I was told by a friend who owns a RX-7 to stick away from Automatic models. I don't know if its because he wants me to learn stick shift or if he is serious . Anyone with knowledge on this topic?

Also I found a 1986 Automatic RX-7 with 63,000 on motor and chassis for $3000 OBO CND, should i grab it? Original owner is apparently a grandma who drove once a week or less

 

Simply put, no. An automatic FC is good for absolutely nothing. It will get bad gas mileage, have no torque, it will suck trying to merge with faster traffic, and the transmissions themselves have problems. You will really be missing out on what makes an FC so much fun with an automatic. The car's high revving character is just put to waste with a 4 speed. Lastly I would imagine the car probably hasn't been given the extra attention it deserves like redlining, oil changes, filters and other routine maintenance items. You do NOT want to buy an FC from a grandma unless you plan on swapping the engine.

 

Thanks for the info.
I am still interested in the automatic because i tried driving a stick shift (87 FC NA) and stalled like three times . However, im in love with the body of the RX-7 and I grew a lot of interest in the rotary engine. If I am to look at the RX-7, what questions do i ask/ checklist should i have .

 

stalled 3 times... ****... thats nothing...


and read the FAQ at the top of the section... theres a list in there...

 

If you only stalled 3 times you should give up less

Learn to drive manual transmission. It is so much fun to drive a manual RX-7 and you will miss out a lot driving an automatic.

 

Thanks found it. Should have searched first.


I might try manual again, but not the RX-7, probably an old Tercel :P. When I stalled three times, I had not gone to second gear yet (not used to stopping) .

 

Automatic transmissions are only good if you're lazy and / or stuck in traffic all the time.
For a "sports car", nothing beats rowing through the gears.
If you get the hang of driving a manual transmission, you're going to hate buying that auto trans...I guarantee it.

If you really insist on that auto trans...
That car is overpriced.
I dunno if Canada has some weird premium on FC's, but you should not be paying more than HALF of the asking price.
The auto trans is not desirable in an FC, so price should be marked down.

As for reliability...
If the car hasn't been abused, the auto trans is okay.
A test drive should easily uncover any problems with the trans.
Problems with the auto trans means big bucks for repair - replacements are not easy to find.
5-speed manuals for FC non-turbos are plentiful and "cheap".


-Ted

 

Thanks, i actually am in traffic most of the time. Should I call the seller and like start off at like 1750 (or more if it seems to run well)?

 

Auto's are only for girls or for disabled people, or people who could care LESS about performance and just want to drive a certain car for it's looks. But the auto in the rx7 SUCKS...it turns it into a completely different car. An NA manual FC should run right about 16 flat in the 1/4, and it would not surprise me if an auto ran an 18 or 19, seriously.

Getting from 0-30mph is a challenge, but after you get rolling the auto runs almost as well as the manual. But, getting out of first takes twice as long.

The auto behind the rotary is not a good match. Auto trannies like torquey engines to perform well, and the rotary lacks torque. The auto trans adds about 100lb to the car. IT also loads the engine more at idle, making it even more difficult to get a good idle. On low compression engines, auto's are harder to start due to the added mass of the TC and lower cranking rpm's as a result. A manual with a 90psi engine might continue to start and run for years, but an auto with a 90psi engine will have problems starting at all.

The autos in these cars do not shift like "normal" auto cars. They kinda have a mind of their own. The car tends to be jerky and "nervous" shifting behavior at low and mid rpm. Sometimes the car will climb to 4krpm and just sit there without shifting for a couple of seconds, when it should go ahead and shift to the next gear. And other times, the car will shift at 3k even if you have the throttle 3/4 of the way open, or refuse to shift down for a couple of seconds when you want to accelerate harder.

There is a LOT of slip between shifts in these even when there is nothing wrong with them. As a result the trannies do not hold up well over a period of time. Hard, firm shifts are actually easier on a trans than soft shifts that take longer and create more heat.

You'll notice 2nd gear will slip the most, and excess slip in 2nd gear is a sign of a trans about to start failing.

 

There is also the plus of push starting the car if, for example, the battery dies because the parking lights were left on, and no one nearby has jumper cables.

 

Very Very true!

I just got the engine my 91 Auto vert and I can't wait to convert the tranny to 5spd. My god it is a pig and it does shift when it wants to. Sometimes it takes more than 4k rpm to get out of 1st wether light or heavy throttle and sometimes have to totally lift throttle before it will shift.

Other times it will shift perfectly "normal" like any other auto.

 

It is well worth learning stick. Not only is it more fun it puts more of the engine's power to the wheels and also manages better fuel mileage. Also you get a LOT more control over the car. Also EVERYONE stalls when there learning stick its just all about getting used to it. Heck just switching from one car to another can throw you a curve ball. Learn to drive stick and buy a stick rx-7 you will be glad you did. Also in town isn't that bad in a stick its just when there's TONS of traffic and your only inching forward a couple inches at a time that it gets annoying.

 

Get it, drive it, hate it, do a manual swap to it

 

on average i think most people can learn to drive a manual with about 3hrs of straight practice. id suggest learning on a newer car, because it has a tight clutch so you'll get a better feeling for when to release an that kinda stuff.
havent driven an auto rx7, but knowing how bad autos tend to suck on low torque engines, i would say just learn manual. only car i've owned with a auto that i liked is my porsche 928, and i still wish i had a manual instead because of the level of control it gives you.

 

RX-7 prices are a lot steeper here.

OP, you're looking at Rage's RX-7 on bcrotary, aren't you?

 

heh, [if it were working right], the Auto isn't quite as bad as everyone says.. but it is MUCH MUCH slower than a 5-speed [my DD is an Auto 87 Base], when my GXL was running it was INCREDIBLE... I couldn't believe at first how fast it was compared with the auto.
It is night and day.

But.. The Auto has made people say this multiple times to me: "This has restored my faith in Auto's"
I think that's because it doesn't act like a normal auto, it does lag when it shifts.. It'll still feel good when you manually switch it into second gear [first is pitifully slow], and roll the car up to ~80 mph [7500 RPM shift point]

...But given the choice, drive the auto, then a 5 speed.. You'll understand
[better, have the other person drive you at first in the 5sp so you can feel it without worrying about killing it]

..On another note, the auto makes it a big pain to reinstall the engine if you should ever have to... <_<
>_>

 

my first rx7 was an automatic and its depressively slow. 2.0L Jettas will pull away from you. That and the talk about the poor shift characteristics seems spot on. It could be from age, but either way, don't bother. If it was real cheap, i would consider it, other than that, eh.

On the other had i've seen some serious business turbo 13b cars in Aussie land running Japco transmissions that have been worked over.