hey i just drove an rx8 yesterday- it was great.

however, i noticed the shifter vibrated at idle and when depressing the clutch i heard a metalic scratchy sound.

i tested two other cars at the dealership and both had the problem.

any ideas on why ? anyone else notice this ? i hate to spend 30K on bugs.

 

My shifter vibrates all the time- you get used to it. I would never have even noticed if the guys here hadn't pointed it out. After someone here said something, I tested it on our 325 as well, and while it didn't vibrate as much, it was definitely there. I think it's just a bit more pronounced on the 8. As for a metallic noise when you step on the clutch- I have no idea. There's the occasional thunk when going into first gear, but that seems normal as well.

 

The metallic sound when you let go of the clutch in neutral is the transmission. It is normal for the car, or so Im told. This was discussed on the board some time ago.

 

berniecmyk, There is a simple reason to the vibration you notice and it is not a problem, but a benefit!

best of my understanding, most cars have cables or linkages to connect the shifter to the transmission as they are separated in the car (transmission under the hood, you in the car).

The RX-8 has the engine approximately 'in the dash' nearby your legs and the transmission follows in line, meaning it is where your hand falls on the shifter. So rather than long linkages, YOUR shifter is actually sticking out of the transmission, as direct as it is possible to be, also saving in weight, and this all means you are manipulating the real thing, not a bunch of mushy linkages!

The virbration is the drivetrain, after all it is a living breathing rotary engine!! Simplicity is elegance!

 

that's one thing that i noticed right away in the 8 and didn't really like it, the shift **** does wobble like hell. I was used to my Prelude's shifter, which was dead silent all the time, it was beautiful.

 

That's a very cool picture, Spin9k! Anymore from where it came from? The engine does look like it's very close but it's hard to tell at this angle. A side view would clarify things up a bit.

 

that picture comes from Mazda in Switzerland http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...ighlight=swiss where there a TONS more hi-rez pics! Files are BIG.