I'm looking at picking up a first Gen cause I like the body style and the distinctiveness of the rotary engine. My question is this: What kind of trouble can I expect from a car from the 80's? I'm not (necesarily) asking what to look for when buying a 7, but rather when I own one, what is my experience likely to be and what kinds of issues will I likely face.

Maintenance on a rotary engine is likely to be different but in what way, and what parts wear more than piston engines? Are there any first gen issues with suspension or rust areas. There's a lot I don't know and I'm sure once I'm 'in the club' I'll learn a lot the first few hours.

BTW, I'm not just concerned about negative things. My understanding is that the rotary engine is very smooth and lighter than a piston engine. That must produce some wonderful affect as well, so don't be afraid to brag on the wonders of the RX-7

Mods, this may be in the wrong forum, but I know I'm a noob. I trust you'll move it to the proper room. Thanks for all your hard work!

 

Bob,

Welcome to the Club.

This link will get you started information wise-
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/other-what-look-when-buying-just-after-you-purchased-your-rx-7-a-601804/

Then you will want to go to this forum.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/1st-gen-rx-7-faq-page-237777/

If after reading the provided link and looking through the FAQ section and there are more unanswered questions feel free to come back and post them up. :-)

 

rx doctor just handled that so heres mine welcome but watch out one can lead to more and in my case more and more good luck

 

Here's the deal with these 7's. Daily commuter, just turned 150k today:





Purchased about three years ago for $1,500 with 83,000 (that's about 25k a year for you math kids). There's no better way to get around.

Buy it just because it feels good. And it will save you lots of money if you commune with the car.

Which ain't hard with a rotary, Zoooom Zoooom.











I use mine for the 110 mile daily commute into Atlanta, totally inexpensive and fun (23-24 mpg at 80 mph).

 

Thank you Dr, I knew there would be a wealth of information in the fourms, most of it is so very specific and technical. These will provide a good technical overview. I'll be looking for some RX-7 events and just soak up people's experiences and stories. As well as their love for this rare breed. My dad is VERY active in the MG car clubs, I suspect Mazda folk are very similar, except a lot FASTER.

But what I'm really looking for is a guide for my expectations. A rotary engine will be very 'something' but not "something else'. Watch out when 'another thing' happens cause you'll be looking at real trouble. The sweetest part is 'sweet thing' and you'll know why you bought this.

I guess I'm just looking for sentiment and opinion as much as technical specs.

 

Mmmmm nice! seems like the 7's are particularly reliable. I've seen many people who use their first gen as a daily driver

 

They really are good cars. Check out this thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-forum-35/zoom-fest-picture-thread-772737/

 

Welcome to the club! I've been daily driving 1st Gens since October of 2005(with the exception of a dark period from July of 07 to mid January of 08 when I daily drove a 2nd Gen) and I love it. As long as proper maintanence has been performed and it hasn't been neglected or terribly abused in it's life, they can be quite reliable. A word of warning, once you feel the secondaries open up for the first time, you won't ever look back

 

You ask a very good question, let me summarize my Sons thoughts.
"You take a basically stock early eightys car, put a roll cage in it and then race it by driving it to the limit (Mazda), it won't break, then you have my BMW and are on first name basis with the local towing companys receptionist".

John

 

The first gens are the most reliable, the 2nd gens are moderately reliable, and the 3rd gens act like they're made of paper.

 

I think I know this game;

"A rotary engine will be very fun to listen to but not something everyone enjoys the smell of. Watch out when apex seals fly cause you'll be looking at real trouble. The sweetest part is cruising down the highway at 80 with windows down and sunroof off, and you'll know why you bought this."


Hope that helps and welcome

 

Hmmmmm, secondaries . . . . . I must learn of these!

Thank you all for chiming in. Just looking at the type of fun that people have with their cars and the fact that people spend more time upgrading and customing their cars rather than doing restorations (although those days are coming) indicate that these cars are built to be reliable

 

Wow, I hadn't considered the smell of the thing. And the apex seals are something I'll have to learn about as well. The car that I am intested in has a sunroof (my minimum requirement having been raised on roadster convertables) and I fully expect to have a VERY nice time on the highways. Here's a question, will I experience simliar delight on a mountain road, keeping the revs up and all?

 

Oh man, I am soooo there! Looking forward to zooming with you all.

 

There's a good rotor head crowd in the SE, going to the various meetings is a lot of fun (full time fun sometimes, it seems like they've been going on all summer this year).

I got my first rotary after getting tired of keeping my MGB going, you know, those weekly tune ups. The 7 handles a lot like a B, but the rotary puts it in another category of performance and reliability.

Show us the pictures when you get the car.

 

+1 on reliability if you take care of it it'll have your back. I've been daily driving mine for over 2 years i think now, and it's only left me stranded once and it was my fault for leaving some loose wiring near the exhaust :P hope you have fun with it, and yes, mmmmmmm secondaries

 

I've driven almost every MG sports car since the 32 J2 and knew that I am not up to the maintenance they require. As you know, the handling on the cars is legendary, though. If the 7 is as good as you say in that department, I'll really have something to look forward to.

 

Stu's video of some of the parade laps at Road Atlanta during last weekend's Zoomfest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v72zXSzISCI

 

that's a nice vid

 

Stu just posted another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kARKG57symU

 

Never had a problem with mine, except when my home made throttle cable snapped. Then I just turned the idle up to about 4k and drove her home

When I first got her all buttoned up, my maiden voyage was to Atlanta, 400 miles round trip. Never had a problem.

 

The 7's handling is definitely on par with the MG's. Just make sure you replace the old worn 23+ year old suspension parts and bushings. Even with just a spring/shock/strut combo with swaybars and some good tires will yield phenomenal results. BTW, I drove my 83 from Hagerstown, MD to Boise, ID(2300+miles) and never had an issue. One of the only reasons I trailered it back to Hagerstown from Boise was because the front rotor was blown Even with a blown front rotor, it still got me to work and back everyday(16 miles round trip) for about 2 months before I parked it

 

Welcome Bob,

I enjoy my RX7, its got problems but its nearly 29 years old. So it's old enough to have character. Hadn't been registered in 13 years and its running really well. It's like driving an airplane, even smells like it. Those secondaries will make your molars show with your smile. You'll learn to love the problems and enjoy the car. I know a few of my bearings are shot, the suspension has given up, there's no A/C or P/S, rust on the steering wheel. My headlights work, but when I first turn them on the driver's one pop's up, I drop them, turn them back on and they both come up. When I turn them off, the passenger side drops and I have to turn them back on so they both go down. When you've forgotten what they call the other engine, you'll know you're hooked.

I think there's a MGB with a rotary floating around the forum.

 

Here is the deal:

you give the car oil, gas, and love and keep revving it high a good few minutes after it's nice and warm. Then the car rewards you with smiles and handling like that of a dream. It's a pretty sweet deal.

 

It's a unique feel to drive a 1st Gen RX7. It makes one smile with a simplistic joy.

This is not a vehicle for everyone. As it takes a lot of TLC, patience to maintain any old vehicle. Much less an technically exotic import.

For me it is also a time machine to the 80's when these where new. I have owned brand new, used and after 19 years I got another last year for project.