Hello all!
I accidently ended up on this site and I must say it is great! I've been surfing this site for a while now & thought I'd properly introduce myself.

My name is Richard (32 YRS YOUNG) from New Zealand...Currently. I was originally produced in S. Korea & used to live in CA, USA 1991 to 2001. (So please excuse my English) I'm down here in New Zealand to help out our family business. (If anyone is curious, I will get to that later).

Anyways, during my stay in USA for my education(Professional Photography), I've had a fair number of cars. My first car was Mazda MX-6 (1993-1996). Then I'd moved onto BMW 328i (1996-1999). Then for my final car, I've chosen Lexus GS400. Once I moved to New Zealand, the first car I had was Lexus IS300 (2001-2002), and currently I am driving Lexus LX470. I just couldn't really love the car that I was driving although all of the cars were great.

My wife is very unhappy with me for my bad habbit of swapping car too often. I totally feel her pain. I too feel this is financially unhealthy. When I got my LX470 last year, I promised her that I wouldn't change car for at least next three years...Oh boy I am in trouble now.

About a month ago, I stopped by a booksotre and accidently noticed a NEW RX-8 featured as a car magazine cover...which brought back my memory back in the States. RX-7 was my dream car always. No matter what car I was driving...every time a RX-7 passed by my sight, my heart start to run. There were only one reason why I could never get RX-7; it was two seater. It just didn't work out for us. I used to think "Gosh, if I was a single man..." Anyhow, I immediately grabbed the magazine and started to read it...and holy moly...it's PROPER FOUR SEATER CAR!!! My heart was racing and mouth dried out. I thought...now that is it. I need to get this car.

When I explained to her what'd happened at bookstore, she was not happy to say the least. She was asking what happen to the promise that I made...I couldn't provide any answer to her. I was at her mercy. All I could tell her was...we can sell LX470 and buy RX-8...and we will have extra money on our bank account.

To make the long story short, she finally agree to switch the car...under one condition...and this is not a pretty one. She will agree to buy it only if it is AT instead MT. It is my dream car and not hers and she is not willing to drive manual car daily for this. I had to agree. (The good thing is that AT here in NZ has all the same options and specs as MT except the HP issues. It even comes with 18" wheels.)

I sincerely believe that this relationship will go long way...nothing like my previous 5 cars in my life. I have concerns and worries with RX-8 as well but I think it will be fine after all. I've never felt so attached like this...to the car that I didn't even own. (Major) Plus, with cyber friends & supporters like all of you, I really feel I belong to very special group of community. From the car to its royal followers...it is just so special unlike anything. Thanks all of you for keeping up such great site. Hopefully you guys will help me from getting back to my bad habbit.

Okay, now that I've introduced myself a bit, I would like to ask a few questions. Since I've driven GS400 (300HP), I really don't have high expectation on RX-8's HP...that is not the reason why I want it. But nonetheless, I've seen may posts that says "MANUAL OR BUST", "AUTOMATIC IS NO GOOD" sort of thing. Is automatic RX-8 so bad?

My next question is regarding engine oil. It seems that we need to check oil level perhaps on every other refueling. If you notice it is low, what do you do? Do you always have to carry a bottle of emergency refueling engine oil on your trunk for this purpose?
You can't expect that the gas station will carry the exact engine oil you need. Is that mean you must carry your choice of engine oil with you at all time?

My last question is regarding general tech term. What is the best way to properly understand TORQUE RATING? I know that more HP is better. But what does TORQUE NUMBER really represent? I have no understanding of it and it bothers me.

Thanks all and hope to talk to you often.:p

 

First a suggestion, then an answer to one of your questions: If you've formed such an attachment to a car you don't even own, is there any chance on trading the wife for a manual version? Sorry, obvious question that someone had to ask.

About the oil: I've got 1500 miles on my car and the oil is about 20% down from the high to the low marker on the dipstick. Not worth topping off yet. So it seems to me that at 3000 miles I'll put in a quart or a half quart. I'm only checking about every two weeks right now, no big deal.

Good luck on your life changes; where in Cali did you live? I'm near San Diego, grew up in sunnyvale (SF area), went to school at Berkeley.

 

1. Is the Automatic bad? It depends on how you look at it. In terms of performance, yes, it is very bad. Also, the RX-8 is a sports car. In my view, sports cars should only be bought/driven in a manual. (or maybe now with a high tech quick shifting automatic, yet I would still prefer the manual.) With the RX-8 manual is more "important" than almost any other car, due to an actual increase in Horsepower from auto to manual. So my final answer would be: I don't think you should buy the car in an auto. From the sound of it you want manual, your wife does not. I just think it is an "injustice" to buy a car like this in an auto, especially if you, yourself, prefer a manual.

2. If you check it regularly, I don't believe you would have to carry any oil in your car. WHy? Because of the fact that you check it regularly, (assuming you top it off when you see it is not at the "full" line) the oil will never drop so far as to damage the engine, under normal conditions. If you were to check it often, every other fuel fill up, you could wait until you get home to top the oil off. (THe only exception would be if you are on an extremely long trip or if there is something wrong with you car and it is buring oil very quickly).

3. I think torque can be thought of most generally as the power a car has off the line, the more torque, the more power off the line "from a dead stop".


I hope this helps.

Vince

 

First let me say welcome to the forum and don't worry your English is excellent. Probably better than mine.


If you are unsure about how much of a difference there is between the Automatic and the Manual I would say wait and test drive the two. You can read as much as you want, but you have to experience the two transmissions and get your own point of view. For most people the manual is the only way to go and the only thing that belongs in a true sports car, but if you find the automatic suitable to your need then don't worry about what people on the forum think about the automatic.


As others have said before, the oil isn't much of an issue. The new engine consumes comparatively little oil. Only on a long trip would you NEED to keep extra oil in you car, but it is always a good idea to keep a little with you even if it is unlikely you'll need it.


The torque issue is to complicated for me to explain, but one of our other forum members does a good job here(thanks Buger).

 

Hi Hoorruu,

Welcome to the forum! Another decent link that tries to explain a little bit about hp/torque is below:

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.p...5980#post85980

Rotaries are known for their smooth high revving characteristics.
One of the reasons why the automatic is not a choice for some members is that the auto transmission takes a couple thousand rpms off the top end of the engine. Another reason is that the wheel torque of the auto is much less because of the gearing ratios. The auto only has 4 gears so they are spread out a bit more and do not multiply the engine torque as much.

There are many reasons to buy a car however and the straight line performance is but one factor. If the other aspects of the car are what make it attractive to you, don't let anybody discourage you simply because it's an automatic.

Brian

 

I 100% disagree w/ the previous gentelmen. Once upon a time, it was thought that you could not have a Porsche in automatic. After the advent of the Tiptronic, with shifting from the steering whell in our 993, it has changed. Even the top of the line Turbo 996 has incredible numbers driven correctly by top drivers who get numbers close to the 6 speed. Lining in a metropolitan area where traffic congestions are a daily occurence, I opted for the automatic on the 8. I will be honest and state that I only test drove one at the dealer. My actual one is set to get here soon. I was impressed, and confident that I would not have a problem w/ it. Like the 993, it has steering wheel shifting or/and stick shifting. To some "true" sportcar fanatics they will have nothing but the manual, yet remember, Porsche followed the shifting from formula 1 racing to shift from the steering wheel *****. The shifting curve or power might not be in the same level, but If you test drive it, and find it satisfactory, by all means purchase it. In the USA, AT are more accepted. I have lived in other parts of the world where the standard for all cars is the manual. I would not be stuck on I-95 traffic daily like that. I hope you buy, and enjoy your car. best wishes from the US. good day!

 

I however AGREE w/ Burger. (it is the notes from the gentelmen who posted before him) Best wishes. enjoy.

 

Buger, SORRY... late night for me. my apology for the erroneous spelling.

 

Thanks so much for your warm welcome & answer to my questions. I used to live in Pasadena & Irvine, CA...beautiful places! I really miss being in the States.

Here in Auckland, New Zealand, it rains so much...and the air is wet & humid. From sunny CA to NZ was very big change for me. But it is nonetheless very attractive place on the other hand.

My Velocity Red RX-8 AT will arrive here on October. It will come with 18" wheel, Red/Black Interior, START BUTTON (YEAH!), & all the usual stuffs such as body kit. I will post the picture once I got my new car.

Thanks all and drive safe!:D