bcsfau1982

I am looking into getting an rx7, but I heard it has alot of problems, mainly being overheating. I live in South Florida, and I heard that they dont run well in this climate. Would upgrading to a fluidyne radiator fix this? What other problems would I have to worry about? Also, if I get one I should take it into a rotary specialist first right? Thanks.

Trexthe3rd

Do the fan mod after you get the radiator. I live in GA, temperature only gets worse here. If the car doesn't have a down pipe, get it, it will help reduce the temperature as well. Be prepared to dish out some mod/repair cash, depending on the condition of the car (how well the past owner have taken care of it).
The RX-7 is a finniky car, reliable if and only if you take good care of it. Good luck, and welcome to the few, the proud, the Rexers.

bcsfau1982

Thanks alot Trex. I guess 7's just weren't made for our kind of climates. Whatever the case, I won't get a 7 that was not well taken care of. I will definitely set aside some doe to take care of any problems that might arise, being that its a rotary. Luckily, Pettit racing is about 30 minuts from where I live, so I am going to get the motor worked over by them. Also, I heard you should remove the cats to extend the life of the engine. True? Thanks again.

-Bobby

artguy

if you have to ask that question then you are over your head already...sorry


jason
94 modded PEG

here is a list of potential problems and their price to fix

blown o rings 5500 dollars (labor and streetport included)

blown apex seals 2500 dollars...(lucky that my shop eats my wallet so I got a deal)

new apex seals...1500.00 for them

turbo rebuilds...twice ...2600.00 total

three clutches 1500 buckaroos

two tranny jobs 1500 smakaroos

numerous other ****...3000 washingtons

numerous modifications for reliability and performance 2-3 grand

glances from hot chicks...a million

glances from hot chicks while my girl is in the car...just as many.

times I showed my *** to my buddies SS and Corvette...cant count em.

Times I cried myself to sleep....ZERO...I never sleep when I am driving this damn machine. I have to work all the time just to pay for all the friggen FUN!! haha


jason

total dollars this year 19000.00 yes..you heard it.

bcsfau1982

First of all, what question?? I asked a few. Also, what do you mean I am in over my head? Do I have to be a rotary specialist to buy an rx7? From what it sounds like I could not get in further over my head than you have, three blown clutches?? No offense but it sounds like maybe you should have gotten it in automatic. I would not be getting an Rx7 with more than 60 thousand miles, if that, and I would be taking it into a rotary specialist before any final purchase is made, to make sure the car is in good condition. Plus it sounds like most of your expenses were from aftermarket add ons. Maybe you got a lemon or something.


-Bobby

artguy

here is your question....RX7, any problems to worry about?

those are your words correct? maybe I should have been more specific..but my respons would go for any of them.

three clutches in a 96k miles....ask around...I bet the average clutch around here is about 30-40k ...some a lot less...some more...but the more are few and far between.

I also bet most of the boys have changed their motors at least once if they are over 70k...also...your tranny will most likely eat it if the synchros have not been replaced...give it some good driving and find out for yourself...if you dont believe me

no matter what used rx you get...odds are it has overheated at some point...I used to live in florida...the only way you arent going to overheat that thing is if you add on a huge intercooler and never let it sit at idle during the daytime....get a big *** radiator too...and always run your ac so your fans go...otherwise you are good as farked...one good overheat and your motor is gone..I think pettit wants 4 g's just for a good motor.

I dont have a lemon...I have the fastest rx of all the boys who have fds around here that I have met. (im in Orange County)....even the guys at the shop tell me that...Ive raced everyone around here that I have met up with...havent lost yet....though ID LOVE TO. hehehe

I drive my car fast and hard on occasion....but honestly the reason for my problems isnt my hard driving...ITS MY DAILY DRIVING. it isnt ineptness bub...sorry. bring your ignorant self over to my car and take a look sometime. its straight...its clean...it sounds awesome (well not today it doesnt after I blew a seal this past weekend)...and it eats corvettes like french fries.

14k of my mods and repairs came before I ever raced it even once....

clutch...hmmm...throwout bearing...broken.......replaced entire setup....then put in an act cuz the stock clutch didnt hold worth a ****...broke a fork the third time...didnt even drop the clutch...the bolt had vibrated loose slightly over time and bent the fork a bit...

If you havent had problems with an rx then either you dont own one or you dont love one (what I mean by that is that you dont drive it during the week)

The only rx that I know that doesnt have problems is the one in my friends garage that just sits there 25 days a month....but even he says the thing smells funny when he drives it..hahah..you boys know what Im talking about...if it isnt fuel smell its exhaust..or coolant...you name it....it smells like it.


but ya know...I do love it. you will too...I know it...but be prepared for a stressed wallet? unless you only drive it at night and on the holidays.

jason
94 rx peg
streetport
gforce ecu
hks dowpipe
n1 dual
manual boost controller 13lbs of boost
h&r springs
act clutch
koni yellows
yokohama intermediates
pettit intake
all reliability mods
hks turbo timer
etc...

PS...I didnt include all my mods in the above list....and if you look again you will see that most of my expenses came from tranny..engine...and turbo work caused by daily driving.

and any rx regardless of the milage will bring you challenges..regardless of the miles on it...

and finally...Id never EVER buy an automatic.

bcsfau1982

LOL@"I would never EVER buy an automatic." Yea I feel you there. Well, yea, I know an RX7 comes with trouble, but Pettit is down the street practically, and I will have about 8 grand left over after getting it. Before I make it final though I am taking it to a specialist so I can see what problems I might run into in the near future. First on my list is the fan mod that Trex mentioned, a Fluidyne radiator, act clutch, apexi FMIC, and getting the motor worked over by Pettit. I am sure I wil run into numerous problems later on, after reading many posts on this board, but I will have some money set aside to deal with it when they arise. By the way, Jason, I wasn't trying to be an a**hole or anything. So what else can I do to prevent the common problems an RX7 has? I really want this car. Also, how much would a brand new engine be?

-Bobby

artguy

you can avoid many of the problems by buying a beater to use as a daily errand runner....use the rx for the good stuff. I did the daily thing and paid for it...am getting a nice new sporty ranger xlt with my girlfriend in a week so I can park the rx.

I got by for the past two years by having a 93 240sx parked under the trees in case I needed it (usually 3 days or so per month hahahha)

you can get a good motor shipped to you from rotary reliability out here in santa ana california for less than pettit Im sure...and that includes shipping....thats who does the work on my car...I wouldnt let anyone else touch the motor...especially the motor..that is Nicks specialty...

let me know if you are interested in that....but if pettit will warrantee theirs then get one there...that way you can go take it to them when it blows up..haha

just take care of it...drive it like its broken when its not...ya know...listen to the thing...watch the guages...DO NOT EVER DRIVE IT if it is damaged....

DO not ever overheat the thing...hahahahha...florida...hahah...oh man!! well a humunous intercooler and radiator should help with that.


best of luck

post some pics of it when its yours

j

keep some extra cash on hand too...always. and get a good roadside assistance program...I maxed mine out with four tows in six months...

bcsfau1982

Yea I was thinking about getting a back up car, it sounds like a good idea. So you think I should not let Pettit touch the motor? How much do you think I could get a new motor from your guy for? I know an RX7 will be a challenge in Florida, but I want it enough to put my time and money into it definitely! Rotary reliability won't warranty their motors? Out of curiousty what are you running? Thanks for the advice by the way.


-Bobby

PureMdMa

iTrader: (1)

I have a 94 PEG and have had no problems with it in the 3 years that I have had it. It had 40K on it when I got it and now has 68k and still runs strong as hell. I dont know what all the fuss is about. I guess im the lucky one out here then.

Jeremy
94WH PEG
apexi power intake
apexi BOV
blitz stock mount intercooler
HKS hard pipe kit for intercooler
apexi dual N1
efini y-pipe
HKS downpipe
pettit AST
Brembo slotted and Xdrilled rotors
Rod millen Springs
Tokico Illuminas
Cusco Front and Rear Strut bars
magnacore wires
RP fuel pump
Greddy Guages
HKS turbo timer
Apexi AVC-R
Apexi S-AFC
SSR intergrals 18x9 F 18x10 R
Kuhmo Supras

AARotary

To bcsfau1982;

I was in the same situation just like you when I got my 93 Touring
with 61K on the odometer back in January. When I got my car I wasn't on the forum and I knew nothing about the rotary engines.
And being that this is the first time I ever owns a rotary. Didn't know anyone that have a 3rd gen. so that didn't help. I just knew that I have to have the car. All I do was searching and able finds low mileage 3rd gen. so I came upon Autotader.com and saw tons of 3rd gen. for sale with a 2 motors either rebuilt or it is blown. This freak me out and I was just wondering that why there are so many of them for sale and the motors is rebuilt. and I asked myself that i wouldn't want to buy a car if it is not reliable.
But I still wanted one. So after seaching and I found one at a local dealers and pick it up for $15,900. All it has was a turbo timers and a Greddy catback exhaust and everything else was stock so the owner was somewhat taking car of this car. After two days, I dropped it off at KDR to strip off everything and do all the performance works at one time. When the motor was stripped, fortunately for me the rotor housing was in excellent conditions and the stock twins was still good I mean the motor was in immaculate conditions. This saves me alot of money. So here is my points, if you loves the car get it and you will learn more about the car as you ownes it and it is a learning process. If there is one that interest you go check it out and have a qualify mechanics or someone check the car out for you to ensures you that it is in a drivable conditions and what mods he did to the car and every other aspects in buying a used car. This ways it will saves you alot of the moneys in the long run. Sorry for the long post hopes this will help you. Good luck.

Ed Everidge

Using the automatic:
Shift into low
Hit the hold button
Startup at a light (about 2200 stall on mine)
Wait as it leisurely accelerates to about 3000 rpm.
Say hello to your favorite religious figure and see if you can hit the hold button again to let it shift before the redline buzzer goes off (I can't react that fast)

In an automatic, it is anoying to wait for the turbo's to spool
but after they do the car is quick.

In stock form, the auto was supposed to be faster 0-60 than the
manual. Don't know if I believe that because you can probably launch the manual version at 3 K with the turbos spooled.
It would however be rough on clutches to do that.

Are those of you who have to replace clutches every 30K miles launching agressively? (what a dumb question, I sure would if I had a manual transmission)

bcsfau1982

Thanks for all your responses! The people from other message boards are real ******. Anyways, I am going to be getting an RX7, that is what I want. Someone is selling one with a a new motor with 2K on it, pettit ported, pettit turbos, gauges, suspension system, and lots more, so I am looking into that. Any advice?

G 's 3rd gen

Pettit is just as good or better than anybody out there in the business. Maybe the best at 3rd gens. They are a little pricey but do great work and great service(Unlike others discussed.eg.PFS). If you do get serious about getting one have them check it out. They wont give you any bullshit. Have Cameron look at it for ya. I would never let anyone else touch mine. If you were to have a motor crated imagine having problems. What a bitch to send all the back across the country. As mentioned the best thing to do is have a daily driver. Use the Rx for more important things.....like venting on C5 and Z06 and cobras and Gts and Nsx and well you get it! A few mods and proper tuning and you will be competing with all of those! Enjoy!!!!!

Foz'sRX-7

I've now got 115k on my '93 VR Base......All I can tell you is be prepared to spend some cash......I love my Rex! Plan on driving it way after I put an antique tag on it.

Got mine 4 years ago with 49k on it.
The AST and Radiator went out @ 80k
The clutch went out @ 114k

Had a small oil leak, so decided to rebuild engine and turbos when replacing the clutch......ACT Street/Strip Clutch w/ 8.5# flywheel, boost gauge, intake, power pulley, Alum AST & downpipe purchased from Pettit. Great guys to work with.....I live in Tampa, so the only rotorhead that works on my Rex is Jeff Gladdish, owner of Maztech. He has taken excellent care of me for 4 years.

I replaced the original battery once with a diehard, and Sears has replaced the Die-Hard twice for free. (so much for the Florida heat).

What can I say.....I love my Rex...it says so on my license plate: "FOZSRX7"

Foz.......that's me.

rx7ofmine

trexthe3rd,
check your pm!

spunup

Ditto. Well, kinda. Bought mine with 29k on it and till 80k or so only problems were air pump went out- $990 for a new one (first used one lasted one day) and the 5th gear synchro prob. Then the motor blew. Best news- its paid for as of next week!!!!

ronarndt

I'm approaching 100K on my FD. No major problems, once I fixed the stuff the previous owner had neglected. I've had 4 RX-7s- this is the first used one that I bought, so it was annoying not having the full history of the car. Previous owner let the car overheat, due to blown AST, so new motor was installed. Everything else has been performance mods that I wanted, not needed. (well *maybe* needed- mods are kind of addictive). Only failure, so far, is drivers side electric window switch-$190. This is my daily driver- 80 miles per day on rural twisty-turney mountain roads. Why would you want to drive something else?