Rookie84

I currently have a Supra TT in BPU form making about ~450hp. I was thinking that I can sell my Supra, and buy an rx-7 and build up one kick-*** rx-7 with the money that's left. Besides, I love light, good handling car like rx-7. My only concern is reliability(otherwise I would have gotten rx-7 already). Realistically speaking, is it as bad as people say? I really don't wanna feel like I'm driving a time bomb, and it will be my only car. I love my Supra for what it is but then the auto trans. is getting boring and it feels simply too heavy in some occasions. So what do you guys say, go for rx-7? keep my Supra? How much maintanance is really needed? Does it cost a lot of money?? Thanx.. I know these topics have been covered but I couldn't find a lot by searching...

yy4u

You can run 13-14psi with a midsize single and do all the reliability mods, tuen for a 10.5 to 11 air/fuel ratio and have a 450hp car that is nearly bulletproof. But the problem is, no one is satisfied with that, people with singles aren't satisfied making 370rwhp at 13psi when they could be making 450rwhp at 18psi. And people with the stock twins aren't satisfied runing them where they should at 10psi, so they buy a boost controller and run them at their limits of 14-15psi. Also part of the problem is that there is no way to strengthen internals like you can with a piston engine. I think most people making big power run into problems one of the following ways:
1) They try to run more boost on pump gas than they should
2) They try to run more boost on the stock twins than they should
3) They don't tune their car for the lower A/F's necessary to prevent detonation
4) They race their car on slicks and **** starts breaking because the components were made to be light and not to handle 6krpm drag launches on slicks.

I mean in all honesty, you can make an FD reliable, but you're gonna get jealous when you see someone with your settup, pushing the envelope, running 18psi on pump gas with A/F around 12 on slicks running 10's in the 1/4 and you are only running 12psi on your big single whihc would just love to be pushing more than that on your street tires which just do nothing but spin in the first two gears and your running 12's in the 1/4.

If you want a car thats fast in a straight line and on the highway, stick with your supra, you'll spend less on it making 500hp than you will on a 7 fixing the little stuff that breaks.

If you want a car thats quick in an autocross you're gonna need to stick with the stock twins on the 7, because a big single is pretty useless on an auto-x track, or at least mine is anyway. If you're into spirited driving through the mountains or road racing, a single turbo 7 is hard to beat.

poss

iTrader: (5)

RX-7s can be reasonably reliable. I drive mine on a daily basis with very few issues. It's not really the optimum daily driver, but it can be done.

rmani

nice supra, great car. i've been trying to buy one of each for some time now, supras are still kinda pricey, and finding a good rx7 is pretty tough. a lot of people are worried about fds when they buy them, although i've never owned one basically from what i've heard if you put the initial money into making them reliable and you're smart about the maintenance and being on top of how the car's running you should be ok. it won't be like a supra though those things are awesome they can handle high power with no worries. rx7s are awesome cars though so i say go for it!

OneBadCynos

iTrader: (1)

honestly get rid of the supra and buy a honda. if the supra is getting boring then you can't drive it to its potential and can't get what the car can really do so its boring to you. the 7 isn't that much lighter than the supra. the supra weighs more but it also creates more power as well so that makes up for it. besides autos are better for drag racing. your times are more constant than with sticks. imo if you are thinking of giving up your supra that fast then you don't deserve it. just my .02

93TTRX7

the kid said he wants an rx-7, not a honda...

Judging by the supra's prices...you can get 2 FD's for your supra. Buy one with a blown engine, and completely build it with fuel upgrade, street port etc...

black99

Some people aren't all about drag racing every weekend and I know I personally find automatic cars kind of boring as well. No matter if it's a supra or a rx7 the 5/6 speed usually more "fun" to drive.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Take an FD and put 4-500lbs of ballast (about 3-4 good sized fridges strapped to the roof?)and make that statement again.

Supras are cool, I wished I had one of those in my stable too. If you really need to have an FD, allow something in your budget for a daily driver too.

My biggest gripe about the FD is that it has a CHEAP interior, which will be more obvious coming off a Supra. It just takes some work to hunt down all the squeeks n rattles....

evot23

iTrader: (17)

If you're selling your supra, I'll be looking for one within the next six months. FD will be paid for and I will need a daily driver.

twinturboteddy

I vote keep the Supra, even if automatic.

It's a better all around car.

duckyjp

I also vote keep the supra. I have my rx7 as a daily driver and little things keep popping up. Think about it - you have a 450hp reliable daily driver. WHat more could you want? The rx7 is blast to drive in the corners and it's light and nimble (and better looking ), but it can be quite a headache finding a nice one and maintaining it. Especially putting down 450 hp.

ZeroBanger

I drive mine every day, its my only car.

ps. this thread is going to get ugly, just some advanced notice.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Same here. If reliability is a concern, don't look any further. I love the car, but I would not recommend it as your only car.

RX7 RAGE

iTrader: (22)

Stick with the supra if reliability is a concern. FDs are too damn fragile.

smerkinseven

i've been driving my fd daily for the past year and half.. no probs.. just make sure you take care of all the little stuff.. ie oil change, spark plugs, etc....

JONSKI

Stick with the supra. If anything, hold on to the supra and then get a 3rd gen 7 in addition to it. If I were you, I would definitely not part with that nice *** car!

PVerdieck

How about converting the Supra to a manual?

jdhuegel1

Nathan Kwok

If you're worried about the reliability, and its your only car, I'd keep the Supra. Not that the reliability is that bad, but if you think you're worried now, imagine how much you'll worry once you actually get the car. And don't test drive one because seriously, RX-7s feel so great to drive its like a drug, you'll get addicted and then its all over. The best way to own a 7 is to have a daily beater you can always fall back on if the 7 needs repairs. Its not so much that RX-7s are unreliable, its a lot of little things added up, and the best way to sum that up is instead to say they are extremely unreliable. For example, maybe something goes wrong with the turbos, you get an erratic boost pattern, and it could just be a simple broken solenoid. However, it can take forever to diagnose and in the hands of a dealer, they'll probably screw it up even more and then tell you, you need new turbos. Instead you need to take it a special rotary mechanic that takes 2 weeks to fix it. Whereas, the Supra, you take it to the local dealer down the street, pick up the rental car, then get the car back fixed the next day for a reasonable cost. See what I mean? On top of that, the car feels so great to drive you'll be driving around WOT all day long because you won't be able to resist, attacking canyon roads left and right, and then you'll want to track the car, and suddenly every part of the car is worn to hell. This results in piling on mod after mod because you are so addicted to the awesome feeling of driving your car and before you know it, you're broke, your car is broke, and you're working 3 jobs and have 2 mortgages, and you still can't get enough of the 7. Its a downward spiral man, just say no to the 7.

Shady

Cheap?

I would've said what you said the other way around, that the Supra has the cheap interior. The 7's looks much better and I haven't sat in one while it's moving (only at a motorshow, and when the car's been still) and I loved the interior it looks sweet! Nice and cosy... but the Supra on the other hand... looks clumsy and dopey, I love the car just hate the interior.

93blackrx

Get an RX-7........

ever since I got it has been nothing but fun, my god, I love it. Right now I'm putting in a new motor, turbos, and many more fun and exciting things. Dude you should sell that automatic tank and get yourself an rx-7.

Regards, Matt

yzf-r1

iTrader: (1)

depends on what you want the car for

if you want to blow innocent victims off the highway for the ego rush, like street racing in general, and enjoy a more comfy GT cruiser, the Supra is tough to beat

if you want a raw, light weight, and nimble car that begs to be flogged on a road course and will still win more then a fair share of impromptu street battles, the 7 is it

if you want a reliable 7, strip of all the emissions crap off, convert to single turbo, get a rebuilt and ported engine with all the reliability upgrades (especially the teflon cooling seals), a huge radiator and IC, big fuel injectors and good fuel management, and never run more than 17 psi boost....with all that you should be fine

you can't half *** a 7....if you do, you'll get burned, and go away cursing the car as unreliable

or just do what Jim Swantko is doing: put a huge *** single on your Supra and shoot for 700+ horsepower, then find some wide open freeway and hide your license

it's a free country, live it up

Kiflin

If you want a highly reliable 7, go with the ls1 conversion. Costs about 5000-7000 depending on if you want a used or new engine. A lot of fd owners are really getting into the idea of the v8 into the fd. It gives you amazing mpg and still allows you to have the engine 350hp stock.

yzf-r1

iTrader: (1)

good point, or get the V8 conversion

but I think the cost is closer to $12-$15k with the engine and trans....it ain't cheap

af908

I think the FD interior looks nice. What don't you like about it ? And ive never heard of it squeaking before, is this a common problem? Ive got 157k miles on mine, no squeeks....