apocnmbr1

Hey everyone.....i got a real simple question...im not sure if i can get a simple answer....I now drive a 95 maxima 5 spd with all the bolt on mods and even a stillen supercharger, but im sick of tring to get to a point where other cars are already at.... I have always loved the rx-7 TT's...since as long as i remember...question is..with the rotary engine and all...EXACTLY HOW RELIABLE ARE THESE CARS?????? I dont know too much about rotary engines and who better to ask then the people who have them! What should I expect as far as maintanence, reliability, and even price! Im interested in the 3rd generation..which i think is the 93 and up body style. I would LOVE to get the newer Supras but they are just to damn much.....IF YOU GUYS COULD LET ME KNOW WHATS UP, THAT WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE....IM GETTING A CAR WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AND IF THE RX7 IS WHAT I THINK IT IS...HOPEFULLT I WILL SEE YOU GUYS HERE AGAIN..THANKS IN ADVANCE EVERYONE!!

efinirx7

There is a lot of info on this forum regarding your concerns. I don't mean to be rude, but you can try using the search feature by clicking on the search button in the upper right corner. Please don't take this the wrong way, I am suggesting this because these types of questions are frequently asked and you will probably have better results searching and reading old posts than waiting for other members to respond. Hope this helps.

apocnmbr1

I've searched and know all the Spec's and Data there is on the car....but how can i search RELIABILITY?? Thats my major concern and i wanted to hear from the people who actually have the car, not some magazine's author who likes cause car and does a review on it. I did a lot of research and i thought this would be the final step...Dont worry, no offence taken.

Cetchup

They are quite realiable. Are you using this for an everyday car? If so, you are gonna need to be more "****" on the maintenence. Like the post above me says. Check all the old threads about this topic. They have GREAT info!! also go to this site, http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/

it can tell you pretty much all you need to know. =)
GL with your FD (FD = 3rd Generation Rx7 93+)

apocnmbr1

i appreciate it..thanks...and yeah its gonna be an everyday car...should that make a big toll on it???

man_of_steel

people who say that the FD rotary is unreliable either dont know from experience or treated theirs the wrong way. The rotary is great if you maintain it. 93+ octane, oil every 2500 miles or less, etc. MIne is at 78 now, original, and runs great. If you go for one, realize TIME is involved in keeping it good. The potential is endless for these cars. Just learn about them before you commit. Mine is a daily driver, and it works out great. Good luck, feel free to pm with other questions.

BrianK

People who say the rotary is reliable have a huge bias towards the rotary.

think about it... what other engine has an average life span of less than 100K miles? What engine has a temp gauge that doesn't register until the car is pretty much overheating? What engine costs more to maintain than a rotary (let's talk about cars under $100K)? For what other car do you recommend new buyers keep $2K around just in case they need a rebuild?

The Rotary engine is like Windows - it's cool for a lot of stuff, but for some reason, it doesn't bother us that we have to pull it out every so often and rebuild (reboot) it.... more often than any other car I know of, mind you.

That said, I've had no huge problems with mine (other than a broken radiator), but I know I will. *That* said, I don't mind, because I love the car (and I have a daily driver if this one craps out).

skunks

fd's seem to beable to make it to 100 miles if you dont mod them too badly. mines is at 70k and seems to be doing fine.

cavalon2001

This is an important question...

The first RX-7's have been the best thus far...these cars will run as long as any motor, if they are taken care of.

The second RX-7's are fine unless you have a turbo, but still that depends on taking care of it.

The third generation can have plenty of problems...but if you do not give it a load of modifications, keep the oil changed, and the most important: make sure the engine is warmed up and cooled down properly; then you've got a super car. Something else important if the car doesn't get driven much, crank it at least every other day. Rotary engines run so much better when they do not sit. (That goes for all rotaries).

1FAST7

the rx7 is a very finicky car.. it can be reliable and it cant. it also depends on how you use your car.. highway driving or short stops to different places. you can perfrom reliability mods to make the car more reliable. another thing is you have to make sure you get a healthy rx7 and not one that has been beaten or is about to go.

if you search this topic you will find a lot. check the link that Cetchup posted.

good luck

1FAST7

nathandominguez

After the first time you drive a '7 everything else will become obsolete. Go for it and never look back you will never regret it. Work? Yes, but anything that truly satisfies the SOUL usually is. Good Luck

patrickclark

yeah, the mazda rx-7 are just as reliable as most cars. most people with blown motors,like me. have bought the car well used, which is why most people want to sell. take care of your car and modify it carefully as you would with any car.

Toadman

You know, up until the late 1980's very few motors other than some V-8's ever got close to or over 100k miles, back in the days of carburators, point ignitions, and no ECU's. Imho, I think the populace is spoiled and desensitized to modern piston engine durability and are shocked that the high-performance rotary doesn't stand up to boingers. Of course, that's no excuse for blowing apex or cooling seals at 50k miles.

rynberg

I think millions of Toyota, Honda, and Mazda owners of 80's cars would argue with you there. (My family's 83 626 was sold in 1992 with 170k on it and still running strong.)

IMO, there's no a reason a near stock FD engine (downpipe only) shouldn't last well over 100k. Most of the ones that are dying sooner are either modded (properly or improperly) or have been overheated at some point. Or failed due to the friggin stock pre-cat.

ttpowerd

There should be a lot of info on the forum about this particular situation. I know that I have responded to at least 3 or 4 in the last month. Search is always helpful

BrianK

I agree there's no reason it shouldn't last that long, but it doesn't. Modded or not, they just don't last that long.

Face it, the rotary is a 100K engine at best, with the exeption of the rare case that it goes beyond, but that is *rare*... remeber the poll that someone posted about "How man miles do you have/how many engines have you had on your FD"? I'd be willing to bet that a poll like that hasn't happened in any other car forum (if it has, I'm sure the results were different).

Don't get me wrong, I love my car and give the same recommendations most of you are giving right now, but to say that the Rotary is reliable considering the time it came out and all the other cars that were put on the road at that time is just inaccurate.

It's not reliable, but you'll love it anyway. The car is one of the best feeling, best handling, and in many eyes, best looking cars - ever.








but it's not reliable.

Tom93R1

iTrader: (2)

I think it depends on your definition of reliable. If you mean that it will last for 200k miles with oil changes every 7k and overheating once a summer then no, the FD is not reliable. If you want to know if the car will ever leave you stranded on I-40 in the middle of Texas or at the grocery store, the answer is completely different. As long as you keep a rigorous maintenence schedule the car will be very reliable, just not as long lasting as something like a Honda.

apocnmbr1

well, one more question, what exactly does go wrong with these cars...when u guys say it aint reliable, what exatly do u mean??? The actual motor..the turbos..all the gaskets..ETC. WHAT KINDA OF REPAIRS HAVE U GUYS DONE AND HOW MUCH HAS IT COST YA! THANKS

jpandes

And it sure makes commuting to work fun! Not that I like to commute. I say just go for it. Try get one with low miles and DEFINITELY BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY! I can't stress this enough. I had one that extended my warranty to 85k miles and it saved my ***, BIG time! I figure that the warranty company paid about $10,000 on my car alone. New engine, turbos, 5th synchro, 2-3 water pumps, and whole bunch of other crap that I forgot.

The other thing to know is that you will enjoy your car a whole lotr more if you learn how to work on your car yourself and install your own mods. It sounds like you already do that with your Maxima.

This forum is great for how-to & best bang for the buck advice! I just wish I found out about the rx7 forum 5 years ago...I'd probably ready for a Single turbo set-up.

Jpandes

rynberg

I'll agree somewhat to your points but be careful how you word your post. An n/a rotary engine will easily last 150k or more. The twin-turboed rotary has problems going 100k. Your post makes it sound like rotary engines in general won't make it to 100k.

BrianK

good point. I was assuming we were talking about FDs and their twin turbo rotaries. 1st & 2nd gen n/a 7's last forever. The rotary is decent design - just needs more refinement.... hence the RENSIS.

As far as apocnmbr1's question about what breaks... well...

the apex seals and cooling seals are big problem spots in the engine. When a cooling seal goes, you need to replace them which essentially means a rebuild (pull apart the engine & replace ****). when an Apex seal goes, if you're lucky it's just a pull apart and replace, but usually they take out the turbos with them and if you're really unlucky, they'll damage the housing & that needs to be replaced.

A simple rebuid without replacing the turbos runs right around $2K... it goes on up from there depending on what you get done to the engine during the rebuild (stronger apex seals, bigger turbo, porting, etc.).

Outside of that, the turbos, being water cooled, have fairly decent longevity.. the mechanism that controlls the sequential spooling doesn't. Replacing the turbo, again, ranges from not a whole lot to a crap load depending on what you want to do.

Granted, there is preventative maintainence that can be done to help it last as long as possible. Get a downpipe, and upgrade your radiator. Do the fan mod, make sure you've got enough fuel for your air flow, etc., etc... read the forum to find all the tricks.

Sloraxe

If any doubt enters your mind weather or not you should buy the RX-7 then save for a bit longer and buy the supra, these cars NEED massive amounts of TLC, one day of misuse is all it takes, they do not tolerate poor maintenance.

But if cared for, in my opinion NOTHING beats em..I can look at a Ferrari and say "that's a nice car" but when I see a RX-7 I'm like "Holey ****!, there goes a bad *** car!"