i know tha rx8 has tha 4-speed auto trans but what does it mean when it says ...4-speed electronically controlled "Sport AT" automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters what are the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and what do they look like?? thanks

 

They're the silver push-paddles on either side of the steering wheel in this pic:


...they let you shift the auto tranny up and down with the paddles instead of the stick.

 

http://rollingc.bravehost.com/steering.html

you can see mine here, i dont have a clutch, so basically i just pull the paddle to shift gear up and press to shift down, although the car automatically shifts down when your decelerating. its like f1 technology and yes its bad as in wicked, the only way to drive.

my web page can only be viewed so many times a day, its a non pay web setup, hope it helps. also note my cars a jap import and its fast!

 

thank you...but one more question..theres no shift stick at all on the console?

 

check the rest of the pics, (center console) i think

 

Yes- there's a normal auto stick on the console- you can leave it in drive, or use the sport mode on the stick (push/pull), or use the paddles.

 

thank you sooo much! im getting one for my 16th birthday and im not to good with a standard quite yet lol and i was a little confused about the whole steering wheel based thing...thanks!!

 

well i'll tell u this much your going in the right direction, and once u drive and get a feel for what you can do u'll never drive anything ever again without paddleshifts! its simple and great, the only way to drive!

 

Cool... congrats... but don't be afraid of getting the 6 speed RX-8- it's really easy to learn compared to many manual cars. It's also faster :D

 

... it is a neat concept, but it still doesn't compare to the control and fun a manual transmission (or a real SMG-style semi-automatic) would give you... especially with only 4 speeds.

 

yeah well only in theory, it might have more bhp, but the auto has more torque. I drove (jap imports) a 6-speed and an auto back 2 back all day b4 i made my choice and quite simply the 6 speed revs higher and is jerky non smooth with gear change compared to the auto and if its faster its only by a sec tops for 0-100kph and 1/4 mile. Plus there's nothing greater than having fun and a gearchange in 100's of a second at your finger tips, just look at formula 1! they are great cars these rx8's but i just think nothing comes close to this auto version of the car, but do remember i am driving a Jap import, which is different in many respects and it hasn't had any problems apart from my sunvisors falling apart!

 

my birthday isnt very close but i have my hardship so i can drive to certain places..like to school and activities and theres alot lol so why not get it sooner right? lol i just have to talk my parents into getting it early lol

 

you smart girl, i like that! good luck babe

 

thanks! lol..heyy the picture of the steering wheel up there..is it on the right side of the car?? it looks like it

 

Actually, the 6speed is 2-3 seconds faster 0-100kph, and if you thought the 6sp was jerky then you probably just don't know how to drive a stick smoothly. Formula 1 cars (and other high-end cars like BMW's SMG system) have very expensive, computer controlled clutchless transmissions- the auto RX8 is nothing like that technology. Japanese import or not, it's still the low power version... a few ft/lbs of torque aren't going to make a big difference.

 

yeah babe, its a Jap import, they drive on the right as we do here in Cyprus (greek island)

 

the auto has 3 more pound/feet of Torque than the 6mt as reported and advertised. but if you look at the Mazda's own graphs the 6mt curve goes up past the number they report. even if the low power engine actually has more T it still is not near as quick as the hi-power. I have driven both also. My own 6mt and my freinds AT. Second if you think driving the 6mt was jerky than you aren't driving it correctly. sorry to say it but it seems you need for stick practice. dont get me wrong it is fun to shift the paddles. 3rd when you say "different in many respects" you are not being accurate. there really is no difference between your engine/ drive train and the one available in the US.

 

oooohh i didnt know you were from a greek island...lol im sorry

 

That's cool, I didn't know the GPS controls are in Japanese...any way port that over here to Michigan?

 

Back it up G8rboy, post a reliable source with back to back 0-100kph tests showing 2-3 seconds.

I agree with the rest, RX8 paddle shift is NOTHING like SMG or DSG, and really not even remotely close to F1.

 

i'll try to explain again

i have a mazdaspeed 4at, it's different from normal auto's, its quick, its the first ones from Japan, 2003 model. as for driving stick, i have driven many cars, since my father was a mechanic for more than 35 yrs, are you trying to tell me that an rx8 stick is smoother than lets say a bmw's or a porsche's? I think not, but ok every has their own opinion, and in mine i say its not, i could be wrong, but hey i ain't knocking the car i own it, its just that its an auto and not a manual!

 

I don't have emperical evidence on me... just what I've read here over the last year and other various on-line sources. Most reports I've read have the auto RX8 at 8-9 seconds 0-60mph. I've also driven both... and the initial off the line acceleration is considerably different- the 6sp can actually launch, where the auto takes a loong time to get to 30-40mph. Even my old Miata was ~8 seconds 0-60, and I'm quite sure it was faster than the Auto '8.

 

wait
we are chatting about stock autos (now) in the usa right?

 

I didn't know Mazdaspeed made an auto tranny... seems odd... especially with the lower redline

 

hey i dont make the rules
but thats mine in my second from last post