Question about 1st gear
 

I'm having a bit of trouble getting into first gear only on cold start when RPM's are still between 1000 and 1500.Is it normal to have to wait till the car warms up and for the RPM's to drop to normal idle speed.Once it is at normal idle, I have no trouble.I've tried searches but could not find any answers.TIA.

It should go in without too much trouble, even when cold. From an elevated idle like you have when cold, try depressing the clutch and waiting 4 or 5 seconds for the clutch disk and input shaft to stop spinning, then engage 1st gear - see if this helps. If you still have trouble, you might need an adjustment.

I'll try the 4 or 5 second thing but would it be considered normal to have to do that?I'll post the results.

When sitting at high idle, the clutch and input shaft are running at the higher RPM. When you depress the clutch and immediately shift to first, you're asking the 1st gear synchros to stop this rapidly spinning clutch disk and input shaft. That takes a little time (but not much). It should still go in on the first shot. If it doesn't, then maybe something that you should bring up with the dealer.

Thanks for the info.It does not go in on the first shot so I guess I'll bring it in.

I left out one important variable, that is, along with the engine at high idle speed, the car is also rolling to a stop at approximately 9 or 10 MPH.If I'm completely stopped it does go into gear on the first try.I guess my next question is obvious.Should I have to come to a complete stop before going into first gear?

I think the manual said you can downshift to first at less than 15 or 20mph max. I have shifted down up to 15 but gently, and it takes a second or two when warm. With the gearbox cold, it will take that much longer to shift down while the car is in motion.
With the car stopped you should have no trouble going to first.
Good luck and I think this is normal.

Thanks.I appreciate the help.I'm glad to hear it is most likely normal.This is the most expensive car I ever owned so I guess I want everything to be right on it!

Yes the same thing happens to me...it doesn't like going into first gear at anything around 10mph. I tend to stay in second in those cases, or slow to around 5mph or so before trying to get in first.

DRIVING 101 FACTOID:
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You should NEVER downshift into first gear while moving....at that point, you should be using your brakes,not the tranny,to stop the car.



I'm stunned that I'd have to say that.

i dunno if you 'double clutch', 'heel toe' or what have you (rev the engine to match the velocity to the rpm instead of lettign the syncros do the work) id say that you'd be better off doing it in an RX8 than in any other car, simply because the rotary engine is so smooth and rev happy. Honestly ive been doing this for years in piston engined cars and never ever had a problem, and in the RX8 it feels even more natural.

For the record, I never downshift into 1st when stopping, that obviously makes no sense. And I do brake in my current gear to the lowest RPM's possible before downshifting or going into Neutral.

However, I am often going say 20 MPH in second and forced to slow to a crawl...or worse I slow to around 5-10 MPH, still in second, and then need to accelerate quickly.

What to do in that situation? I can stay in second, gas it, and wait an eternity for the revs to get up and feel the engine lugging....I could go into neutral, blip the revs, and go back to 2nd, or I could downshift into 1st for a few seconds and then get back to 2nd.

Similarly if you're in 2nd and need to go to 5MPH and yet keep moving...same dilemma. I don't wanna be in 2nd going 5 MPH, and yet people say not to go into 1st with the car moving....so what's the solution?

I

Ditto.

If you need to downchange onto first (or even second) while moving, double de-clutching is the way to do it...
Depress the clutch, and drop into neutral, let the clutch out and rev the engine so that the engine revs match (or just exceed) the revs that you would be doing at your current road speed if you were in first, then depress the clutch again and shift into first.
Takes a bit of practice, but when you get it right it should just "drop" into gear.
Good technique to combine with heel & toe on the brake peddle, so you can do all this while braking.
As preacher said above, you should use the brakes to slow and stop the car, not the transmission, but this technique will have you in first gear ready for a quick getaway.