This summer I'm looking to do a long-distance road trip (3000+ miles) starting from Sacramento, CA and going to Pikes Peak, CO. I've been really into rotaries for a while now, but I've been saving up for a while to get one fun car for a road trip.

My main question is, is an FB the right choice for this? I've heard great things about the 12a's reliability, but would I be able to find a good one in that price range or would it likely need an expensive rebuild? Similarly, MPG is somewhat important, I'd like to get above 23 on the highway if possible. Living in CA, I would also have to pass smog. I've heard horror stories, but I've also heard that it could be done. Could a <$5000 FB pass smog?

The most important thing to me though is will it be fun to drive and enjoyable. Honestly I would like a convertible (thinking Miata/Del Sol), but I've had a thing for rotaries for a while now and I've heard great things about the FB.
Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

For less than 5K don't expect to be able to drive it home. Also passing smog in Kali will be a pain in the a$$. Clean, well cared for reliable 7s are going for around 10k now and thats not including SAs or GSL-SE which fetch much higher premiums.

The 12A is very reliable and if running right, easily get 23 mpg hwy and around 17 mpg cty.

 

Damn, sounds like prices have gone up a bunch since I was last searching. It's a shame smog has to be an issue but I have heard it's possible. Smog equipment has to be in top shape and everything has to be working correctly though. Doesn't sound like I could find anything like that in the $5000 range. I can do my own work on cars, but finding a decent one that would have repairs in that range sounds very rare.

 

The road trip could definitely be done but probably not for $5000. I sold a ‘79 Rx7 a few years ago. On BringATrailer and the person that won the auction insisted on driving it home in January from Cleveland Ohio to Louisiana. It made the drive no problem.

 

I have driven PA to Oregon (and back) 4 times. PA to Texas (and back) 3 times. OR to Texas twice. PA to Maine, OBX, Florida, etc etc. I love road trips and hate flying.

BUT, buying a new-to-you RX-7 and setting off on a road trip is a terrible idea. These cars are 30+ year old antiques now and parts are hard to find in the best of times. If you are 500 miles from home and an old brake caliper seizes you can NOT go to NAPA and get a new one. You will be living in a hotel for 3 weeks waiting on parts to rebuild it yourself. Seriously.

Many guys on the first gen forum will tell you how reliable and awesome these cars are, but,... They're living in 1990 (sorry guys). I love my '85 FB and would NEVER trade it for an FD (and I'd **** on an FC before owning one) but it's an antique car that's a real pain to get parts or service for. Truth.

A $3000 Honda / Subaru / Hyundai with 100k on it will give you a MUUUCH better trip and be super easy to fix if anything goes wrong. RX-7's are money pits... Gorgeous, sexy little money pits.

 

The only reason I can take my 80 RX-7 on a roadtrip like that is because I've gone over it from head to toe and serviced or replaced all the wear items and changed all the fluids religiously. Even then I would pack spares and tools just in case.

 

Drove my 80 down to Arizona in 2017. From Alaska. (drove it UP in '02 from San Diego!) So it 'can' be done. Epic trip thru the back-country byways of the West.
Car had about 98,000 mi on it at the time (now: 110K) -with original drive-train. That said, she is in pretty good shape, and I had owned her for 17 yrs at that point, so I knew her inside/out.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. But only after your Toy is thoroughly vetted for such trips. And that, of course, takes time and ownership under your belt.
Best of Luck, which ever way you go!

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Fellow Members, I was not knocking FB's in my earlier post. I love these cars and road trips in general. But the OP seems new to RX's and I just wanted to put a little "reality" in his face before he makes a mistake.

I hope to get my FB in shape to drive it to the Tail of the Dragon. But I've put about $15k into this car after the initial purchase. OP sounds like he wants to buy a $5k FB and immediately set off on a road trip. That is a dangerous proposition.

I love these cars. I truly do. But any 30+ year old car will need a thorough going-through before putting mileage on it and any "all original, low mileage" car is in need of soft-parts replacement. OE rubber brake lines are good for 5 years. Vac-lines dry and crack over time and from heat. Tires dry-rot. And parts are just not available like they used to be. Yes, Mazda still sells fenders and oil pressure senders. But you cannot buy a reman brake caliper at any NAPA, Autozone or Peb Boys. So where does that leave a young guy stuck on the side of the road in Bumbfuck Utah?

It leaves him selling his car cheap, to pay for a plane ticket home.

OP, I fully support you buying an RX-7. Please join our awesome club of cool guys driving cool cars. But if you're buying it for the purpose of an epic road trip..... Don't. You'll be sorry. An FB fully prepped for that "epic romantic road trip" is a $15-20k car.

You'd be better off (safer) renting something from Hertz.

 

One more post from Mr Negative:

In 1996 I drove my 1985 GSL from Eugene OR to Fort Collins Co to visit an old girlfriend. It was a great road trip and the car served me well. BUT the car was only 10 years old and every Single part was still available from Mazda. Fast forward 26 years and Mazda dealerships will look at you like a space alien if you roll in in with a RX-7 with a "simple" problem. You're boned.

These are classic collector cars now. Curios. Obscure cars from a bygone era. Unless you can fix it yourself and/or have a big knowledge base of parts suppliers,... you're a fool.

But really, I'm trying to protect you buddy. It's a "specialty car". I shoot trap and am an NRA Shotgun Instructor. I personally shoot Remington 3200 Shotguns from the '70's and I would NOT recommend anyone to buy one. They are AWESOME shotguns. But there is zero parts availability and only one company I trust in the USA to work on them. If you're new to the sport, look elsewhere.

 

Unfortunately the current used car market almost makes it impossible to find a fun road trip car for the money you want to spend. In 2019 you would have a number of cars to choose from (probably no RX7s though).

If you are still wanting to do this, I would recommend a 99-04 V6 Mustang. Yeah, I like Mustangs but these cars have merits beyond just my biased preferences. The V6 version make decent power and gets good MPGs. They have a good size trunk so plenty of room for luggage. Driving dynamics are pretty good too. In fact many years ago I used a Hertz rental to run an Evolution Solo school and had fun with the car. Just have to find one that hasn't been overheated. A bonus would be a convertible!

I fully support your road trip plan. Road trips are what my wife and I like to do because you really get to see the country. In good weather we load up our 2017 Mustang GT and hit the road when we can.

 

I appreciate all the advice, negative is fine if it stops me from being stuck on the side of the road in the middle of the desert with a blown engine!

I think my idea was that coming from my $1200 Fiero that had (and is having) SO MANY PROBLEMS that spending some thousands more would get me a good example without many problems. And I've had to go through SO MANY THINGS on that car also, all the vaccum lines, tires, basically all the sensors, gaskets... Yeah.

I think I'll get a Miata/Del Sol for that epic romantic road trip and get an RX-7 when I have more time+money (not to mention gas money!) - but I will be back on this board with an FB!

Thanks again

 

I definitely do still plan on it. I think if I was going for a grand touring coupe I'd take my 6th gen Accord coupe, but thank you for the suggestion - a more powerful engine would definitely be nice. It'll probably get uncomfortable and annoying pretty quickly, but I feel like a small, light car, especially with an open top is what I'm looking for. Something of a romantic idea of spirited driving on mountain roads thousands of miles from home with the top down, engine roaring and tires screeching.

 

Here's a crazy idea. Find the RX-7 you want in whatever part of the US. Then post here and see how many of us forum members you can meet along the way. We could all help you work on the car during your trek. I'll volunteer for the KC area. I have a four post lift and all the tools to do some maintenance. You of course would need to plan this well in advance and have all the maintenance and spare parts on hand because part availability can be tricky. But the basic stuff like T-stat, gaskets, water seals in intake, belts, etc..

If you've ever watch the Fuzzy Dice Project on YouTube it would be similar to their journey to get the Pinto.

 

I wanted my FB so badly that I flew to Detroit and drove it home to Charlotte. It worked out well, only a few minor issues, but no break downs.

I wouldn't recommend it, but after going through the car, I'd drive it just about anywhere.

To the OP, I think the idea is great, but in all practicality, 5k might get you a driver, but you're looking at a couple grand to make it road worthy. That's IF you get a great car to start with. Deals can be had, but it takes some looking. I looked for 2+ years before I found the exact one I wanted.

 

Hi CK! I flew to Providence RI, bought the car sight-unseen and drove back to Philly that day with my 9yo son. Great road trip but prolly not the smartest move... the car was only running on the primaries and would stall if I let off the gas (lots of fun driving through New York City at rush hour!).

But it was a good trip with my boy. Here's a pic from the DMV in RI, right after becoming the 3rd owner -

Time tested, kid approved!