Rotary performance loss with AT vs MT?
 

Yo-ho-ho, newb here :)

I've been prowling around looking for a 3g RX7, but they are really hard to find! So far, i have owned a 95 GST (crankwalked), 93 Del Sol (gutless), 96 Integra (also gutless) and a 96 Accord (more gutless than all of them combined!). I decided to move into the rotary realm. I dont know much about rotaries specifically, but do have a very strong automotive background.

My question is this: I have found a 93 RX7 w/29k miles. Only downside is an automatic transmission. Will this affect the performance of a rotary engine comared to a stick? I HATE automatics, but the deal is so good it keeps eating at me. What has been y'alls experience with auto RX7's? Anybody have one? Thanks in advance :)

Oh, and the username has a long story behind it, basically i've had it for 3 years and use it at about 6 other car forums. I liked Tupac and did not kill him.

well auto's run about mid 15's where as 5 speeds run high 13's to low 14's. autos can be made somewhat quick but the weak part of the car is the automatic tranny which cannont handle that much HP. by the time u get a CAI,DP,MP,CB,and IC your tranny will start to slip. if the deal is extremly good then you can always do a swap however you may end up paying extra then just going the 5 speed route.

Uh no. Automatic FDs in good condition will run mid 14s. My wife's automatic Maxima will run mid 15s.

Jeff

I'm in the same position here. There is a '94 or '95 Auto for sale and that is all I can find within quite a large range. I've read about the people swapping to the 5-speed, but I havn't heard any long term opinions about the swap. Does anyone have anything to say reguarding this?

DO NOT GET THE AUTO's..

All the people with good experiences with the Autos
are the exceptions not the standard..

FD3S can be a finicky car, and adding a auto tranny
is just adding a whole new realms of head aches..
on top of being slower...

And as you put it. put it. Getting a FD3S with an auto
would be " gutless "

If the deal is that good why not buy it and turn around and sell it at a profit (read: MOD MONEY), then buy a MT?

There's a couple points to consider here:

The auto is controlled by a computer, so when you step on the gas it's gonna take some time (not too long) to process the downshift. Also, most engine management systems don't do well with the automatic's stock feature, like the hold button. Therefore, if you are planning on heavy modifications, the auto has to go and it costs about $2100 and a headache to change it out to a manual.

Performance-wise, if you are a beginning drag racer, the auto might help you a little, but there's no room for improvement. With practice, the manual will beat the auto down the strip all day long, by alot. Also 0-60 and braking performance are a bit worse, partly because the auto RX-7 weighs 68 pounds more than the 5 spd.

Really though, if the deal is so great, you can do a transmission swap. There are detailed threads and detailed websites describing the costs, processes, and everything you need to get. Like I said, it will cost in the ballpark of $2100 to do that, for the parts that is.

if you want a ragged out, raced POS then get a 5 speed.

mine ran mid 13s with IC, intake, DP and catback and power FC.

the deal is $16,700 for the auto w/29k miles. Book is around $19k. I guess if worse comes to worse, my buddy owns a tranny shop and can get the tranny for cheap. But the ECU is a different story. Hmmm...I dunno...

According the Kelley Blue Book, the private party sale price for that car is close to $15,000.

www.kbb.com

You'll hear some hardcore guys dis the automatic, but in some real world driving situations it can be just as fast.
If you're already rolling and some guy comes up on you,
most people can downshift faster with their foot than they can with their hand (if only cuz your foot is already on the accelerator and most times your hand isn't on the shift knob.) Having said that, I own a 5 speed, but if I were you, I wouldn't let an automatic hold me back.
If you like the car, buy it.

I've never had any problem with my auto. It's about 0.7 sec slower in 0-60 and 1/4 mi. In real world driving, that's negligable, unless you are racing some pro.

If you hate auto, don't get an auto unless you plan on swapping the tranny. The auto tranny is good for about the life of the engine 120k mi if it's well maintained. If you want to mod the car over CB, intake, DP, don't get the auto as it can only handle 300 hp max.

All in all, I am very happy with my auto. It shifts pretty fast and I don't care much for 5 speed. I only wish someone makes a 5 speed auto for an FD.

Flame all you want, my auto doesn't require a clutch replacement every 30k and I don't have to worry about my car stalling when I am going uphill.

As a man in my mid 50's i bought a auto... less shock to the driveline/chassis/tires/etc... smooth.... with my mod's it will be faster than most cars, and the a/c still works. Stock. accidently starting off in 2nd?? 60"time 2.463 (yawno) 1320 was15.629 @90.95MPH. Certinally not fast, however it is a baseline for my car to start from. With ARC intake, PMS, SSDP, it should run stronger.. i will keep youall posted... "Keepem Spinning"!!! Cartervs

I had an auto in my FD, and its at the shop getting a 5 speed right now. DON'T GET AN AUTO!!! It blew on me after 2 weeks of having the car. 88k miles, and nothing else was wrong with the car. But if you think the Integra or Accord are gutless off the line, then don't get an auto FD. They are a total pooch. I ran a 15.7 with a g-tech. I had a 97 Honda Prelude that was totally bone stock and it was faster. It was also an auto. But if its a real good deal, then maybe you could put a 5 speed in down the road. Luckily my car has a warranty, so most of mine is covered. Thats another thing, an FD and a warranty go hand in glove.

Nick

I like to say 13.5

well, we settled on a price of only $15,500 now, so there is no way im going to pass it up. Blue Book for retail through dealership is 18,900. So i can turn if for a profit if i wanna get a MT...

Just a question.... Don't you have to swap quite a few vaccum lines too?

Not that I know of jf4828.

Nick

From a superb driver you can get a 13.5 out of one. I'm sure since you are a superb driver from all your test drives of many exotics, you are capable of getting a 13.5 out of it. But for the rest of us that aren't as good a driver as you, it's in the high 13's low 14's.

Yeah, you have to be a great driver to pull a 13.5. My brother has a friend that lives in Dallas who drives 97 Camaro SS with a 6 speed. He had some decent mods like headers and all that. But he could never break the 14's with the car. But this one guy who works on these kind of cars for a living took it out and ran a 12.7.

Nick

You think its a good deal??

Do you think anyone EVER pays blue book for any car??

Of course not... Think when you trade in your car they
give blue book? OF course not.. If they do, they are rapping you on sticker for new car.

BLUE Book values or what ever are over inflated prices
made by NADA..

BTW there is a 93 RX7 in the " washingtonpost" listed
at 12.5k. and probably could be bought for 11k and its
a 5 speed.

Good luck if you get the AUTO. But eventually.
you will regret it.

GOod luck

You lose something much more important then power with an automatic, and any enthusiast will know what that is.

Problem-wise, AT FD's have a starter issue where you must turn the key several times before the starter gets the signal to turn the engine over. It's not a serious problem and even adds a little character to the car, but it can be irritating on a hot Florida Summer day when you need an extra 5 to 10 seconds to start your car. Another problem is that the transmission itself can only safely handle about 300HP. This means you are limited as to what you can safely upgrade.

i dont know i just laugh hen i see a turbo supra or a rx or any performance car with auto tranny. its sad

must be funny cuz the auto supra is faster than the six speed.....

I really don't mind the auto Supra and 300zx as much because they at least have some torque to get you off the line.

Nick