transmission swap
 

Is the 5 speed the same in the 96,97 year models as in the 99-2002 year models

Yes

Thanks for the reply. I am looking at a 1999/2002 they are not sure and unknown mileage
one person says it was a 98 another 2002 I know it has to be 99-2002 since it does not have flip up lights

They both do agree that it is a stick speed number 5 and it no longer works
the shifter will not go to another
What I have concluded is that it is a 5 speed and it will not shift which could be the slave or master or the trans could be bad
inspection went out in july 2011 .the body and top is in perfect shape rear defrost new tires
now waiting on a price

if the price is right buy it, drain the trans and see if metal shavings come out( if you have a magnet strip you dont care about put it in the pan your draining to catch anything your eyes may have not caught). if none come out change master and slave fill trans and adjust the clutch to see if itll work.

There is a common problem with some of the 5 speeds hanging up in more than one gear or between gears. It is a cheap and easy fix if that is what it is. Use it to your advantage. 5 speeds are only $150 if you look in the right places so make a deal based on that knowledge.

I am beginning to think the daughter and the mom are wanting to sell the car more than the dad wants to sell
I have talked to both of them and they assurred me he wants to sell,even gave me his phone number to call him
Called three times and left message and no call back.
He may be holding out to see if I keep calling thinking I really want it bad and get more for it.
I would not pay very much as I have find a couple running that are reasonable
Will let you know if he sells and I buy

99 - 00 are NB1 and have no VVT, 01+ VVT if you look under the hood. From inside, 01+ also have sexy white gauges and NB1s had ugly black gauges with green lights.

Buy the NB, you will love it. They look way better then NAs :) IF it's a NB2 you can score big time as the VVT is becoming well loved by the turbo crowd now that they can control and tune it.

@flying solo
appreciate the advice.
The big problem is trying to talk to the owner.
The wife and step daughter keep saying he wants to sell but I can't get him to call me back or catch him to talk to him in person
I have about decided he thinks the longer he holds off talking the more I will want it and offer more
either that or the wife and daughter wants it sold more than he wants it sold
I will go back and look at it and see what color the gauges are in it

Gauges aren't a guarantee that it's an NBII, manufacture date on the door, VVT, VIN are all better, but it's a quick and dirty visual. Unless they swapped in a 01+ cluster into a 99-00 like I did.

Also might be worth a call to Mazda to see if it had a Torsen from the factory