I manage a car dealership and I bought a Winning Blue '04 with AT at the auction today. I drove it this morning for a bit and I'll tell you that thing was a turd.

No offense to the owners of AT's here, but damn you are missing out.

The car must have been driven EXTREMELY rough and over bad surfaces because it rattled and squeaked like crazy. The car has 51k on the odo and it feels like it has about 80k.

I also noticed several campaign stickers on the driver's door jamb toward the front of the opening. I'm guessing this one has had the engine recall done.

I couldn't imagine driving this car unless I had to. I love my GT 6spd. I love it now more than ever after driving this thing today.

 

It really is completely moronic of Mazda to underpower the ATs. There's no reason for people to miss out on the fun by giving them a paltry 197/212 hp.

 

So, you bought a car at an auction, it rattled and squeaked like crazy, it had a bunch of recall and service campaign stickers on it and ... you blame it all on being an AT?

 

yeah... might wanna read around a bit... mazda didnt just decide to give it less power just cause they felt like being evil (well, I guess they could have). But there are explanations out there. I'll even give you a hint: look at the redlines

 

To be perfectly honest, I thought they were just being evil

 

+1

 

Maybe they just really don't like the idea of an AT sports car so they gave people much incentive to buy a manual?

 

I just bought an 05 6spd, and we test drove the ATs. My GF and I both felt like the AT took away all the fun of driving the car.

 

come on guys the AT isn't that bad, i drove one and i mean yeah for those of us who are used to driving the 6spd it might feel slower and less responsive, but compared to other cars it still handles amazing and it looks sharp, just wish mazda could have given you AT drives a little more power..

 

Welcome to the club

 

So!
What kind of dealership do you work at? Hundai, Dawooooo

My point? Just about every other car brand(Manuf) has a vehicle model thats quicker or faster than even the MT 8.

This AT bashing is getting really old....

btw: My bike runs 10's & have owned 3 Z's(Service advisior @ a Nissan dealership)

 

uh,

you bought a turd, you tard..

duh.. you have harshed yourself out..

good luck..

btw,, did i say duh??

beers

 

I have a "winning blue" 03 model 4AT. Drives exceptionally well. Great in traffic, fun on the twisty bits & plenty of power for me as a "daily driver". Feels tight as a new car with just 47km on the clock

If ever I feel the power is lacking from its 13B-MSP engine, I can release the frustration by jumping into the 20B-REW powered Cosmo. Try 300kw / 500nm of grunt preventing you from relieving yourself...........

Not that I am trying to prevent you from "missing out" on anything......

REgards

 

I'm guessing the blame is covered in general under the "turd" part of the description and the carrying on about rattles is subsequent to the car being abused.

That is, they're independent comments.

 

swoope you crack me up

 

What does that have to do with anything? Are your other car choices supposed to discount the fact that you made a terrible one by buying the AT?

 

good job

 

WTF is your problem? A lot goes into the decision of buying a car... one of those things is finances. A lot of us aren't in ATs because that was our first choice... it's because we got deals we couldn't really refuse. I got an 06 AT with 1k (1000) miles on it for a little under 18k. I now have a warrantied car that will get me through college, and I didn't break the bank. It's still fun as hell. I'm short 20 hp and 1.5k RPMs... but it's still about 50 times better and more dependable than whatever else I could have gotten for the price. Would I rather have a 6 speed? Sure. But that just wasn't a possibility. I would hardly call my purchase a horrible one though.

 

What do you want for it? Its still a Rx-8 even though it has a AT. Does it have leather seats?

 

Not at all. I'am just pointing out there are alot more faster vehicles out there than the MT8. If speed/power was a factor, I just would've got another Z(cheaper by the way).

I did testdrive my AT8 before the purchased it so I know I made my right choice!

 

I didn't blame anything on the AT. This car was obviously abused. So far I have replaced the rotors and pads, 4 tires, and now the check engine light is on. It comes on anytime you drive the car hard. I wish I could have taken it back to the auction, but once you buy the car it's yours. Too bad you can't drive them first.

 

I never bashed the damned AT. I just said that you are really missing out.

I own a 6spd GT.
This car.
'04 6spd
Full Authentic Auto Exe
Mint Blue C/F Wing
Tein
K&N Gen 2
R-Magic Eyelines
Borla
19" DPK's/18" Work Emotion CR Kai's
BFG KDW's/ Falken FK415's

 

Great...My dad drove a jeep and worked in a factory.

 

General Sales Manager of a GM Dealership. If you've had 3 Z's already then you must not be a very smart consumer.

 

I'm doubting that the AT's are really all THAT bad to drive, but I've gotta admit that 1/2 the reason the 8 is so fun is because you HAVE to zing it way up the tach to get much joy from the engine...something that's a little hard to do in an auto.

that teamed with the fact that it's low TQ down low...mostly where an AT resides...wouldn't make it all that responsive or fun IMO.

oh yea...and 9K. Your missing the last (and more entertaining) 2K of the powerband!

but hey...and 8's an 8. I wouldn't hate the rotary for what it is