2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.

should i buy a RX-7

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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 04:22 PM
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should i buy a RX-7

hello
i am new here and i own a 2000 honda civic EX. I was going to sell that car and get a 2nd gen rx-7. I would like to know more about the cars reliability and such. I can get a 86 silver rx7(non turbo) with 71,000 miles for 3500. Is that a good price? Also I would like to know how insurance is with these cars. Civic insurance is killing me! (full coverage) Thanks

juni
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 04:25 PM
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2500 Is more like it. 3500 seems steep for an N/a

Reliability it great. But you will pay a bit more for parts and you WILL LEARN HOW TO FIX THINGS. Never take it to the dealer their techs don't know ****. Hopefully this changes with the release of the FE.

What are your plans for the car?
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 04:28 PM
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you should buy it if:

1: you have money
2: you're not easily frustrated
3: you're willing to learn things that totally go against what you know about vehicles already.
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 05:11 PM
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Agreed with the above post. A 15+ year old RX7 won't be reliable or as good as great mileage as your 2000 Civic but it is loads more fun to drive. Just read up on RX7's and the typical old car problems it has.

For cars as old and inexpensive as these, just get liability. Cuts down costs a bunch.
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 06:57 PM
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Thanks for all the replies

i just want a reliable car where i can travel fairly long distances every weekend. I plan to travel 500 miles every other weekend and i just want a fun car thats rear wheel drive to drive around for my college years. I probably wont do many mods but just some simple bolt-ons. I called the dealership and they said they can get me a 100,000 mile warranty (5 year) for $850! but thats pretty steep. I just hope that the car is reliable and it wont break down often like the old fords or chevys.

Here is what i was interested in so far...both are N/A

86 RX-7 (silver) with 71,000 miles with a broken sunroof for 3,500

or

88 rx-7 gxl (black) (can someone explain the diff from gxl?) with 93,000 miles with leather for 3,500

Thanks
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 07:19 PM
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i was either going for teh RX-7 or the AE86 toyota corolla gts
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 07:42 PM
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id get the silver one if i were you, low mileage=good, and a lot of sunroof problems are easily fixed. like everyone else said youll have to learn how to work on it yourself, but for me its more of a plus because ive learned A LOT by messing around on my car and reading the forum. good luck.
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 08:03 PM
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Which model is the 86 RX7?

The GXL is the luxury model and hosts a lot of power features. Has an LSD and 5 lug setup with larger brakes too.
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 08:07 PM
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hey thanks for the reply...in the ad it didnt say what the model was but they just told me the sun roofs not working on the 86. Im going to go look at both of them in the next 3 days or so. i am not to concerned with gettin to know my car better and doing minor repairs and well maintain it but i dont want it to just break down on me you know. So im hoping they are reliable cars

thanks
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 08:14 PM
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Try running a compression check. If the motor is still relatively tight, you'll have no problems. NA rotaries are known to go as high as 150-200K miles sometimes before they need to be rebuilt. (Provided with good maintenance.)
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 08:23 PM
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thanks for the responses.

Ive been looking through the forums and i cant seem to find what a stock GXL will run in the 1/4 mile.

Thanks
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Old Aug 30, 2003 | 10:04 PM
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Depending on tune, 15 seconds~ (I maybe and most likely am wrong)
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 01:41 AM
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so the power of the rx-7 is much like an integra LS? flat torque curve? Please help me out here and how is the insurance? Thanks
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 01:52 AM
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Well it depends on the year. There's roughly a 20hp difference between '88 and '89. But I believe stock the N/A's run high 15s/low 16s and the Turbo II's run high 14s/low 15s.

The N/A's do have relatively low torque, but their power curve(if you could even call it that) is very linear, which makes them a good track/auto-x car. I think they much much better autocross cars than they do strip cars.
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 02:22 AM
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I am also New in the Rotery world

I mean Some one probley said this, but i think you should read the FAQ for buying a second gen. As far as the insurance the price should go way down even if you are buying full covage, also depending on your age. I just got a 2nd Gen a few days ago. I have to change a few things but it runs great and kill some *** on the freeway too! But like all the other guys said you have to be patetion at times just because the car is old and it use oil. If you are going to travel long distance you must remember to check your oil regularly. And 3500 is steep for both of those cars unless they are reallly clean and have like no oil leaks at all. But i don't let these things prevent you from buying a 7. FOr the price you will almost never find a tighter, funner , smoother, faster than the RX7. Oh yeah the gas milage is not great. But what the hell everything good in life have a price.
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 02:26 AM
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Originally posted by juni7
so the power of the rx-7 is much like an integra LS? flat torque curve? Please help me out here and how is the insurance? Thanks
non turbos yes smiliar to the civics. but when you get to turbo charged engines then thats another story. for me insurance on a 1987 turbo 2 is 900$ every six months. liability is 400 (i have liability because the insurance company would **** me anyway if i were in a wreck, and when i turn 21 it will drip to less than 200$ every six months, no accidents relatively short driving record, etc...) hope this helps a little.
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 03:15 AM
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Turbo II.....gotta love em!!!
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 04:07 AM
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Im getting a N/A FC...so i will probably get smoked by a civic SI in one? mine will be a 88 most likely

99-00 Civic si 160hp 111tq and a 15.7 1/4mi stock

i just want to know what the FC feels like becasue i have to wait to test it out!! ive been around civics for a long time now and they dont really have linear power but gain more an more as the rpm's go up.

Also what is the redline on the N/A's thanks
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 04:39 AM
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redline 7k for s4 (86-88)
8k for s5 89-whateba, not FD
You basicly have linear power after 3500 rpm.
And you shouldnt get smoked by a civic SI if your FC is properly running, or I will lick your ***** personally and to top it off I hate gay people too.
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 10:37 AM
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Well with some free mods and a good exhaust,you'd beat up on a lot cars
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 11:11 AM
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Civic Si will be pretty close for an NA FC. I believe they run 7.9 secs in 0-60. However, rotaries respond extremely well to minor mods like intake and full exhaust. 15-20+ HP or even much, much more. Try that with a Civic Si.

I don't know much about Si suspension (is it different)? But I think its safe to say the FC will out handle it in the turns. All the Si has is fuel economy and reliability.
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 11:33 AM
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One thing that makes an FC preferrable to a 2000 Civic? No car payment!
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 01:35 PM
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hey thanks you guys you guys helped out a lot. Ill be happy as long as my car doesnt break down on the middle of the highway. ill make sure to maintain it properly with oil. I just want to get my FC and throw on an intake for now becasue im broke. so that shoudl be good for waht...7hp if im lucky? haha im use to getting 3-5hp out of an intake an 4-5 hp out of an exhaust if im lucky on a civic. I dont want to get an exhaust because im tired of hearing exhaust when im taking trips on teh freeway. Anyone make a good intake for the 88 fc?

heres a question. What modifications did mazda make to the engine in the N/A s4 an s5 to increase the hp by like 20hp? Higher compression? Please let me know.

Thanks for all your guyses help
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 01:43 PM
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thats all u pay for insurance.im getting raped. i pay 850 for every 3 months just liability.maybe cause of the age. im 20.o and my car is an 87 t2
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Old Aug 31, 2003 | 02:26 PM
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Buying guides:
http://www.kbb.com/
http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/buy1.htm

Originally posted by juni7
i just want a reliable car where i can travel fairly long distances every weekend.
If you want something reliable, then buy a new car. No car built in the 80's is going to be reliable, espcially one that somebody is selling.

Originally posted by juni7
I probably wont do many mods but just some simple bolt-ons.
Don't do any mods unless the original part needs replacing. I know this may be hard to believe, but the car will still make it from point A to point B without all of the latest shiny ricer parts.

Originally posted by juni7
I called the dealership and they said they can get me a 100,000 mile warranty (5 year) for $850! but thats pretty steep.
Read the fine print. They couldn't possibly support all of the maintenance on that car for the next 5 years or 100,000 for that little money. Is it possible that the 100,000 mile part of the warranty means that at 71,000 + 29,000 or 93,000 + 7,000 miles means the end of the warranty?

Originally posted by juni7
so that shoudl be good for waht...7hp if im lucky?
1-3 hp if you are lucky. If you are really broke, then save your money for something more worthwhile like new hoses, belts, spark plugs, etc. On the non-turbo cars with little to no modifications, a drop-in K&N filter (rectangular, not the cone) will work about as well as any of the expensive, fancy intake setups, and the filter is good for 10 years or a million miles. Many of your local generic auto parts stores carry them, and will order one if not in stock.
http://knfilters.com/

Originally posted by juni7
heres a question. What modifications did mazda make to the engine in the N/A s4 an s5 to increase the hp by like 20hp? Higher compression? Please let me know.
A lot of changes, and the increase was only 14 hp. Higher compression, fancy intake system, lighter rotors / higher redline, etc.

Originally posted by juni7
Also I would like to know how insurance is with these cars. Civic insurance is killing me! (full coverage)
You need to talk to your insurance company about that because there are too many variables involved. Generally, the 2Gen RX-7 isn't very expensive as far as sports cars go unless you get a convertible. BTW, unless you have a total loss on the car in the first 3 years that you own it, you will be better off without full coverage.

Originally posted by tonyge
thats all u pay for insurance.im getting raped. i pay 850 for every 3 months just liability.maybe cause of the age. im 20.o and my car is an 87 t2
Yes, you are getting raped.

http://www.monstermoving.com/Mortgag...dex.asp?Type=0
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