more hiway it may not be a problem but most of my driving is in the city and I get much pleasure just cruising down the road watching all the heads turn and the thumbs being raised.

Any RX8 is better than none at all.

U. N. O.

it is simple... forget the AT and go for MT, there is a world of difference in btw.

mikeb

I love my AT
go for it

nowr2go

I bought the auto mostly because of my rigorous commute in traffic. If you are unsure about the auto or 6 speed, I would highly recommend getting the 6 speed unless you have reasons to get the auto.

I like the paddle shift as the paddles are ergonomically correct and easy to use. However, with the automatic there is less power on get-up and go then the 6 speed. 0-30 is pretty slow and as another member menntioned above, the automatic is an older model (reinforced) used for this car. The shifting is very quick but coming from a BMW it lacks having another speed. A 5 speed would have been ideal as it enhances the use of the paddle shifters.

Anyway, good luck on your decision. If the lack of a 5 speed auto does not bother you then go for it.