Hercules

On the shifter.. is reverse the top left gear, or the bottom right?

I hope that it's the top left.. oh please oh please.. What is it like on the Miata?

Thanks!

Rich

On the Miata it's in the lower right. Some people have tried to go into 6th and ended up in reverse. Bad sounds...

Grimace

The six speed tranny is very similar to the one in the Miata; they are both built by Aisin. So the shift pattern will probably be the same as in the Miata (and the shift feel the same too, a good thing). But haven't heard of people mistaking 6th for reverse over on Miataforum.com. (I'm Grimace over there too). Anyway, I zoomed in on the picture, but the resolution is too low to make out the numbers on the shifter.

Yep, the hand brake is on the passenger side (although this could always change). And WHAT a handbrake it is. Check this picture out:

http://images.rotarynews.com/images/...o/24rx8-cc.jpg

(Too big to post).

red_base 95

Pictures of the red prototype had the handbrake on the left side of the shifter. I remeber reading that it was moved to facilitate driver seat adjustment and travel, as well as to not impede in rowing through the gears.

Does anyone else recall this, or is my mind playing tricks on me?

Grimace

I think it sticks up too far, especially if in these pics its the handbrake is not applied.

I'd prefer a more traditional design (i.e. minus the "loop", save 0.25 lbs.! :D ) but I won't complain if the handbrake handle stays the same for the production models.

zoom44

i mentioned this in another post about the same pic, but does anyone else notice the pedal placement is reversed. the big gas pedal is on the left and the smaller clutch pedal is on the right. i think this photo is reversed from the negative or flipped once it was digitized. which (i think) would make this a right hand drive car.

Pork Chop

It's hard to tell from the picture, but I would have to guess that it would follow the trend that most Japanese 6-speed cars have, with reverse on the bottom right. Up and to the left seems to be a European thing (BMW, Ferrari, VW).

As for the Miata 6th/reverse confusion, don't you have to push down on the shifter first before you can go to reverse? Like the S2000 and 350Z?

Grimace

Pork Chop: The answer is no.

Zoom44: That big "pedal" is actually a dead pedal, I think. Its a non-functioning pedal-like footrest (it doesn't move) .

zoom44

i know what you mean about it being a dead pedal. if that is the corner of the clutch pedal sticking out from beneath the steering wheel than ir seems to me the dead pedal needs to be farther to the left. it looks like it would interfere with clutch operation. and if all the operable pedals are from the steering column over to the right than people with feet not to much bigger than mine are going to have truoble. maybe its perspective trick from the photo but i think they would be too close together if i had boots on.

i've not seen a gas pedal that size on a car either but i used to drive a 20' mitsubishi delivery truck that had a pedal about that size. it was hinged at the floor.

Grimace

Have you ever driven a Miata? The footwell in those cars can be cramped for some, but with my size 11.5 clod hoppers I do just fine.

Hercules

Doh! Doing reverse 180s will take me some more practice now

PossibleRX8ownr

Yeah, the S2000 has a lockout feature so you won't accidentally shift into reverse You push down to get reverse

Jerome81

It is down and to the right.

There is no lockout on the Miata as far as I know. I also drive a 6 speed RSX Type S right now, and just like the 6 speed Miata, you push right noticably harder to get it into the "reverse" area than you do when you want to put it in 6th. Not once have I come close to putting it in reverse rather than 6th. You can definitely tell reverse from 6th.

Hercules

*nod* I've never missed myself

On my dad's BMW, the first time I reversed it, I put it into first and nearly hit the garage wall :P It's a tough bastard to 'click' in

Spanish

It's next to the 6th