Well after searching for a long time in Japan, ive have just found a reasonable type R2, late 1993 model for sale. It has 67,000 kms and looks very clean. It has a mazdaspeed exhaust, mazdaspeed rear GT wing and i think its a mazdaspeed body kit???. The sale yard manager told me that the car is a a trade in and that the previous owner spent $4000 on the bodykit.

It also has mazdaspeed strut bar.

I took the car for a quick drive, it was actually the first real time i have driven an Rx7FD and it felt great. I took it up to 6000rpm, i didnt want rev it to hard and was just being careful.

Just a few questions

Im not familiar with the rotary engine sound, when i was rolling the car up to stop signs, i could hear the engine making grinding noises, or some sorta engine noise. Is this normal? Im use to silent honda engines

I also havent driven a manual for a long time, and i felt the gear box was a bit kinda hard, not that i had trouble getting it into gear but it wasnt as soft as my old honda in Australia.

 

Well, I'd certainly be concerned about that "grinding" noise you heard coming to a stop...Brakes maybe? My FD doesn't make any such grinding noise while slowing down. Secondly, my gearbox is a bit notchy as well...Not sure if that's an FD thing, or just mine. It definitely doesn't allow any slop between gear shifts, so unless the clutch is not engaging smoothly, or gears are grinding, I wouldn't be concerned about that. I'd focus more on that grinding you're hearing. Best of luck!

 

I think i could hear the noise when i came to a stop because the muffler was quiet, its probably going all the time.

mmm...its hard to describe the noise, i was only in the car for a short time. Maybe grinding noise isnt a good description. Its kinda just engine noise, but i could hear it within the cabin of the car, are rotars abit noisier? Or is it the turbo winding down?

 

I suggest you find a local fellow FD nut and have them go for a ride with you.

You can hear the turbo spooling, you might hear the air pump making noise, the exhaust may have a different note, etc.

Test drive a few more FDs even if they aren't exactly what you're looking for. The body of 'knowledge' you'll build by getting familiar with several will really help you determine what's normal and what's not.

 

well ive driven one other before, but it was extremely loud and only for a very short distance. Im not really in a position to test drive lots of FDs, i only have a bicycle atm, at that makes it pretty hard to get out and see car yards. Ive been looking around for about 2 years and this is one of the better cars ive seen. Many being treated pretty badly.

I will give it one more drive and then listen to the engine more carefully. They have a mechanic on site so im hoping they have had a good look at it.

Ive never been in a turbo car really before, so maybe it was the turbo spooling. What does that sound like?

 

As the turbos spool, you will hear a whistling...Depending on the exhaust, it should be audible, clear, and crisp, but not overwhelming...It shouldn't have any whine to it.

 

I had a exhaust on my FD for a while that vibrated under the car a bit. It could be anything. Have it checkd out.

 

im going for one last look tommorrow, im going to have a good listen

 

Well guys went for a second look and bought it!

Onesick, its exactly that,
I made the seller aware of the noise which he initially thought was the air con. The engine is silent. It turned out to be the gear stick/box vibrating at low speeds when vibration is higher. He said he will try and fix it or at least make it quieter. He lowered the price by 500 bucks. The car just looked so clean.

It has mazda log book history to current.

 

I reckon it's something to do with the trans ( clutch etc...) I've just never been in an FD ( and I've been in a few ) that performed well /ok and had a grinding noise coming from an engine.
I agree, take a current FD owner for a drive and see what they say, otherwise take another FD for a drive and see how it souds.
You could always ask the seller what the "grinding" noise is ?

 

sorry,I just read your last post,

Gearbox vibration? does it have a PPF?

 

are you sure its a type R??? those look like RB seats to me, is it a 4 seater?

how much are they asking for? if you really want a early model get a 95 up cos the interior plastics are much better, better yet go to the 96+

 

Yeah im sure its a type R version 2, its a 2 seater. Those seats are stock in the version 2 type Rs. People have told me that many Rx7s get racing seats put in, but when they sell they have to replace with other stock seats, and the version 1 seats are cheapest to get a hold of.

It has stock suspension and mild mods. Its very clean, apart from the vibration noise, it is mint.

vrmmmmpshh - i will pm u the price mate.

A friend thought that the vibration might have something to do with rubber mounts or something.

Whats a PPF?

I will take it to a rotar specialist as soon as i get it to get a full check if the noise is still there.

 

PPF= Power Plant Frame, large brace that ties the rear of the tranny to the front of the diff.

 

Not sure about the "versions" and "types" you speak of. But those seats came on the "base models" in North America. Still desirable seats, but not R1 seats.

 

Holy crap!! The steering wheel is on the wrong side!!!

Just kidding. . .enjoy your purchase, and welcome to the club.