It doesn't matter. Unless you're going into a turn, it's very easy to take your hand off the wheel and shift. Should only take a second to do.

How else would you eat a bigmac while driving?

 

I've won plenty.

Oops, thread closed lolz!1

 

Hey RotaryP7, I just drove both vehicles this past Saturday. While the MT is yes quicker, and more responsive (obviously), the new 06/07 AT's are much improved, very quick as well and quite responsive when put into manual mode.

Living in Miami, we both know the hassles of traffic. Coming and going from work (about 6 miles each way) I think my average speed is 35-40 mph. In any given mile of road in this town there can be 8-10 stop lights! For a difference of 1 maybe 1.2 seconds 0-60, I didn't think it was worth putting up with upshifting and downshifting every 3 seconds. To each his own.

I didn't get this car to win any street races like Ericok mentioned, and it sounds like you're not either. I got this car b/c it's fun, has very unique styling, you don't see them everywhere like you do G35's, Z's and Mustangs and it is very reasonably priced. If you want, PM me and I'll give you the name of the sales manager who worked my deal...he's a friend of mine. He also has about 12-15 rx8's in stock, which is more than most dealers.

 

You shouldn't be eating in the 8 :-P

And having the manual can make you a safer driver. Since no hands free to eat, apply make up, talk on the cell or whatever, you won't have those distractions while driving.

Of course, it can make a worse driver if you try to do those things anyways while driving... :-P

 

Thanks man..
And your right. I think I've made my decision.

 

I have tons of fun. Clutch pedal = fun??? maybe for some. Twisties = fun!!!! for everyone. The MT 8 is also Honda Civic (si) and Accord V6 slow, so meh see the twisties comment. My brakes are just as big as yours (sports package and above get them). And 90% (aribitrary number) of chicks don't give a damn, maybe the 16 year old type but that's not for me. And I have a lower center of gravity with the 15lb heavier transmission .


Anything else??

 

well let see the auto rx-8 is 4 port were the manual is rx-8 is 6 port hmm lets think. How about this test drive both of them I gurantee the manual is way faster. got to youtube and look up rx-8 manual vs rx auto the auto get smoked by like 3 car links and they are both stock except the auto has a after market exhaust

 

wow!!! I wrote that wat to fast and its all screwed up. But you get the point.

 

I don't think the fact that the AT is slower is under debate. Less power + worse gearing = slower. An NA Miata is as slow as dirt, but a hell of alot of fun to drive. An AT LS1 Camaro is much faster than a MT 8, but not necessarily more fun to drive.

 

FYI, 2006 & 2007 Auto Rx-8's now come with 6 ports as well. While not a quick as the MT's, Mazda did close the gap between the two.

 

For most.

Yeah, heel-toeing FTW

Not rly.

Not all of us are married...

Okay, you got me, unless you made that up -_-

 

Someday, when I'm R-E-A-L-L-Y bored, I'm going to count how many of these Manual vs. Auto threads there are. That should keep me busy for a while.

 

Haha, this was already posted..? Sorry bro. I was curious..

 

If you're not trying to perform a launch off the line, then having an AT w/ paddles is just about the same as a MT. You still get 99.9% control over the selected gear (it won't let you shift over redline or lug the engine). Sure it's like a video game and probably not as fun as feeling the gear shift through the linkage, but it's a lot more fun than people make it out to be.

I tried to learn manual and I hated it so much. I can't stand working that hard just to inch forward a little. I'm really spastic though and I love to stomp on the gas pedal pretty much 100% of the time especially when I'm jacking the wheel to the left or right as hard as I can. Everyone complains about driving a manual not being fun and believe me -- the way I do it, it's fun. That being said, I can't see myself getting the 8 in AT form because of what everyone has said.

Definitely do a test drive and see what you think. If you're more into driving fast in the turns than launching off the line, I think you'll be happy with the AT. Otherwise, get a different car.

 

Okaaayyy...sure. Subjective.

I don't need to heel-toe in order to rev match. Yes, the 4AT can rev match on downshift.

Ya, rly.
Accord V6: 0-60 6.2, 1/4 mile 14.5 at 98mph
Civic Si: 0-60 6.3, 1/4 mile 14.8 at 94mph
Rx-8: 0-60 6.0, 1/4 mile 14.5 at 95mph

*all stats from motortrend, and straightline performance was the original context of the discussion, so don't start the we can take 'em in the twisties talk.

True statement, what's it got to do with chicks digging sticks? Again most don't give a damn.

The 4port AT is 15lbs heavier (For the same trim level). Most of that is in the transmission.

 

I don't need to heel-toe to rev match either.

 

true, but it sure helps when heading into a hot corner... which was the point.

 

I missed this post.
Thanks for posting that. Makes me feel a little better in getting an AT.

 

By....most.


Didn't say you did, and I'd rather drive a sports car like a sports car, instead of a computer doing all the work.

All of those cars rarely get those 1/4 mile numbers, and the 0-60 for a stock 8 can easily be down at 5.8 Also, those are numbers for a manual Accord. Who buys a stick family car?


I implied you must not have been around single women lately.

Fine!

MT > AT
/thread

 

Even the new AT redlines at "only" 7500rpm and makes 20 less hp...so just about the same?

The fact that you can't over-rev is worth only .1%? With a 500rpm over-rev capability? And unless your talking Ferrari's latest FI paddle system, and maybe double clutch autos like DSG/SMG, a good driver can always shift a manual quicker than a slushbox.

 

Didn't know this was an AT vs. MT thread. I was just pointing out the fallacies of your statements. Done patting yourself on the back now?

PS: Fact remains, you're not much faster than an Accord V6 (stock for stock).



DSGs and SMGs aren't slushboxes.

And it depends on the slushbox, whether or not you could outshift it with a manual. You'll never, ever outshift GM's 4L60E or any of their older AT equipped V8s (700R4, TH350, TH400 etc).

 

I have an 06 AT Shinka and LOVE it. I live in South FL and deal traffic as well as open highway. I debated the MT vs. AT and, quite frankly, felt more concerned about after reading all the AT bashing here than I did when I drove both cars (before reading about it all here). It’s like these guys feel they’ll be emasculated if they were to drive and AT. The convenience of not shifting in traffic or when going home from a club at 7am on a Sunday morning make up for that second or two extra it takes to get from 0 - 60. Besides, at $2.50 - $3.00 a gallon for gas, I'm not driving at maximum acceleration from every toll booth anyway.

My last two cars were MT. An Eclipse convertible and most recently the Honda S2000. When my roof was slashed and the seats stolen for the 2nd time, I was done with convertibles. The S2000 and the MT 8 had similar performance (that’s another thread so don’t get started people). The convenience of AT vs the limited gains on performance are well worth it coming from someone who’s driven MT for the last 10 years. Hell - i'm excited to have more than one cup holder!

Don’t feel ‘shamed’ into a MT by the very technical speak on this forum – drive them AND consider your lifestyle!

MT or AT: The car looks HOT, it drives HOT, with the Bose Audio system - it sounds HOT!

 

Undoubtedly, I'm getting an AT 8. The manual, although faster, would be a lil hard to drive for a n00b manual-er like me. Maybe if I drive manual for a while in someone else's car, THEN I'll trade for a 6speed. I'm still lovin' the idea of the paddle shifters...reviews say that aren't bad like other paddle shifts...so it's settled for me

 

I learned how to drive stick the night before I picked up my 8. 45 minutes in an empty parking lot and I was good to go. Picked up my car the next day and I haven't stalled since that first week. I get stuck in traffic every morning on the way to work but i've never regretted getting a stick. It never even crossed my mind to get an auto on a car like this. To each his own though, have fun with the car.

 

hey a/t vs. m/t is a personal choice. just do what you like