Yes, AT. Yes, I would prefer to go MT, but situation prevents that. So, yes AT.

I'm an occasional lurker here, so may not be fully up to speed, but I don't think the 06 ATs are out yet. Orderable, but first batch sometime in March? In any event, with the little bump in power, and the 2 extra cogs, what's the expected 0-60 times? I don't expect it to be as fast as the MT, but I hope it's a bit faster than say a Grand Caravan.

Apologies in advance if this was discussed before!

And yes, this thread is about ATs. And yes, MTs are great.

 

First let me summarize 75% of the responses you'll likely get from many on this forum...

"your buying the wrong car if you want O-60, buy a mustang...yada yada"

"only a (insert fav. namecall) would buy an auto RX8...yada yada"

"who cares"

As for the remaining 25%, they'll likely say that the 6 cogs may be a nice improvement once rolling, coupled with the power increase. Otherwise the low torque of the renesis still makes it a poor choice for an auto.

Now if it had a launch feature like the new autobox in the new VW GTI, than it would different. That auto GTI is faster than the stick version, but give me a stick anyday!

Otherwise, I'd guess a 7.2 time (similar to our time of a rolling 5-60 with an MT).

 

Why are rolling start times slower than 0-60 times? I never fully understood this.

 

cuz 0-60 times you are launching with clutch in. Not just pushing the gas pedal as in a roll.

 

When launching the RX-8, for example, you get the fastest acceleration by reving the car to 5000 to 7500 rpm's (depending on traction) then dumping the clutch. This keeps the rev's in the strongest part of the powerband for fastest acceleration.

When accelerating from a rolling start, it takes longer to get going because you may be rolling at 5 mph at 2000 to 3000 rpm (or lower) in first gear and when you mash the gas like NgoRX8 said above, it takes a little longer for the revs to build before you arive in the sweet spot of the powerband.

 

I'd say at LEAST 7.2 as well.

 

See Honda Accord...

 

6.6-6.8

 

4 seconds easy!

 

Oh ****, count me in on the trade if that's true!

 

The 2006 spec deck says 8.4 sec for the automatic and 6.0 seconds for the manual. I have no idea how true any of that is, but it is what it is.

 

Thanks for the replies.

I think the spec deck probably gives an accurate summary of the relative strengths of the engines.

I never expected the 06 AT to be a stop light queen, but I'm hoping it's a tad faster than our AT Miata. Can you say 20 sec. 1/4?

 

Low to mid 7s for 0-60, mid to high 15s for 1/4

 

There's no way the spec deck is correct at 8.4sec. The 4spd's are faster than that. The 6spd has a significant gearing advantage over the 4spd. It (6spd) has a 4.3 final drive apparently, but it still maintains quite the advantage. Mid to high 6's easy.

edited: wrote 3.3, meant 4.3 final drive

 

The 4 speeds are slow as molasses in Januuary, the 6 speed AT should be as slow as Molasses in February. I'll be shocked if they run anywhere in the 6s, and there's no way the 4 speed is faster than 8 seconds 0-60. We'll probably never know though since mags most likely won't bother reviewing one.

 

have you driven a 4spd?

 

Yeah, first time I test drove one that's all they had for a demo and despite my grumbling they asked me to take it out and come back to test the MT the following week when they got the rest of their shipment. It was painfully slow.

 

CAnt find the specs for molasses. Any links?

 

This is all I could come up with
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...s+january+RX-8

 

I'd say about 16.6 1/4 mile.

 

I also drove a 4spd before. It is really gutless. Not sure if the extra hp and gears for the 06 are really going to make a noticeable difference. Can't hurt, but I'm really wondering what the diff. will be.

 

Hahahahaha. Mid to high 6's easy. You should do comedy.

For the record, best I could ever do 0-62 in the automatic was 8.1 or 8.2 sec.

 

If you want to race caravans get the MT. The torque of most v6 vans will immediately put a big gap between you and your target, sure you'll catch up soon enough, but be prepared to be taken off the line by about every minivan and truck out there.

 

The very fact that you're asking about 0-60 times means the RX8 is not for you.... MT or AT

 

1st gear in the 6spd AT will top out around 38mph. The shift to 2nd puts it at just under 4400rpm (smack in the powerband).

1st gear in the 4spd AT tops out at 47mph. The shift to 2nd puts it at 4000rpm (pretty close to/ the bottom of the powerband).

This is where the similarities end. The 6spd has a 31% gearing advantage in 2nd gear and a 23% gearing advantage in 1st gear. Not to mention the power advantage up top. Stall speed on the 6spd's TC is an unknown to me, but it should be the same as the Mx-5's.

Perhaps I was ambitious in claiming mid 6's, but I'll stick with sub 7. The best I ever "measured" (Gtech) in the 4spd was 7.6-7.7 (consistently), touring model (ie minus the heavy *** leather seats), and with a catback (-15lbs or so).

Only one way to know for sure, and that's to wait and see.