SilverSilver

I have a car for sale and somebody wants to trade for a 1982 rx7 gsl and i need some advice
I love the idea of being able to rev skyhigh but i have some concerns. This car will be my daily so im just asking for a few things really.

Fuel mileage:Im not expecting 30mpg because i know what this car is, but is 15mpg too much to expect from this car?

Shitting apex seals: How expensive is it to rebuild the engine (12A)

I'm not really concered with the rest, and right now i can't gather my thoughts(car buying is pretty stressful for me since i want a car that i can call baby and love forever)
I'm i feel im VERY mechanically inclined(i've owned 3 cars, newest 1970 so i HAD to learn) I've replaced rocker arms, carbs, alternators head gaskets and some other "hard" items. I'm always set to learn but with this car going to be my only driver, i can't have something go wrong and take forever to fix

What im really asking is... sell me the idea of trading to the rx7. I'm coming from classic muscle and i felt i needed something a bit more modern.
edit:
Sure i think the 1st gens look nice. I saw one in the streets in all black with louvers and just stared.

Another factor is that im secretly an attention ***** when it comes to cars, the thumbs up i got on my other rides made me feel good. Does this car get anything like that? even at car shows?

Another edit:
Do these cars even have anything that resembles a rear seat? I normally fly solo but i'd like to know if i can shove somebody in the back if need be

KansasCityREPU

iTrader: (9)

I would not rely on a 32 year old car as a daily driver. It can take a week or longer to get certain parts if needed for a repair. First gen RX-7 are great cars, but like any older car, they do require maintenance.

It can cost $500 to $1000+ to rebuild a 12A engine yourself. The hardest part to get if needed are the rotor housings. They aren't made any longer and a good set of used ones can go from $250-??? depending on condition.

My advise - if you really want an RX-7, save and buy one, but not as a DD. Use it as a backup.

John McBeth

iTrader: (1)

A fun weekend car, yes! A daily driver that I would depend on to get to work, no. The car is just too old and there will be a delay in getting parts. The 12A in the first gen RX7s is reliable if maintained but the car is nearly 34 years old. I have an '81 Toyota pickup (a vehicle know for reliability) and things break all the time just because of its age so its not a vehicle that can be a daily driver.
I suggest something with fuel injection as many mechanics don't know anything about carburetors as this Mazda has and as well as my Toyota.

SilverSilver

Call me crazy but im currently daily driving a 46 year old car. Not saying i didnt have to invest money in parts and that its not without its fault, but it's pretty enjoyable. I just wanted to see if anybody was loony enough like me to try
edit:my trip to work is only 12 miles daily both ways if that means anything.
At this point i think im set on getting this car, just have to prepare for the worst. Maybe the guy will back out and save me the trouble....

project7s

iTrader: (5)

You guys are just scared lol.
My 84 rx7 is the newest car I own next to that is a 70 cutlass, and 67 el Camino.
Heck my mom has had more trouble from her 06 BMW than I have out of my cars, and holy crap if some thing breaks on a newer car, most of the time the dealer will charge about as much as you could buy an rx7 for lol

oldrrocr

you description matches a late model used Mustang - not an RX7. both good cars but for different uses.

SilverSilver

Same with me if i trade this in
I've had a 69 mustang,70 and 69 Nova. I'm not really scared to get my hands dirty(relives stress for me actually). the 69 nova and mustang have already left me in the side of the road for a few hours so im somewhat ill to the feeling.

I guess right now i should be looking at first time rx7 ownership if anybody can find good threads for that(or just search ha).

The things i do to be different

Qingdao

iTrader: (3)

I agree... Scardy pants!

Until I got my 79' RX7 I'd never owned anything older than 89' car wise, but I DD almost every Honda* make made prior to 1980 for years. I jumped strait into the down draft carb and points and rotary engine. I DD'd it for a couple of years till I got the current red car. I did and still do have a good amount of parts horded, but I was never without a vital part for weeks. Mazda did a pretty good job of making the RX7 pretty well, and the only difficult thing I had to deal with was learning how to fix the re. And that was just because I'm the only one in my group of friends crazy enough to mess with it.

What I'd suggest is to run the 12A till its crap. Then pick up a 13B keg and GSLSE oil pan and swap it in whenever your 12A kicks it. Yeah, its not a perfect solution where you maintain the originality of the car, but it works. You can adapt your nikki carb manifold to mate with the 13B and if you have headers they can be made to work on a 13B as well.

And don't be scared with rebuilding a rotary engine. An invertebrate could rebuild a rotary; it only seems complicated because there isn't anyone around who can sit over your shoulder and give you tips as with a SBC. But it does take a dime. 13B's on the other hand are super plentiful thanks to silly ricer children.




*real Honda vehicles have a wing on there decal's not a silly H.

project7s

iTrader: (5)

Yeah I agree with Qingdao on that I would drive the 12a till it gives out, then swap in a 13b.
You can still get rotor housings for them, or probably find a good running used one, plus you'll be getting a little more power.

Banzai

iTrader: (13)

If maintained, a 1st gen is pretty reliable. However, you may start off behind the curve as you don't know what troubles or possibly half done fixes have been applied to the car before you get it. Generally most cars are by now, on their 2nd, 3rd or more owners. Each who had their own degree of knowledge, skill and ability to work on them. Mechanical parts like brakes, clutch's, waterpumps and alternators are readily available. The same with seals and engine rebuild parts. Other things, like rotor housings, iron's, some body and trim parts are harder to source but not impossibile.

I mostly daily drive a 69 GMC pickup. I do spend some time working on it every so often, but I can go to the auto parts store to get most anything I normally need, sometimes having to wait a day for parts. I doubt I could do the same thing with my Rx-7. Mechanically, 1st Gens and 60's domestic cars are much simplier to diagnois and work on than todays cars, but you'll find a lot fewer people out there who will claim to know much about "rotary powered" cars. Like finding some parts, you probably will find yourself having to search out needed information too. (like you are now, here at these fourms).

Bottom line, these cars are fun and can be addictive in their own way, but I don't believe that daily driving one and being able to find parts and knowledge about them like you can a 35 yr old american car, is the same experience. You may get lucky, the key is finding a good quality, well maintained example to begin with.

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

Fuel mileage would be about 20 - 24 mpg with the stock setup in good tune.

Engine is pretty reliable, apex seals usually only break with added boost.

Rebuilds are pretty cheap and not hard to do compared to a piston engine. Depends on how
worn/damage internals are.

The car will get attention when you drive by or stop for gas etc etc.

You can get rear seats for the cars but only midgets would fit. The JDM cars had em for
insurance reasons.

If you can tolerate occasional downtime that any 30+ year old car might have then I would
say go for it. You should put aside at least a grand or so to cover getting the car into
good shape. All the rubber and wear items will probably need to be replaced/serviced. Also
the stock exhaust is restrictive and you would want to get that upgraded with the Racing Beat
Street Port setup. Not cheap but will last.

Arcolithe

if you're a DIY mechanic, than yes get the rx7
if not, then stick with 10 year old cars and younger.

Cameron38

iTrader: (2)

Another factor for using one as a daily driver besides the reliability factor is the factor of safety. Cars have come a long way since the late 70's and early 80's. Airbags, Anti lock brakes etc. Just something to keep in mind.. especially if it's a loved one driving the car daily

mschiap

iTrader: (20)

For a daily driver, I would get an 84-85 GSL-SE, which has the following advantages

1. GSL-SE has a 13b motor: more power, and much easier to find parts for a rebuild if/when needed
2. GSL-SE has larger brakes
3. GSL-SE stock wheels are 14" There are some decent street tires avail in 14". The 12a cars have a stock 13" wheel. There are no decent street tires avail in 13".
4. GSL-SE uses a 4x114.3 wheel bolt pattern, which is fairly common. The 12a cars use a 4x110 wheel bolt pattern, which is only found on old Mazdas.
5. GSL-SE Fuel injection versus 12a carburator YMMV