RX8 was my first stick shift car, but I learned on random cars at the dealership I work for.

 

I see lots of people who keep asking this question every week.

The tricky thing for me was reverse gear. Sometimes it would not actually be in reverse gear even though the shift **** was positionally correct. So by applying throttle I would hear a grinding noise. These days, when I shift to reverse, I already know by how the shifter feels whether or not I've successfully engaged reverse. If not I'll just re-attempt until the shifter feels right before applying throttle.

The thing is some people are too impatient at a stoplight. If I have to clutch, shift, clutch out, and throttle the car behind me who has never seen or touched a manual transmision before will honk because she thinks I don't now it's a green light. Just a split second too long and she will honk.

Also, due to the low height and hence poor visibility, there's lots of problems when coming out of a parking lot. There are SUV and all sorts of trash lining the streets at the parking meters. When I'm pulling out of a parking lot I can't see if there's any cars coming--rx8 is too short. All I can see is a parked SUV on the left and another parked SUV on the right. Meanwhile the car behind me is some trash truck 10 feet high visibility and assumes that I can see everything that she can. And then she starts honking while I'm doing the clutch dance rolling out a bit at a time. It's so risky when you're new because you can't afford stalling or you're dead if a car comes out of nowhere. Meanwhile she's honking behind you because she's so damn ignorant and upset that you won't just flip a coin with your life.

With the AT there's just brake and gas to worry about. The reaction chain is much slower in those hairy moments with MT due to so many things going on at once. Plus she's honking at you and she's fat and ugly. And ignorant.

 

I thought I was the only one with the reverse gear issue. Did it twice on me, from that point on I just put more force in when I shift to reverse

 

Nope, I promise you're not the only one with the reverse issue, mine did it to me again this morning. It doesn't really **** me off, but it does at the same time, if that makes any sense.

And yes, the 8 is extremely easy to drive as an MT, especially after you've had a few days with it.

I had driven several large trucks as sticks, but never owned one up until now because I never really had the chance to I guess. I had a protege5 before this, but it was slapstick, and the only reason I bought it that way was because it was an 03, I purchased it in 03, and I paid 10k for it outright with 9k miles on it, just couldn't pass that deal up.

Funny story though, I trade in my protege on a Tues. night. That Wednesday morning I wake up, and there's snow all over the place (odd for my part of TN).
Start to head to work (5 blocks down), and slip a little here and there, but no worries, not my first RWD vehicle. As I'm gliding in to grab a parking spot, letting it idle at about 3MPH, (and I don't really know which one caused this), I either let out on the clutch a little too fast, or the car just broke loose from me, and I slid at 3MPH into another car. $2200 worth of damage later, I've got a Veilside bumper, so I guess it all worked out. Guess my point to the story is, it is easy to drive, but it's only semi-forgiving on ice/snow without snow tires (I live in TN, buying snow tires for the one snow every 10 years in our area just wouldn't make sense!).

 

Try practicing on some smaller car first.

 

The 8 is my first manual, easy to drive and the low torque rating makes you pay attention to throttle inputs/applications. IMO. Doesn't hurt that gearbox is precise and accurate.

 

Just test drive one. Not like theres any obligation to buy

 

my 8 was my first manual tranny too, much easier than my cousins 99corolla, just dont be to heavy on the throttle specially in the rain

 

Thanks for the imput guys. It seems as if the 8 might be just as bad as my Z or worse in the snow. I'm thinking about a 03 Evo VIII as well since it has AWD so that I could use it as a winter car.

 

I taught my friend to drive stick in my "8"..

Mastered it in 2 days..

Day 3: Out on the roads.. and now I let her borrow it w/ zero worries!

Though it is simple to learn in the "8".. It really depends on how quickly the person gets it..

 

and how good the teacher =p

but yes, if u need daily car, wrx or evo, enjoy.

 

no.

/thread