hello-

i am going to look at a 1993 rx7 touring with only 39k miles. there's a good chance i will buy it. HOWEVER, it's an auto. i really wanted a 5 sp.

but all im looking for is the car to last me a long time. i dont plan on modding it any, except to make it more reliable perhaps (what are reliability mods anyway?). with that being said, i thought that buying a used one with an auto tranny would have an engine in better condition. previous owner hopefully didnt rev the f#ck out of it. but does it really matter? will auto rx7's be susceptible to blown engines as much as manual trannys? anything else to consider when buying a used rx 7 with auto vs. manual in mind?

please don't flame me. i really did search for a similar topic.

 

If you are going to baby your car then get the auto...or a VW BUG! JOKE

 

Don't buy the car if you want a 5 speed. Wait for the right car.

 

You've got to ask yourself, "What kind of driving enjoyment am I looking for in this car"?
Since you say you're not going to add any performance mods, maybe you're just going to do the standard gramma' cruise, with the occasional on-ramp excursion, then the auto is for you. But if you're a little more cutting edge, with the occasional desire to race that F-body on the highway, or any other type of performance driving, you'll kick yourself for getting the auto, IMHO.
Now, I really can't speak from experience, having never driven the auto other than what I've read and heard, but I think this is the average summation of your question. Of course, a test drive will speak volumes too.
Especially if you have a stick to compare it to.

Regards,
Frank

 

If/when it comes time to sell, your gonna have a much tougher time. Just like how you are probably getting a good deal on it right now, you'll have to sell for a few grand less than a 5 sp. in similar shape

If you don't see the car you want, I say just wait. This isn't something to "settle" over

 

well, its just hard finding one with really low miles. i consider the one im looking at tomorrow, with 39k miles to be VERY low. on top of that, its only $14.500. pretty damn good price i'd say.

theres also a 65k miles one with the same number of miles for the same price thats a manual. the difference is 15k miles. thats almost 1 year worth of driving.

damn, your points are very well taken. im just afraid im gonna buy the 65k mile one and have the engine blow out on me at 80 k miles.

 

Compression test them both, as well as do a pressure leak down on the coolant system. I would think that you could get them down from the $14,500 a bit, unless they are primo. Good luck, and remember, patience is a virtue, don't rush it just to get in the driver seat. Of course, easy for me to say since I already have one

Frank

 

The autos are definately in better shape, hands down. However, they may fail sooner d/t the increased heat generated by the automatic transmission, usually the rear rotor. The 5 speeds have been ragged-more and more so by younger drivers that are frequently buying 7's as the prices have come down. All of the 5 speeds I looked at were in pretty bad shape with high miles on the chassis and on their 2nd or 3rd engine. Since you asked, my advice is this. If you are going to mod the car at all, then get a 5 speed. If you are the type to leave the car as is, except for reliability stuff like AST and downpipe then get an auto.

 

I have heard of blown motors with low mileage. Just because it has 39K miles on it is no guarantee. Turbos as well can go bad early. Take the advice given above. Test the car's compression.

 

5 SPEED PERIOD!

 

dude i bought my car at 72k and i discovered this forum like a couple months after i had purchased. my motor is at 94k now and pulling strong. dont assume these cars are fragile. your 7 will hate you for not having the faith when you get her. wait for the 5 speed too.

 

I've had both.
I bought the auto waiting for a new Transam. (Never bought it!)
You ARE going to want to drive this car fast. It wants you to.
Buy the 5 spd

 

stik is a much better driving experience if you ask me....

 

The engines are going to blow sooner or later. It's better to have a high mileage car with history than an undocumented low-mileage car that may have been abused

 

If it was me and I was a first time buyer again , buying a FD I wound not by a auto. First of all mazda didnt really build the auto trannies strong enough to last, like GM does the camaros. Ive have owned two auto FD, and made the mistake of them being auto. Therefore I sold one and converted the other to 5speed a year ago, and would never go back. If you want a FD please get a 5speed. IMO

 

get the manual unless your planning on doing a V-8 swap and then who the heck cares which one you get

 

ok, ok, ok guys. i think i WILL get the 5 spd. my last car was a used 1993 prelude and i got one with only 35k miles and about $3,500 under blue book so i jumped on it. it was automatic, and i regretted it the whole fricken time.

I'm still going tonight to check out the automatic tho. the reason this 39k mile automatic is so appealing to me is cuz the driver is an rich old guy who lives on the beach. he's driven the car every day about 1 mile to work, and 1 mile back. whenever he had to go somewhere with his wife or whoever, he would drive one of his other cars cuz the rx is too small. so essentially its been a 2-3 miles a day commuter car for the past 10 years (he's the original owner).

its been garaged the whole time but he recently bought a new car (has a couple) and doesnt have any more room in his garage so the rx is sitting outside, which is breaking his heart. if this isn't the IDEAL person to buy a used car from, tell me what is.

Brian_93, how much did it cost to convert from auto to manual?? how much for parts, and how much for labor? is this a bad idea?

thanks for all your input guys, it's really helping me think out everything.

 

About the only thing wrong with that driving pattern, 2-3 miles a day, is that you never get the condensation out of the exhaust pipes, so they rust, bad. If you do back down and get it, make sure to take a closer look at the exhaust system, or just resign to the fact that you'll get an after market system.

Frank

 

DAMN frank you're good. i checked out the car last night and he had put on a magna-flow exhaust about 3 months ago. when i asked if he still had the OEM system, he plainly answered "No".

BUT, like i said before, this guy is the ideal guy to buy a used car from. he's an older rich dude living 1 mile from the beach. he just bought a brand new Mercedes SLK AMG and has no room for this car. besides 2 scratches on the front bumper, the entire body of the car is FLAWLESS. original paint, and it looks brand spankin' new. this car is perfect. except, its an auto.

how much does it cost to change it from manual to auto? and will that just open a whole can of worms in terms of more problems in the future?

 

Take it from a Auto FD owner...you are doing yourself a great disservice in buying a automatic sports car...especially an FD.

The car is a crippled shell of an FD. All the show..but none of the go

Converting to 5spd will cost about the same as most spend on making their FD single turbo

You can figure around $1500-$2000 for parts and all associated other crap.

Then labor is free if you decide to try it yourself, otherwise count on 10-15hrs @ your normal mechanic rate for your area ($60-75)


I've already been down the path your about to step on...dont do it...Wait for the 5spd.

 

Boy, sour grapes! Haven't seen you around the forums for a while. I haven't been around too much myself. I'm pretty happy with my auto FD. It's in great shape and is a real head turner. Plus it's faster than a lot of these 5 speed guys.

 

Not sour grapes, just stale wine

Dont get me wrong I love my car...have since day 1, but if I had to do it over I would have held out for a nice 5spd.

Unless of course you have some underlying need for an auto (medical etc....) I just cant see going with it.

My biggest complaint/grip with the auto is the lack of aftermarket support and being SEVERLY limited in mod choices.

I envy the 5spd guys who can Stage II a FD with some bolt ons and putdown 300rwhp reliably.

Cant do that with a stock Auto.


Here's my top

1. Stock vs Stock, waaay slower than 5spd.

2. Auto FD will be desimated off the line by a manual Ford Focus.

3. Resale value much lower than comparable 5spd.

4. Cannot mod easily and as cheaply as 5spd owners

5. Sunny day, mountain road, auto tranny?

 

why would anyone want an auto on this car? IF they can't drive a stick get a different car.

 

update:

today i just committed myself to a '94 base rx7. red. 52k miles. MANUAL TRANNY. $15,750.

i can't wait. i won't be able to pick up the car for about a month tho, cuz the seller is in sanjose and i live in l.a. i happened to be in the bay area this memorial day weekend and i went down to san jose to take a look at the car. it was immaculate. owner had it garaged this whole time. he had plans of keeping it forever, but his wife wanted him to sell the sports car in teh garage that he barely drove. such a classic story.

so anyways, i check it out and drive it, and i realize if i don't get it then the NEXT person to see it will definitely jump on it. i was the first person he showed it to. anyways, more later.

 

Cool. Sounds like a little patience paid off here. You'll be much happier, I believe. Post some pics when you get it.

Frank