2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

Daily Driver

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 08:40 PM
  #1  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
Daily Driver

Looking for a new car and i was wondering how reliable for a daily driver is a n/a second gen. rx-7. I'm know little or nothing about 2nd or 1st gen rx-7's.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 09:25 PM
  #2  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
???
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 09:29 PM
  #3  
marlaman's Avatar
Need an E6x
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
Yes it's fine. if you would have taken 15 seconds and searched you could have seen that.
countless numbers of rx-7's are daily driven.
Matt
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 09:44 PM
  #4  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
Originally Posted by marlaman
Yes it's fine. if you would have taken 15 seconds and searched you could have seen that.
countless numbers of rx-7's are daily driven.
Matt
I searched and got fuzzy results most had to deal with turbo models. I'm used to fds and most people don't daily drive them and i know how unreliable a fd is.
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 09:56 PM
  #5  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
how does one like this look http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4510671826

too many miles???
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:07 PM
  #6  
MinusHuman's Avatar
Insanity r teh now!1!!1!
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Norman, OK
no, thats quite low miles for an 86...but why did they put back seats in it?

i also dont get why they put "dont know" under motor
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:10 PM
  #7  
sectachrome's Avatar
pistons=teh suck
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: NJ
i DD an 86 n/a, and it was DD'd for 16 years before i got it. 156k and still runs fine for a 17 year old car
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:11 PM
  #8  
Marcus_F's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Southern California
425,000+ miles on mine. About 50K on the second engine. ROCK SOLID. I could wake up tomorrow and drive to NYC (I'm in southern California).
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:14 PM
  #9  
sectachrome's Avatar
pistons=teh suck
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Originally Posted by Marcus_F
425,000+ miles on mine. About 50K on the second engine. ROCK SOLID. I could wake up tomorrow and drive to NYC (I'm in southern California).
thats sick
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:41 PM
  #10  
Kouta's Avatar
Mystical wings guide me~
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
From: Olympia, WA
125k mi on my N/A FC (GXL), daily driven, original engine, works just fine... another voice saying its reliable... just like with every car keep up on maintainence.

OT: wow surprised no one has complained about your mile long sig :p
Reply
Old Dec 7, 2004 | 10:48 PM
  #11  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
Originally Posted by Kouta
125k mi on my N/A FC (GXL), daily driven, original engine, works just fine... another voice saying its reliable... just like with every car keep up on maintainence.

OT: wow surprised no one has complained about your mile long sig :p
Damn i need to edit up some it is pretty long, but its good to see they are reliable making me feel better about buying one. I'll be driving it in the winter anyone do that??
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 12:10 AM
  #12  
kevmac
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Great white north.
i own a 1986 GXL. i find the car to be awsome for a daily driver. even in our cold winters (-30 plus) it starts up with out a worrie.

today it got down to -32 and she started up just fine

just check the oil and do all the needed maintenance

there is about 248000km on the body, and 65000kms on the engine.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 10:40 AM
  #13  
kiyoshi's Avatar
Senior Member
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Does it make your FD reliable if you take off your T-78 out? Just kidding
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 11:17 AM
  #14  
Valkyrie's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,150
Likes: 167
From: Japanabama
Originally Posted by Marcus_F
425,000+ miles on mine. About 50K on the second engine. ROCK SOLID. I could wake up tomorrow and drive to NYC (I'm in southern California).
Woah.

My Confidence in Rotaries: +1
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 01:59 PM
  #15  
Digi7ech's Avatar
I break Diff mounts
Tenured Member 20 Years
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,403
Likes: 4
From: Avondale, Arizona
Well like any old car there are wear items which should be replace for reliability.

I have owned 2 88 NA's.
One had 140k when I bought it. I put on 20k miles and then it developed some engine problems but I did drive it daily and I tended to rape it a bit.
I replaced noraml things like Alternators and thermostats on that one plus the differential mount after I broke it drag launching.

Then my 88 GTU which I bought with 80k miles on it. I then put 20k on it and I blew the coolant seals on it.

I have since installed a turbo engine and replaced EVERYTHING. That's the key part. Replace something before it gets you stuck some where but that's the same for any older car.
I rebuilt the engine, the turbo,got a BIG radiator,cleaned injectors,replaced fluids,new clutch parts and other misc items. It is now pretty damn dependable(crosses fingers).

I actually drove to California with only 2k miles on the engine and it went there with no problem. So far I have put on over 10k miles on the new engine.

Just replace items like radiator,injectors(clean them),filters,fluids, and you'll be set.

I loved my cars when they were NA. Although the turbo is fun too
I would not recommend a turbo rotary for a new comer though. The NA's are easy to work on and less intricate.

BTW
The average mileage on a Non turbo 13b is 120-180k. People with more are lucky or have rebuilds.
Turbo's generally go to 100-120k but have been known to go higher. By this time the engine or turbo usually needs a rebuild though to gain lost hp(compression probably low).

Last edited by Digi7ech; Dec 8, 2004 at 02:03 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 02:37 PM
  #16  
BDoty311's Avatar
88 AE
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 0
From: N/A
N/as are perfectly reliable daily drivers if well taken care of. You only start to sacrafice drivability when you start doing careless modding. BTW I daily drive my TII.
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 04:11 PM
  #17  
importrx7's Avatar
Thread Starter
To Live Is To Die
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Mansfield Ohio
Originally Posted by kiyoshi
Does it make your FD reliable if you take off your T-78 out? Just kidding
That would prolly help but what would be the fun in that, my fd is my fun car i don't expect it to be reliable after all i've done it.
I just didn't know if 2nd gens are as unreliable as fd's because even stock/reliablity modded fd's can be unreliable
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 05:18 PM
  #18  
JamesBong's Avatar
Yes, that is my name.
Tenured Member 05 Years
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz Mtns
my '87 NA has never been reliable, but it was baugit by/for my wife from someone who never took care of it. After a couple of months catching up on maintenence, it's becomming much more reliable, and is now my daily driver. (Thank goodness, 'cause riding my motorcycle in the rain surrounded by idiot SUV driving Californians is scary!)
Reply
Old Dec 8, 2004 | 10:43 PM
  #19  
MidnightOwl's Avatar
2 Rotors, 1 Turbo
Tenured Member 20 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
I've got 135k on my 88 Vert and its still runnin strong. I drive 50 miles a day, 7 days a week to school and work. I'm questioning the level of care the previous owner put into the car, because there are several problems that were never addressed. I've remedied most of the ailments however.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:35 AM.