Well in case you haven't seen my previous thread about my problem with the shift lever here it is:
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/help-rx-8-wont-shift-into-1st-6th-gear-220534/


Well looks like the Tranny went out on me, completely obliterated all gears except 1st and 4th and leaving a terrible noise.
I limped the car to the garage and told me the shift lever blew as well. That's good to know lol
time for the s2000 transmission! :D

to be honest I think it was on its last leg for a long long time, good thing it happened to me when I was near the garage.

1100$ for the s2000 tranny seems pretty good to me so that's why I'm going to get it.
Also I'm aware they're interchangeable too, but are they stronger?

 

bolting on and being interchangeable is not the same thing

 

How much harder would it be?
and should I get the Stock tranny instead?

 

curious how this turns out with s2000 tranny swap

 

Does the 8 and S2K have removable bellhousings? I was understanding that yes they are the same trans guts wise but diff outer casing.

 

Yes both transmissions have removable bell housings. As for interchangeability I know for one the driveshaft is mounted in the reverse orientation on the s2000.
You're also going to have a hell of a time with the clutch release fork being mounted in a different position on the bell housing. I was also never too fond of the shifter feel in an S2000, left something to be desired when compared to the RX8.

So no, definitely not just "bolt on".

 

mmm, most are having good luck with the 09 tranny

 

There was a pretty major TSB on the early 09 transmission too (re: 5th and 6th gears). Even if it was fixed.. there'd be no way to know if the transmission you're buying was one of those affected.

 

This past weekend I helped a local buddy with replacing a clutch on his S2000.
What a PITA.
The transmission had bolts on the rear AND the front (which required removing the alternator just to get at).
The drive shaft had stupid socket hex/allen bolts that were easy to round, so we had to tap a 12mm socket on them just to get them off.
And there were 6 socket bolts, per end, on the drive shaft... unlike the RX8 which has 4 bolts on the rear and splined in the front.

I personally say go with the S2 RX8 tranmission.
I installed one into a S1 RX8 and only had to modify the wire harness for the reverse and neutral switch.
Other than that... its a direct swap.

 

I would pay a little extra to get a S2 Rx8 Tranny,
but your quote says it all.
I remember seeing a couple of threads where the 5th and 6th syncros were making a noise. That's why I'm a bit skeptical on it lol because I don't want to get the transmission only to find out that you have to replace the 5th and 6th syncros once it's all bolted on...
+ im only going to do it next year as I store the car for the winter, I don't wanna blow a whole lot of cash and then store the car the next month!
****, winter in montreal starts at the end of october!! D:

 

am I the only one with lucky S1 tranny?

I beat the crap outa it, mis shift like there is no tomorrow (HEY! IT HAPPENS!) and it still run.

I change oil on it every year tho. maybe that's why ?

 

Wow! That's TLC! How many miles do you put on your car a year?

 

^ I seem to change mine about once a year as well. I used to average about 25k mi./yr but I've moved closer to work and have been riding my bike so that will drop off now.

 

oh i've beaten up this transmission, misshifted, powershifted, overreved lol (happened when i first got the car but it was from 115km from 3rd to 2nd)
Clutch drops, clutch kicks lmao you name it! But i also replaced the oil as well
im actually surprised it lasted so long
But since an s2 tranny is atleast 2k im just going to buy the s1 tranny andbuy a clutch and lightweight flywheel.
Might as well since im storing the car for winter so ill store it now and buy all this stuff for next year!

 

you still havent said if you checked the clutch pedal or not.
not being able to shift when engine is off is nothing abnormal. sometimes the teeth are just not lined up.
I would check pedal first.

 

I used to drive like 15 K a year, but after I got my other cars (FIT, nnow Mazda3, Sonata Hybrid) I drove it much less. at 62K miles now.

But I'm still gonna do the annual gear oil, rear diff, and coolant change.

 

I wouldn't recommend attempting to swap a trans from a different brand/model to a person who can't even check or remove their own shifter. Where did you get the idea that you're capable of making such a decision?