I wanted my car NOW!! and there was a cloth 6-speed for like $19k and an A/T GT w/ Bose and the appearance package, heated seats, etc. for $15k. So I was like, "mom buy me it, NOW!!!", I'm saving up some money to trade it in for a 6-speed now though...

 

I have always been an AT fan for the RX-8 for one reason- 2 words= PADDLE SHIFTING. I enjoy keeping both my hands on the wheel and being able to shift. Having these levers is definitely an experience. The difference between MT and AT can be solved with an SMG or DSG transmission. On my M3, the SMG is a true clutchless manual transmission (same HP as the regular stick shift) with 6 gears- downshifting from 5th gear to 3rd gear or even 2nd is incredible.

The 4AT I had gave me many hours of pure enjoyment- it was never a torque montser- but a well-balanced machine that has no equal in handling- including my M3! In many ways I missed the sound of the rotary- it was a gorgeous pitch that was intoxicating-so for those who just want a rotary powered car with all the convenience- the AT is a no brainer.

 

^ Here Here!!!

 

The Cobb AccessPORT is now available for the supercharged 4-port automatic.


Back to driving like stock - I forgot how smooth it is. Still a few problem but not the kind I had before. More in the Cobb forun later.

 

SWEET !
Can't wait until the Automatic Turbo gets Cobb'ed !

 

is AP available for 6 speed AT yet?

 

Hey, congrats on the M3. It is quite a nice ride! I have a friend with one who really loves it.

I agree Mazda needs to put a DSG or SMG in the next 8. I think one of their concepts has a DSG. That with the rotary would make an awesome combination.

 

Sure is, contact Jeff as I think he is the only one who has tunes for it.

 

Yes one of their concept cars does but with the added cost of a non production unit, may never see the light of day.

 

Would such a transmission survive the high RPMs that the automatic apparently couldn't? Likewise, does FI add additional stress to the transmission? I'd assume not in the case of manual, but I don't know enough about how automatics work to judge.

 

In case you had not heard, the F1 cars rev more than our rotarys. Both those trannies weigh less that the traditional a/t but can take the presssure. More stress from FI? Hell yes but just using the wrong grade of fluid would add stress to the trans. The manual trans will take an equal amount of stress from FI. If you haven't yet noticed the manual is not something to brag about. I am only aware of 2 forum members that have had troubles with the a/t (I'm sure there are more but they are silent).

 

From what little I understand, the DSG and SMG are basically manual transmissions. The engagement and disengagement of the clutch is automated instead of using a clutch pedal. The DSG actually has two clutches, I believe. It automatically has the next gear ready with the second clutch, which makes shifts lighting quick.

Most of your supercars run with some automated manual now. So if they can handle that kind of power, I think they could handle an FI'ed RX.

 

Hell even the present "automatic" is just a form of the manual transmission -

 

Not sure I am following so let me verify what I am hearing ...

Phil are you saying that the stock trans can handle the power output your FI'd 8 is putting out? I think for me that is the second biggest concern I have. I am only starting to get into moding and am being very cautious of scope sprawl (starting with a supercharger, then needing a new trans, and oh yeah the suspension can't handle it anymore, and now you need a new wife that likes it when you blow $50k). I don't mind putting money into my toy but I like it to be planned and contained.

And since I know someone will ask ... my biggest concern is voiding the warranty on a 6 month old car (which I upped to 100k miles). Yeah, I am sure I will void it technically but if I can reverse the mod to make it fly at the dealer I am ok with that. lol

 

My wife is OK with my expenditures. She looks at it like it's my hobby and she does enjoy riding it. She refuses to drive it know with all the mods (afraid of it). Currently my stock a/t 4 port trans shows no problem even when I don't shift until 8500 rpm. I don't do that all the time but enough that if it was as week as the m/t people say it is, there should be pieces of it from Vegas to LA. Now above 8500 rpm it let's you know that it does not like it there cuz it will not shift.
I was and am careful of the order of install of my mods. Some things just pop up as problems after putting on the major mod but as a rule if you think them out before hand you will know what you need to do to accommodate you major mod.

If $50K scares you then maybe you should reconsider where your going. If your worried about warranty then stop now and reverse what you have. Stock is a nice daily driver for you and the wife, modded is the adrenalin rush of speed, the smell of the premix, the sound of the rotary at 9000 rpm and the looks you get.

 

Call me optimistic but I think there is a happy medium between stock and track. So far my mods (although none are major) have all been done by the factory. I am not looking for something quite as intensive as yours Phil but I do want to get rid of the low end sluggishness of a rotary. Who knows. I may FI at some point, but I guarantee my wife will have a new kitchen first. She is worth it though.

I am not too concerned about the cost as much as I am concerned about a poorly planned revamp where you end up plagued by annoyances and end up having to do additional mods just to get rid of them. It is bound to happen the more I mod but I would rather keep it well planned out and have fewer troubles.