i m really close to buy 85 rx7 gsl_se 13b, maybe in 1-2days....
and i wanted to ask you rx7/rotory lovers these questions...
"why did you choose 1st gen. rx7 over (other sport cars of same class)..?"
"what are the strong points of rx7 1st gen..?"
"what do u not like about 1st gen rx7..?"

thank you

 

A GSL-SE in almost as fast as an 87-88 turbo RX-7. thats always a plus side.
I have a 79, and it just a simple sports car. light, ok horsepower (for the SE not my car) lots of people to help you if you have a problem with it on this forum. they are really just fun to drive. i learned to drive stick on a gsl-se, and it made me fall in love with RX-7s.

 

I chose my car because of 1) uniqueness of the engine 2) the body lines...pure japanese design with european influences 3) great handling, power(ish )
The only thing I don't like about the car is me not being able to fit in it very well.

 

I bought mine because I fell in love with RX-7's back when someone i worked with let me tear into his FD, so this is the first step up to an FD of my own. Its one of the best handling cars out there, It'll take some abuse, easy to fix, wonderful potential. As a whole there are plenty of them in north america, but how many do you see on the streets of your town, compared to say, a Civic. I'm not bashing Civic owners, my buddy just bought an Si to get him around and I've owned one before My 7. I wont go back. EVER!!

 

i choose it because it looks the best of all the rx-7 gens, and the rotary engine. the only things i dont like in them, is that there hard to find, and due to age, they'll have their imperfections. get one, you wont be dissapointed

 

Well I currently don't own one but I'm working on it at this moment. The only 7 I've ever driven was an 85 FB. The one word that comes to mind when I think about the driving experience is "Raw". The car was stock as day but it took corners like it was on rails, the exhaust note was to die for and as far as I know for myself, I definately got looks in it while test driving. The feeling was nastalgic to say the least. It had that classic 7 burgandy interior color and just the way the doors shut alone was enough to take me back in time. What I'm trying to say is it really isn't just a car but it's something that will grow on you even in the small details. You take care of it and it will take care of you, you won't be disappointed. (Just don't go thrashing the **** out of it the first day you get it and then show us pictures of it wrapped around a telephone pole, also don't stuff a v8 in it please)

 

I've owned two FB - I love them for the great styling (best of the era IMHO), easy to work on, reasonably reliable, cheap to buy, different engine, super fun to drive even if its not super fast, etc. This site is also a fantastic resource too.

What I don't like it is the steering feel - a nice rack and pinion setup would be perfect but its not horrible by any means. My current car has a sunroof which takes out an amazing amount of headroom.

 

They are flipping awsome and take abouse that anyother car would buckle under when people call them bulletproof they reallymean it, no dinkey valve covers or springs or back and forth motion in ingine but that smooth as a babys bottom. great handling. easy as poop to rebuild, cheap and light weight not to mention if your talking 2g or 3g 50/50 weight distribution and i am going to work on that next on my car

 

1) True sports car (cheap, lightweight, and easily maintained, meaning this is the only of the three generations that fall into this category)
2) Handling, though suspension is ancient, chassis more than makes up for it and makes for a tremendously great feel as you drive the car - a true driver's car.
3) Rotary engine. I've got to be honest with you - I'd have never bought an Rx7 ever had it not been for the rotary engine. I put engine before all else. I'd be driving around in a boxer six powered vehicle right now instead, and in so much debt just for replacing parts it wouldn't be funny.
4) 12A. It may not have the best of power, but it is definitely one hell of a great engine.

 

"why did you choose 1st gen. rx7 over (other sport cars of same class)..?" well thats easy, no cars in the same class have the rotary engine.
"what are the strong points of rx7 1st gen..?" quick, easy to handle, easy to work on the engine. in all a very simple machine.
"what do u not like about 1st gen rx7..?" theres not much to dislike.
its my daily driver and it hasnt disappointed me.

 

Mine followed me home, so I keep it around.........

 

All are good points!
My story is this!
Never liked the lines too much
once i drove it fell in love!
50/50 weight dist.
and for the Power!!!!
I have a gsl se with a turbo! and It would run with anything!!!!! almost!!lol

 

The car is the perfect size--not too small, but fits like a glove. The lines are classic. The lighter first gens (S, GS) are a kick to toss around. The GSL-SE is more of a cruiser but still fast and fun. You can't get a better sports car for twice the money.

 

I love the amazing handling and the simple sexiness of the FB. Someone above said that this car will grow on you. They've got it right. Every time I walk away from the car, I HAVE to look back atleast once and admire it.

Also, coming out of a turn and looking in the rear view mirror and going, "Where'd they go?" is pretty funny too.

 

After looking at a slightly used 87, in 87, I passed in favor of a Riviera. In 01, I was at my step brother's used car lot visiting and ran across an 87 nearly identical to the one I passed on. After a short test drive, I was hooked.

Once I got back home and on the net, researching and studying all about the 7s, I decided I had to have one of each generation. The 2nd 7 I purchased was a 1st gen I bought on eBay. By the time I had completed the 2200 mile round trip to bring it home, I had bought 3 more 1st gens .

Once I started working on the 1st gens, the idea of owning all 3 gens quickly went by the wayside. I was hooked on the simplicity and inexpensive costs to mod the old school rotarys and have not looked back, or should I say forward, since.

So now the big secret is out. Many of you think I have owned and worked on rotarys since day one, but alas, this is not the case. Next month makes 6 years of owning my 1st rotary, which I still have as my DD. Most everything you all think I know, I've learned most of in the past 5 years. Most of which has been from spending mant many hours on the various rotary forums, along with parting out about 1/2 of the 15 7s I've owned in 6 years.

So there's hope for each and every one of you if you want to learn about rotarys. All you need to do is buy a bunch of them, have no life and spend all of your time working on them, then spend the rest of your free time on the forums, reading and learning. Since I have always enjoyed learning, taking on new challenges and aquiring new skills, the rotarys have become a perfect fit for me. In some aspects, it has become a mission, particularly when it comes to building the widebody. Even though the hours spent on the car have taken many times more than I expected, and the cost increase has been almost as bad, it's one of those life goals I will complete. I did the same thing when I went back to college to graduate with a BS at the age of 40, after being out of school for 14 years.

Some days I'm not sure if it's determination, or just plain stubbornness that has gotten me as far as I have learning about and working on rotarys. I do ascribe to one philosophy though, "I am smarter than inanimate objects and they will not get the best of me". Oddly enough, that very simplistic view of the mechanical world seems to work quite well. If it cannot think, it cannot out think you and eventually you become smart enough, learn enough, to understand it.

So much for my philosophical ramblings. I like the 1st gens because they are fun and what a sports car should be without all of the bells, whistles and electronic crap found in most of todays models.

 

I just have a gsl-se and it keeps up with WRX's. I was surprised too.

 

Low cost.
Has that look.
Easy to work on.

 

It wont with the STI.


But anyways. I've been into cars pretty much all my life, atleast interested. My bud just sold his first gen, but about 4 years ago, When was eleven, i fell in love with teh 1st gen. Thelines are awesome. Now, 15...I own one almost mint and love the rotary engine, will definately always stick with rotary, or always have one. I fell in love with this thing, Get it, you wont regret it.

 

When I was looking for a car it pretty much matched all my requirements:

-RWD
-Maneuverable
-Manual
-Cheap
-Potential to make power
-Cheap

Although I might have gotten an AW11 MR2 if I had found one for cheap....but yeah, she's one fine driving (and looking) piece of machinery. Now if only I could fix the numb steering. And the fuel mileage. And the head room.

 

"why did you choose 1st gen. rx7 over (other sport cars of same class)..?"
"what are the strong points of rx7 1st gen..?"
"what do u not like about 1st gen rx7..?"

1. it was cheapest $200 it looks way diffrent and better. motor.
2. i dont know sorry
3. hard to find people in my area that own the same car. geting it running. but still a great car.

 

+1. I bought my first rx7 for $700 dollars and then spent the next 3 months trying to make it run right. Ive been driving it now for 6 months and i love it. Still needs a whole lotta work but after a while you just fall in love with it and realize that you are never done with an rx7.

 

I've kept pace with some fairly respectable cars. STI...no. I know this.

The RX-7 is great for 1. Getting some respect. You'll have to learn to work on your car, and pretty soon you'll be good. People respect that no matter what. 2. You'll learn how to drive well. I know I have 3. It's cheap, and looks good.

 

I bought mine brand new. It was the best car for the money in 1980. Since then I have collected five more of all generations. My 80 is still my favorite, even though my FD is my daily driver.
More fun for the buck, handles better, easy to work on.
NO freakin computer, no tps, no BS.

 

Very low cost
Lines
Race history is better then every other car in the world
Handling
Feel
Modability
Tough as nails (crashed through 2 concrete bariers and drove home)

My Rx-7 was my first car. I got it on my 17th birthday and drove it. It feels the way a car should, it handles great, it is cheap, it looks good, it was perfect. I also bought with strict purposes of racing in mind so.... Yes... I bought my first car souly for the intent of racing it (looking to get into rally lol)

Buy a first gen you will not be dispointed if you like a drivers car.

 

I currently have three 1st gens my 80 needs rebuild and 2 79 parts cars........And i have owned an 85,83 and a spark yellow 79 that I recently sold to buy my 88 vert.. first gens are my favorite by far for simplicity and looks..They are just a fun and simple car to drive.......I sold my 79 SA to a friend who has wanted one since they came out and I know it went to a good home......I love the vert but the driving by the seat of your pants feel of the 1st gens can't be beat......