Rich Rx-8

How much quicker does the M/T shift than the A/T sport shift???

OfficerFarva

Well, I guess theres alotta variables in that too. How good a driver is the hypothetical driver in this situation? And 2, w/ a diff clutch and short shifter, or even just the Richard Paul short shifter, the gap widens even more. The only really efficient auto trannies I know of are in exotics, like the Mercedes Mclaren, which claims effiency of about 97 or 98 %, where most autos hang around low 90's or so. Also, u know the other exotics w/ paddle shifters like Ferrari F1 style, or Lambos or what have you. Even the BMW M3 smg stuff sucked when it first came out, which is lame when it's in a car of that caliber.

Skythe

ET .38458 sec

That's a conservative estimate. I used my butt cheeks as a control in my experiment when I came to that approximate conclusion.

teen_living_a_dream

It won't matter if autos are a little slower than manuals. There is a very small difference starting at a light when the speed limit is 45. I won't go faster since there are many cops in my area which isn't that bad since they don't care if you race at a light as long as you don't go over 50 mph. Heck, they enjoy the show. There are only 2 other rx8 in my area out of thousands who live here. Both are '04s - one yellow, the other titanium - which are driven by teenagers. One is manual, but I raced one in my MX-6 LS and owned him since he couldn't shift. That was the one time I went over the speed limit and I got to 90 (it was a straight road with no places for people to turn itno the street in front of us). The other is auto and since it is a 4 speed and I guess 4 port, right?

Skythe

You wont go faster than the posted limit? Where's that damn flag....hold on...


But like that other guy was sayin...you seem to be a bit disillusioned, or perhaps a little too well balanced of an individual. You're going to be in a extermely well handling sports car and you are going to will yourself to not push the envelope even a little? Save yourself the future aggrevation and get the manual now. With time feelings change, even if you don't speed on the street...you got things like autocross, High_performance_driving_events....all of these will be less enjoyable with a car that 's an auto.

My reasoning is that whenever you can, give yourself the choice of making chioces. Have the choice drive slower, not just be slower. You might not want to mod now, but things change, and the last thing that you will want is to have at AT holdin you back, and besides, shifting is oh so theraputic.

teen_living_a_dream

Like I said before there are cops everywhere. It is because the police station is on the road. Would you go 80 next to a police station? And, like I said earlier, I'd rather get a manual than auto but my parents will pay 10,000 for an auto. Its not worth it. Besides, I don't have the money for the whole car price, money for college, and the money I lose from girlfriend (well thats a bad way of wording it, its not really a "loss"). If my parents could drive manual, Id get that and the Mazdaspeed Flywheel which is what I first planned on.

therm8

Get the auto if you like it. Just don't expect it to be as fast as the manual. If you expect the performance you will get, you won't be disappointed in the car. It's still a great car on a mountain run. NA Miatas are slow, but you don't hear people bitching about that. Drive it under the appropriate conditions, and the car's a blast. The new 6spd auto will likely be a significant improvement, performance wise, over the 4spd. But it's still not gonna break under 7secs 0-60 because you can't launch it. Get it for what it is, and you'll like it well enough (and be sure to drive to the mountains/canyons every now and then).

QBallz

This thread is HILARIOUS.

R888

The auto is faster than the manual........




















WITH TURBO! <-------------------yes I promise!

staticlag

How about I actually answer the question:

Yes there is a way to modify the shift limit,....

But, the torque converter will explode and you will die. Look up how a auto transmission actually works and you will see why the limit can't be set that high and why the system will loose efficieny.

Skythe

I don't think he wants to do that. I think he'd rather spout theories based on things that he's read and heard.

yiksing

teen_living_a_dream = highly flammable

1. Go learn the difference between a manual, sequential manual, semi-auto and auto transmission is.

2. Go find out what racing cars have for a transmission

3. Go find out the difference between a pre-06 auto RX-8 and a post-06 auto RX-8

4. Don't argue with anyone about auto being better than manual in terms of performance.

Skythe

well said, mate

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

What a shame they cant tap into those last 1500 rpm - that would make the auto with paddle shift a great car - maybe even more fun than the manual .
now shoot me

yiksing

Which version of the 8 are you referring to?

therm8

You could, if you had a custom torque converter built. The problem is that torque converters work much like turbines/pumps in that they have efficiency ranges. It is dificult to find a turbo that's usable over the range of 9000 rpm, it is the same for a torque converter. One that could run to 9k wouldn't be very efficient down low (more slipping). And low efficiency would mean less power/torque getting to the wheels down low, and that's the last thing an auto rotary needs. Really it's just a matter of demand. There aren't many cars running around above 7500rpm, much less automatic ones.

Personally I'd rather have the lower rpm with the same peak power that the higher rpm car has. But that's dreamin'.

fizzer

Now thats a great reason to get the automatic. Just don't expect to pull up at a light next to a manual and win. Give a friendly rotary wave (we all do that right?) and let it be.

Also, do not overestimate the difficulty of shifting a manual faster than an automatic. You don't have to be a racecar driver (and there are some of those on this forum) to shift fast. Its really easy to shift as fast as possible with some solid manual driving experience. The difference between me and someone with 20 years of racing experience isn't how fast they shift, but that they might miss 1 shift in 10 thousand, and i might miss 1 in 100.

Rich Rx-8

Yeah the whole high RPM thing is WAY overrated. Whats the big deal if you get **** power in the high RPM's. Nothing great about it besides sound. The power seems to level off at like 5.5k rpm's then it seems to Slow up for a sec at like 6k RPM's then again slows up at like 7.5k-8k RPM's.

cleoent

peak hp of the 6spd is at 8500 rpms mate.

fizzer

The smooth ramp up in power can be misleading. Try this, hold it steady at 8k RPM in first or second gear and then floor the throttle. It will toss your head right back into the seat.

Renesis_8

Just enjoy your car, auto or manual, if you are going to settle with the auto its still an RX-8, there is a reason why the autos dont go up to 9krpm, and if you do attempt to get the last 1.5k rpm, share with us here.



With or without your legs...
________
AlisAxx cam

Rich Rx-8

I still think the power is maxed at like 6K, after that it's all the same, even at 8K rpms. No big suprise in the higher RPM's, just sound really.

yiksing

Fact: Engine makes more horsepower by pumping more air through the means of either force induction or higher rpm. You simply can't deny this fact.

Easy_E1

iTrader: (2)

therm8

I think he's refering to all the stock 6port 180ish hp dynos that fall flat on their face in the upper rpms. While this is due to the mediocre stock tune, it is true regardless. A decent tune usually cures this, using something like the interceptor, though it is kind of ridiculous that you must spend that much money to get proper performance.