My company just developed one called Dual-Tronic..

Right now its available overseas in a few VW's and Audis

 

heres a link on the Dual-Tronic

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040303/cgw051_1.html

 

Uh, right now it's available here in North America in the Audi TT3.2 (and the VW R32?). Audi and VW call it DSG, and it's actually a significantly better system than the "traditional" SMG used by BMW, Ferrari, et al.

Basically, between the DSG/Dual-Tronic and the CVTs, the conventional slushbox automatic is doomed! (Why? Because these two alternatives are lighter, more mechanically efficient (means better gas mileage), and ultimately cheaper to build. The traditional auto has nothing going for it)

Regards,
Gordon

 

I think someone posted this earlier, but unless you are in a hurry, you may want to wait to see if the 05 has the new auto tansmission. Early product release interviews/articles indicated that Mazda limited the AT engine to accomodate their existing auto transmission. If I recall the article correctly development of the AT 5 speed was behind schedule and they didn't want to delay the release of the 8. Once the new AT is ready, the HP should be the same as the MT, when this will happen ???? who knows but it may be worth waiting for.

 

If your g/f is going to have to learn how to drive, you might as well teach her on a manual.

That way she will be able to drive any car.

 

Ok ill chime in.First my car is my car.My wife can drive a stick,but if she couldnt either learn or dont drive.Second I like the control a stick gives you.The 8 just gives you even one more reason...40 hp.

 

Those cars also weigh 3500-4000 punds. One example i found: 2001 Lexus LS400, weight 4130 lb, 290bhp V-8, 0-60 6.4s. Or even better: 2001 Lexus IS300, weight 3270, lb, 215 bhp I6, 0-60 7.1s. Now if the AT Rx-8 is actually making the stated 197 horsepower its time should be similar to the IS, especially the non-GT model 8's

{edit} both of these cars were AT. And as for the AT being worth buying i suggest a test drive of the car. It's the only real way you're going to know for yourself. Other peoples opinions can only go so far.

 

very good point

 

The best time the RX-8 gets for 0 to 60 is 6 seconds. When it gets these times, it is launched in a way that will fry the clutch. Car and driver timed it at 7.5 seconds street start. Launched at 2000-3000 RPMs, it should be somewhere in between (maybe mid sixes). Do you really think that the auto Rx-8, with 40 less HP will really be able to break into the sixes?

The LS400 is also optimized for a wide torque band and even at 4100 lbs, still has a better power to weigh ratio than the Auto RX-8. (14 lbs per HP vs 15-16 lbs). To put it into perspective that car weighs 25% more but has two times the amount of torque. Even so, some consumer guides test cars like that and get into low sevens anyway. The IS300 also has much more torque than the auto RX-8. That 0-60 time wouldn't have been better with a manual anyway. I would be suprised if the auto RX-8 with low torque could break into the 7s let alone 6s. However, I could believe a time in the high sevens but not high sixes.

You are way overestimating that cars capabilities.


"{edit} both of these cars were AT. And as for the AT being worth buying i suggest a test drive of the car. It's the only real way you're going to know for yourself. Other peoples opinions can only go so far."

But they are also 5 speed automatics made by Toyota. They are a bit more advanced than the ones in the 8, and again, are also powered by engines with far more torque. An auto tranny robs the Renesis of what little torque it has.

To the original poster: Buy the RX-8 auto if you want but don't buy it assuming it accelerates like a 300 HP LS400.

 

tschangrx7 dont you think when they test drive these cars the pop the clutch at the same rpms for every car? May I ask what kind of RX8 you have or are you another Troll????

 

With a car like the LS400, you don't need to rev the engine that much because it has torque down low. Its street start time will be pretty close to the 0 to 60 time. A car like the RX-8 notices a much bigger hit when driven normally... There is no way that when you accelerate your car driving it like you bought it, you are going from 0 to 60 in the high sixes... Driving it like you stole it and it doesn't belong to you, you will still never see time in the high sixes without some serious mods.

0 to 60 in the high sixes/low sevens is fast.

"May I ask what kind of RX8 you have or are you another Troll????"

I do not have an RX-8. Why am I a troll though? Because I don't want someone to buy the auto RX-8 under the impression that it is almost as fast as the manual version?

 

Test Drive both and then buy which ever one you like and suits your lifestyle/needs. AT/MT...it's still a fun car. Don't buy into this "If it ain't a MT it's not a sports car"

 

I have had my Rx8s 0-60 timed in my automatic before and it was possible but very hard to do 60 in 7.8 seconds if I remember. Thatwas the fastest Ive ever done. The TCS and DSCwere both turned off the car was in tiptronic mode and I brake revved. I also tried putting itinto neutral and then revving to 3000 or 4000 RPM and thendropping it into drive. All thatever did was burned rubber and alsoprobably did some damage to the transmission. I am guessingthat if someone wants to risk it they couldprobably find the proper RPM to do this typeof launch from in the automatic w/o getting a lot of wheel spin and possibly get to 60 in 7.6 or 7.7 seconds but theres no gaurantee and its not veryconsistent. 8.0 or 8.1is more common but again thats w/tiptronic mode. You have to be in tiptronic mode if you want to get the automatics full horsepower at 7200 RPM since standard automatic usually shifts at or before 7000.

 

Please make it stop...the pain, the pain...