How do I get into reverse in the RX-8?

The first time I sat in an RX-8 was for a test drive.

The dealer told me to put it into reverse, but I wasn't able to get it into gear... The RX-8 has a reverse lockout that is supposed to prevent you from accidentally going into reverse. In order to shift into reverse, you will have to:

1) Push straight down on the shifter.

2) Push the shifter to the far right,

3) Pull the shifter towards the rear of the car.

You can also get into reverse by following the steps in this order: #2, #1, #3.

The reverse gear can sometimes be a pain - if you find yourself unable to pull it into gear, you'll find going into first gear before moving into reverse will resolve the problem.

Also something to consider is a transmission fluid swap. Using Redline or Royal purple synthetic fluids will make the transmission feel much smoother than stock.

PS: I don't usually shift with my left hand. I had to hold the camera still with my right hand.... so that was the only available hand for shifting Smile