hi people (i'm new today),

I'm thinking of buying a Series 2 (later shape) RX-7.
Am I right in thinking that the 89 onwards were the slightly updated version, rounder (not Series 3 i kno). Did they sell this partical shape in the UK? I so want one...

And am I also right in thinking the turbo version was 200bhp (88 was 182bhp?)? That's mad amount of power from a 1.3 engine isn't it.

Now the only thing holding me back from buying it is the horrendous fuel economy? Is this true? And what are typical figures (uk units if possible). And can you do an LPG conversion to it? Most normal piston engines run without difference on LPG (gas).

Erm.... Also what standard spec do you get on the turbo version?
Is it a practical daily driver?
And is there any other issues I need to know?

What kind of prices would I be looking at for a decent 89 turbo 2 version? I found one on Autotrader website for £500, there must be something wrong don't u think?

Thanks so much,

 

Yes, but the correct Series number is Series 4(86-88) and Series 5(89-91). I know there's a few of those cars floating around Europe and the UK, you just have to look.

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And am I also right in thinking the turbo version was 200bhp (88 was 182bhp?)? That's mad amount of power from a 1.3 engine isn't it.

Yes, 200 HP out of a 1.3 engine is quite a bit.

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Now the only thing holding me back from buying it is the horrendous fuel economy? Is this true? And what are typical figures (uk units if possible). And can you do an LPG conversion to it? Most normal piston engines run without difference on LPG (gas).

The fuel economy specs aren't bad but they aren't great. As long as you don't get on the turbo too much, you can expect 17-20 MPG (I don't know metric!) in the city and 19-25 on the highway.

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Erm.... Also what standard spec do you get on the turbo version?
Is it a practical daily driver?
And is there any other issues I need to know?

Hmm, sunroofs tend to be common along with all the power accessories. Leather is quite common on the S5 TII's. They are practical daily-drivers, as long as you don't mind paying for the fuel...these cars aren't Civics. Basically, your biggest concern is to get a compression check at a Mazda dealer in order to check the health of the engine and make sure there aren't any issues with it.

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What kind of prices would I be looking at for a decent 89 turbo 2 version? I found one on Autotrader website for £500, there must be something wrong don't u think?

Thanks so much,

500 pounds for a 89 TII seems awfully low. If I remember correctly, that equals out to around $900. It must have body damage or a bad engine to be priced that low. Here in the states, 89-91 Turbo II's fetch $4000-$6000 easily, so a price of 500 pounds indicates that there is something amiss. Check it out, but be very wary.

 

Thank ZachSpazz

So what about the LPG conversion as fuel?

LPG is liquid petroleum gas, it is still petroleum (or gas as you call it in the states), but comes out under pressue in a fine mist so is therefore cheaper to buy over here, allowing us to get double the economy. Typical Petrol price (gas for the USA) is about 76.9p (80%tax) and LPG is about 32.9p, so I'm sure you can see why I'm so keen for a reply to this issue.

My guess is you can, as it is the same stuff, but over here it is sparayed into the air intake on some cars. Anyone know of any kits?

Thanks a lot people.

 

I've never head of that LPG. How is it provided to you? (canister?) How common is it over there?

Also, as you are probably aware, TIIs require a higher octane petrol. Right now the price here is $.85/L CDN for 92 octance. $.85/2.2 = .39 pounds. I've never figured out how your pence and shillings work.

Keep in mind 1.3L on a rotary is more like 2.6L on a piston engine. It's still kind of cool telling people your engine produces more power per litre than a 959. The turbo rotaries drink gas like a 5.0L.

 

we don't have shillings now, i've been around for 21 years and i've enver come across one. Sad yeah! Anyway, LPG is like conventional gas like yopu can buy in massive canisters to fuel gas heaters and stuff (gas not being petroleum here, think of our gas as propane, but it's still petroleum (petroleum NOT propane...remember) but in a mist, so when it goes in it liquidizes and therefore is much cheaper and more efficient).

I think all petroleum based piston engines are able to run on LPG, conversion is made aftermarket (although volvo have an v70 with petrol and lpg), it inlcudes a new tank that can be put instead of the spare wheel if it is located in your trunk (boot in the uk) or you can have a canister like u can get from the gas supplier (not shell gas station but the kind of gas u put in ur gas hob to cook food or power you central heating etc.), and u just have some kind of simple circuitry to bypass the injectors and spray it into the intakje manifold (so basically u still have air, fuel and spark).

hope this helps, sorry if i've bought up a bad subject here, but it is the only way i could afford to run the RX-7 over here in the UK.

Thanks!

 

a lot of countries are converting over to LPG===if im correct is it where the whole tank and the control unit is placed in the boot of the car and u can swicth between petrol and LPG whenever u want--it cant be substituted because u need to have a fuel tank in your car in case **** happens............Ive seen LPG give awesome gas mileage in the already economical corollas,civics and lancers...........but according to me LPG would defeat the purpose of the 7...one because it will make ur car heavier 2)the 7's are hatchbacks and every1 can seee an LPG tank in ur boot which wuld look awful and 3)most standard rules that apply to piston cars change for the rotary--so i wont try it until i get in touch with either a chemical engineer or a rx7 owner who has done................if any1 else has any input on this plz go ahead