Looking to buy ~1993 RX-7, ~$20k budget
 

I found this forum a few weeks ago, and have done nothing but read up until now =).

Basically, I am looking to buy a 1993 or 1994 RX-7 and then get it hopefully to about stage 3 or ~300HP and have it be my daily driver...but that's all I have clearly decided on.

It would seem I have three options or approaches to going about this. One, I can buy a low-mileage (~40,000 miles) RX-7 w/ the some standard "reliability" upgrades (ie new intercooler, intake, exhaust, downpipe, ecu, etc) but it will pretty much take my entire budget all at once.

Two, I can buy a a mid/high-mileage (80,000 - 100,000 miles) RX-7 w/ a rebuilt or new engine (w/ anything from 2,000 - 15,000 miles on the engine), and come away w/ a large chunk of money to spare, to upgrade what needs to be upgraded.

Thirdly, I can buy a mid/high-mileage RX-7 (~100,000 miles) w/o a rebuilt engine, and then have a local shop rebuild and port that engine ... and fix / upgrade other parts that need it.


Now what I am wondering, is, with my budget and goals, what you fine people think the best bet would be? Is what I'm shooting for even possible w/ my budget? Is my budget higher than it needs to be? (I wish). The less amount spent to achieve my goal(s) the better. =)

I can do most of the work myself, but not rebuild an engine. So that'd be a big chunk of change right there. I'm in Southern CA if that means anything, and there are plenty of shops around here that could do what needs to be done.

Thanks for your advice. I currently have a 1990 Nissan 300ZX and she's getting old. Looking for something more new and fun. And, I think I've found it w/ the 3rd gen RX-7.

with a 20k budget, i would think it would be pretty easy to make your goal. i got a mid-milage with all the reliabilty mods already done for 13k, another 7k would be pleenty enough for 300hp-350hp.

I recommend getting a low mileage car, with few or no mods. Everything will last longer, and it's less likely to have been "beaten up". You should still have a few grand left for your upgrades.

If I could have done it over, I would have bought an RX-7 with a rebuilt motor by either Pineapple (5year warranty!), KDR, Rotary Reliability and Racing, Gotham Racing (Steve Kan does great work) or Rotary Performance. Look for an FD (3rd gen RX-7) with a rebuilt motor from one of those shops and you won't be dissapointed. Plus it will generall be pretty rock solid if those guys got their hands on it. You can go the route of buying a highmileage FD then just rebuilding it, but then you have to worry about more than just the engine. Tranny, cooling system, suspension, body damage...lots of other things come into play.

I plan on sending my car to Gotham Racing when I get a hold of some new turbos and have Steve tune me up. Just research yor options a lot. Have fun.

- C

I reccomend you do this; buy a mid mileage car w/ a reman, upgrade it as you can, drive it as you can. However, don't spend all your money. Set aside $1k and buy yourself a beater civic. That's the best mod you can do.

I'm all for reliable rotaries, but I just don't see them as being ideal daily drivers.