phirewind

I test drove a brand new '06 Shinka, Copper Red, and of course I loved it. I'm waiting for a phone call when they deliver the Phantom Blues so I can see and drive one of those. I currently own an '03 Lancer (not Evo, just a cruiser) and am considering paying it off and swapping it for the RX8 in a couple of months to celebrate some new business.

My Lancer is an automatic, and I don't think I've driven a stickshift more than a dozen times in the past decade, so it took me a while to get used to the RX8's long-throw clutch, but once I got rolling it was smooth sailing and hard driving fun. Once the ride was over, though, that's when the trouble started.

It's been almost a week since my test drive, and on three seperate occasions when going into a tight turn or coming to a stop in my Lancer automatic, my left foot has gone searching for the RX8's clutch. In fact, when it didn't find what it was looking for, something in my gut screamed "SOMETHING'S WRONG!!!!" and it took a very scary second for me to realize what I was doing. Of course three seconds later it was funny, but when you need to hit the brakes and you think you can't, it's no laughing matter.

So thanks a lot, Shinka. 10 minutes on the road, and my feet are still driving you a week later.

Aww, who am I kidding, I can't stay mad at you.

nez

i feel like a kid in a playground everytime i drive the car...the fun never ends

Glyphon

lol...that's never happened to me (while driving). when i do it is when i first get in a car and go to crank it and "whoa, someone stole the clutch pedal. those bastards!...oh, nm".

vapourit

usually people wrech their car on purpose so they can get an 8.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Every time I get into anything auto, I spend the first few days phantom-clutching.
It does leave a scary, hollow feeling in your stomach when the pedal isn't there.

Skythe

The worst is when you go for the clutch and hit one of those wide-*** brake pedals.....my neck still hasn't forgiven me for that.

OnRails

I have that same trouble when I drive my wife's Grand Cherokee. Plus, I forget how good the braking really is in the 8. You really have to step on the brake pedal in the Jeep.

time4akshun

Careful on that Copper Red. It is an 06 only color. Its end this year and no more are scheduled for 07 so check inventory to make sure they are available. My dealer sold both it had in 2 weeks.

Phantom Blue is really nice also if you want a non-Shinka...

Time

Smokin_LaLa

I need some of that stuff your smoking

Krankor

I've yet to see the Copper Red in person, but in the pictures it's a *sweet* color. Me, I have the '05 Black Cherry, which I love. They haven't announced an '07 special color, have they?