Does anyone know if the Powershift automatic gearbox used in NCs around 2010-15 is the same as the Powershift in Fords of the same era? I test drove one and loved it, like a go kart and as I do lots of driving in traffic I prefer an automatic for that. However I have read that the Ford Powershift had a lot of problems and ended up being withdrawn, so don’t want something that will be in the garage all the time, especially as many of the NC cars available are 12+ years old now.
Guy local to me has a 2009 NC2 powershift.
Has had it about 10 years now.
Never heard him say anything bad about it.
I think it has around 85k on the clock.
Totally different setup to the Ford Powershift box as that was for front wheel drive cars.
I have had the auto for 5 years never missed a beat it can be a bit lumpy when cold but one warmed up changers smoothly. I only have the problem in cold weather in the summer it’s never a problem. I drive the auto bad left leg. Have driven loads of autos many different cars and type and I do find the Mazda a good box with loads of different ways to select gears from paddles to the stick and then let it do all the work a box for many types of driving.
I’m pretty sure that the Ford Powershift box is a DSG whereas the Mazdas are conventional torque converter boxes. I have had three Powershift MX5s, an NC, an ND1 and an ND2. The gearboxes have all been faultless and work really well with the paddle shifters. I tend to leave mine in sport mode and use the paddles for down shifts when necessary, eg downhill.
Having got an automatic I found that I have to relearn driving skills. This video (In a Renault) has transformed my understanding of the way to use the auto box. [How to use manual mode in automatic car] Im hope it helps as now my MX5 Mk3 Auto really goes.
I have just returned from a road trip (July 2024) of 2,200 miles to Bavaria and Austria, having got to grips with how to use it from the video. Absolutely perfect for the hairpin bends (6k RPM in 2nd/3rd in manual mode)
PS for a max speed run, with roof down, on autobahn near Stuttgart it showed 130mph on speedo (Sat Nav GPS read 123mph) which is not shabby!
Mine Mk3 auto is a replacement for a BMW touring motorcycle. My Ex wife has her own Mk3 Auto for regular UK commuting neither car has had any problems.
The Ford Powershift is DSG yes. The NAs and NBs that are auto aren’t called Powershift as far as I know, it seems to appear around 2010 which is when the Ford one came out. Ford had shares in Mazda then so seems odd that they would use the same name Powershift if it is a different gearbox. How do you know that the Mazda version is TC?
Hmm, the Mellens service sheet (AUTO TRANS OVERHAUL.pdf) shows a standard torque converter box, as used on NC and RX8 up to at least 2008.
I assume this means it is not a DSG.
But there is no mention of “Powershift” in it.
Because I owned one!