Hello all. I am looking for some advice on buying an RX-7.

What I am looking for is a fun little car than handles well but it
doesn't have to be too terribly fast. I had a few friends in college that had RX-7's and they always intrigued me so I figured that would be a good little car.

I've tried searching and I cannot find an answer, which car handles better, a first gen or a second gen RX-7?

Right now I can get an '85 GSL-SE (which supposedly has had suspension work and been made into a street legal track car) with a blown engine for $1000.

I can also get an '88 Turbo II that won't start for the same price.

First question: which one would you get and why?

Second question: should I replace the engine with another rotary one or a piston engine? I realize I am probably going to get an overwhelming response for the rotary, but I figured I'd ask. What I would like is something that makes around 200-250 hp. I love the rotary. It is unique and it sounds so cool, but I'm thinking it may be easier to drop a Ford 302 or something in one of those.

What do you all think?

 

First gens are lighter and quicker in cornering but are notoriously unforgiving if driven carelessly; second gen suspensions are more sophisticated & less prone to swapping ends but the car is much heavier. Stock second gen motors are considerably more powerful.

If you want a V8, buy a mustang.

Don't wreck a classic sports car because converting to pistons is "easier." You ruin the very lightness and balance that is a first gen's strength when you put an engine in it that weights more than twice as much .

 

think about it boss man, one of the keys to handling is balance so if you stuck a piston engine you would simple ruin one of the great aspects of these cars

But which first or second gen, thats subjective,

1 vote for first gen

 

Your likely going to also get a resounding cry for the first gen, considering the section your in. The first gen is a great car to have, handles beautifully, it's lightweight so any power adder you bolt on makes a noticeable difference and they are extremely easy to work on. As of late there are also more companies making parts for them, so finding upgrades isn't as hard as it was.

 

I don't want a V8. I WANT a rotary, but I was just looking for opinions and trying to be somewhat practical.

I knew that first gens are lighter, but I read an article about the 2nd gen and it kept talking about how advanced the suspension on it was. I didn't know if better suspension trumped lighter weight.

I am not arguing, but from what I've read you can do a V8 swap and not add that much weight AND keep the 50/50 balance without too much work.

I realize this, that's actually why I posted in here. I like the first gen a lot better! I think they look better and are cooler, but what I'm looking for is a great handling car. So, I figure if even the first gen people said that the second gens handle better then I should seriously consider a 2nd gen.

I didn't know how much of a difference the solid rear axle vs. an IRS would make, or if good tires for a 1st gen are hard to find, etc.

 

There are some turbo'd first gens in the for sale section. One of them is beautiful. You can walk away from most V8s with a properly setup first gen turbo. Ask me how I know...

 

Talk to some of our resident autocrossers; they can list scores of cars they have spanked with properly-prepped 1st gens. Including some of today's best offerings. Quite a feat for a 30-year-old design.

At home, I've got a mostly-stock 1st gen and a mostly-stock '03 350Z. The Z is bigger, heavier, 3x more powerful, much faster both off the line and at top speed, and far more sophisticated with regard to engine, electronics, and suspension... but I still enjoy taking my lil 1980 knife-fighter out for a romp through the canyons.

A comparison I've used before; it's like comparing a modern F-22 Raptor to a vintage WWII Spitfire. Which is "better" depends on your taste & how you're measuring.

 

the BEST PART of the 1st gen, is the intangibles. the 1st gen rx7 is one of those cars that has a good connection between the driver and the mechanicals.

its maybe hard to explain, but even a good stock car feels great and is very well balanced and fun to drive. its a lot like an alfa spider actually.

IMO some good shocks, lighter flywheel, a little camber in the front, and the RB street port system makes a really fun car.

in modern terms its still not that fast, but making a car faster in a straight line doesn't always = fun.

the second bit. if you define handling better as more grip, or a faster lap time, i think the FC would win. however there is more rubber in the suspension, so stock they feel more isolated than the 1st gen, and now that it's 30 generally they feel pretty sloppy.

third; yes a v8 fits, and its probably practical, but while you might end up with a nice mustang, you'd have a crappy rx7, IMO.

tires are easy. toyo and sumitomo make great tires in all the sizes we need.

 

V8 it up, because it's a cheap way to have that (imho) awesome V8 noise and a lot of horsepower, plus some torque. I couldn't get near the same level of win with my old busted rotary for the same dollar amount. Of course you should get a 1st gen, what's cooler than driving a wedge around?

 

Perhaps Diven indirectly gave you a good idea check out your local SCCA perhaps you may see both there, I know you can ride along here so I would imagine it's across the board and ride in each one if possiable. While your not driving of course it may help shed some light as to which way you would like to go

just sayyin

 

How do you know?

Good advice. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow, right?

See that is what I was wondering. I think the 1st gen may be for me though.

Your user title may be correct.

That's a good idea. Thanks 13x and Diven.

 

If you post the ads or at least photos of the cars you are interested in, we can get a better idea of which one is a better choice.

 

i got a 1st gen with a blown motor from my buddy. i thought about the fun a v-8 would have in it, but i still swapped with a rotary.

ik a kid from H.S. who had a 91 rx7. it had more power but im still personally happy that i got my first gen. its different, cockpit interior feeling making me feel like i have more control over the car.

and like orion said bolt on power upgrades make a noticable differnts in power

 

302 with aluminum heads does not weigh much more than a turbo rotary and all that goes with that. when i get mine going i'll toss out the numbers, but for now it wouldn't be fair until it's all fluided up and moving by itself and such...

 

The one (2nd gen) was sold so the ad was taken down and the other doesn't have an ad. I just pass by it on the way home every day.

Thanks though.