Help me pick exterior/interior mods for my new RX7!
 

Hey Guys,

So I am in the process of importing a RX7 from japan, this is the car:

1996 Mazda RX7 RB Bathurst - Bonsai Rides: JDM & RHD Import Vehicles Canada

My importer has told me that if I can get a list of parts together he can source them in japan for way cheaper than I would pay here in Canada.

So I definitely want to get a new bumper and mirrors. Which ones should I get? I want to go with a stock look. So I'm going to tell him to get stock parks, question is what model years will work with my car? Should I only be sticking to series 7 parts or can I get a series 6/8 bumper + mirrors?

As for the interior, I'm going to be wanting to get a new cluster, handbrake, and shift knob. I sorta want to get the 99 spec cluster cause it has an integrated boost gauge so I will probably ask him to get that. As for the hand break and shift knob is there some site somewhere where I can browse parts and pick something out? I don't really know what is available to me.

Also if this was your car what would you do to it for appearance? I definitely want my car to look really clean.

Cheers,
-Benjamin

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6heyNjPYB...13_0113_44.jpg

I think you would be the only RX-7 in North America with this kit!

Lately, I'm coming to appreciate understated interiors more and more. A lot of stuff now, even from OEMs, seem pretty over-the-top and gaudy. Call it the Audi TT effect. I was looking at the new McLaren P1, and my first thought looking at the interior was, "is that a Grant steering wheel from Advance Auto?" Come to think of it, sometimes I like the outside of it, and other times it looks like a 2-tone Veilside Fortune kit. Not quite the high water mark that the F1 was. But I digress.

Some of the MOMO and Sparco stuff is nice, some gets a little tacky. You might also find some trinkets on RHDJapan, and there are a few vendors on here that do stuff like leather shift boots and panels, floor mats, etc.

^Good comment. I was thinking the same thing looking at the new McLaren and there was so much CF on the interior it looked cheap or gaudy.

Lol not exactly the look I am going for! Anyways thanks for the good advice guys. I'm going to get a stock bumper and mirrors in japan but nothing else. I'll wait for a bit and see what I want to do to the car after I get it.

You should consider getting the oem 99spec bumper, better airflow and more aesthetically pleasing imo.

If this is what you mean by stock ignore my comment. gl :)

would the 99 spec bumper fit with the rest of my 96' spec car?

The full 99 spec body is sharp on a white car. Issue is for it to look right, probably have the paint the whole car to match and get some better wheels.

Jason

Yup, it's completely bolt up. Personally I'd go for an OEM bumper if you can afford it since they'll fit the best. You'll also need the 99 spec front lip. The only difference between the 99 spec exterior and 93-98 is the rear wing, front bumper and wheels.

-Dan

Congratts on your new purchase!!

If it was my car, I would perform appearance mods......last. From the looks of that engine bay, she is all kinds of stock. Even at 60kil it is a 15 year old car. I would bring the car up to speed first, then worry about the overall looks.

Go with the 99 spec! You can't go wrong with it

The first interior mod might be to remove the JDM CD player. It will be nearly worthless over here. After that you can also ask them to take off the TV antennas on the hatch. I'd then ask for an OEM front strut bar while it's in Japan because it will be dirt cheap.

And tail lights right?

I'm definitely going to go through the engine bay and replace anything that needs replacing the moment I get it. Can't really do that while it is in japan though so that will have to wait until I actually have the car.

Awesome good advice thanks, just wondering though why wont the JDM CD player work? CDs are the same everywhere right?

i recommend going through the 3rd gen picture threads and seeing what others have and whats out there.
it's the closest thing to "some site somewhere where you can browse" or more like obtain knowledge of available parts and then make an informed decision.
happy hunting! and maybe catch you on the streets in the future seasons :)

CDs will play fine but the AM/FM radio band is different. Resale on it will be nearly zero. You might as well get something better here.

Excellent. You should have around $3-5k set aside for this. Assuming it's in good running order.