I also had to make a decision if I wanted to buy an auto or stick because the Rx-8 was gonna be my first manual vehicle. And I'm glad that I decided to go with the stick, it just took me about 2 days to learn w/out burning out everytime at a stop light and burning my clutch on hills. Stick shift is fun to drive once you get a hang of it, it's just a bitch though in traffic espically traffic up hills. Oh yea at the dealership I test drove the automatic, so if you like the vehicle just have someone with you that knows how to drive stick so they can drive it back with you and teach you that same day, thats what i did.

 

Stick or AT is your choice but AT is cheaper. I live in the DC area and I really miss having a sunroof. Because I never use the one on my other car I thought I wouldn't need one on this car. However, this engine produces a large amount of HEAT. It's no problem with the AC on but on those days that are marginal sometimes just opening the windows causes more problems than it solves (noise, buffeting, circulation, etc).

 

wait ATs dont come with sunroofs? Thats kinda odd, is there any funtional reason why not?


Thanks for everyone's advice, and sorry about stirring a little fight, hey I am not asking a bunch of car enthusiasts about dating advice or the meaning of life, or anything, otherwise I wouldnt ask you that type of stuff but you know the car and a lot more about me and your advice is valued as informed opinions.

Now come to think of it, maybe this would be a good place to ask advice on women after all both cars and women are high maitenance, need a lot of care and attention, cost a lot to drive around town, depreciate over time, can be traded in but likely at a premium, and will likely end up killing you in the end.

 

Who said ATs don't come with sunroofs? I'm saying whether you get an MT or AT, get a sunroof.

 

you do get the attention from the ladies though with the Rx-8. I didn't believe all the hype, but for the first month that I have had this car there have been a total of 3 beautiful ladies that have come up to me in a parking lot and told me I had a nice car and asked a bunch of questions about our cars.

 

Manual.

 

As Zoom mentioned, if you are leaning towards AT then get the 2006 6spd AT. It has more power than the current transmission and for some weird reason the AT is cheaper than the MT so it may be that way for 06. I also believe that the current AT's have paddle shifters so you may be able to count that in for the 06 so you can open her up if you ever decide to. With all that said, MT would be the way I go since it is a weekend commuter and I would want to have fun and enjoy my drive.

 

Damn I saw another one today.....its a sign from God...or maybe somewhere in Japan.

I thought of a plate RXCELR8. What'd ya think?

 

my at sure as hell has a sunroof. You just need to get the GT package.