Hey guys, after looking at the 350z, R32 and the Rx-8 I am think I am going to be going with the Rx-8. This will be the first car I will get ( I get permit in Feb) and I am hoping it will last for a while. The mods I will be doing are new intake, headers, exhuast, and maybe a turbo. Oh, I will be adding a full polk momo sound system with an Eclipse headunit in down the road, along with upgrading the already awesome handling on it. The main reason why I have posted this thread is about shifting. I have watched movies of people racing with a cam on their feet so I can get a "feel" of what it would be like.

From my understanding this is how you shift:

..Already going

Press Clutch, hold down
Shift into gear
Release Clutch and press gas

now I konw there is more stuff than that, like the speed at which you would release the clutch. Can you guys give me all the info and advice there is about shifting, I know I am making a big deal about this But I just want to know the all the technique to it

Thanks for the info

-Will

 

it is basically like that. but RX8s have tricky clutches. for example, when my friend drove my rx8, he stolled it 3 times in a time period of 25 minutes. he has been driven manual for like 3 years now. but la, he still stolled my car. for 8s, you can't just go like release cluth and complete release the cluth. you do it slowly. if you release it so fast, the car will bounce.

 

wait, you don't know how to shift a manual transmission yet????

 

an honest advice: how about learn how to DRIVE the car before you start throwing mod money into the car

 

he'll be doin' this a lot i guess... lol

 

Better save some of that mod money for a replacement tranny and clutch.

 

It's not that hard. The clutch and shifter are more direct than, say, a VW or BMW. In the grand scheme of clutches, it's quite easy. Not, perhaps, the best car to learn manual transmission on, however.

 

ditto

 

yeah, uh I am going to be taught how to drive a manual by my brother, and those upgrades are for later on, thanks for the info guys



-Will

 

guys, at least hes gettin the manual not the auto! good luck with it man, imo i wouldnt get a header or an intake if i was gettin a turbo anytime soon after that. they get replaced when u get the turbo. glad ur not learnin how to drive on the 8, like they previously said, they are kinda tricky. just be careful with the oil level, no cold engine shut offs, etc etc and ull be fine. best of luck bro!
________
Penny Stocks To Watch

 

I hope your going to practice on someone else's car and not the 8. Just take your time and keep practicing until you feel comfortable with it.

 

Hey Will, yeah, your basic steps are correct, but I think we're gonna have to rely on your brother from here. The dreaded start from dead stop with a rotary requires a tad more throttle / revs than your typical piston engine. Other than that, one car's about the same as another. I learned on a 69 VW beetle in the snow. It drives like a kiddie car, but still, I had a hard time getting that start from dead stop figured out.

I'm assuming you have access to major sums of money, or, you have major ambitions with no idea how to get from here to there moneywise. In either case, I'm not gonna hold that against you. hehe

 

Wow, you're just getting your permit and now going for an RX-8? Congrats, make sure you thank whoever pays for the car. I do all the time. And make sure you get a feel for the car before you start modifying everything.

 

^^ ditto

 

BlueEyes will set him straight.

 

not to take this trhead OT or anything, but i'm teaching a friend of mine how to drive MT on my 8 (the only MT car i have), and i was getting a little bit worried about getting the engine flooded during that 1st gear initiation. is that anything that i should worry about in my 8?

 

Thanks for the info guys, yeah I am 87.23% sure that the Rx-8 will be my first car . I am also going to be tinting the windows soon after I get it, what is the legal % on all windows?

-Will

ps. I am in SoCal

 

here in cali, the legal tint on the rear windows.....there is no limit, go as dark as you'd like (mine is limo tint on the back 3 windows). on the driver front, and passenger front, you're only allowed like 75% tint (very light) or lighter. but if you want to risk getting a fix-it ticket like me , you can go for dark (one step below limo) or limo tint as well

also, if you get the tint strip along the top of the front windshield, it's a nice help during sunset/sunrise. you don't have the sun blaring directly at you through the top portion of the window

 

Thanks for that info, I would probly go 70% on the sides and front, and limo on the back 3
Also, at Crutchfield, a 2005 Rx-8 used as the car to filter the components that can fit, says that there is no headunit that will fit the car. Why is that?

-Will

 

The head unit is a major portion of the center dash. No one makes a replacement kit, so you'll just have to get it done custom. Check the audio subforum, I know some people have fitted aftermarket head units.

 

I've taught my girlfriend to drive stick with my 8, and another member of our local RX-8 club had never driven stick before getting this car. They're doing more than fine now. Ignore the people who can't accept that it's possible to do such a thing...

And if you dig through the Multimedia gallery, you'll see quite a few vids. Many of those are taken from inside the car, and occasionally you can see the person shifting. Other than that, you're just gonna have to find the best method for yourself. But, as others have said, it CAN be a bit tricky at first. Just keep the RPM's at a reasonable level (3500-4000 or higher, as needed) to keep from lugging the engine.

If you do get the car, then congratulations!

 

meh, learning how to drive stick is not as tricky as people here may have you believe. all it will take is some practice and a lot of patience. and dont forget to laugh ... there is nothing funnier than lurching the car across a vacant parking lot ... well mebbe the accidental burnout is funnier, but theyre pretty close!

word of advice: have a lot of space (empty parking lot) with few obstacles. this will allow you to focus on what your feet are doing vs not hitting objects!!

good luck!

 

Was talking to a friend and he said that he was driving with his friend, and his friend kept stalling his car while shifting. Why would you stall while shifting? Shifting at too low of an rpm? Another ? do you gas it while you are slowly letting go of the clutch, or once it is full released?

Thanks

-Will

 

http://www.standardshift.com/

 

If you really want to learn its not hard at all. It also helps to have a good teacher. I learned to drive stick in my RX-8 also. Nothing to really worry about in terms of flooding or anything. I stalled a few times and i never had any problem.