Bodyshield

I'm looking into getting a FD, unfortunately or fortunately (however you think), it is auto, can you guys answer me some questions? what year, mods, and how much roughly you paid?

unixpilot

Unless you have specific reasons on why you need an auto FD, or you have found an unmolested '95 with low miles, I would HIGHLY advise against it.

Here are my reasons why:

1. Stock performance sucks compared to 5spd. (drivetrain loss, Auto tranny gear ratios, Final drive ratio 3.9). Granted it's still a relativly fast car once its moving, but you're first stoplight smackdown by a Soccer Mom in a Toyota Sienna will leave you in a fetal position.

2. The car was designed to be a 5spd sports car, the auto leaves the FD feeling asleep and disconnected with the driver.

3. You will be very limited in modding the car as an Auto.

4. 5spd swap is expensive (~2k) and a major hassle (sourcing parts, and the mechanical work envlolved)


My advice to you, make sure you test drive a properly running 5spd before buying an Auto FD.

93silverbullet

iTrader: (7)

Pure B.S.

Again pure B.S.! If that were the case why are most exotic sports car manufacturers offering their high-end "sports cars" with automatic transmissions? Do a little research here and you'll find a number of good examples.

And yet more B.S.! You can mod an auto to the same extent (meaning whatever your budget can handle) as you can a 5-speed as long as one of mods you invest in includes ugrading/modding the auto tranny to handle the additional power.

This is the only true statement you've made. It is relatively expensive but not prohibitively so.

Besides you have a better chance of finding a pristine auto that you do finding a 5-speed. My advice is to do a some searching here on the forum and then look for the best FD available in your price range. But don't discount an FD just because its an auto. Drive it and you might surprise yourself with the true ability of these amazing cars.

I have owned both a 5 speed and an auto (both 93's, 5 speed bought new in 93 and the auto I bought 2 1/2 years ago in pristine condition) and I can honestly say that the auto (stock) is just as quick or quicker from a rolling stop than a stock 5 speed. Besides I've never missed a shift in my auto .

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

unixpilot does (or did) have an auto. He knows what he's talking about. The auto tranny in the FD is NOT a "sports car auto tranny". Comparing the FD auto tranny to an "exotic auto tranny" is apples to oranges.

Most likely, he's talking about mods that DON'T require an upgraded auto tranny. In that case, he is correct. Very few people actually upgrade their auto trannies, they just end up going with a 5sp swap instead. In those cases, it's just best to wait for a 5sp if the owners goal is to mod the crap out of the car.

unixpilot

Are you ****** retarded? How many exotics come with a ****** tranny from a Mazda 929 and MPV? Im not comparing an FD 5spd to highend exotic CVT's and ****.

Im comparing the FD 5spd to a FD Auto. The stock RE4R01A is a piece of ****.


Yeah ok, try searching for any auto owners who had any and luck in that department (upgrading the stock auto)


Anyway, bottom line is if you dont REALLY want an auto FD, then for god's sake don't buy one.

unixpilot

Sorry 93silverbullet didn't know you were from '59 or I would not have responded in that way


But Mahjik is right... I did own an auto, and I did do the 5spd swap myself. So, I too have first hand experience with both auto & 5spd FD's, not the mention the exact same car in both auto and 5spd forms.

And in my opinion, there is no question that the 5spd is a better performing car.

Bodyshield

well i can purchase a perfect auto FD for around 7k, only needs new windshield and has a rebuilt w/ less than 5k, i own a car shop so mechanically it wont be that difficult for me, maybe just sourcing the parts will

93silverbullet

iTrader: (7)

As do I (or did ). While the auto tranny in an FD may not be what is considered today as a "sports car" tranny, it is also not the trash hauler most people here think it was design as. My point was not to compare the auto in a 93 FD against today's contempory sports cars, but more to point out that what type of transmission a car has does not make it a "sports car". That was what I was trying to point out when I referenced the exotric sports car trends of today. Sorry if I was unclear in my intent earlier.


You could be correct here... but it does appear that most people who do mods (in their 5 speeds) include mods/upgrades to their tranny (upgraded clutch, pressure plate, etc.). I also agree with the rest of your statement.

I guess my argument here is not to discount buying an FD just because it's an auto. Having said that, it also depends on what your ultimate goal is regarding the extent and type of mods you are planning.

93silverbullet

iTrader: (7)

No worries... '59 was a very good year!

Again my point is that whether it has a 5 speed or an auto the Fd is an excellent sports car period! Let's just leave it at that...

jeff p

check out my sig. I am happy with my mods and the car is plenty fast for a street driven car. If your not looking to race the car the auto is just fine. I have more power than I can use on the streets in California. my car is in near mint condition and gets a lot of looks. Just use synthetic oil and keep up on the maint schedule.

tsmysak1

Here are my opinions, for what they are worth.


Launch performance sux and is just that bad. Could have an advantage in the rest of the range though. I raced 4 speeds when I was younger and was always breaking something. I like the AUTO just fine and hope to locate a good stall someday in which case, I think the difference would be night and day.

The car was designed to be a sports car and most likely to be a five speed, since the rest of the world is inclined for manual transmissions. An auto would have a reasonable sized market though in the US, and some customers would demand it. Probably a required option. I don't hardly think the auto is such a negative as to take all the appeal of the car away. This statement is just a rant.

Already covered. The only thing I would like to find is a stall convertor. Then, in my opinion, the 5 speed would have very little advantage other than the fun of shifting all the time, which can get old after a while.

5 speed trannys are not real cheap...

FLA94FD

Not positive but seem to recall that the auto is about a second off 0-60. They also have a number of other problems that relate to engine itself car build up or something like that according to my engine tuner.

Besides even with a turbo the stocker is a low torque car without displacement or the modern auto clutched manuals like the paddle shifting BMW/Ferrari they are going to be sluggish when compared with a stick. Still a nice but convert it or keep looking would be my advice.

Timdog1650

Just to throw my $.02 in here (I know it's an old thread, but whatever)....


I have an FD with a built auto from Level 10...all the standard little goodies to tighten it up, with a converter that does some kind of crazy stall thing...I'm not sure what brand or specs these parts are, I bought the car used from someone who had the work done. That being said, I have NEVER had a problem leaving the line with 10lbs of boost and just roasting the hell out of my tires. This car launches far better in auto form than any other manual sports car I've driven. I know this isn't THAT helpful, except to say that it can be done if you throw a little money at the gearbox.

~Tim

apex_sideway

If you don't want crazy speed or auto-x a auto will suit you just fine.

I love my auto and the car is still great in the corners; i bought the car for it's looks and handling ability . . . . speed doesn't concern me too much. Check my sig for mods. Next is a 4.33 gear

bajaman

And just to add MY 2 cents worth to this old thread, you ARE likely to find a car in much better condition these days if it IS an automatic. I know that was how it was when I was looking, I looked at 6 or 7 of the 5 speed cars and they were anywhere from a 3 to a 7 on a scale of 1 - 10, having obviously been victims of the latest 'The Fast and the Furious' must-have car rage...lol! Too often these days the 5 speed cars are falling into teenage and other inadept hands, the cars are cheaply modded or riced out beyond belief and/or wrecked and beat up, interiors in TERRIBLE shape....you get the idea. Since the automatic cars never were "desireable" with the F&F crowd, you can often find some nice looking, well kept, low mileage gems. I'm the second owner of mine, the first being the wife of the local dealer, she owned it from '93 to 2000, I bought it in 2000.

I personally love the auto in this car, it isn't the ogre most make it out to be, not by far. There are a few advantages to it even, unless you are just STUCK on *****-out-to-the-wall performance and nothing else.

There are even enough people on this forum alone who have had excellent success with some pretty extensive mods, if that is what floats your boat.

Cruising down the road with all the admiration that comes with these cars, one doesn't even consider if the guy/gal next to you is thinking, "Hmmmmmmm....I'll bet that is one of those automatic cars......", all he/she is doing is WISHING they could be YOU!

RotaryResurrection

iTrader: (8)

I've driven tens of 5sp cars including my own single turbo setup. I have recently gotten to drive my first properly running, properly shifting auto FD. Bone stock except downpipe, correct boost pattern, etc. Really, the thing isn't that bad. It makes an awesome cruising and daily driver, but if you're purpose building a car to be fast then it isn't for you. I have also had the (dis)pleasure of doing a full manual swap including all wiring, and that is not a task to be taken lightly by the average person.

IT makes crap for power below 2500rpm, I mean it is seriously like a ford escort or something. UNtil you get into primary boost, you will get your *** busted by any maxima or whatever rolls up beside you at the light. From 3 grand on up, it is probably as fast as an equivalently setup manual, maybe even faster due to the lack of having to shift and rebuild boost.

IF I had one, the only things I'd do would be exhaust, intakes, IC, the shortest rearend gear I could get made (something along the lines of a 4.88 would work well, but a 4.33 may be all that is available), a modded trans and a high stall. Firmer shifts would shave a few tenths off the quarter mile times it would put down. You could take the car and have it destroy most manual cars from light to light and still be 100% driveable around town or on the highway. The main problem with the auto setup is the gearing, both in the trans and the rearend. The auto is theoretically geared to reach 185+mph. IF they had brought that down to 140 or so then the car would be infinitely more fun to drive.

ehos

I love my auto. I don't do drag race starts with a car that handles corners so nicely. If I wanted a drag car, I'd buy a Mustang.

Second, the car is insanely fast, I don't see how a 5spd would make it faster. (Read: I don't drag race from red lights). NO boost loss during shifts with the auto!

Third, it tracks MUCH better, with much less wheel spin. I've never spun my auto out, but I have 5spds.

Fourth, you can actually drive the auto (very nicely) in horrible winter conditions with very little to no wheel spin.

Finally, it was in MINT condition. 5spds are always thrashed (why not? I always thrash my 5spd cars).

bajaman

lol.....yeah, I agree. I call it the "What? OH! You want to GO!" factor! when you first tromp it. But after that second, that split second of hesitation, all hell breaks loose when the boost comes up and you've rolled about 30' or so.

Fun stuff!

RX-7racer88

My FD is an auto too. I've done a few relibilty mods, and been happy ever sence I bought the car. Makes a good driving around car and roasting some ricer boys every now and then. Over all in the end I don't see what is so bad about owning an auto FD.

OKRX-7

I bought an auto but the reasons for doing so are basically the ones stated above. It was a unmolsted '94 with good mileage, stock and was well below $10k. The money I saved allowed me to buy the parts for a 5 speed swap and when completed (Hopefully tonight) I will still be way below the price of what I would have paid for a stock '94 5 speed with less than 100k on the clock. If I could even find one in that condition.

I of course don't have a problem with getting my hands dirty and doing the work myself. But don't be scared, the auto's will get up and go with the best of them, specially while cruising. They are dogs off the line, but it dosen't take long to catch up to someone. They also don't respond to additional power very well. I smoked my auto with simple bolt-on mods.