So I've been talking to Dad lately about getting
this 89 GTU. Things seem to be going well until
he said he was afraid having a car with a
wankel and a manual transmission was going
to leave me stranded a lot and I would have to
borrow his car, which he wants to avoid.

I have looked this car over and it will be
dependable for me, but I am going to need
some ideas to convince him that a freshly rebuilt
rotary and a manual transmission can be reliable.

He used to own a transmission shop and he
only serviced automatics...I think he's afraid
of them because of the 'fear of the unknown'
factor. Same thing for the rotary....he does a
lot of work on piston engines but has never
even looked at a rotary engine.

I've got to talk him into this....I already showed
him the howstuffworks.com page on rotaries...
didn't do it.

 

Well if its a freshly rebuilt engine, the tranny is in good shape (5-speeds are more reliable in my personal opinion), and you do your maintance, then yes the car will be reliable. But if the engine has hundreds of thousands of miles it will need a rebuild and won't be reliable. Especially since it isn't turbo it will be really reliable. As long as the engine is in good shape and you do maintainance, the car will run great, and will be the most fun and reliable thing you can drive! Good luck!

 

He owned a tranny shop and ONLY server autos? BLECH. Does he know anything about manual?

 

Manuals (in my opinion) are more reliable. As far as the engine, as long as you take care of it it should be fine. The engine burns a little oil (naturally does this, nothing wrong with it) other then that it's pretty good.

 

tell him a rotary has less moving parts than pistons (no valves and timing belts/chains and all those piston parts), so less moving parts = less worn out parts...

tranny, hmm, no idea

 

Well, he worked on domestics....very few manuals these days blech is right

 

I've got an '87 Turbo with a 5 speed and 170,000 miles. Everything is all original less the radiator and the usual maintenance. The radiator core took a crap on me one day (lousy plastic thing) but I've owned it for a little over a year starting at 143,000 and it hasn't given me any trouble other than the radiator. Starts up everytime, and it's a pretty fabulous little car. The only thing is, it is a rather old car, and there are a few annoying problems that you will have to deal with, but otherwise it's a pretty good little machine. Most people are pretty afraid of rotaries because of rumors they hear, and a lot of people on this forum will tell you that rotaries are fabulous (just because that's what they have), but the bottom line is, every car can be solid and reliable provided you take care of it.

 

Well said barcode!

 

I think the question here is how much experience do YOU have with rotaries?

Under the assumption that the car you're looking at has been well taken care of, or has recently had its engine rebuilt...the reliability of the car will more or less depend on you.

Cars with piston engines can take a hell of a beating and abuse. An rx-7 will demand your full attention...or she'll make you pay

 

My current car has a big oil leak and a big automatic transmission leak and wiring problems.....and I stay on top of everything.

Everything I do on this car I do myself.
I have changed the water pump, alternator, pop up
headlights, all belts and hoses, CV joints, and lots of interior
and stereo work.....all this on a Fiero...probably the
hardest cars to work on known to man....
I think I can handle it.

 

Bah go work on a ferrari haha... The N/A cars will have very few problems as long as its taken care of.

 

DustoneGT

I think you have a perfect exsample right there to prove your dad wrong, Or to think other wise. I mean is pistoned, auto, and american. What else do you need?

 

27 in a 2-rotor(counting each gasket individually) as opposed to 176 in a 4-cyl(NOT counting each gasket individually), according to the rotary engine theory book by mazda I snagged a while ago(did all the counting myself from pics of both engines disassembled and laid out). Its pretty neat stuff.

Ok, back on topic. Just like everyone else said, you have to stay on top of everything with these cars. And as long as you dont mess around with too many important things till you learn a bit more about the car, it should be fine.

 

just tell him that it only has a 1.3 litre so its obviously going to get great gas mileage(hehehe) i mean a standard stock 1.3 litre engine probably gets great gas mileage! j/k don't lie to your parents then they take your RX away for 2 weeks

 

Ya you should be fine then. Just tell your dad this rx-7's gonna be less work than a fiero

 

Lets put it this way My RX has 217,000 on it and is on it's original about everything. I put 120 miles a day on her and while she needs some things replaced she has never left me stranded.

 

I have an 89 GTU with 81K miles on the chassis... and 30K on a rebuilt motor.

The car starts every time, I get decent gas mileage (now that my throttle position sensor was plugged back in ) and is not too fast to screw up with . The manual tranny is a plus to me... I feel safe driving it, I have more control over the car.

I love the car. No regrets what so ever. For the money, there isnt a better car

Good luck! And if you need any help with it shoot me a PM or somethin!

//EDIT//

Oh, and incase you're wondering why the car has a rebuilt motor put in at 50K miles.. the previous owner didn't put any oil in it... and well.. even with a piston engine you'll throw a rod or something! Well hey.. with a rotary, you won't shoot your entire engine block away... throwing your block all over the road.

 

the most simplistic 4 cylinder has 40 moving parts
a 13b has 4 moving parts

nuff' said

 

4? we have that many?

2 rotors, 1 e-shaft, uhm, 1 flywheel?

My SE at 120k hasn't had any engine problems. The only thing I had to change was the clutch slave cyl. Didn't leave me stranded, as I could drive it as long as I didn't really give it too much gas.... I heart my RX7.

Oh, and once you own one, you'll become one of us..

But if you turn it down, well.... The RX7 Club will know about you.

 

I had this exact argument with my dad back in my high school days...I lost, and and was condemned to drive an '86 323...not anywhere near as cool as the FC.

Go to it man, they're good cars, and the guys on this site know it all :thumbup:

 

Is this club a mafia sort of thing?
LOL

Thanks guys!

 

Dustone, for what it's worth...
FCs are more reliable than Fieros.

 

As far as engine and tranny trouble neither should give you real headaches if you don't abuse them. NA trannies are weak but if you don't abuse it the 5 speed should last a very ver long time. Make sure it doesn't make any noise and that the clutch engages smoothly without chatter. The 13B NA is a fantastic piece of engineering - the motor has been around since 1985 and even the current RX-8 motor is pretty much a re-design of the same basic motor. Regularly change plugs, oil, fuel filter and air filter and the car will give you years of pleasure. has your dad ever driven one? let him he'll be amazed at how smooth it is, most brand new cars don't feel as seamless as the 'ol rotary - it almost feels like an electric engine. each time I jump from my GVR4 into the 7 I'm all smiles - even from a brand new car like the shops 350Z. When you first purchase the car do a tune up and replace some peace of mind parts like radiator hoses and the PD - then drive for years

 

If you want him to like this car, have him drive it. Get out of town on a twisty road. 20 minutes of that and he might buy it for himself. Go down to a mazda dealer and talk to some one in the shop. ask him what he thinks of the rotary, then bring your dad down to the shop and talk to the same guy.
Your dad is going to have to experience it hemself. you telling him and it won't make a bit of difference. He is going to have to be told by a third party. or several.
also tell him you won't borrow his car. if yours dies, then you are walkin'. that will let him know are serious. and he probably won't hold you to it.
good luck.

 

Here a little bit of personal info.
I have always driven manuals
I have never caused a car accident
I am 23 (driving since 15)
I have been hit by cars about 18 times.
Everyone of them was an automatic!!!

An automatic is a Go Kart, any idiot can drive one, thats why every idiot does! Not that everyone who drives and auto is an idiot, just that they are in the minority.

-Max