psukhu

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with an automatic if the car was built from the ground up to be an automatic, like most SUVs and luxury cars.

MrWigggles

If the 4 speed with paddle shifters had the full 250hp, I would have probably gotten it.

My Lexus SC300 (with manual) was in the Lexus shop for a weekend awhile back. My loaner was a silver IS300. Man, it is fun to drive with two hands on the wheel at all times. Having to downshift and switch lanes at the same time is definitely trickier with only one hand on the wheel but is a snap for all the paddle shifters and button pushers out there.

I must have put a 1000 miles of wear on that car that weekend. Now my Lexus dealer only offers RX300's for loaners.

-Mr. Wigggles

Y&Y

yeah I like driving with both hands sometimes. But I'm used to driving with only one hand.

ohhno15

<------------ Ok, you keep pushing those puttons or paddles or switches or whatever. I'll take a clutch for my left foot and a 6 speed shifter for my right hand anyday. If I ever want to use paddles or buttons I'll go to the arcade.

-Not to be mean, but the feeling of having such controll over the car can't be matched by paddles or levers, I think many will agree. I'll eat my lunch at home, and do my driving on the road.

Y&Y

hehe hhehe.............try driving stick eating a burger and talking on the phone. Never gonna do that again. I'll just stick to smoking a cigarette talking on the phone and shifting...now thats much much easier:p

Y&Y

oops:o forgot to type J/k for the second part. Anyways I don't do that anymore. last time I did all that I ended up with a hole on my pants. And I didn't even know about it till I got out of the car. ehehehe:D

psukhu

I find that the automatics that have "shifter" buttons, paddles or sticks shift way to slow.


You just can't feel that "bite" that you feel with clutch and a manual stick.


I've never driven an SMG. Has anyone here driven an SMG? (MR2, M3 or 360 Modena)

Y&Y

doesn't it defeat the purpose of driving stick using shifter buttons and automatic shifting stick(whatever its called). whats the point like ohhno15 said

Also its not like driving sucks up all your energy. I mean all you do is sit on your butts. :p

For me I try to stay as active as possible whenever I'm awake.
Don't want to end up fat and having a heart attack while driving. If I'm gonna die I want my rx-8 buried with me.
:D

Sputnik

Some of that lack of "feel" is probably due to the fact that it's still an automatic. And once more and more "SMG" type trannies become available, different trannies with different programs will have very different feels.

(to everyone) The next time you get the chance to try out some of those paddle-shifted autos, try left-foot braking. That in combination with keeping both hands on the wheel at all times makes a significant difference in the feedback and control of a car when you are hustling it through some corners and twisties.

---jps

MaRX8

You have to pay more attention to your car and driving while using a manual. This makes you think about what you are suppose to be doing, and that is paying attention to the road. Automatics make it much easier for you to just day dream and not really pay that much attention. Which isn't the best thing.
I for one, am a manual driver.

Rx8Mango

Manual 4 Sure!:D

Zio

I learned to drive manual on my dads car so manual it is! Besides he wont get an automatic at all for his next car.

Donny Boy

Gotta be kiddin. Manual only . . . pleeeeease.

P00Man

manual is the only way to go.
________
COLORADO DISPENSARY

Telepopmusik

It's a pity that there are so many haters at this forum

I guess that some people aren't dignified enough to respect the choices of others. If anyone wants a manual RX-8, that's fine by me, but don't go around telling others what they can or can't buy.

Age has nothing to do with choosing a manual or automatic transmission. Yes, I'm the other 17 y/o guy who posted in this thread, and my daily driver is an Integra GS-R 5MT.

The reason I'm buying an automatic RX-8 is because of the immense freeway traffic that I have to deal with where I live (Los Angeles), and the fact that I want a relatively affordable, well-engineered sport-sedan with a touch of unique character that my entire family can enjoy.

Wing

I wonder if there are stats on manual collisions vs automatics. I'm sure Autos would be larger as a whole but what about on a ratio of cars that exist on the road.

Manual keeps you in tune with what is going on, even if you can shift in your sleep.

I learned BRIEFLY on a manual but mostly drove an auto until I was 21 then I bought my car with a manual and had to "re-learn". Now I can drive it without any problems, so much more control even in traffic not a big deal, I just keep a larger gap and engine break etc.

CraziFuzzy

I, for a while, contemplated getting the Auto, partly for cost, partle for convienience, partly for the gimmick of having paddles. I've gotten speeding tickets at 40MPH where I live, so its not like I'll be driving that quick anyways. Don't get me wrong, I've never had an auto (except my dodge durango, which i don't drive much), but when I mentioned to my wife that i was thinking of getting the auto, she just looked at me with this "Not if you know what's good for you" look! She also has always driven stick, and she loves the days I drive the Durango, cuz she can race around my zx2 all over town... and for some odd reason, she seems to get out of all her speeding tickets...

j-apex rx

I wil get auto on the mazdaspeed rx8 is going to be 280 auto with the manual shifting on the steering wheel like the rx evol. 2005!!!!!!!!!!