Thoughts on first test drive of an 8
11-15-2007, 12:08 PM
#26
Okay dudes...listen you can complain all you want about the AT's but for one think I do know... You can get a serious ticket for speeding so most of the time you cannot drive a MT the way you want to.
At least with the AT I have a choice of using manual mode and I have the cool shifters. I can reach in the back seat to grab my purse with a free hand or chat on a phone or give the kids a toy...get my drift...
AT's rule!! If I wanted a fast car I would have got a corvette or a viper...
At least with the AT I have a choice of using manual mode and I have the cool shifters. I can reach in the back seat to grab my purse with a free hand or chat on a phone or give the kids a toy...get my drift...
AT's rule!! If I wanted a fast car I would have got a corvette or a viper...
11-15-2007, 12:14 PM
#27
Grand Chancellor
Wha? Your butt is a rotary? 
Part of the rotary experience especially RX-cars is the joy of maximizing every rev by rowing the excellent gear shifter. Maybe someday those F1 DSG trannies will trickle down and I just may look into that option.
Part of the rotary experience especially RX-cars is the joy of maximizing every rev by rowing the excellent gear shifter. Maybe someday those F1 DSG trannies will trickle down and I just may look into that option.
11-15-2007, 02:03 PM
#28
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: Yes. I get drivers like this drifting into my lane on the highway on a daily basis. Hang up the phone, have your toll money out of your wallet before you start driving, and kids are... well they are kids and you can't do much about that. If you have to go rooting around for their toy, you should probably pull over. Being 2 minutes late because you had to pull over is better then being dead because you didn't notice the light in front of you turned red. but back to the question at hand.
The handling you get on an AT is going to be mostly the same as on an MT. If you are inexperienced at driving stick, the AT will probably be a bit quicker then you until you get used to driving an MT, at which point the MT will become quicker, and give you the ability to do more technical driving, if that's your thing.
The 8 is a drivers car. A drivers car with an AT just doesn't make sense, unless you aren't interested in the experience of driving the car.
I like the way that the 8 is sedate when at low RPMs. It makes it easier to avoid driving recklessly, but you can always down shift if you want to have some fun.
11-15-2007, 02:09 PM
#29
The MT will be weaker very at low RPMs because of the lack of a torque converter. I'm not sure what kind of converter the RX8 uses, but they will probably even out by 1500 or 2000 RPM. I doubt you'll find too many cars with 8500 or 9000 RPM redlines that are strong at low RPM's. You just have to learn to drive them higher.
NIIICE...
11-15-2007, 02:11 PM
#30
Destroying Threads
skrubol, I go at it against MT 8s on my AT all the time (we are friends, they're on the forums) the truth is u dont see a difference of more than half a car's length until u break 4th gear when the AT hits 125 and dies and the MT can go furthur
11-15-2007, 02:11 PM
#31
Okay dudes...listen you can complain all you want about the AT's but for one think I do know... You can get a serious ticket for speeding so most of the time you cannot drive a MT the way you want to.
At least with the AT I have a choice of using manual mode and I have the cool shifters. I can reach in the back seat to grab my purse with a free hand or chat on a phone or give the kids a toy...get my drift...
AT's rule!! If I wanted a fast car I would have got a corvette or a viper...
At least with the AT I have a choice of using manual mode and I have the cool shifters. I can reach in the back seat to grab my purse with a free hand or chat on a phone or give the kids a toy...get my drift...
AT's rule!! If I wanted a fast car I would have got a corvette or a viper...
You do know that there is NO law about going 20-60 as quickly as you want right....right??
Seriously...
And +1 for...two hands on the wheel and focus on what your doing...
Last edited by eviltwinkie; 11-15-2007 at 02:13 PM.
11-15-2007, 02:13 PM
#32
Good thing everyone knows not to believe your opinions...
11-15-2007, 02:14 PM
#33
Destroying Threads
what the **** from me to the person who says that the MT 8 is shittier in low rpm than AT, they are equal........with flywheel MT will be higher faster
stock v stock pretty equal until 4th gear like I said
stock v stock pretty equal until 4th gear like I said
11-15-2007, 02:15 PM
#34
Really? How much worse are the ratios if the AT can't beat the MT in the first 20-30 ft (without dropping the clutch?)
I don't think I've ever heard of a car that the AT does worse right off the line than a normally driven MT will (engage clutch around 1500 and let it drop to 1000-1200 before fully engaging.)
I don't think I've ever heard of a car that the AT does worse right off the line than a normally driven MT will (engage clutch around 1500 and let it drop to 1000-1200 before fully engaging.)
11-15-2007, 02:16 PM
#36
stock v stock...unless your a horrible driver...the MT will walk...and wave as it continues to stroll away...
11-15-2007, 02:17 PM
#37
11-15-2007, 02:47 PM
#38
Grand Chancellor
well good for you. It's never too late to repent. 
11-15-2007, 02:58 PM
#39
Destroying Threads
no, I did it because of personal reasons, I actually like my AT, but I figured modding it is going to be more than modding an MT because of the 4-5k having to upgrade the AT tranny
11-15-2007, 03:02 PM
#40
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Really? How much worse are the ratios if the AT can't beat the MT in the first 20-30 ft (without dropping the clutch?)
I don't think I've ever heard of a car that the AT does worse right off the line than a normally driven MT will (engage clutch around 1500 and let it drop to 1000-1200 before fully engaging.)
I don't think I've ever heard of a car that the AT does worse right off the line than a normally driven MT will (engage clutch around 1500 and let it drop to 1000-1200 before fully engaging.)
11-15-2007, 08:41 PM
#42
Damn you are talented!! You can drive with both hands on the wheel and drive a stick! **** I'd like to see that...you must be talented at using your feet!
:
:
11-15-2007, 10:10 PM
#43
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Despite what The Fast and the Furious would have you think, you don't have to have your hand constantly on the stick ready to shift at a moment's notice. When I'm not shifting, my right hand is on the wheel.
I also love your logic that you would have bought a corvette or viper if you wanted to go fast, because they're totally not more than double the price.
I also love your logic that you would have bought a corvette or viper if you wanted to go fast, because they're totally not more than double the price.
11-16-2007, 12:40 AM
#44
Notice...your hand is only supposed to leave to shift...its easier on the M3 (Or any AT) w/ paddle shifters as your hand never has to leave the wheel...
I dont think I'm talented at all....
Last edited by eviltwinkie; 11-16-2007 at 12:45 AM. Reason: Added AT info
11-16-2007, 05:52 AM
#46
FYI I ordered my car with the MS kit so needless to say I paid hhhmmm maybe 60,000 or so with all the extras I added so YES I could have gotten a corvette if that is what I wanted. (price wasn't an isssue...I got what I wanted!!)Maybe the viper is a little too far to reach right now.
Husband being a lawyer...hummm not that far!!! Me having my own business...hummm....ENough said.
Husband being a lawyer...hummm not that far!!! Me having my own business...hummm....ENough said.
Despite what The Fast and the Furious would have you think, you don't have to have your hand constantly on the stick ready to shift at a moment's notice. When I'm not shifting, my right hand is on the wheel.
I also love your logic that you would have bought a corvette or viper if you wanted to go fast, because they're totally not more than double the price.
I also love your logic that you would have bought a corvette or viper if you wanted to go fast, because they're totally not more than double the price.
Last edited by Leesha; 11-16-2007 at 05:57 AM.
11-16-2007, 06:29 AM
#47
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There's no comparison in my mind between the experience of driving MT vs AT. It feels like you are driving an exotic car... I love feeling the burst of power downshifting and taking off...
11-16-2007, 06:53 AM
#48
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if you paid 60,000 for a 2007 rx8 with every mazdaspeed option possible I would still call you a complete dumbass. enough said. the manual is faster i raced an auto the other day both stock and spanked him. I'm not that great of a driver either.
11-16-2007, 09:12 AM
#49
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My point is that torque converters give some mechanical advantage at low RPM's whereas clutches just burn off the RPM difference as heat and transfer only torque. Like I said, many cars AT's are quicker off the line if the clutch isn't dropped. Something with a power or gear ratio difference could quickly make this up though. What's the stall speed of the torque converter on the 8? Too low I'm guessing.
I can't say I agree with Taj's assertment that the MT won't pull away until 4th gear. I was thinking it should be more like 4k in first gear. I guess even that was too generous to the AT.
I can't say I agree with Taj's assertment that the MT won't pull away until 4th gear. I was thinking it should be more like 4k in first gear. I guess even that was too generous to the AT.
11-16-2007, 09:34 AM
#50
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FYI I ordered my car with the MS kit so needless to say I paid hhhmmm maybe 60,000 or so with all the extras I added so YES I could have gotten a corvette if that is what I wanted. (price wasn't an isssue...I got what I wanted!!)Maybe the viper is a little too far to reach right now.
Husband being a lawyer...hummm not that far!!! Me having my own business...hummm....ENough said.
Husband being a lawyer...hummm not that far!!! Me having my own business...hummm....ENough said.