Mazda RX-8 2010 Owner's Manual page 155

Driving Your Mazda
Starting and Driving
NOTE
If you change to manual shift mode when
l
the vehicle is stopped, the gear will shift to
M1.
If you change to manual shift mode without
l
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 5th gear, the gear will
shift to M4.
If you change to manual shift mode without
l
depressing the accelerator pedal when
driving in D range, 6th gear, the gear will
shift to M5.
Indicators
Shift position indicator
In manual shift mode, the M of the shift
position indicator in the instrument panel
illuminates.
Gear position indicator
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates.
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.
5-16
Gear position
indicator
Shift position
indicator
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 sides
l
(left and right) are operated simultaneously,
the gear will shift once.
The gear will not shift if:
l
The steering shift switch and the shift
l
lever are operated simultaneously.
The UP switch and DOWN switch are
l
operated simultaneously.
Manually Shifting up
(M1 → M2 → M3 → M4 → M5 → M6)
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the shift
lever back ( ) once.