auto to manual conversion?
 

So I'm bidding on a good condition (as far as I can tell) 2nd gen, and from what the guy says, It'll be needing a new transmission before too long. Now, I don't have the time, know-how, or equipment to do it myself. So I'm wondering if you guys could give me an estimate on how much it would set me back to have somebody do it for me? Presumably a Mazda dealership. It's an automatic now, and I would prefer to have a manual, but would that be significantly more expensive? Ideas? Thanks!

If you have a dealer do it, you might as well buy a different car. :)

okay, fair enough, but numbers? Its $2,325, with 125,000 miles, BUT the engine was rebuilt ~5,000 miles ago. So it seems like with the exception of the tranny a pretty good deal. Note that I'm just looking to drive, not race it. So feedback either way is appreciated, but pleae give some reasoning. I'm a n00b hoping to not get ripped off

Well, basically, they're going to charge at least $1000, at minimum. I'd expect more around $2000 or so for them to do the actual swap. It's much cheaper to do it yourself, or get a group of people who know how to spin wrenches to do it. But the auto tranny is pretty much junk, they tend to die about every 3 blocks. :)

Well from my exp. On trannys. 1500 to get one rebuilt and thats auto. Auto trannys are a pain in the ass to rebuild and fix. But if your set on stick i would do it yourself like said above manny trans are easier in some ways to build. Depending on the skills of the people you going to have do it. Another thing is you can watch them do it and learn how to do it. Which is aways good. But if you bring it to the dealership just buy a new car cause there gonna kill you same for a trans shop. Gl.