Anyone here with good experience in other manuals that prefer the rx8 1st gear? Any one with experience annoyed by how quickly you have to shift out of 1st?

The Rx8 1st gear seems to be SO short lived... The pick up on 1st is of course amazing, but I couldn't decide if it was annoying to have to IMMEDIATELY shift out of it to 2nd so fast or not....aka, will I get used to that or not?

 

Drive a Speed3, blink and you'll miss first gear. I hate it.

 

really?? that bad in comparison? perhaps my issue is that I haven't owned a manual long enough. (only had my rx8 for 4k miles before it died, now in a diff automatic nissan)

 

What mph are you redlining at? mines an auto so its much differnt .In the auto, its WAY to long. **** takes you to like 55mph. I personally would love a short 1st and 2nd, who cares what the top speed is, I want it to accelerate!

 

unless I'm at a complete dead stop, I go from second gear on. No need to get into first.

 

i agree, 1st is only for dead stops. hey, i love getting to speed fast as much as the next guy, i just think 1st is a bit short! i'm not a tech guy, so don't mind my next question, but can this be modified at a dealership? and if so, then what adverse affects would it have on the rest of the gearing ratios?

 

how long do u want ? up to 100mph ?

 

like i said, I have about 4k miles worth of manual driving experience! I don't remember how many mpg it gets up to, but i recently test drove one because i'm tryin to get back into an rx8...and it just feels like i'm burning out the gear FAST. that's all!

*humble aura*

 

You don't have to accelerate like a jackrabbit from every stop...

And you can't complain too much, the car is a joy to shift with a light clutch and easy gearbox.

 

I thought maxing 25 mph for first was somewhat tall. Definitely more headroom than my old ZX2. I find, however, that for a car with this many revs you run out of them fairly quickly.

 

^25mph? 1st goes up to 40...

 

After driving a Celica GTS for 3 years, trust me the RX8 1st seems tall. That's one of the reasons I got rid of that damn Celica, the tranny was a joke.

 

Yeah, my MS3 does NOT like going over about 20 in first.

 

I love being able to go 40 in first....it feels just right to me.

 

I'd rather have a taller 6th than a taller 1st...

 

i thought you can go up to 9000 rpm .....i think that's pretty high for cars...other car can only go to 6-7 or 8 k rpm...

 

first gear is not too short unless your FI

 

I have no problem with it, the Subaru I was driving wouldn't go up past 30 or so in first. I would only like it to be a little easier to shift into going 2 or 3 mph, but that is what second is for I guess.

 

QFT!

 

rock on. glad to hear that my lack of driving stick would explain my feelings for first gear. again though, MUST SELL MY TRUCK FIRST! We'll see if cars.com ads are worth doing. I'll keep y'all posted. I hope to be in an rx8 in a month or two!

 

You will get used to it. It is not short at all. Drive some other manuals and you will see. The car excelerates fairly quickly so it seems short.

Try driving my dad's hotrod with it's 4-11 rear end. I can't keep up with it in ANY gear.

 

with > 9000rpm and how quick the rotors spool up, the 1st gear is nicely spaced.

 

=WOT!!! lol

 

Think it's short now, drive an 09...