I'am a newbie to this forum but not to Mazdas. I really like the site. I was wondering if anyone has a 3rd gen RX7 with an Automatic Trans and if they like it or dont?[COLOR=blue]

 

I had one, but swapped it out for a 5psd tranny. For a daily driver an automatic transmission is fine if you're happy with it, but when you get down to it performance and auto trannys don't mix.

 

Don't believe everything bad you hear about Autos. I have an auto, I'm doing all kinds of stuff to it. I'll be able to give you a forsure answer about how much I like it when I get everything done. All I hear in the forum is, auto suck this, auto suck that, but most of those people don't own an auto FD. I do agree the tranny is weak, but with money and time that can be fixed, just like everything else. I'm gonna drive it till it blows, then worry about rebuilding it.

My mods will be:
Apexi PFC w/commander
NPR SMIC custom setup
Full Non-Seq conversion
block off plates
HKS DP
Custom Exhaust
K&N Duel outlet filter (cone style)

I will be running it at 10 psi till I know everything is working correctly. Then I may bump it up to 12 psi. Only warning I have is, once you start modding a Auto or any FD, prepare to spend money on a Apexi PFC.

 

Drive a manual if you want to have fun on the street. Drive an automatic if u want numbers at the track. All you have to do is get an aftermarket torque converter with a high stall and you'll be set.

 

i love my fd with auto trans but would like to upgrade the ecu. can't find one that will maintain the hold function.

 

<--- automatic owner


And there is a way to run the Apex PFC and keep the hold function.

 

what does the stock torque converter hold back performance wise?

 

I think that's really quite interesting that you can run the Power FC with an automatic...almost sounds like more fun to me :P Making the computer do more work with shifting too I wouldn't mind getting a ride in an auto FD one day.

 

You would be surprised.

 

Oh I bet I wouldn't doubt that a computer could drive better than me...lol (shifting I mean)

 

Fellow auto guy here....I like it.

The auto-vs.-manual debate has been visited many, MANY times here....lol!
If you REALLY want to see some of the views and opinions, search for threads with 'automatic transmission' in them.

 

I would be very confused if I ever saw an automatic fd it just DOES NOT fit the car at all

 

AEM's ECU maintains the HOLD function (but still loses the Torque Reduction during shifts function of the stock unit)- Also any other ecu could be set up PIGGY BACK Style to retain the STOCK Auto ecu for controling the HOLD & Torque Reduction functions.

 

The main ecu DOES NOT control the shifting - the Trans has its own dedicated ECU - the engine ecu only tells the Trans ecu when to go into HOLD mode and responds to reduce torque (retard timing I think) when the trans ecu signals it is upshifting

 

what exactly is torque redction? also youre saying that the apex power fc can be used as a piggyback? how would I go about doing that?

 

Actually the stock Torque Converter is quite well matched to the torque characteristics of the stock 13brew. The stock converter has a stall speed of 3500rpm and LEVEL 10 dose not recomend raising the stall w/ their upgraded converters. Rasing the stall will only help w/ radically ported or Large (laggy) Single Turbo motors that move the torque peak well up the rev range. ant the stock Auto trans won't handle that kind of power anyway.

 

Someone on the forum (SPAutos iirc) posted in the past about seting the Power FC up on an Auto FD try searching his posts w/ auto & PFC

 

Aren't the turbos always wanting to boost with light acceleration in the autos?
I can accelerate lightly and still be >5 on my vac. guage. The owners with autos, 2, I have talked too said that a 0 on the guage is the best they get while accelerating. This was the reason I didn't even consider an auto when shopping for both my FD's. What do you guys say?

Raj

 

I dont know what to say to that.Except that my turbos make roughly one bar of pressure and the engine sees 10 to 11 psi of that.Im in colorado so theres about a 3 to 3.5 psi loss up here.My gauge reads this by the way.When not accelarating the boost reads zero as there is no serious boost built up.

 

I can accel my auto w/ out boosting it takes a VERY LIGHT Touch on the throttle pedal though. The Cruise controll will maintain 80mph @10"hg vacuum and rarely call up more than 5psi boost going up hill

 

so max.what kind of horsepower are you putting down? quarter mile times? all the mods youve done to it?

 

Hey I have an Auto, and ya wish it was a 5spd, but I am very happy with the car. The car has some basic mods, and the trany seams to be doing just fine. I would never give up my FD.

 

Hmmmm that's really interesting information. So, has anyone replaced or fooled-around with the Trans' ECU?

 

Once under way there is no real difference in the car's performance whether it is auto or manual. I too can accelerate without boosting.

 

thats an interesting thought.Having the transmission ecu modded.Who would actually do that though?
and what could you really do with it if you could mod it.I dont really know too much as to what the tranny ecu controls and what it does.
I wish we could all get an smg for our cars like the bmw m3's have.That would be soo sweet.