First of all, hello every one, thanks to the guys at Automotiveforums.com for pointing me in this direction

Ok, I am thinking about buying a 3rd gen RX-7 R1. Most likely a 1993, but I'm having problems finding a good one All the ones I find on the net are either high miles, wrecked, or a lower trim level listed as R1s. And then there are always the idiots who expect to sell their car without even telling me what trim lvl it is or if its an auto or manual :p Anyhow, I am kindof new to the 7 seen so I'm not sure exactialy how to go about finding a good one. My question is should I just continue looking for one in the US or should I try and import one from Japan or NZ? I've done quite a bit of research on importing Skylines to the US and am aware of the extra costs envolved in doing this (minus the arm and a leg that motorex would charge to submit a complience package on a skyline ) Also, say I do want to import one, will I have to go through a bunch of red tape as with a GTR or is it pretty much a simple task?

Any info would be great, also, if anyone has any ideas on other places on the net to look for RX-7s for sale, let me know! I've tried all the normal places, autotrader.com, cars.com, ebaymoters.

 

if you were lookin for a 96 or newer it would make sense to import one, if you didn't mind costs, but there are plenty or 93-95's in the states, with the r1 or r2 package,

and if you imported on from japan it would have right hand drive also, it would be cheaper to find a not as nice one and fix it up.......

so keep lookin, you should be able to find one somewhere in the US or canada that you like, check the for sale section on this forum also

 

Cool cool, I was assuming that it would be cheaper to find one here in the US, but I've never bought a car that I had to search for before so I'm not sure how to go about finding it

 

cars.com
autotrader.com

 

If you plan on modifying your 7, don't limit yourself to the R1/2s. Its really not same leap as say a Integra Type R is over a Integra LS (for lack of better comparison).

With the R1, you get a strut brace, brake ducts, a 2nd oil cooler, stiffer suspension (like as if the base or Touring is not stiff enough for most driving) and less sound deadening - all with a whopping 65-80lbs reduction in weight. I'm probably forgetting a couple things, but for the most part - thats it.

If you plan on keeping it stock or race in a particular class that does not allow for modifications, then there are plenty of nice R1/2s out there - just have to be patient.

 

Oh - and the only other benefit that I can think of: being able to tell the kids in your neighborhood that you have a 'Type R' RX-7.

 

All the ones I find on the net are either high miles, wrecked, or a lower trim level listed as R1s.
What are you talking about? R1 is not a lower trim level. It is just a sportier level with some added parts like a spoiler, dual oil coolers, and stiffer suspension and some removed parts like leather, sunroof, cruise control, etc. Keep looking here in the US. How much do you plan on spending? Apparently if you are willing to import one then you have money so there are a number of premium priced examples for you to get.

 

I think he was talking about people with tourings, and base's listing them on sites for sale as r1's to get more $$.. At any rate if you have the dough and no emissions and live in a pretty easy state for titling cars...

You could try importing a 7 and switching all of the vin numbers off of a wrecked one and using a wrecked title, but I don't know if that would work anyways. I wouldn't want to spend the money on a 7 to buy on that you wouldn't get to drive or hear run.

 

import import IMPORT!!! man i wish i had the money to import one... just the idea of going threw a drive threw and having to jump out and run around the other side... or at the bank... or when a cop pulls you over cause he thinks your dicking aroundand driving on the other side of your car... or just the looks on peoples face when you pass them. even tho shifting would be kinda weird i can get used to it... this arcade has a left hand shift game and once you get use to it it's just like driving right hand shift.
Nick

 

I meant Tourings or Bases that people list as "19__ RX-7 R1 !!"

Any how, I don't really have the money to import one I just thought I'd toss around the idea so I think I will keep looking here in the US. I'd like to find one for 13 or 14k as I saw a nice low miles 1993 R1 with no mods, 1 owner, garaged for 14k. But I would go up to 16 most likely.

As for what trim lvl to buy, I am planning on making this a project car to work on over the comming years but I'm not planning on doing any serious racing, just mby a few 1/4s at the local drag strip every now and then. Like I said I am new to RX-7s so I was unsure of the exact differences between Tourings and R1/2s, but it sounds like a touring would suit my needs just fine. It would be nice to have that stiffer suspension though :p

 

Importing a 1991-1995 and possibly 1996-7 may be fairly easy. I saw a website once where a nice 93 was for sale with 40 KM for less than 12K USD. Shipping was a couple thousand. The problem with 96+ cars is that they did not import them so there are OBDII and crash test restraints. 91-95 are all the same body as the USA 93-95, so the crash test arguement is moot.

Tim

 

So for a 93-95 7 would I have to get an RI to submit a complience package? What, if any mods are needed to get it in complience with EPA and DOT?