Tony Mulla

Ok this question has been bugging me for some time now.

I have checked out various rx7's, and all the Turbo II models, tend to be in "horrid" condition. Obviously an engine rebuild/swap is needed to have these thing "running" ...

From what I have read on the Forums, EVERYONE complains about the Turbo II's .. Problems , Problems, Problems... Do you think I should do myself a favour and stick with a NA Rx7??

If you were to compare the reliablity between the NA VS TURBO II , what would it be like?

Also I wanted to know the top model for NA (not convertable) basically the car that comes with all the options / leather and such.. Most of the cars here in Toronto seem to be GXL/SE (Let me know)

PS>...... If you were to do a engine swap with a bad conditioned Turbo II motor (with obviously a good one) would the difference be HUGE?

Ciao

thomasmeisch

As fun as the T2 is it was alot of work, my 1989 vert I bought new has been a fun fast and reliable car for 12 years and 112,000 miles. My two turbos:
91(new), mods were intake, exhaust, and ignition. Probs were trany, fuel pump, fuel pump agian, constant flooding and a oil metering pump. Alot of small things as well

95(new) nice car but ouch the ride was HARD!.. That I could live with after I replaced stock tire woth BFG's. But no service! Nobody knew anything about this car(this has changed I hope after 7 years). The suspension was replaced after 20000miles and after MAZDA replaced a faulty clutch plate the tranny failed!!! Swithces not working, squeaks and endless rattles, Everythting was under warranty but I still sold it after 2 years=
Now I have fun in my cars but 90% of the time I drive 50 miles to work and 50 miles back home all highway( I'll be it highspeed!!).

The 89 vert has never let me down. NA's all the way!!!!

Tony Mulla

Yeah, I really like the look of the convertables, however I live in Canada (toronto) and having a convertable isnt really practical...

Im just pretty scared about getting into the Turbo II, whenever I come to this forum there are 20/30 different complains about a problem...

94montego20b

i like my t2, it has 4k miles on the motor and 96k on the car, the only problem i have ever had even with the old motor was flooding, thing floods very easily, only reason i switched the motor was for a mild street port and bigger seals...

NA86RULZ

Definately a NA! My NA has 255,000 miles. The engine made it to about 202,000 then it just siezed. I have heard that you need to rebuild every 60,000-110,000 miles or so on the T2!


Mike
--------
'86 NA
no mods

Andy

I have a TII and I love it (selling) but I think the TIIs are less reliable. TIIs are faster, generally, but if you run them lean you're engine shopping, whereas I've heard NA guys claim they're bulletproof. I think if you get a properly maintained car you'll be OK either way. Just do your homework and know what potential problems to look for.
Good luck

Etherized

TII's are just as reliable as NA rexes. Generally, the people who have to rebuild after 60k miles are usually the ones who have bad matinence (none?) or put on a bunch of go fast mods that put more wear on the engine. Having a turbo just needs a little more know how and a little more matinence.

vaughnc

The general thinking is the TIIs run a premium over the lifespand of the car but can be 95% as reliable as the NAs.

It's probably one of the most reliable SUPERCAR/production race car out there in it's OEM configuration.

It's the previous owners that determine the condition of the one you buy. If you buy one that's been sitting for a while, wasn't maintained properly, overheated, etc.. then you'll pay more upfront in repairs.

As far as daily driver, it can be one. Just be sure to buy a turbotimer and shorten the maintenance cyles (change the oil every 2500miles, plugs every 20K miles, run a bottle of injector cleaner every 4 tank fulls etc..)

If you want to modify the car, then you need to take even futher precautions (aftermarket ECU, high quality qagues & sensors, etc..).

Hope this helps.

-- vaughnc

Tony Mulla

One thing I wanted to have answered, is the models...

I know the Turbo II models are pretty much all nicely equiped

How about the Non Turbos... What is the "best" model to get (luxury/options and such) no convertable...

Thanks

vaughnc

GXL - luxury model
SE - base model
GTU - performance model (optional leather & power windows)
GTU-S - racing model - non-turbo
Convertible - luxury
Sport - performance model stripped (1987 only)
2+2/rear seats - optional on most models - standard on some

RarestRX

Yo,



I'd stick with the NA if you don't have a second car (daily driver) to get you around. Just do a search on my user name and you can see all my rabid pro-NA posts. *grin* I drive the GTUs, which is the stripper NA model Mazda made in 1989 and 1990. I dig it.

I've been in Turbo II's, I've raced against Turbo II's, and they're great when they run right. Just getting them to that point of reliability is a problem. The other thing is my mind is that a turbo is like a big crack rock. You hit it once, and you'll just want more and more. All you need is a bigger turbo, more boost, and more fuel. It's a slippery slope down into financial ruin and detonated motors. At least that what it seems to me. *grin*

If you stick with an NA, you'll get to a point where you've done all the simple bolt ons. I'm probably nearing that point. What happens then? Well, you work on car control, driving technique, heel-toe, late apexing, trail braking, hell, even drifting. For me, it's not about going fast in a straight line. If so, I would have gotten a V-8. I'll take handling any day, which is why I've driven a 2000lb, 103FWHP Scirocco for about 15 years.

It just depends what you want to do, but I'm all for hassle free car ownership. I'd rather drive, then wrench.

KS
1989 GTUs "Natural Aspirations"

Tony Mulla

So, what you saying is that a gtu/gxl will be a good choice, and not only that they are extremely reliable...

Give me a comparison of reliability.... More reliable then lets say a MkIII supra? Or perhaps a "crappy dsm" (please say its more reliable I owned a TSi 1g)

I think im pointing towards the non turbo model, I dont have the patience to put up with problems.

Thanks for the info, really good stuff

Grimlock

i got mine with 84,000 miles bone stock. she was well mainteined and hasnt givin me a problem. they are very quick and fun to drive. if your after power then i say get a well maintained/recent re-built TII. you just gotta be patient and keep looking.

if you dont want the extra power a turbo gives than stick with a n/a rex.

trust me dude....BOOST is the ****!!!!!!

i have 109,000 miles on my rex now and she still runs strong and idles smooth. its all in how you maintain them!!!!