speednstyle

well, i'm getting a 88, not sure which model. my questions are:

1. what kind of oil do i use?
2. whats the average mpg for you guys?
3. how fast is this car?
(what car does it keep up with?)
4. rotary.. anything special i should know before i start messing with it?

thanks guys

-paul

nima_taba

First of all, good choice on this car. You'll love it. I have a 88 N/A with 45,000 km on it and its a dream. Well almost anyways.

I use Castrol GTX oil...5w30 or 10w30 depending on the season (i live in Canada)
I am getting about 15mpg in the city...not sure about the highway...its actually pretty bad on the gas mileage, especially if you put your foot down in stoplight to stoplight driving.
Its pretty fast off the line, but after second gear it loses alot of its acceleration....quick enough for me. Perhaps the best part is its handling through the twisties...if you're gonna appreciate a 2nd gen you had better appreciate handling and not just straight line performance. It handles like its on rails.
Mine is totally stock so I know nothing about modding.

Hope this helps,
nima

rico05

I use Castrol 5w-30 (recomended by my buds at Napa Parts). As for what she can keep up with, all I got is exhaust and intake (Apex N1 exhaust, Weapon R intake) and I enjoy beating Mustang GTs. Be careful how you mod it. Make sure you are getting enough fuel before you do any big changes, and as with any older car, do lots of preventative stuff. Get it tuned up, check the compression, and make sure all is well before you waste your money modding a messed up engine! Good luck, and keep us posted!

Audiofight

Nice choice. Like the other guys said, you will love the "on-rails" type handling. When the curve sign claims 25, you will love taking it at 55.

There are some twisties to the west of town where I am and the signs keep recommending 35-40 and the speedo never leaves 70 the whole way through there.

I raced a Turbo T-Bird, and he got me off the light and was ahead of me until about third gear @ 60 mph.

Then, the twisties started and I left the half mile run almost a 1/4 mile ahead of him. I turned around at the corner and went back about an 1/8 of mile to re-enter the twisties when he emerged smiling and waved at me while continuing down the road to where-ever he was going.

Like it was said, learn to drive the car before racing people. Don't want the car to slide out on you when you are first getting used to it

Baby it for a little while, check the compression before buying it. IF it is low, bicker the price WAY down and then drop a new motor in it instead of giving him asking price and having it go out in a few miles on ya. Otherwise, check all the rest of the stuff.

Coolant lines, belts, plugs & wires, battery (visual, looks new, probably is close to it. Looks like hell in a handbasket, probably going out the door), starter noise (start it a couple times and see if it grinds or anything), E-brake is working, exhaust isn't leaking, brakes work great (great, not good. My 88 N/A stops on a dime), check air filter (it will have to go anyways to make room the for K&N cone intake and cold air box ) How's the shifter feeling? Bearings are replaceable, but why do it out of your own pocket.

MPG - 15/22 city/highway

Engine advice - Buy a Haynes manual, available at any local parts store that I have been to around here. IF it is unavailable near you, drop me an email and I will personally buy one and ship it to you will no mark-up. That manual can be a god-send when trying to find a simple little thing, saves alot of trial-and-error time.

Good luck and welcome to the RX world!

ItsNiceToBurnRice

I have an 88 gxl, and i Illdefinetely love her once i get all the little kinks worked out. shes a literally a beast at handling, ill blow 90 degree stip signs literally doing about 30 without any real hard control probs.

hanman

If you don't do anything else, make sure the cooling system is top notch, or get it that way fast. And keep the oil changed. Overheating is the Achilles heel of rotaries. The oil is just as valuable for cooling as the antifreeze mixture. I use Castrol 20w50. But I live in Kansas.
Have fun.
hanman