I have had some thoughts lately about getting a secondary car to keep the miles of my RX7. I obviously can't do it while I'm in the middle of a semester but maybe later. I'd like to keep it Mazda and fun to drive. I was thinking a MX3 or MX6 with the KLDE V6. Seems like a great engine, and it certainly sounds amazing. Anyone have any experience with them?

Other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

I have two spark yellow 1979 RX7's.
I just brought home a companion for them in the form of a 1969 Opel GT.
So far the 7's have not accepted the Opel, most likely due to the faded red repaint with about 1/3 primer spots.
Alternatively it could be envy due to the Opels rack & pinion steering.
I will update as the socialization continues.
Dennis in Delhi, CA

 

I have an MX-3 (SOHC 1.6) to go with my 7. Actually it was the 2nd car while my 7 was getting a rotorectomy.

It's got some nice seats and gets an honest 30+ mpg. That's all I like about it. It's hard to see over your shoulder when changing lanes and not pleasant to work on. However, it has been very reliable like any other Japanese car from the 1990s, so it's very good student car. The V6 version (GS) might have more oomph, but on the MX-3 forums they say parts are hard to find for it.

 

Yeah I thought the MX3 v6 was just the regular KLDE but its actually a 1.8 (!!!!) K8 V6.

An AW11 MR2 is looking tempting as well. There is a super clean 4a-ge silvertop (20v) swapped one for pretty cheap near where I live....

 

I say a miata!

 

Mmm I love my protege



Put a little over 50K on her and nothing short of oil/airfilters and a set of plugs.

Get a protege5, then your 7 will be excited with the cargo area for engines.

 

Agreed. DD an 04 MSM, great lil car and fun to boot.

 

if you want to keep it Mazda, i'd say try Protege5 or Miata.

since it sounds like you're open to other marques, i'd recommend a Celica GT or GT-S. i had one and it was great in every respect. it was peppy. it had decent space. it was awesome on gas and Toyota-reliable. i miss mine dearly.

 

if you want good gas mileage get a geo metro, and its only 1litre. i think it fits the rx7 well

 

While I think they are "ok" they are too expensive for me. I'm looking at sub $2500.

 

I say a good companion for your Rotary is a truck to carry all the parts and engine swaps in!

 

I say a Miata as well. The MX-6 is great in V6 form!

 

MX-6's are pretty nice cars. Decent aftermarket for the KLDE's and plenty of information on KLZE swaps. 1st Gen MX-6 GT's and Probe GT's were 2.2L Turbo 4 cylinders. Definitely alot of potential. You could always try and find a Millenia supercharged. I think some of the Protege's got the Miata 1.8L which has alot of aftermarket for. Of course Miata's are fun.

 

I say find a high mileage Miata, toss the motor and swap in a 12A. Or get a 1st gen MX-6. Something about them really tickles me right, even though they are front drivers.

 

Miata 1.8. I have an R package and it drives great and gets 29 MPG average 50/50. 33-34 interstate. Handles like a beast and is SUPER easy to park and zip through tight squeezes in traffic.

 

1st gen mx6? They are too boxy I think.

 

Well part of the reason I want a secondary car is that the 7 isn't very practical. A Miata would be LESS practical.

 

I highly recommend the miata as well. They are incredible cars.

 

FWIW we've got a protege5 as our daily driver and its been a great car.

 

My DD is an Explorer, but that is because I have winter to contend with. Doesn't get the mileage of the 7, but it does have 2 doors.

 

A clean non turbo FC would make a great DD.... Protoge' or a 626 would be good choices also...

 

I'm thinking a KLZE swapped 626 would be fun

 

cobalt ss turbo!! lol *puts on flame suit*

 

Always a sedan. I don't see the reason to own a miata and RX at teh same time (no offence). They both pretty much have the same purpose and do the same things, kind of like having two left arms and no right.

 

How do you like your Cobalt SS?? I am thinking about getting one for a "non-mazda" purchase.. I have been so enamored by the Cobalt SS's since I saw one on Hoosier slicks killing almost EVERYONE in Autocross a couple of months ago!!