Jay86

There's not a ton of info out there regarding buying a used automatic RX7, given that it's not a popular choice, so I figured I'd pose a few questions here. First, I know a lot of you are shaking your head at the notion of an auto, so yes I'm 100% aware and would not disagree that autos are **** in comparison to a proper manual, produce less power, can be more costly to fix, and isn't a purist enthusiast car.

My thought process is this. Currently I'm saving for an 09 (manual) RX8 which can run me 16-20k depending on the mileage. Alternatively I can get into an Rx7 for a lot cheaper and sooner if I decided to opt for the auto. The cheaper price would also allow me to buy a manual Porsche 944 in cash that I could use for Auto-X and HPDE's, while also giving me something a lot more suitable to learn stick on.

I don't know if a twin turbo manual is the best to learn on, but I guess it would come down to the driver. From what I've heard the Rx8 isn't ideal either for other reasons, but I'd be willing to learn on it.

Either way a 944 manual and auto Rx7 sounds like a fun combo. For the winter I have a Mitsubishi SUV, so bad weather isn't a problem. All I care about with the Rx7 really, is that it handles well. The slower speed won't bother me and I wouldn't plan on getting more HP out of it.

Bad logic? Anything additional I need to look for when shopping auto? From what I've read some people say the 3rd gen autos are fine, others say they're too unreliable. Which side is correct and if maintained properly how long should the autos last before becoming too costly in maintenance?