I've recently emailed mazda about the absurd 0-60 automatic time and this is what they have to say


Dear Rich,

Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate
the opportunity to respond to you.

In regards to the order that you have placed for the automatic
transaxle RX-8, the specifications have not changed from the time that
you ordered it regarding this measurement. Typically, independent
performance ratings such as 0-60 will be lower for automatic vehicles
in general. The deadline for changes to your order has passed and can
not be modified any longer.

If you would rather have the manual transmission RX-8, I recommend
contacting the ordering dealership to inquire about any manual
transmission vehicles that they may have ordered as stock. They may
allow you to cancel your order and have your automatic changed to
dealer stock and then place an order with them for the next available
manual transmission vehicle. Please note that this is up to the
discretion of the ordering dealership.

 

Hate to be mean.. but I'm on a mean streak right now...

Who told you to get the AUTOMATIC in the first place!? Although easier to drive in traffic and such, you do suffer the consequence of less power. To me that another one of Mazda's cruel JOKES.

 

yea man, if i'd get to choose, i'd go for the stick! but if you got people in ur family who are too lazy to learn how to drive a stick like mine, then the 4AT is preferable!

 

Well since i recently have turned 17 and my dad didnt want me to get manual to have a "safer" car. Not having much experience driving I didnt think automatic would be that horrific. I have now pursuaded my dad to get me the manual seeing that the automatic sucks. All this comes with a cost because i should be getting my car shortly(a couple weeks). I now have to order a new car. Hopefully i'll have it by the end of the summer, but if the rx8 was not such a beautiful car i would be going for the g35 or the sti.

 

Nova,

Sorry to hear that, but contact your dealer before you get too bummed.

If your dealer wont let you swap ordered you could always eat your deposit money you put down ($500?) and buy a manual from a different dealer.

 

In Denmark you can't get a driver's licence without driving stick - you take your test in a car with stick shift... I think the auto/manual ratio is around 1/20 here in Denmark - though this is just a qualified guess... Some things are just better "hands on" :D

Cheers

Eske

 

lol 95% of people on the UK's roads are driving manuals, its not that hard, and we prolly have more trafic problems than US as a nation.

 

great to hear everyone driving stick, this is gonna suck for me then! well my parents are moving onto their 50's, only my mom can't drive stick and she doesn't want to!

 

Yeah i contacted them and they are seeing what they can do. they'll give me a call back tomorrow to see if anyone wants my auto and trade for the manual .




I got you beat

 

:D hope everything works out sm00th for you Nova!

 

Let me check the sympathy-o-meter.... Nope, not reading anything here.

Daddy sounds like a bit of a hypocrite. What's more dangerous, an inexperienced driver with a manual transmisison or a 17 year old with a new sports car worrying over 0-60 times?

SGC

 

hehe...you can always convert it to a manual later. Like my many ricer friends.

 

0-60 in 9.5 seconds is not what you call a sports car. Whats the point in getting a sports car that has the performance of a kia. I personally drive around a mustang gt now and with 34,000 i better be getting my money's worth. It is a bit absurd and my dad realizes that, so i pleaded with him to get a manual.

 

Still amazes me that parents buy any car for their kids worth more than 5k. Specially their first car.

It's just irresponsible.

Just my $.02.

 

Ditto.

Look both ways, then look both ways again! :p

 

I'm glad Daddy got his priorities straight. I'd hate to think what a slow car would do to a young person's sense of entitlement.

SGC

 

Im going to say one thing and then put this to rest. My post was not about my age factor. I did not ask anyone to approve or even comment, but to say it is irresponsible for myself to get a sports car is just assuming you know me. Yes while some people my age drive around a sh*tbox i will be driving around a rx8. I dont need to be ridiculed for getting a new car. What you are saying is that you have to be 25+ to enjoy a sports car, but i too am a car enthusiast. You can say im inexperienced in driving stick. Okay thats fair, but ive been driving a sports car since ive started. I guess the saying is never judge a book by its cover.

 

No. I think its because we all remember how wild and crazy we were back then. :D

Seriously, be safe and smart.

Also because of your (and ours back then) lack of experience at that age, there are no doubts it CAN lead to a minor or major accident. Because of this you are much better off getting a <$5k car to start off which you can get experience in and not worry about potential damage then get what you want when you are 18 or more if you got the cash. Just makes sense, but then some people have more money then sense so there ya go.

Don't be one of those who thinks its cool or fun or just a part of driving to drive fast in neighborhoods or parking lots. That goes for everyone. Big pet peeve of mine around here. People need to just cruise slow sometimes and be patient.

I was *definitely* an andrenalin junky back then. I won't go into all the laws I broke. Just be smart and safe about it.

 

You are absolutely correct and i am by no means looking to race this car or drive around stupidly. The reason for getting 6 speed is the absurd 0-60 time in automatic..You can not fault me on that because the automatic..to be plain....sucks...I am by no means a speed junkie, but my thoughts are why should i waste 34,000 on an automatic that is horrible and is worse then your family car. In my mind the automatic is not worth the money...even if the rx8 is gorgeous. But, i thank you for your opinion and your kindness

 

Couple questions...

Why not go buy a cheap car in the mean time? Why don't you have a car now if the RX-8 is your first car. I guess they are arriving in a few months.

What is your "back up" plan in the event you get in an accident (minor or major) as your lack of experience greatly increases your chances of getting in an accident (proven by insurance industry). In our eyes, we already see a wrecked RX-8.

And if/when it happens don't come in here saying so cause we told you so! :D

You are right we don't know you and we are just speculating from the few facts (age+experience+car) that we know of. Sorry you didn't want it to turn into this, but it WAS inevitable.

No one meant any offense, just questioning the logic of the decision.

 

Anyone can learn how to drive a stick well. Doesn't take long.

 

Well as of right now i have the access to share the family cars.I havent really thought of a "back up" plan because i guess you can say no one plans to get into an accident. I have already realized the fact that i am not invisible in a car and driving excessively fast or stupidly has not even crossed my mind. I love cars and i guess you can say i get to drive a car ive been wanting ever since it first appeared at the NY auto show way back when.

 

I didn't say anything about your driving stick for a car, I'm sure you're fine at it.

Fact is, here's why I mentioned your age..

If it's your first car (as you mentioned yourself and in your signature), then it's likely that your experience on the road driving is not good at all PERIOD. Unless you've had your license for a few YEARS then I'll say you have time under your belt. In fact I think two years on the road is generally a good time to 'graduate' into a reasonable driver but of course... it may vary.

Second, young drivers are more prone to testosterone and hormonal bursts than older drivers. If your friends 'egg you on' about doing something (whatever that may be), statistically (and I'm not saying it's you) you are more likely to go along with what they say because of your young age.

And lastly, and most importantly -- nobody your age has earned the bucks to drive the car. I find it rather absurd as a parent to buy ANY kid a car that's worth that much money, even if I were rich. It does not teach responsibility, and giving things on a platter like that is just sad. You don't really appreciate something until you've worked your own *** off and gotten it. My parents won't be able to afford a car for my sister so I'm going to pitchin 5k and get her a Miata or something like that when she starts driving. My Millenia (which I also pay for) is going to my brother (and I will pay for that too), because he takes a lot of credits and has signifigant time driving a piece of crap.

Honestly if you didn't work a job to earn it yourself, and pay for insurance, then you shouldn't get the car. Just my $.02, and I know you'll disagree because you want that cool car. But when parents give you a handout for $30k+ it's just sad, and as a parent... I'd never do it. My kids would never learn responsibility and accountability should anything happen to the car.

Take it as you will.

 

Nova must think we're a right jealous bunch here, but in reality people are just remembering what happened to them. I remember crashing my dads 2 week old car when I'd just passed my test !

I also remember thinking what a great driver I was - and it was so not true. But the good thing was my first car was a 1.1L Nissan. It had NO GO at all ! But it was perfect looking back - there was no way I could drive stupidly, and as I had to drive slower any mistakes I made were less likely to result in a shunt.

Fast cars and young inexperienced drivers are just plain dangerous. Do yourself a favour Nova and work your way up to it - it'll be worth the wait.

 

Does anyone know what 'patronising' means. I'm having trouble finding it in my US dictionary.