OK, I'm looking for people who have RECENTLY purchased an A/T, what are your thoughts on it? Is it quick? I don't want to have to be flooring the gas to get a response... I'm not looking to blow people off the line or anything, and I've already viewed OLDER threads about A/Ts,*I have searched* but I'm looking for peoples thoughts that recently purchased RX-8s w/ A/Ts. Do you think its quicker than, say an A/T 350Z? One more thing, I heard Mazda is releasing a 5-spd Auto... Anyone know when its expected to be here? Theres no sense, imo, to blow $30K on an RX-8 right now, whereas within the next years, theres gonna be a quicker and more reliable version. Anyone else think so? Not looking to start flame wars, just opinions.. Thanks to all who can help.

 

 

It's a torqueless wonder but damn if I'm not STILL UTTERLY & ABSOLUTELY with it.

No, it's not faster than an auto Z, but if you're looking for a street racer, this is MOST ASSUREDLY NOT IT. It has agility I've never felt in ANY other car I've driven. My brother's Evo would leave me for dead at a stop light but I'm much more confident taking turns under hard throttle application.

Oh & I've never flooded mine in 3 months. I've always been conscienious about it though so yeah...

I also get more looks than pretty much any other car under $100,000.

 

Go test driveone. The dealerships here have tons of automatics available. The automatic doesntcompare at all to the speed of the manual Rx8. Yeahits easierto drive takes corners justas well as the manual does and still pretty fun w/the paddle shifters but if itsperformance that you want youll have to get an Rx8 in 6spd manual. Keepin mind that even the manual stillmight not be faster than an automatic 350z.

 

I have had my AT for 10 months today

I love it

If I wanted the fastest car 30k could buy I would have got it

 

I have had my AT for 4 weeks. I would have preferred a manual trans, but I lost on that battle (wife can drive a MT, she hates it). I take solice in my commute to and from work (~32 miles each way) in I-595/I-95 South Florida traffic with the auto ...

The car is not "fast" (in quotes because everything is relative). But it's not slow either. Like you said -- I'm not racing anyone, I just want something that will let me pass cars sometimes and merge in to traffic easily (versus my previous car -- '94 Accord with 130 hp!).

I find myself using the paddle shifting quite a bit. As with the manual (correct me if I'm wrong MT owners), you need to rev this thing to get anything out of it. But once it's in the 5K+ rpm range, you're golden. Interestingly enough, when I'm in the paddle-mode and I downshift 2 gears (4th to 2nd), it takes about 2-3 seconds or so. I would have expected that to be quicker ... oh well!

All-in-all, I have no complaints. The car is great -- AT or MT. Yeah, I would have preferred the MT, but is this car a looker or what!?!?!??! I'm just amazed every time I step out of my house and see it in the driveway!

Just my two cents ...

ZG

 

I have an auto in my F-250, thats it.

 

Of course the 6spd is the RX8 of choice--but it was $2500 out of my budget--I have an A/t and have absolutely no regrets--the handling puts a smile on my face every time. The Auto 350Z is probably a decent match for a 6spd RX8--most cars out there are faster than the auto RX8 but I don't care--I never thought I'd say that (this from a former FD driver). The rumors are that the 5spd Auto and sequential manual transmissions are coming for 2006. Those have the 'potential' to be quicker than a 6spd (the sequential manual at least).

 

i think its kinda fast. considering i came from driving a old 91 honda accord.

but today some old stupid grand am beat me in a small race.


its VERY, very slow off the line. it has No reponse in the bottom of first gear at all. but once it gets to about 5k in first it takes off. if u like speed, and can afford the insurance on a 350z get it.

i would have gotten the convertable Z if i had the $ , but i gotta kid, so rx-8 was great.


go test drive one, u can go around turns at like 65-70 its fun

 

I felt a little down at first but after getting the "M" PCM load and 10K miles on it , its feels much better now.

 

I couldn't agree more.

In la-la land (Los Angeles) I get more looks than most cars out there - even high end car owners are always looking at my 8.

I didn't buy my auto 8 for off the line speed - I would have gotten an Evo 8. I purchased it because of the handling and because there is nothing else that looks like it on the road.

 

I've had the auto for about 4 mos now. Like some others, wife cannot drive a stick and this was a nice compromise. I spend alot of time in my car meeting with clients and driving around town. I'm a State Farm Agent and just couldn't see myself driving a Large SUV like everyone else I know. I just love this car. Never flooded it and certainly get the looks.

 

I bought mine last night but have test drove it several times and here are 6 reasons I like it.
1. I think it is as quick as a 197 horspower car should be. (Note to you, take of the DSC and TCS and the car will take off quicker).
2. I love the handling and the brake power I get with my sports package.
3. The insurence if much cheaper than I thought it would be.
4. The gas milage is it not great but not that bad either.
5. I can fit Four people confortably as long as there not mongaloids.
6. I have 2 little ones and the car seats fit in fine.

 

You might want to look up the word "mongaloid" AKA mongoloid before you keep on using it.

 

I bought the AT, money was not a factor. I have had many AT's and MT's, and I was ready to be done with MT's. Its faster than most cars, but I don't think its fast by sports car standards. Its not clear to me that the MT is fast by sports car standards, but appears to be faster than the AT. If you are looking for 0-60 or 1/4 mile performance, then I don't think the RX-8 (without mods) is a good choice. On the other hand, the looks, handling, braking, comfort, and general agility is exceptional. I rarely need to floor it in normal driving, in fact I spend most of my driving below 4000 RPMs.

My wife has also driven many MT's and AT's, she has driven the RX-8 a few times, and really isn't interested in driving it. The RX-8 is one of two cars my son will start driving in. He knows its not as fast as other sports cars and hopefully he will be less inclined to drive in dangerous ways.

I do mostly urban/city driving and the AT is a welcome relief to shifting my way from A to B.

 

Just curious, how can the off-the-line performance of the A/T RX-8 compare to other cars. I don't have the RX-8 nor test driven it but all the cars I have (my parent's cars) are all A/T. All are pretty fast though.

 

off the line is horrible, moms grocery getter can keep up for the first few seconds

 

My version is with an A and it meens a tall stocky person to me, Chill out man, your taking my dry sence of humor to serious.

 

I had my 8 since sept 11, 2003
man I wanted M/T but fiance doent want to learn
and she's paying for it. no regrets. the car is quick once you hit the 3k rpm's range. man the car feels fast.....

 

I love my automatic . i purchased it 10 days ago and took a 1000 mile trip to bound .At first it seemed slow but after i had it reflashed monday the power is much better. in fact between the flash and me learning that it likes to be pushed i now feel like its a true sports car. i just had to learn to go and not let up.

 

Sorry, I didn't know it was make up your own words and definitions day :p

 

^^^Yeah, I was going to say that mongoloid isn't really appropriate or more accurately--PC. Its more like 4 people with down's syndrome. It's cool though, I am not offended. But since we can make up words, I have a rotarded engine.

 

I just bought an AT last Saturday, and could not be happier. Sure, as sports cars go it is not super fast... But for my use, it is plenty fast. :-) I think the car excels in the handling department. Also, with the Sports package and above, its braking is superb as well (I have not tried the base AT with the smaller brakes and wheels though).

I am getting looks left and right from passers by that can't take their eyes off the slick styling. Also, I should mention that the cloth seats are *very* comfortable.

I would say that if you are looking for super fast 0-60 times, look elsewhere... but if you want a great all-around performer, then the 8 is a winner.

---Dave