mazdabob

"you're trading off 2000 rpm and 40 horsepower" - well ..., my car will go to 7700-7800 rpm every time in manual mode. So, closer to 1000 rpm difference. And don't forget, the automatic cars have 5 more lb-ft of torque!:D

rx-7~rx-8

Its not a compromise... in other countries ... they offer
4 speed auto, 5 speed 210 hp
6 speed 247 hp
your paying a grand less... for the auto....

idle0ne

i am sorry if i offend some people but **** you know the auto is a 4 spd and is redline at 7500, knowing this you should buy a 6spd manual, if you cant drive stick LEARN it's not that hard.

Lock & Load

SORRY ABOUT BEING SO BLUNT , HOWEVER PERSONALLY I WOULD BE TO EMBARESSED TO BE SEEN IN A WINPY AUTOMATIC .
ITS ONLY FOR ****** .

MICHAEL

Rotary Nut

idle0ne don't be an ignorant sot! Alot of us don't get autos because we can't drive a stick. I have probably been driving a stick longer than you have been alive! Around 27 years to be exact! Sticks are great.

People buy automatics for the conveinence. I got bought mine due to medical reasons because after 20 years service protecting your american freedoms I have come away with screwed up knees. They swell up at just the hint of an extended traffic jam! It didn't matter that the car came with less HP as that is not the reason I bought this great car.

Don't go around telling people that they need to get the MT or else the car will be slower or has less hp. For one thing we need to get the idea of faster and quicker wrangled out. Both cars have the same top speed so having an AT or MT does not mean one is faster than the other. Now the MT is QUICKER than the AT because of the fact that the MT does not have a torque converter or a computer doing the shifting for you. The MT will do the 0-60 in less time because it is QUICKER not faster! If both cars can do 145mph than neither is faster than the other. The MT is just quicker than the AT. and a lot of people do not buy cars based on 0-60 times. but on style, smoothness, NVH, fit and finish, and value.

EXA4DRIVER

I agree with you to a certain extent. If your going to buy a performance vehicle, opt for the manual. And if an SMG is available go for that. But I wouldn't say all automatics are "whimpy". Cars like the Mercedes Benz E55, S55, SL55, CL65, C32, and the Audi RS6, which only come with automatic transmissions, not even an SMG, will smoke almost anything on the road. And it will probablly get more attention than an RX-8. It's not good to generalize :D

Lock & Load

I realize that there are some cars with far greater power than the RX8 with AUTOS ( However we are discussing the RX8 arent we )


Rotary nut

In reference to the ****** that drive Auto RX8.
Heck i have come across some THOUGH ****** and you seem to qualify in this catergory (Hey us older blokes have to stick together )

michael

rotarymagic

What? Part of the definition of a sports car is that is has to be a convertable? I didn't know that. Can anyone else back this up??????????????????