Hi,
I'm new on here and love the RX7 but have been a little put off by comments that i've heard of engines only lasting 80000miles max before requiring a rebuild - is this true, common, rare?

How long do the engines typically last if looked after?

Thanks,

Rob

 

all depends on the driver, we've seen cases from 10k to over 150k

for example, I went thru my 13b motor in 43k miles thanks to overboosting. My father's totally stock (with no "reliability" mods) went 150k before it went out.


drive her nice, she will last long.

 

Thanks Mate, was under the impression that they all needed rebuilding at 60-80K miles so I had ruled out an RX7 as my next car but I just can't stay away from RX7's hence my post on here - guess this isn't the case then.

I suppose if I got a good example and looked after it well with mild mods not silly boost it should last?

Your post has given me some hope so I shall read up some more.

Cheers,
Rob

 

in my case 4k miles

 

Ouch!

 

It's in the FAQ.

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

Dave

 

^Agreed, plus maintanence. And peformance mods seem to be inversely related to reliability.

 

I got 114K mile out of my stock engine and only replaced it because the vacuum was getting weak at idle and I didn't want to be stranded or lose a turbo when it did go.

End story, be nice to it, and it will be nice to you. Drive it hard and put it away wet, it will leave you walking someday.

They are great cars, don't be afraid of an engine change. $3K if you do it yourself or maybe $6K if you have someone do it. Not bad for the performance and amount of car you're getting. About the cost of changing a timing belt on a Ferrari every 30K miles

 

Very true. I do a fair amount of racing with the Porsche Club. The amount I send on my FD to make it competitive with most of the Porches is laughable.

People often complain of how much an FD costs to keep running are not comparing it to most comparable sports cars. Sure an FD is more trouble than a Honda. But most sports car racers I know that have cars competitive with the FD have spent more than what I paid for buying and modifying my FD in total just on their engines alone.

As was stated above, 3K is dirt cheap these days for a rebuild on any top sports car engine. The only comparable engine to the turbo rotary as far as cost of rebuild and performance might be a pushrod domestic small block V8.

And as far as being "nice" to a rotary to make it last longer I say go ahead and beat the heck out of it. It will still last if it's in tune, run at reasonable power levels and not overheated.

 

For perspective, I wished the ROAD & TRACK guys would have interviewed you for their recent article.

 

Yeah... I don't know why they didn't call an authority like me...

 

lol

 

bitchn and complaining won't get ya anywhere, you are fed up with the article, write them , have them know that if they need another person to write up a another article on the FD you will be there, waiting to spill your thoughts.


Prôdigy

 

They can be rebuilt for far cheaper than that if you know what your doing.

 

Thanks for all your comments guys, will take it on board, read some more and then decide when i'm ready to swap my FTO - back in love with the RX7 now and I haven't even driven one yet.

Cheers,
Rob

 

Settle down cupcake. IMO, all in all, it was a good article. I'm not "fed up", I enjoyed it. And whose "bitchn"[sic]?