GI_Drewsifer

Hello RX-7 Owners Club!

My title says, I have a few questions that I figure only a forum like this could answer. This was a very good year for me, so I got some money in pocket. I'd like to move up on the car food chain. Right now I drive a 1988 Porsche 944, which I love to death. But it's N/A, and not the fast thing ever. So I'm looking for something with a little more get up and go. And I've often looked at the FC RX-7. More specifically the Turbo version (Turbo II I believe is its nomenclature).

How reliable would a Turbo II be for a daily driver? What kind of mpg can I expect to get out of it? Would I be replacing apex seals as often as the naysayers suggest? And any other general information about living day to day with a rotary would be nice. Thanks in advance for the help!

GI_Drewsifer

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

You'll find most (if not all) of your question answered in the FAQ.

Please be aware that this forum has been around for quite a while, and almost every common question has been covered many times in the past. It is very common for new members to ask several common questions, all of which have been answered in the FAQ for many years.

Standard online forum etiquette says that before you ask a question, you should first check the FAQ and search for you answer. This is not only polite, but often the quickest way to find the information you are looking for (as well as learn a bunch of new stuff!).

Some of the questions covered in the FAQ include:

-NA to Turbo conversions
-Electrical problems
-Stereo wiring
-Wheel sizes
-Stock HP and torque specs for all models
-Common abbreviations
-Common electrical problems
-Mileage, storage, winter driving
-much, much more

The 2nd Gen Forum also keeps an Archive of popular and informative posts. You can access this archive by using the links at the top of this forum.

Helpful links:
-FAQ: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494667
-Search: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/search.php
-Archives: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=72

GI_Drewsifer

Thank you for the helpful links. I have already glanced through the FAQ and found many helpful item in there. But I would like to hear some testimonials from actual owners. I've done as much empirical research at this point as I can. It's nice to hear people who really own the car I'm looking at tell me how their experiences have treated them. Numbers only go so far.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

How about a search for "daily driver", "average mileage" and variations on that theme? These topics come up several times a week.

The FAQ was also written by people who own these cars...

Jpk3200

Welcome. I used to have a 1987 Porsche 944 in the family and now own a 1990 Turbo II, so we sort of came from the same place.

I must say that my biggest issue with the car is the electronics. When I bought it, the following had the following electrical problems:

- wiper switch (now fixed)
- driver's side window switch (now fixed)
- idiot cluster clock (now fixed)
- theft deterrent system (now fixed)
- fuel sender unit (now replaced)
- cruise control (new switches are being shipped now)
- ABS (still working on)

Notice that the only thing that I actually replaced so far is the fuel sender unit. Most of the electrical problems can be fixed by sanding down the electrical contacts or removing cold solder joints and putting new solder down.

Pieces of plastic will break here and there. We are talking about a car with almost 20 years on it. Mazdatrix and blackdragonauto sell lots of replacement parts. Members on this forum sell parts as well.

I know it gets old to say this, but if you take care of your car, it will take car of you. Make sure if you buy one that the previous owner didn't do anything stupid with it.

Aaron Cake is right about the FAQ and search though. Download an FSM and wiring diagram too.

GI_Drewsifer

Please don't take this the wrong way, but this is one of the least friendly forums I've ever been to. I realize it gets more than a little annoying having people show up asking the same questions, but I would think you would want to welcome people. At Rennlist we often had people asking the same questions across boards, but even the P-snobs were more open and informative than this. But thank you none the less for the responses JPK3200 and Aaron Cake.

GI_Drewsifer

hhn2002

well i dont know how reliable ur 944 is but just make sure u keep that 944 if u plan to buy and fc. i bought my fc about 6months ago. the previous owner neglected to change the oil in a timely manner. in fact he only changed it when the low oil light came on. but he kept meticulous records of everything. and he had the shop do almost all of the work. oil changes and all. guy was pretty loaded and it was completely stock and so i bought it anyways. now i am in the process of rebuilding my engine. when i took it apart alot of the seals were carbon locked. that was the only problem i could find. there was no apex seal damage at all. so if the previous owner hadn't neglected to change the oil regularly i probably wouldnt have a dead motor. i think that yes they can be reliable dd. my engine had 140k on it when it died but i think it would be even more appropriate to say that they maybe more sensitive to any amount of neglect than piston engines.

well thats my .02

welcome

InGroundEffect

Hard to compare this site to RennList. I was on there for several years and they have some complete *** Hats as well.

One thing to consider is that 944 Turbos can be had for the same price as very good condition Turbo II's. I had a an 88 944 Turbo for a couple of years and it was my daily driver and had relatively few problems with it. I also have an 87 RX-7 and it was my Daily Driver for 7 years. I had few problems with it as well.

The 944 Turbo and the RX-7 are both at the bottom of their value. A $5,000 RX-7 will not gain in vaule. A $5,000 951 could be redone and become a $10,000 car with the right care.

The biggest difference between the two cars is weight and size. My RX-7 feels like a go cart campered to the 951. You can make alot of reliable power in the 951. Mine with nothing more than a 3" turbo back exhaust and Authority Stage II chips made 265 HP and 280 Torque at the wheels. It was reliable and had decent gas mileage. The car also had 150,000.

Most Turbo II cars are worn out or close to it at that mileage. As for you questions. A stock or lightly modded TII will average 15-18 mpg city and into the 20's on the highway. If treated well they can be a very reliable car. My neighbor has an 87 TII that he drives everyday with no complaints. If you have to rebuild the motor and it is done correctly then you will have no problems. Many of the people on here take alot of shortcuts and have problems. They try to run as much boost as possible without enough fuel and burn up the motor. In reality there are no more problems with these cars than any other turbo car.

Since you already own a 944 you are aware of the constant attention recieved when owning a Porsche. Whether it is from people at the gas station or the police. You do not have that in a Mazda.

I personally would rather have the Turbo II. My first car was an RX-7 and I am very familure with the car. I really enjoyed my 951 but the car was not me.

If you care to see pictures, click on the link in my sig. Hope my info has helped. If you would like to reask your question in a more friendly forum there is RotaryRendezvous.com It has no where near the activity as this forum but your questions will be answered by knowledgeable people.

Flash

iTrader: (2)

You won't start but I will. Complaining after only a few hours of the original post isn't the best way to ask for help. Anyways, I understand that a person may want more recent opinions on whatever subject, as do others so don't give up so easily.

Okay, I've worked on 924's, earlier 944's and later 944's. Even way back when I first got into RX-7's, I was faced with either NA 944 or NA RX-7. The choice for me was simple considering how much easier the rx-7 was to work on for me. HP is very close from both in 86 models, but I didn't need premium or have to deal with the ball joint failures or interference-engine design with the timing belt hassle. Again, really easy choice for me since I perform all my own work. Both na and turbo 944's are designed such that most work should be performed on the engine with it out of the car. I also find rx-7 transmissions to shift smoother and quicker, for cars both of the same year, but that's my experience.

Thus far, I've never had a problem with any of my rx-7's NA or Turbo. Not changing oil and overheating will kill the motors, but that's pretty basic. I drove an 87 for three years all year round without any problems. My car started fine in -35 celcius with no plug in, I just drove it everyday. I ended up transplanting that cars engine into a better body and the car is still being driven by a family member most of the year (so about 6+ years). I only have a turbo JDM vert now and it's been great. My mpg is basically the same as the 87 turbo my neighbor had.

It's really going to depend on what you pick up and who does the work. IMHO I think rx-7's are a diy mechanics dream. If it were me, I'd find a nice turbo body with a blown engine and have it rebuilt by someone reputible, or and RX-7 that has been recently rebuilt. That way it can be maintained to your standards with no guessing about the condition.

My experience has been great, but I maintain my cars.

Idrinkalot

Welcome to the boards, chum. Not only should the search button be your best friend, but a lot of times people will ignore your question if it's a common one and has been covered 100 times before.

A few things to remember if you're going to buy an FC:

You're not an rx-7 owner if you're not frustrated.

Gas mileage sucks. These wankels aren't the best DD's, CC's, or GG's. Have fun dumping in $10 every other day if you have to commute more than 10 miles to work. N/As are bad, TII's are worse.

Don't be surprised if you wake up one morning, crawl in your beast and it wont start. RX-7s have notorious cold start problems.

If you don't take care of it, it wont take care of you. Keep it lubed and keep it tuned.

Expect coolant problems to occur.

rx-7s don't have carburators.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

There are currently 1,174,058 posts to the 2nd gen forum. So to say that it's high traffic is a little bit of an understatement. Consequently, commonly asked questions have been asked and answered tens of thousands of times. I realise that it can be a little overwhelming to search for your answers until you are familiar with the lingo, but truthfully, your two questions (mileage and reliability) have been answered in the FAQ since the late '90s

Now it was not my intention to jump down your throat, but mileage topics always turn into a hassle. First someone posts their mileage, then 10 people disagree, then the argument starts, then someone posts a totally unrealistic high mileage number, then others argue, then the flame war starts, which results in a thread closure and round of bannings. I'm not sure I have the energy for that right now.

Here, quoted from the FAQ, is the exact answer to your questions relating to mileage and reliability. The mileage section contains links to helpful previous threads:

What kind of gas mileage does the FC get on average? What can I do to increase mileage?
The FC is a sports car, not a Geo Metro. Therefore, mileage on average seems to hover around 15-18 MPG city, and 23-26 MPG highway. If you are getting less, you either have a heavy foot or your car needs a tuneup.

As for increasing mileage, the first thing that needs to be done is making sure the car is in good tune. Do a full tuneup including plugs, wires, fluids, filters, timing, TPS adjustment and everything specified for the 60K tuneup (see Haynes/Factory service manual). Learn to drive with less of a heavy foot. Accelerate slowly, coast in neutral to stops, and keep the revs below 3800. A vacuum gauge helps (drive for most vacuum), as well as an A/F gauge (try to keep it in closed loop). You can get some great mileage if you are patient.

Some topics on mileage:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438252
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=429568
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433231
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=424535
How to get better mileage: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412143


How long does a rotary engine run? Do I need to rebuild my engine?
Most 13Bs can last over 150-200K miles, while most 13BT engines usually last 125-175K miles, but remember that regular proper maintenance for the engines entire life is required for higher lifespan.


As far as general reliability goes, that is mainly a function of the condition of the car you purchase.

In the FAQ, there are also how to buy guides which contain a massive list of common problems. Here's a direct quote:

What should I look for when buying a 2nd Gen RX-7?
Non Turbo: http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/buy1.htm
Turbo: http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/buy2.htm
General: http://fc3spro.com/TECH/h2b.html

Also on the list of current topics in the 2nd gen forum, this can be found on the first page:

Who has an FC with too many problems to list?
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=680123

It's probably a fairly decent list of common problems that people are facing.

That should be a good amount of reading to get you started. The information contained within those links should answer most of your questions.

Evil Aviator

Hi! Welcome to the forum! Can I kiss your ***? WTF do you expect, you pompous jerk? Within a matter of hours several forum members took time out of their weekend to help you, and you even received personal help from the forum moderator who selflessly volunteers his time to this forum. I can't even remember the last time I saw such a rude post on this forum. And you have the gall to call us unfriendly? Go back to Rennlist.

InGroundEffect

Never had one cold start problem with mine. Even well below freezing.
What coolant problems should he expect? My original radiator made it over 280,000 miles before leaking. Running on a salvage yard radiator now.
What is with the carb comment? Some RX-7's do have carborators. Just not the TII.

Idrinkalot

I'm constantly dealing with cold start problems, as well as many other members here....I see threads popping up about cold start issues all the time. I changed the plugs a few weeks ago and it still has trouble firing up some mornings. I'm getting new wires soon, and if that doesn't help I'll have to take the next step, then the next step, and so on until I snap.

I've already had a few coolant problems to deal with. They happen. Nothing wrong with my radiator, but air sure seems to get into the coolant system a lot.

I was joking about the carb.

hhn2002

^ +1

i went into purchasing the 7 knowing that i was going to have to get my hands dirty sooner or later. in fact i was waiting for it. its nice to take all the guess work out if you buy one recently rebuilt or buy a blown then rebuild. kevin(rotary resurrection) is a well known reputible low cost, no mess engine builder. i'd suggets going to him if u dont plan on rebuilding ur own.

GI_Drewsifer

I'm sorry. I realize complaining on my second post is extremely bad form. That really didn't help me get my answers and I would like to again say sorry.

If I may clarify my previous statement. Every board has its share of ner'do-wells, and is usually balanced by extremely helpful posters. This was just some what different from other forums I've been to, where people were more than willing to tell me every little detail about the ins and outs of their cars. It's not smart to expect anything to be just like anything else. Again, I apologize.

I didn't mean to ruffle feathers. I did read through the FAQ and found it support many empirical facts I'd found from other sources (Edmunds, Wiki, etc). I've gathered all the technical information I feel is relevant. Now I'm trying to collect real world findings on the car. It's well and good to say it gets X mpg on the highway, but people rarely drive 100% on the highway, or in the city. Maybe it's just me, but I find it much more helpful to hear someone say "I get on average 20mpg on a tank, and only have to do _______ once a week to keep it running fine." To get the best picture of the car, I thought asking as many people who owned them about their personal experiences would be best.

Once again, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ruffle feathers and **** everyone off (although you probably couldn't tell that with my last post).

GI_Drewsifer

RXzeben

if you live in oregon or washington, DONT get a vert... i love mine to death but when i got it it had a huge hole along with a few small ones i couldnt find. my tops is curently held together with pors15 and HH-66...i love the FC series though and thats why im keeping this car.
id look for a hardtop unless its parked undercover.

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

18/24 EPA mpg. Actual mpg is maybe 1-2 lower, unless the car has problems.

The bad RX-7 rumors come from the 3rd generation RX-7, which tends to knock and overheat. That's not good when those things can insta-blow a rotary. Those are still the most common causes of engine failure for the 2nd gen, but it usually takes 150k miles or so. And even then it comes only from owner neglect over so many miles. Knocking usually only happens in a turbo. It's from too much boost, too little fuel, etc. Doing all the basic scheduled maintenance items should prevent most issues. If you upgrade the power be sure to do all the supporting mods (conservative tuning, fuel system, drivetrain) to prevent problems.

For other general questions: use FAQ and forum search for more info.