Owner of a Mk1 1840cc slushbox for 15 years, and have driven it in all conditions as a daily. It’s on SORN just now awaiting an extensive metal rebuild as a “keeper” retirement toy, having done around 80-odd thousand miles. If your proposed purchase is that good, you’ve won a watch already…and you know why. Rot.
Also, if you are London based, I’m pretty certain there will be many days you will be glad your stop-start clutch foot is not going numb!
It is quite involved with things “popping up” like the down-pipe from the manifold being different…the Auto trans being fatter than the manual… though far from impossible and yes, as mentioned, it can nad has been done.
As said, the 1840cc mills are identical, so that’s a lot of struggle sorted.
I guess a major consideration is…is it worth it? Only you can decide. Spending perhaps 50% of the value of the car may make sense if you arr determined enough.
As for autos, they are Marmite. You’ll get the usual “opinions” they have no place in a 5…usually by people who have never driven them in anger, or ignore the fact some like me actually need one.
I’d say give the Auto a chance to redeem itself if you decide to buy it. They are better than a lot of nae-sayers think especially the 'box of the 1840cc. You can lock out the transmission with the Hold button in S position and cross country end up with a hilarious stabbed rat with truly epic engine braking, so forget that myth as well. 4th is pretty much an overdrive, the intermediates providing more than ample performance in give/take traffic.
They can be just as much fun as a manual, and equally pace-efficient through the twisties. Once you learn them that is.
Blob chartb/brochure performance figures don’t do them favours…they are demonstrably better if the mill is top notch and the tranny is spot on.
Performance “off the lights” is slightly compromised for a couple of seconds till the torque converter wakes up. I’ve never felt compromised in urban traffic. While others are going through the motions of clutch/gear/handbrake palavars …I’m usually off…!
Urban MPG is compromised. I’d say probably 10/15 % worse than a manual and you will be lucky to avarage more than 25/28mpg around the houses. It’s never bothered me. It’s a sports car. It’s a revvy twin-cam married to a torque converter…not the ideal set-up. Old school torque converters like low rev grunt torque after all You will get the best between 3k to 7.k rpm…like manuals. I’d rather not say what foot to the boards S mode with Hold takes you too in an open forum!![]()
I’d wager, in general, mills in an auto depending on how well they have been serviced will be in better nick as they are less stressed.
They are also brilliant long distance cruisers. 3/3.2k rpm at 70mph. Did 2026 mile sin 6 days in mine a few years back and stepped out fresh as a daisy…aged 61 at the time.
Kickdown is a hoot on motorways & dual carriageways. I dispose of trucks etc just as safely as I do in my wife’s 2002 Sport. Pedal to the carpet…job done.
Like I say…Marmite, but Mazda built them for a reason and as far as I’m concerned, and fellow users they have an equal place on the road if you ignore the Harrumphing Purist Henrys, often as not those who have never experienced one or perhaps even been pax in one. I did one track day…of several…in mine and was “thanked” by others for…“not getting in the way”. Fact was…it was as nippy around this particular track as standard manuals and there was no reason to kneel before them. They meant well I guess. Most I’ve met talked like opinionated biblically /technically uninformed twits…and I’ve met a few.![]()
In conclusion, I’ve been transparent regarding some drawbacks & limitations but equally (hopefully) dispelled a few ill deserved urban myths.