WhItEdRiFt

I want to get a 2nd gen TurboII RX7 but I don't quite know how to identify them without looking under the hood or seeing the markings. If I am searching around the internet is there an easy way of knowing if it is turbo or not? I see a lot of them labeled as just 1.3L Rotary but I would assume that means it is either not turbo or they didn't mention that it is.

And what do some of you think is the best year for the 2nd gen and why? I'm looking for an 89-91 because in their specifications charts that year range has the highest HP and TQ and slightly higher compression like the 3rd gen.

Also what insurance rates do some of you have on this car? I have AAA so automatically it will probably be quite expensive, not to mention it is a 2 door and a sports car. Does the turbo make a difference?

Most importantly what kind of condition should I avoid when buying one? I don't plan on getting one that is immaculate just for cost reasons. I figure I could get a lot of parts cheap from other people if I need to replace little things here or there. Are there any major problems with RX-7's that I should be aware off? Such as recalls or unstable parts/equipment.

I appreciate any help and advice you all give me.

Fritz_X

iTrader: (1)

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...threadid=59758
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hreadid=181219

Read those two threads first. They will give you a lot of pointers!

The easiest way to identify a TII is by looking at the hood of the car and seeing if there is a scoop on it. If not then under the hood is a good indicator as you will be able to see the stock intercooler. Look inside at the guage cluster, N/A's have voltemeters whereas the Turbo models will have a Boost guage.

There has been much debate towards the subject of whether or not the S5's higher hp and tq really are beneficial because they are the heavier of the 2nd gens thus the upgrade in power was merely instanted to counterbalance the increase in weight. There have also been discussions on the higher compression from s5's having some difficulty I cannot remember what, but the general consensus I believe was, that the best setup is an s5 engine with s4 rotors? or vice versa? Someone will know not me.

In s4's another visual reference for TII's vs n/a's is that the rims are 16" and the have lots of angular slits along the outer rim. In the s5's case they have a more mesh style rim.

The TII models will have different seats in s4's you will find up to 88 (excluding the anniversary) Cloth Bucket Seats, whereas in 89-91 they will be Leather buckets.

Insurance is going to be tough, but the fact that these cars are old will save you some grief. Insurance however should be the least of your problems if you are considering purchasing an RX-7 and are afraid of excessive costs. Truth of the matter is, that even if the cars run well they are still money-pits because often times people cannot resist modifying them. I have heard testimony to both sides that the Turbo costs more or costs the same as an N/A to various Insurance providers so I guess you will just have to find out.

If it was me buying another new TII, I would say get the S4, get the taillights Bumpers, Mouldings, the beefier differential, and make an s4/s5 combination Engine. But hey! That is just me! Whatever your decision good luck! And, welcome to the Rx7club.com Forum!!

--Fritz

WhItEdRiFt

Wow that was truly an amazing post. I thank you. First thing tomorrow I'll contact my insurance company and get a basic quote to see if it is even in my range.

I'm hoping I can keep this a nice stock car while I work on my Integra. I don't plan on doing any modifications to this at all, I just want it to run well. I'm assuming they are pretty reliable too since so many of people own them. I expect to put some money into maintenance and minor repairs but I believe this is a good investment for a daily driver.

I'll keep researching and see what I come up with for a final decision. I'm still leaning towards the turbo but like I said I'll see what happens between now and when I actually buy a car.

cwsttu

well first of all i see you say you want a reliable driver right? my advice is NOT to buy a turbo II... im not going to say they are not reliable but n/a's are MUCH MUCH MUCH more reliable. i can only assume you want fast right... well n/a's have pep but like i said they dont have boost wearing away the internals like a turbo... just get a n/a for cheap thats in good condition, spend a bit on tune ups, replacement of the normally to go out parts and such and you will have a nice ride... btw yes lots of people own them but doesnt mean they are reliable

WhItEdRiFt

Yeah I figure the turbo will wear down the motor much faster but I still have my eyes on it. What I meant by reliable is something that can get me from A to B, maybe with speed and style, but won't breakdown..a lot hehe. The life of the car is up to the turbo and I'm OK with that.

I think it would be a lot of fun and good experience to have a car that constantly needs work anyways. Never had a RWD car (except my brothers Corolla) let alone rotary. I'll be rockin' it with that combo. Mwahaha! It is definitely going to be great to try something different from a change.

I'm curious about something though. Do any of you feel there is a weight issue with this car? It is something like 3000lbs isn't it? Either that or I read the specs wrong.

Is there some unecessary parts that most people remove from the car to reduce weight? I know after not having A/C with my Acura I will definitely keep it in this car hehe. Maybe some of you drifters may know more about it.