Airwolf RX7

I'm in the market for a rx7 but i want one that doesn't have a sunroof.

It's so incredibly hard to find one without a sunroof. I know they are rare but is having a sunroof/moonroof a big deal?

My reason for not wanting it: chassis rigidity and future leaks. (SOME car owners don't like sunroofs, ae86 owners and NSX (non-targa models are desirable)

I've owned cars with sunroofs and they always leak later on the lifecycle of the car.

RENESISFD

iTrader: (13)

What is your question?


There were 94-95 CW FD's that had no sunroof. They do exist.

Trout2

iTrader: (5)

White 94-95 is rare and the base model you want is the most rare. Good luck.

Jack

adam c

iTrader: (2)

My sunroof has never leaked. The only time I wish I didnt have one is when I autocross. The little bit of extra head room for my helmet would be nice with no sunroof.

I dont think an fd with no sunroof has any measurable difference in stiffness.

Airwolf RX7

i guess my question is, are FD's without sunroofs more desirable?

I'm learning more about the FD so excuse my question but on the ae86 & NSX, the sunroof/targa (respectively) has a difference in chassis rigidity.

I just want to make sure if i buy a model with a moonroof/glassroof, that I won't have regrets..

FYI: I used to own a 2000 Celica back in college and the sunroof started leaking whenever it rained. The seals went bad and there was some sort of blockage in the drain valve.

Julian

iTrader: (14)

Mazda, the whole Japanese car industry fro that matter, has been very good about non- leaking sunroofs; I have had countless cars from Mazda, Acura, Toyota, Nissan and Lexus without an issue.. Just never hand an RX-7 with a sun roof mainly because of helmet clearance.

As to torsional rigidity, a sunroof makes no structural compromise; a full circular stress flow path is maintained. It is not a targa where a flow path is cut. It is common practice in design of structural members to cut out lighting holes, remove plate in place with open truss beams… the hole works. Now if your hesitation was due to loss of headroom and extra weight (the hole must be reinforced around the edges, tracks and hardware added and the panel itself is non structural thus wasted weight) I would buy that.

Narfle

iTrader: (16)

Because the R1/R2 model came with no sunroof, and was a premium option, non-sunroof rx7's are largely more desirable. Also there are fewer of these R1/R2/Base than the more common PEP/PEG/Touring models.

White is also one of the most rare/desirable colors. CYM is also rare, and arguably desirable. But, CYM only came in '93, so it had the sketchy interior plastics. CW only came in 94/95 with the good interior plastics.

The sunroof doesn't affect rigidity of the FD chassis, since the roof is essentially just a thin sheet of metal with little structural value. It does add some weight up high. Headroom is the largest benefit of not having a sunroof.

I'm 6'3" and I fit in my sunroof FD pretty comfortably. It's a 94 touring, so it has the glass sunroof. I love it sometimes, hate it others. But, if I needed to wear a helmet there's no way I'd fit.

neofreak

yes, I have one.

BLUE TII

iTrader: (9)

Yes, non sunroof FDs are more desirable as with any sportscar.

Yes, you can find a Chaste White base model.

Reasons I prefer non sunroof FD in order of importance to me.

1) Helmet room when racing.
2) Unadulterated look of the signature swoopy FD aero wave roof.
3) The sports car credentials.
4) Any actual performance benefit from decreased center of mass and weight reduction.

Only you can decide if it is worth the price premium to you or not.

zkeller

iTrader: (47)

94 base chaste white in my garage.

ZDan

A thin sheet of metal can add TONS of torsional rigidity. Shear web...

I'm sure the frame around the sunroof adds back whatever is lost, but at the cost of weight.
Agree that headroom (particularly w/ helmet) is the biggest deal, followed by weight up high.

To the OP: '94 CW no-sunroof base (w/ LS2) is my daily, so at least one exists!

Montego

iTrader: (1)

An FD does not have a shear web so what's your point?

wstrohm

'94 Chaste White PEG (metal sunroof) here: 18 years, no leaks.

Talex37

You know...if your really that serious about racing, then you can just order an fd non sunroof skin from the dealer. They will also sell you the braces. I gave up looking for a base model and just settled with a 94 cw with sunroof.

ZDan

A thin sheet on top of an open box gives huge benefits in torsional rigidity, acting in shear. Shear panel would have been a better descriptor. not web...

Big hole in roof => frame around it to provide equal stiffness => more weight.

But again, the biggie regarding the sunroof is headroom, particularly for a helmet.

Ceylon

iTrader: (3)

Over here it is completely other way around. You rarely come across FD's with sunroofs. R models are very common & its hard to find anything but an R.

I've owned both & personally... I much prefer having the sunroof (Metal sunroof).

Airwolf RX7

so are metal sunroofs more desirable than glass?

JM1FD

iTrader: (1)

Desire? That's all up to the buyer. Buy what you like.

In terms of rare-ness, metal (sunroof) is the most common. AFAIK, all 1993s with a hole in the roof were equipped with a sunroof. The glass (moonroof) was an addition they made in '94. Non touring cars got a sunroof, the touring trim level got a moonroof. I'm not sure if moonrooves came on '95s or if they went back to sunrooves only.