Dear rotory enthusiasts,

You guys probably get this all the time, but I have to ask: is it wise to drive an rx-7 for daily driving?

Now, I'm expecting responses like "if you have to ask, then you probably shouldn't" or things of that sort. I've heard many opinions on whether or not to have an rx-7 for daily driving, but I figure this community is the best place to find advice.

The car in question is an '86 RX-7 GXL. Approx. 68k miles on the odo. I checked out the car, and it drives fine and all that, everything works great; salvage title due to an engine fire, but the components were replaced from a better running motor. The question is, will it still be fine down the road say in the next year/15k miles? I've heard a lot of horror stories about engines popping for no apparent reason, the 13B is a pain to work on, etc. I'm not planning on going beyond basic maintenance (no extreme modding like a turbo or porting) on the car if I do pursue it because I'm a student, but I do want a fun stock car.

So please, don't lay in to me too hard if you have anything negative to say, just tell me straight up, yes or no on my question. Thanks!!

 

N/A Rotarys are just as reliable as piston engines, and tend to see 200k. (not promising 200k, but its not unlikely to make it there if the car was cared for properly, change your oil often etc etc)

Now because i was nice, i have to flame to even it out.

Get the **** out you ****** nub.

 

Like FTC said, NA rotaries are perfectly reliable and should last at LEAST 150,000 miles, so long as you do basic maintenance. Frequent and random blown engines are a turbo thing that stems mainly from poor maintenance and improper tuning. And rotaries are very easy to work on, being so simple. You just need to get to know them and how they differ from piston engines.

I can't speak from experience, since I'm a first-gen guy, but from what I've heard, you mostly have electrical weirdnesses to fear.

 

I would suggest a compression check, that should reveal the condition of the motor.

 

Don't get it.
Your wallet is going to hurt from the shitty gas mileage.



-Ted

 

It's a car, an old car. It wll have old car problems like all other old cars. Then again how many other 20 year old cars do you see on the road? It will need to be taken care of and if you do it's a fun car to own but not great on gas mileage. I've been doing it for about 2 1/2 years on one of mine. On the other weekend runs and track stuff for about 7.

Now to follow FTC's lead -

Pics or GTFO!

 

I've had my NA for 2 years, 120K miles in odo, so far, the only problems i had were cracked T-stat neck and radiator (they're both plastic... but replaced with aluminum T-stat neck and Koyo Radiator.) No complains.

 

Thanks for all the replies people!

According to the seller, city driving gets ~12mpg and highway is about ~20mpg. I think that's SUV-ish and worse than my last car, but beats the hell out of driving a SUV.

To be honest, I'm still kind of torn on getting it, but if it can be maintained and won't leave me stranded, I just might be convinced to get it.

 

long time reader, first post, but id like to add onto this thread,
does anyone have any experience with this exact car in winter conditions?

 

if you want a v8 buy a mustang... RX7s are special because they have a different engine. You'll throw the handling off.

mine has 144,000 miles on it now. Drives fine. 14mpg city/18mpg highway. ive replaced the starter and battery. everything else was general maintenence (plugs, wires, fluids, brakes) the only things that were not general maintenence were things that i screwed up. i got in messing with something and broke it myself and replaced it.

it always starts. never stalls. doesnt over heat. point A to point B.

 

Uh oh, don't throw the handling story around again.

Just be careful of previous hackjobs. Most of us have problems with what the previous noob owner did or electrical or vacuum related conundrums. With the less amount of moving mechanical parts, less stuff can go wrong in that department!

Be sure to let the car warm up. Use the search function and find articles about caring for your engine, like keeping up on oil, not using bad quality synthetics, etc.

 

I enjoy both my rx7 1 auto 1 5spd, they make good dailies except for the gas consumption.. they are fun and both of mine are very reliable and I even have a mildly tuned n/a and still very reliable..

buy it, do all the maintence no matter what the other owner said I would do everythin from plugs, wires, air filter, fuel filter, diff and trans fluid change, oil change, coolant change with new OEM stat, wipers, check tires, check brakes... If you do everything u shoudl be fine

 

If you are willing to learn how the car works and work on it yourself, then get it. Or if you got loads of money, get it. If you mechanically inclined and don't have much money, forget it. Paying others to do the work will cost you big time. I didn't know **** on my first 91 NA coupe, and lost money trying to have a 10+ year experienced mechanic with not much rotary experience try and swap in a turbo motor. Since then, I have done all my own work and even now I get stuck sometimes, but I always manage to find out the answer.

 

That gas mileage sounds a bit scary. For comparison mine gets about 20 mpg around town (or a little less with aggressive driving), and it gets about 25 mpg on the highway. It is not unheard of to get near 30 mpg with good tuning, maintenance, and the right tires and tire pressures.

If you can't maintain it yourself, then it will eat you in maintenance (like just about every other car). If you buy one, try to get one that is in tip top shape.

So no, it is not wise to drive an RX-7, but it is fun.

 

wow, it looks like my reply got deleted!!! is it because i mentioned an engine swap?

 

Yeah, it'll work great as a daily driver just like any other 20 year old car. i.e., if you buy a hunk of junk like some of the cheapos here then you'll be in for a heap of trouble. Also be sure to keep it well maintained after you get it. That means more than driving it granny-style and changing the oil more frequently than recommended (both do next to nothing, IMO). Get a Haynes manual or the FSM and do every maintenance item listed. You can download the FSM in the forum FAQ.

RX-7 buyer's guide: http://www.rx7.voodoobox.net/infofaq/bguide/bguide.html
EPA mileage is 18/24, which is similar to other sports cars.

My RX-7 is my only car. I often take it on very long trips and I also commute with it. My gas mileage is about 18-19/25-27. I had a repair to do when I bought it a year and a half ago, but besides that I have only been doing maintenance items.

As for the car you're looking at, that is not normal gas mileage. That means there are probably things broken on it. It may just need a major tuneup or it could have serious engine problems. With only 68k on the odometer it probably just needs a serious tuneup (spending a big hunk of cash on several minor components, maintenance stuff, etc.). But I'd stay away from it myself. As for the horror stories, those are just stories. They probably come from 3rd generation RX-7's, which are highly refined race cars in disguise. Or from people who went cheap on a 20 year old car and needed to point their finger at something.

 

haha. dont listen to him, he's never owned a 7 .


they are fine for daily driving. unless you get the up to the high HP range. then most EVERY car isnt meant to be driven everyday.

just get a 7 and be happy.

 

hey! we dont mention your age. these cars are young at heart, just like you old greg.

 

If you gotta ask, no.

 

hey so if the compression is high like 115 and 110 in the back, how long do you tihnk it will last, the engine having 90k miles

 

The N/A tuned motors seem to last for ever. mine has 145,000miles on it and its still running strong. I get around 22 to 28miles per gal. some times even 30ish depending on the driving.

 

I got my 87 n/a at 140k miles with a blown engine... rebuilt it, and it runs strong now.

Freeway MPG for me tends to be around 27 on average (if I'm not driving like an *******). City MPG is probably around 22 or so...

If you don't mind getting your hands dirty with regular maintainence (which is NOT bad if you start with a solid car), I say go for it.


As for the guy who asked about the RX7 in the snow, yes, I have driven an Ohio winter in mine. Forget turning if there is more than 2 inches of snow.

 

Why doesn't one of our MODERATORS put some sanctions on this SICK thing that calls itself "NO DRY SKIN!" Take a look at it's Avatar. Is this the image that we want to project to the public that may just stop in here to see what we are all about. Obviously IT is not fit to be in the company of Humans.
Robert a.k.a. RADS Rocket

 

Those are fairly good numbers I believe, assuming something else isn't bad, I see no reason why it couldn't last at least another 50k... I'm not a rotary expert though.

 

Wow, my comment about your comment did too... I couldn't remember what thread it was in, no wonder I couldn't find it...