G'day Folks,

I'm looking to buy a new 'toy' - something relatively cheap but fast and with decent handling that I can take to my local car club and get involved in some track days with.

To this end I'm looking at a Series IV 13B turbo Rx7 tomorrow. My issue is - it's got an automatic (though with a stage 2 shift kit) transmission. I've never driven an auto in anything approaching anger before, and I'm not sure if it's going to leave me wanting.

Excuse my naivety, but can you still drift / power slide / burnout just as easily on an auto? Are there any armature racers out there with experience on both an auto and manual who could provide me with an objective opinion?

If it helps, the specs as advertised are:
MAZDA Series 4 RX7, 13B turbo, 150,000km, p/s, a/c, p/w, p/m, microtech computer, turbo smart BOV, boost controll, Apexi pod filter & turbo timer, auto meter boost guage, full exhaust with twin canons, new $2000 fully re-built race auto g/box, stage 2 shift kit, lowered, 17" mags, $4000 stereo custom boot installed.

Cheers,
McOz

 

don't do it, that slush box will never keep up with the manual trans version, period
might be a good daily driver, lousy competion car

 

The automatic saps the performance out of a NA and holds up poorly if mated to a turbo. Drive both trannys and you will NOT buy the automatic.

 

Performance hits aside.... the automatic for the FC is a terrible transmission and WILL NOT hold up to track abuse. PERIOD.

 

Save your cash and buy one with a manual because you'll be back on here in a few months looking up "auto to manual conversion".

 

Cheers folks, appreciate the feedback. Going to look at the car now, but suscpect my wallet will be staying in my pocket for this one.

 

UPDATE: The seller and his car never turned up. Time to hit the classifieds.

 

The N/A auto tranny is complete crap and that is a given. Now you say mated to a turbo like Mazda just ***** nilly used an N/A auto trans with their turbo motors. They are two different trannys from what I've seen. Bolt up the auto from the 20b and you will be ok. If they were the same, I don't see the trans holding up past 20k miles, if that.