Does your stick shift seem to float independently (like it doesn't bounce up and down with the rest of the interior) from the rest of the cockpit when you go over bumps?

Kinda of hard to explain. When you go over bumps, does the stick shift seem to be more connected to the drivetrain, like it doesn't bounce up and down while the seats and the rest of the interior are going up and down?

Also does your stickshift vibrate a little bit, even in neutral when the car is idling?
Also vibrate a bit if it is in gear?


I just picked up an RX8 6-speed and just want to make sure this stuff is normal.

 

Hi Machan:

Totally normal.

The stickshift goes straight into the top of the transmission. The engine/transmission/drivetrain are mounted to the car independently of the body (or else the car would vibrate like hell) and move with the wheels - as the rear suspension flexes, it pushes the tranny around a bit.

Because the shifter sticks straight down in to the tranny and the tranny and engine are one solid unit, any engine vibration will be seen in the stick.

If you're used to driving autos (which the shifter is essentially a cable-operated remote control to the transmission), or front drive manuals (in which again, the shifters are either operated by cables or rods across a distance to the transmission), this is a new phenomenon to you.

Common in rear drive manuals where the transmission is right under the shifter.

 

Thanks Stew.

Our other cars with manual transmissions are BMW 3 series. They must use cables or something because I've never noticed it in them before.

 

Yes, it is pretty cool.

I find it funny that BMW has the slogan "Ultimate Driving Machine" when cars like the RX-8 are so much more better to drive.

In my opinion RX-8 >> E46 M3 which is probably the best sporty car that BMW makes. Although I've never driven an M5 or Z8. I test drove the M3 before settling in on the RX-8. Oh, and the RX-8 was half of the price of the M3.

 

That "two RX-8s for the price of one M3" killed the M3 for me too.

My business partner has an M3 convertible and we constantly trade cars. Both our cars are leased through the business and he wants to trade permanently. Nope! It's tempting though ... but I love my -8 and love the fact that it's not a godawfully expensive cars. Our deal is we pay for our cars pre-tax out of our pay, but run the leases through the business. I don't want to spend that much on that car ... I love the RX-8's incredible "bang for the buck" factor.

One of my buddies has a 2001 M5 ... now that's a machine! But so different from the -8 ... like comparing a fighter jet to a stealth bomber. But I do love the M5 ... that's my ultimate dream car. Trouble is I can afford one, but I just have trouble justifying the spend on it when so much go is available for so little dough.

 

A guy I know has an M coupe and an M5. He drove the M5 to a meet a few weeks ago in the freezing cold and the joke was this guy must be a baller because he uses an M5 as his winter beater car.

 

Someday ... someday ...