I searched several times but couldn't find an answer to this (or it's there but buried in the tons of posts that popped up), so hopefully someone can shed a little light.

I'm not sure why I didn't notice sooner, probably because I'm always sitting in the car with the windows up....but I detect a difference in the way the car sounds when in neutral and the clutch pedal up or down. By that I mean I shift into neutral and when I have the clutch pedal pressed down, everything's quiet except for the familiar "whirrr" sound of the engine. But when I let the clutch petal back up a distinct and constant rattle or grinding sound(?) presents itself. It's not overly loud and can only be heard when you have the windows down or if you're standing beside the car.

I suspect that it's something with the transmission but my other than the noise my 8 runs just fine. Perhaps this is something that all 8's do? Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

perfectly normal! All Rx-8's do it.

 

Normal. No big deal.

 

it's just the throw out bearing noise when the clutch pedal is not pressed.
It's normal. Don't worry about it.

 

I usually have a certain light in town I sit at for about a minute, as it's timed. But there are buildings on both sides of my car, so I'll have the windows down, and just push clutch in, listen to the noise, depress clutch, listen, push, listen. It's just goofy sounding to me :P

 

Cool, as long as it's a normal thing. Thanks

 

Yes, This noise has been noted by countless others. It is described as gear rollover. Sounds like hell but apparently normal. I changed to Amsoil synth, no worries.

 

This bugged me for a long time until I realized it's normal like everyone is saying and then I let it go. It's the most noticeable when I pull up next to a drive through or a wall and the noise becomes much more prominent.

 

i have the same thing, it kinda got annoying but got used to it

 

Once you realize that pretty much all the noise you hear from the car under 10mph is the tranny and not the engine you know that it's pretty damn normal

 

Well that is good to read about, I was about to call the dealer and ask if a bearing in the clutch was going out.

 

What he said

 

I wondered this to, but glad to hear it's normal. Got me kinda worried also.

 

Good to know. Mine does the same thing and i thought it was a bearing or something.