MATT!!!!!!!! That rules!

I can't help on 3rd Gens though, just 2nd Gens. Just wanted to say hey.

And why are you selling the Six????

 

I haven't driven an AT so I can't speak from experience but from what I've heard the AT's take a lot of the fun out of an FD. Definitely try both before you make a purchase!

 

well the good news about an AT is that they are typically cheaper, and most of the time havn't been abused as much as the MT's.

With an AT look for low mileage, but unless the rebuild has been done by one of the KNOWN RX-7 shops, I wouldn't look at a rebuild. ( not many AT owners mod their cars, and therefore arn't usually as familiar with the RX-7 vendors. So that means that it was probably rebuilt by a dealer)

As far as the fun factor, from a MX-6 to an 3rd gen, you'll be happy for at least several months. (your mx-6 will probably beat the rx-7 off the line, unless you torque brake. At least mine did. But besides that it'll spank the mx-6)

The tranny on the rx-7 is out of a MPV (I think) so it was kind of an afterthought. It's not too bad when the car is stock, but it can't support big HP. Shift feel and control is much better than the mx-6 (I allways felt the mx-6 tranny computer was retarded, it shifts in strange places when you get your foot in)

One thing you should probably do with the RX-7 after you buy it is take it to a good shop and let them do a full checkup. You could easily have a boost leak and not know about it( because it'll feel so much stronger than the Mx-6.) You should probabally have plugs,wires, and fluids replaced at the same time.

If you have more specific questions about AT's let me know.

Matt
Matt@Morton.net

 

There are 2 big reasons why the AT's lag so much, Turbo spool up time, and the gear ratios. Ok all 3rd gens have to deal with turbo spool, but it's alot easier to rev to 3k and drop the clutch than it is to get the AT upto speed (hence the need for loading of the torque converter.) The other problem is that the diff ratio for the AT sucks for acceleration(but we do have a higher top speed laf). Lots of modified AT's have changed to a 4.3 diff ratio, and it's supposed to help(I'm still waiting to do mine).

All AT's come with a tranny cooler, as long as your not planning on road racing it and as long as you flush the ATF every once in a while you should be ok with the stock setup untill you get some hefty HP(but by that time you'll have to do something with the tranny).

As for reliability issues, it's the same as the MT. Don't over heat, change your oil,get a boost gauge, and get a downpipe.

Don't rush into buying any 3rd gen, take your time, make a checklist, and if possible have it looked at by a rx7 shop.

plus if you havn't found it yet, read Steves site
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/

Matt

 

I was looking at ATs when I was trying to buy my FD. I wanted a MT but all the cars I looked into ended up an automatic. I ended up going with a MT though. This is my first car with manual and I love the change. Try to practice in a few of your friends cars or better yet get them to teach you.

 

The later the year, the more bugs were worked out. If I were going to be looking for a new one, 95 ~45K Mi , 94 ~50K, 93 ~55K. There are little things that are different between the years, Plastic trim (textured on 94/95, ruberized paint on 93), the tach is different (93 has lines between the #'s the 94 and 95 don't.)

As for which tranny, go drive both.

Noise isn't going to be an issue, in fact the AT will probably be quieter than the MT. Most of the AT's I've seen are the Tourign package, which has more insulation.

New engines are nice, but they can also indicate other things. If it's been rebuilt by a RX-7 shop ( you should be able to find out which ones are good by asking arround here) then it's probably ok. But you also have to ask, why was it rebuilt? Did they overheat the car? Did it have really high mileage? Were they thrashing it about on a racetrack? An engine failure is indicitave of someone either not maintaining the car, or operating it beyond it's design. (but my guess would be on improper maintanance)
The engine is only one system in the car. You also have to think about the # miles on the other systems. A suspension with 45K mi on it is going to feel alot tighter than one with 90K mi.

Unless you plan on replacing lots of stuff on the car, I'd highly suggest that you find one with less than 70K miles on the body.

You'll have alot easier time getting ahold of a red car. I think the Yellow was only offered on the R1/R2 packages which were manual only.

Matt

 

No offense, but if your not man enough to drive a stick the FD3 is not for you. Go get a honduh or toyotuh. The good news is auto FD's are always on sale and can be had for thousands less than comparable manual---but then you also have to figure you're only getting half a car.

 

I agree. RX7's are SPORTS CARS. Sports cars come with manual transmissions so you can actually DRIVE them. Learn how to drive a manual or buy a Lincoln - they come with cupholders also!
Sorry FD auto owners, but a 7 with an auto makes about as much sense as a submarine with a screen door! (although the auto probably does make it a lot easier for your gf to manipulate the mango!) Wait. Come to think of it --- Ok. that does it...... I've changed my mind - I want an auto. my gfme

 

it's not only for the fun factor (a manual).

You get a lot more control over the car by choosing your gears, and then you can do stuff like heel-toe.

Just get the manual, it's the only real way to drive a good sports car like the RX7. If you can't drive a manual yet then hang off on the RX7 for a couple of months and get a friend with a manual car to take you to a carpark and show you how to use the clutch.

It's fairly easy to learn and once you have the basics it's just practice to get nice and smooth.

best of luck anyway

 

Just wonderign if any of you guys(sejanus, RonKMiller,nrolfes1) have driven an AT RX-7?

Matt

 

hi spigot,

we never got automatic 3rd gens here in Australia but I have driven a few "automatic performance cars" in my time (my wife has a r32 skyline that is turbo & auto as one example) and it just can't compare to a manual in my books.

 

Damn, I guess these aren't sports cars:

 

The only reason those cars come with the option of automatic transmissions is so that rich old farts with more money than brains can drive a hot looking sports car to keep his image and his ego up so he can pickup on 18yr old girls even though he doesn't know how to drive and can barely tell what lane to drive in.

 

I made the same change from MX-6 to RX-7. I went from this:



to this:



I feel the change to be for the better.

 

LOL, good point!

 

Your right about the AT bashing, but they do tend to get really quiet after they get their asses handed to them. Granted my AT isn't stock, and yes a MT with the same mods would probably beat me, but I'd be willing to give it a go on a race track.

BTW it is possible to hold gears in the AT, just like the manual, but I won't miss a shift and screw my syncros.

Matt

 

nor can you heel toe.

 

OR DRIFT! without the handbrake
hehee

 

an automatic sports car is automatically not a sports car!!!

 

That's what I did. Sold my '95 MX-6 and bought my '93 RX-7 in the same day
~Tom