I think it's great Mazda put the shifter paddles for the auto tranny, and the horsepower differences aren't a big deal to most... but you can't compare manual/paddle shifting an auto for being the same experience of six speeds mated to a lightweight clutch, especially winding up to 9500rpm. Not saying it's better or worse for your situation, just that it's not even the same experience.

 

I agree with G8Rboy, that the experience with a manual is so much more exciting than with an auto in these cars. Granted it is alot more exciting driving a ferrari or a lambo but in most people's income bracket, its hard to top the experience of a manual tranny!!

 

There is a HUGE difference between an SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox, the term used to describe those manual gearboxes with hydraulic actuators controlling the clutch and shifters), and the type of "slushbox" conventional torque converter and planetary gearbox (with electronic controls on when the slush shifts happen) that the RX-8 AT is.

F1 and sports cars do NOT use a slushbox; they use a manual gearbox with electronic-hydraulic clutch/shifting. Sure, you can put paddles behind the steering wheel for either - that certainly does NOT make them remotely the same.

(Note that for 2006 model year, the RX-8 will get a 5 speed auto (slushbox) trans option that will handle the full power and 9K rpm redline of the High-power version of the Renesis, and will ALSO get a 6 speed SMG transmission option.

Regards,
Gordon

Regards,
Gordon

 

Nice post Aratinga. From a chick that loves to drive stick

There are no victims in life, only volunteers.

 

Agreed save for one detail. SMG is only a BMW thing and it stands for Sequential M Gearbox, therefore the RX-8 nor any non BMW car will have a SMG tranny.

 

ROFL- I completely agree . If I was able to teach my husband to drive stick, you guys sure as heck can teach your wives/girlfriends!

I only drive auto when forced to. Doesn't mean it's bad, just not my thing.

 

OK...so now I know what SMG stands for...but can someone explain further?

 

AT RX-8 is better than no RX-8 at all. car still has decent get-up. superb handling and out of this world good looks. now the hard part...deciding what color to get!

 

A Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG may have started out as a BMW thing, but it has been hijacked as an acronym for a Sequential Manual Gearbox) is a type of manual transmission used on some high-end cars. It is a true manual transmission (no slushbox). There is no clutch and no true shifter. The shifting is accomplished via pedals mounted on the steering wheel and the shifting is computer controlled.

The AT '8 is similar in appearance but it is still an Auto.

No offense meant to you AT people out there. I have never owned a manual car. I have not yet decided MT/AT for my '8 (leaning towards a Blue MT).

 

Not quite - a SMG does have a regular clutch, but no clutch pedal, just as there are shift forks in the gearbox, but no shift lever. Instead of a pedal operated by your foot, a hydralic actuator pushes the clutch at the command of the computer. Instead of the shift lever moving the shift forks, hydraulic actuators move them at the command of the computer. It's a real manual transmission. When you pull a steering wheel paddle to request a shift, the computer pushes in the clutch, moves the gears, and releases the clutch.

The "Tiptronic" style auto transmissions are regular ordinary automatic slushboxes, but the shift timing is regulated by computer controls if you put it in that mode. When you pull the paddle to select a shift - the computer lets the auto transmission do its regular ordinary slushy shift.

Regards,
Gordon

 

I dont know what this one member was saying about 0-60 in 9 sec. Your smoking crack, I floored my car many of times and I can tell you it does not take 9 freakin seconds to get to 60! Its going to be in the upper 6's or the lower 7's!

 

Actually, there have been lots of posts indicating that this is not true. The AT has been reported as being ECU limited to about 125 mph, while the MT is set (I am told) at about 141 mph.

98 mph!? gov? a/t? pls help

One benefit often overlooked with buying an AT: $1500 cheaper.

 

I've seen reports of either 148 or 155 for the 6mt, or possibly not governed at all... but at those speeds, I don't think it really matters. At 125+mph, I get too puckered up to enjoy it

 

When my parents told me they would buy me a Mustang GT for my 19th b-day. I ordered one fresh from the factory with an automatic. Reason being I thought having a stick would be a pain in the ***. Well my dad changed the order to MT when he put it in. When the dealer delivered it to the house I saw the MT and my dad laughed and said "Lets go learn how to drive a sports car the real way" 2-3 hours tops in my HS parking lot.

Get the MT and teach her how. If I can learn on one of the most torquey *** sliding cars on the road she will have no problems on the forgiving RX8. Plus if you can teach her and you still love each other after you are finished well then the rest of your life with her should be no problem.

Ill never have an AT in a car ever. Only on a truck/SUV.

 

no need to [rant], and no need to get all sexist on me. i didn't ever imply that other women can't drive stick. just mine.

my gf said herself that she doesn't want to learn MT. she doesn't even know how to drive an automatic yet... and doesn't want to learn at all. she will get her learner's permit in a month or so out of necessity... we're moving out of boston to central NY.

thanks to everyone for the advice. clearly the acceleration and feeling of control over the car will be better MT, but it seems that the AT is "worth buying" too. think i will go with it over than wrx or 330... really like the red with red/black interior.

 

She must be having her "friend"(ducking quickly):D

 

"I dont know what this one member was saying about 0-60 in 9 sec. Your smoking crack, I floored my car many of times and I can tell you it does not take 9 freakin seconds to get to 60! Its going to be in the upper 6's or the lower 7's!"

Luxury cars with 300 HP V8s do 0-60 in the upper sixes. Have you ever actually timed your car from 0 to 60?

 

So you're basing your decision on the purchase of a $30k+ car, on whether or not your g/f can drive it? Yet she hasn't obtained her learner's permit or learned how to drive any kind of vehicle? Are you sure you want to base your decision on that? Why is she so dead set against trying to learn the manual? I think the thought of it is intimidating but chances are she'd love it if she gave it a chance. I learned to drive in a manual; auto wasn't an option, and I'm so glad that's how it happened. I can't help but wonder if a little coaxing and encouragement from you would help to get her over that anxiety hump. Most folks that take up stick never go back to auto.

Then again if the purchase is for the look of the car as opposed to control and pure driving enjoyment, an auto will certainly get you that It's sexy and sophisticated looking regardless.

 

To me? Nope.

 

I mos def have been past 125mph! I've done 137mph and still could keep going but got a little too scared.

 

for the auto haters: try telling an automatic porsche 928 s4 owner that real sports cars dont have auto trannies and watch him hand your manual rx8 its *** :p

 

There are alwasy gonna be cars that are faster...yadayadayada....

To me the auto RX8 is a compromise...

There's no way I'm going to compromise. That's it.

As was told in my auto test drive thread, people buy them for different reasons. No problem with that.

Me, I'd never choose an auto version of a car over it's manual counterpart....that's just me. I'm a healthy 24 year old, my wife drives manual perectly(She's very close to getting that S2000 she's always wanted), and a clucth pedal and a nice snick snick shifter is heaven.

Some people are just more hardcore than others......

 

Oh...and watch the manual tranny equipped 928 S4 hand him his ***.....

 

Sure, cause he'll already be cranky after years of teasing from the 911 owners that his Porsche 928 (manual or auto) isn't a real sports car anyway. :p

We've already covered this - quick acceleration times do not make a sports car. A friggin' Maybach 62 (luxury sedan/limo) will hand that 928S4 (grand touring car, not sports car) its *** on a drag strip - so what? If you've read the thread, you'll see that many of us just say that a manual trans car is more fun and involving to drive - the performance isn't a deciding factor.

Regards,
Gordon