hi guys, i'm a student looking for a decent sporty car that fits in my budget, one of the cars on my list was the RX7 2nd generation. It would help me greatly if some of you owners could answer a few questions. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

1. ) how is the reliability of the RX7? my friend said it was really bad but i get mixed thoughts, so what do you think?

2. ) how long is typical engine life? a rough estimate would be fine.

3. ) are repairs expensive?

4. ) would you get it if you're looking for reliability/performance?

THanks!!!

 

ermmm no one has replied yet...

 

Aight here we go buddy, and if you take care of them than they will be very reliable.

1. Reliability can be an issue if you don't know or ask how to take care of a rotary. Aight make sure she has enough oil and coolant, use 20w50 castrol GTX, use mazda only oil filters and use the green ****.

2. A typical Naturaly asspired engine can last into the 200,000 mile range if taken care of

3. Repairs aren't too bad because you will be doing them yourself cause no one knows jack about the cars.

4. Reliability = maybe if you can keep up with the repairs and such / Performance = hell yeah the rotary is indefinite, I just made a Na with 280 RWHP of course it only ran for about a half an hour but hey, it was an NA!!! I am a rebuilder god!!!

 

Yeah, i agree with Gefunk. How the **** you get 280RWHP out of an N/A? and did you break it in or just run the **** out of it just to play?

 

Try this:
http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/
and this:
http://www.fc3s-pro.com/

Are you thinking about a n/a or Turbo?

RX-7s get a bad reputation for reliability from the general public. Their maintanance is more critital than normal. You'll see a lot of posts about blown engines, etc. This is often a result of 1. Lots of modifications, 2. Improper modifications.

Parts are pretty expensive. Doing work yourself ensures that it's cheaper and done correctly.

 

Remember, you are maintianing a car that is at least ten years old. Even a ten year old Honda needs maintaince.

You will spend more replacing stuff than you want to. Period.

But if you get the best car you can afford, have it checked out by a rotary wrench (compression check), and do the regular stuff, you should be fine.

Cory
86 RX-7 w/160K

 

I am in a similar situation.

I am a student who bought a T2 as a daily driver. It became evident very quickly that in my climate and conditions the T2 was not good for this purpose. I modded the car and have had numerous repairs along the way. Then the motor went and I'm stuck trying to decide whether or not to let the car sit for a few years while I try to get the money for a rebuild, or to just sell the dam thing and move on. I would suggest to anyone thinking of buying an RX7 to make sure they always have enough in the bank for at least 1 rebuild, that way if it happens your not stuck.

 

The question is do you want a sports car or a "sporty car"? If you want a car that will turn on every time you turn the key, gets decent gas mileage, and still has a little zip then you want a cheap import four-cylinder. If you're willing to sacrifice lots of time and money, can live your life while your car sits dead in your driveway for weeks or months on end, and are mechanically inclined then I highly recommand a s5 tII. Theres nothing like putting the gas pedal on the floor and listening to what sounds like a jet engine taking off under your hood.

 

i hear after reading a link that if u spend money on new timing belts, etc you car will run more reliable

since i'm still a student, i don't really have much mechanical skills yet, but i will learn it if i have to.

so my question is are these performance modifications to improve reliability hard to install? if not then i should be able to learn how to do it with help.

 

depends on what you think a reliable car is.... if you think a reliable car is one that you can skip out on maintenance and just beat the snot out of the car, then an RX-7 is not for you. if you are willing to keep up with the car properly and take care of the car, then an RX-7 will be just fine for you. RX-7s do have a bad rep for reliablility, but it comes mostly from "normal" people that dont do maintenance on cars. plus whenever you start to do mods, the reiliability is going to be affected. perfromance comes at the cost of other things in all sitiuations. but the bottom line is, if you can take care of it religiously then you wont have many problems. if you cant do that, then dont get an RX-7. if you are still worried about it holding together, then io suggest getting an N/A(non-turbo) they seem to be less finiky than the Turbo 2s.

 

Gefunk knows what hes talkin about.

 

I have to admit. My RX-7 has about a 50/50 reliability rating with me right now. It seems like I am constantly doing something to make it more reliable and closer to "perfect".

I have done everything from having to do simple oil changes every 2.5-3k miles. I have drained and replaced the tranny fluid, flushed the radiator, installed a new sunroof assembly, resoldered dummy light cluster and installed a new wiper switch.

These were the "optional" or standard maintenance items I have done. What did my RX-7 do to thank me? It blew a rear Apex seal back in July. What did I do after swearing up a storm? Found a new motor, installed it, washed the car and waxed it.

You will learn to both love and hate these cars if you aren't careful. The most intelligent thing I can suggest if you do buy one, buy an NA and save the money up for a nice rebuilt motor right away. Keep that fund available at all times, you never know when a motor will give up. My motor blew while I was driving it, shifting from 4th to 5th gear at 55 mph. I was only doing 2.5k rpm when it chugged and went. So, babying the car isn't going to avoid blowing motors.

I hope you decide to get one, but be prepared to be working on the car on a bi-weekly basis. It may be major repairs or something simple, like an oil change. But you will be doing something.

 

i thought rx7s had timing chains not timing belts?

 

i didn't know rx7s had any timing belts or chain...doesn't the cas's gear link up to the gear on the e-shaft and isn't the "chain" used to turn the oil pump "only"??

 

bio, yes and yes. No timing chains, because there's no camshaft

PaulC

 

maybe thats the chain i was mixed up with

 

Both my Turbo II and Convertible RX-7s have been great with reliability, but I've educated myself on these cars.

I knew going in how many miles were on the engines, the compression on the engines was within spec (verifying the engine was taken car of), and the condition of the cars.

After the initial parts replacements, tuneup/60K mile service, etc.. the cars have been excellent.

It really depends on what kind of car you want. RX-7s are UNCOMPRIMISING sports cars, and they're a BLAST to drive. I hate driving anything else with a passion, especially an automatic.

They are sought after, collectible, upgradible, and most important - ultra fun to drive.

Did I mention the sweet supercharger & turbocharger bolt on upgrades, 8 different rotary engines to choose from, bodykits, magazines, toy models, 1/10th scale R/C car that's gas powered by a mini rotary engine, magazines, etc.. etc...

 

dude you so got to show me that rotary powered R/C car....aka sites and ****

 

 

 

On the wankle/rotary powered R/C car, here's the original thread:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=63914

Most of the pictures are gone, but I "think" someone made a 2nd gen shell by doing a fiberglass copy of a "clay made" 1/10th scale FC shell.

The actual "glow fuel powered" 1/10th scale R/C rotary engine and drivetrain/transmission were done by modifying a 1/10th piston model racing kit with a wankle/rotary model plane engine.

The results are sweet.