Mazda 2005 RX-8 Owner's Manual page 108

RX-8_8T69-EA-04G_Edition1 Page108
Wednesday, June 9 2004 2:11 PM
Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
qManual Shift Mode
This mode gives you the feel of driving a
manual transmission vehicle by operating
the shift lever or steering shift switches
and allows you to control engine rpm and
torque to the rear wheels much like a
manual transmission when more control is
desired.
To change to manual shift mode, shift the
lever from D to M.
To return to automatic shift mode, shift
the lever from M to D.
NOTE
If you change to manual shift mode
l
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.
If you shift up once when the vehicle
l
is stopped and the gear is at M1, the
gear will shift to M2. M2 is helpful
for starting on slippery surfaces.
Indicators
Shift position indicator
In manual shift mode, the M of the shift
position indicator in the instrument panel
illuminates.
5-12
Form No.8T69-EA-04G
Black plate (108,1)
Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
Gear position
indicator
NOTE
If the gears cannot be shifted down
when driving at higher speeds, the gear
position indicator will flash twice to
signal that the gears cannot be shifted
down.
Shifting
You can shift gears up and down by
operating the shift lever or the steering
shift switches.
NOTE
If the steering shift switches on both
l
sides (left and right) are operated
simultaneously, the gear will shift
once.
The gear will not shift if:
l
The steering shift switch and the
l
shift lever are operated
simultaneously.
The UP switch and DOWN
l
switch are operated
simultaneously.
Shift position
indicator