Hello fellas,

I'm a former 3rd Gen owner. I had a black '93 touring from 1995 to 1997. During that time period, I loved my car so much, my wife complained I was spending more time with the car than her. Everything about the car made me feel one with the machine. One problem was I used it as a daily driver.

I had a job layoff and even thru the unemployment I tried to keep my car. Then I had a blown water pump. The repair was going to cost almost a thousand dollars. And to a person on unemployment, it was too much to bear. I had to part with my seven, but I kept my car cover intending to buy another seven in the future.

I'm now in the process of looking, but I've seen some negative information, including the Seven lemon site that is making me reconsider my purchase. A lot of the used cars have rebuilt or replaced motors.

I'm not all that interested in mods for speed (maybe a little) because I feel the car, even stock, is fast as snot. I've read some mods for reliability, but I too am familiar with poor service, just because nobody knows how to work on the car, and I'm not a mechanic.

Any input from you folks on making me a believer again? I'm thinking of waiting for the RX-8, and I'm wondering if there ever would be possible to do a renesis motor transplant into an RX-7.

Otherwise I'm leaning toward picking up a Honda S2000. I know it's not nearly as fast, but it is a roadster and probably bulletproof in reliability.

Thanks
Ken

 

For the normal reliability mods, they aren't too difficult to do them yourself. All you need is the right tools, which is the key. If you don't have the right tools, even the easiest job is a pain.

However, if you don't want to do the work yourself, for the normal reliability mods, most any foreign car shop can do those for you. You'll just need to get on the phone and call around to ones in your area.

I don't think anyone will know until the RX-8 is released.

If reliability and maintenence is a concern, get the S2000. The FD is not a car to have if you are scared to drive it just so you don't break anything.

 

I have to agree with everything mahjik said.

 

I had a new engine put in mine at 90,XXX and now have like 107,XXX and I drive the car everyday at least 70 miles with no problems at all I feel the engine is good (with no major problems) for at least another 65K or so. Anyway just my thinking. I do have all the "reccomindes" mods for reliablity finished though
(what a spelling diaster)

 

kraziken
..former 3rd genner as well (SSM93 Touring) in 96
..always looked back
..5 years later .. a proud parent of twins..CYM and BB R1s

if you question ownership...dont get one...
its a passion

 

Thanks for the response.

Any input or information on a single turbo mod? I've heard that going to a single turbo and removing the complex twin setup can help, although I like the smooth power delivery of the twin turbos.

Of course this makes it hard to service. I did some searching and I do have a couple of Rotary specialist shops by me, one is Hayes rotary engineering.

My wallet tells me to buy an S2000, but damn it, I do love the Seven still. It's like a sickness.

My first drive was a '91 convertible, and I thought that was great. But in '93 when the 3rd gen came out I had to have one. I must have just about every little book, matchbox car, model, die cast toy, and t-shirt of the RX-7 they've made. Althought the RX-8 is cool, I'm really wishing they would bring the RX-7 back to the states.

Ken

 

One problem with the s2000. I've only seen chicks driving the car here in Fl

 

i like RX-7s, but the s2000 is the one honda i actually like. it has nice power with a naturally inspired engine. and it looks good at the same time.

1FAST7

 

There are guides for simplifying the sequential twin turbo setup, but that's not the weak point of the rotary engine. Heat and detonation are.... Those can happen with a the stock twin turbo setup or a single.

However, going Single turbo isn't as simple as just "slapping one in". There are other parts that should be upgraded as well if going single turbo (fuel system, ECU, IC, etc).

But heck, if you don't want to do the reliability mods yourself, why even bring up a single turbo? if you don't do the work yourself, I would imagine some mechanic would charge you a kidney for the installation.

 

Do a search here on the forum for Hayes rotary. I've heard some awfully negative things said about them.

 

You either addicted to driving real sportscars or you are not. If so--you will be required to put in much more maintenance than the average AND you will also GLADLY do so!!!

I once heard the 3rd gen referred to as a true "exotic" sports car because it requires a fantastic amount of maintenance. I think the truth is signficantly more complicated than that. I have been driving and constantly wrenching and spending money on true sportscars (my daily drivers) for over 30 years. Those cars included: austin-healeys [3000's not sprites], triumphs, jensens, MGs [TDs TCs and TFs] and Morgan +4s just to name a few.

There is a difference between sportscars and sporty cars (s2000s and the like). The difference there is that for the increased reliability you will be required to make certain compromises in performance. I agree that the sporty cars (and here I include the Corvettes) are usually more reliable than the sportscars. I beleive the reason for that is that the sporty cars are engineered with considerably more slop in the specs and will perform adequately with certain specs completely out of range. The true sportscars (exotic or not) are extremely tight tolerance vehicles and once they get out of spec the entire system can quickly (as the Brits like to say) "go horribly pear shaped". Tighter specs=less tolerance to out of spec parts and demands=less reliability. If you doubt this theory simply watch next Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. These machines are the tightest spec'd in the world- perform the best and fail most often (notwithsatnding Michael Schumacher) during a race.

The difference between a true exotic and the normal real sportscar isn't the amount of time it is being fixed, it is instead whether or not YOU are the one under the hood. An exotic will almost always require a trained and expensive service tech. At least the 3rd gen can be wrenched on by the marginally talented but diligent owner.

I hope you can make the decsion based on your passion tempered by the reality of higher maintenance or compromised performance.

Sorry for the long post but I had to my 2 cents in.

 

I guess what I'm wanting, is an input from a variety of drivers. I used to think the problem with the 3rd Gen cars were the drivers abusing them. I mean did 2nd Gen owners have reliability problems? From what I had heard I thought they were pretty good about getting up to 150k or 200k in mileage.

I probably won't make a decision until I can at least look at the RX-8 in the showroom. I'm a pretty picky buyer and not a lot of cars I find acceptable.

My friend has a Supra. Not to knock Supra owners, but it just felt less responsive in handling. The 3000 GT is a cow. I'm not partial to domestics.

The S2000 is similar to me in that, it's rev happy. 50/50 weight distribution. I'm probably leaning 70/30 to purchasing another RX-7.

If I bought an S2000 I'd want the Comptech supercharger and that would probably make the reliability issues a moot point.

Ken

 

Hmm. The S2K and the RX7 have a pretty big price spread. I would think that you should be able to get a FD to be pretty damn reliable with the mullah you save in the up front price of the car.


**One more thing. Stay away from Rapid Rotary (Mazda's and more) just north of Federal Way on 99. They Suck!