well i am in the market for a new car, well not new used i mean. I have been looking at the rx-7 for the longest time now and I am falling in love with it. Only one problem is this rx-7 will be my daily driven car. I drive to work and home about 45 miles a day. Now with the car, I will keep the car closest to stock as possible. But add these following mods to improve reliabilty. Would this be a smart investment or will I end up having major headaches? I really love the looks and performance of the car, and the reason for me getting a used car is having a low payment. I just recently sold my 2002 car and am glad due to my payment being 365 + insurance and i hated spending 400+ a month. I have a friend who is willing to sell me a rx-7 93 for the kelly blue book price. With 100,000 miles on stock engine is it worth it? Engines runs strong and I am taking it in to have its compression checked. Will this car be ok as my daily car or should I invest into something else maybe a Honda CRX, and turning it into a huge project.

Parts I will add to boost reliabilty:

Turbo Timer HKS w/ Harness

1. Downpipe

2. boost gauge

3. aluminum AST

4. New Silicone Vacuum Hoses

6. New Fuel Filter

7. New Thermostat

8. Replace Transmission and Differential Fluid with redline

9. Replace the Oil and Filter

10. Flush the Coolant System

 

You'll need a new motor soon, no matter what. 100k is a lot of miles for the original motor. 100k miles on the turbos is a lot as well. Get them thoroughly checked out. I'm not sure what the KBB value is, but consider what I said above very carefully. Those are some pretty major costs.

Your list of original mods sounds pretty good. You may want to add a water temp guage to that, and a new radiator (if nescesary... check for discoloration). Also check every coolant hose, especially those near the turbos (heater hoses and the turbo coolant hoses), and those coming off of the throttle body as those are the hottest. You'll probably want to get new plugs depending on how old they are, and wires also depending on their condition.

That's all I can think of.

 

You are definately on the right track with your mod list. The radiator is only nessesary if the stock one leaks.
DaedelGT is correct about the 100K mile mark. Though the engine may run well for the moment, you are probably living on borrowed time. The turbos, if truly originals are most likely wroght with cracks in the exhaust manifold.

Don't want to scare you away from the FD because it certainly can be a fun daily driver, but the higher miliage ones have a tendancy to sprout problems when you least expect it.

 

Sounds like you have a good handle on reliability mods... it's nice to see a newbe actually investigate the car before they get it . I just like to add to what was said, by saying that you really shouldn't buy an FD to save money... it just wont happen. The gas alone from driving 45 miles a day will be probably 1k more per year than what your paying now (I drive 30 miles a week and spend > $40 every eight or nine days -- 94 octane, though). Anything that goes wrong (and there's plenty to go wrong on a high mileage seven) with these cars usually costs a lot. In the end you'll probably spend much (MUCH) more money than you spend now.

That being said, get the car because you love the car! I daily drive mine and I love every minute of it...even though my wallet (and girlfriend) does not .

 

Thanks for all the help everyone, and yes I did a lot of research about the car and what mods to put on when I first get it, yes I do love the 7 and will probably end up buying it -=]. Now how everyone says the engine has high mileage, will having it rebuilt make it almost new again? I was thinking about going to Mazdatrix down here in California and having them do a level A engine work on my motor does this sound like a good idea? And have them also add the above mods I listed? Thanks for the help everyone, can't wait till I pick up my 7 -=]

 

As long as the compression checks out okay I would buy the car but not pay over 10-12k assuming everything else checks out. Then I would start saving money for a motor and turbos!!
Good luck.

 

derty, if the compression is good the motor will last a bit, but with 100k miles on all original parts it's going to fail sooner rather than later.

Having the engine rebuilt will make it good as new, if not better than new.

 

derty i just bought an 93 rx7 it was broken so i rebuilt it! believe me it wont cost you that much, if you buy parts carefully . mine costed 2.500 euro but it was in really bad condition! this car cant be worst so i think it will cost you lower than this price. plus i live in greece and its really really hard to find part for fd and if you find are expensive ( i am still looking for a wiring harness to complete the car) if anyone can help me with a site that i can see for s w/h i would be thankfull)