Auto 240sx (s13), Really that Bad?

[Neejay]

I cant find an manual 89-94 240sx in the Atlanta, GA thats in good enough shape to not have to rebuild the engine. I can find quite a bit of automatics though. I havent had lots of practice with a manual yet, but I can drive it with minimal skills as I was hoping to fully learn on the 240.

I dont plan to autox, drag, or drift (Not yet, cause Im not in the uprising "240 drift fad") and I really dont even plan on swapping a sr20 (just yet either). So for my current goals for the car, would a automatic really be that bad? Minus the usual "manual is better than automatic", or "manual is more fun". Plus if I do decide to drag, its my understanding that an auto is the best to do it with.

Dont get me wrong, I know I would possibly be loosing some hp to the wheels.

[sxseguy]

Just don't think of it as an automatic. Think of it as a 4-speed, clutchless, sequential gearbox, and then drive it as such. That means shifting it yourself, including downshifting. Just blip the throttle to match revs like a manual.

As far as loosing power, you bet your @$$! My S14 dynoes at 95rwhp in Albuquerque (5200 ft). That's 40% of the factory rated crankshaft power gone due to altitude and drivetrain losses. Still, I can keep up with 200hp cars on the road course.

[skydragoness]

4cyl engines were never meant to have slushboxes

If you find a really clean, well-kept example, but it's a slushbox, and you don't feel like waiting--- then get it. It's not expensive to convert to a 5spd.