Hey everyone, I have been looking at a few cars lately b/c it's time to get something for a daily driver. I came across a what seems to be nice RX7. Now, I am not familiar at all with the RX7 or the rotary engine. My main concern is that it is reliable enough for a daliy driver. I also don't want to have to start replacing things b/c that can get expensive. The one I came across already has some major components including the engine and turbo. This is what I am weary of. I asked the guy for pictures of the recipts and where the services were performed.

Anyways, I was just wondering if you guys (and gals) could tell me if this is something I should persue or just back away from. Also, if you could tell me if there is anything that I should look for or ask about, that would really help me out.

Thanks!
Matt

BTW: Before I would buy the car, I would have it inspected by a Mazda dealer.

 

uh oh here it comes

 

This is not the car for you, you said it yourself when you listed the criteria of what your looking for in a car

 

LOL, it's good to spice up these repeated questions with something new.

Don't let mazda touch it.

Keep it stock and you can daily it.

The expenses are less if you don't modify it like any car.

It's 10 years old, so starter/alternator stuff may go like any car.

Other than that, do Oil/Coolant/Fluid Changes normally and enjoy.

 

Should of posted the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MakeTrack=true

 

With the rotary engine, is normal maintnence more expensive or anything like that?

 

Please search. Im not trying to be rude but every week a thread like this comes up

 

Every week, try daily. If you were to read back two pages you would see at least one or two of these posts... They should make it where you have to do 10 searches before your ever allowed to make a post.

 

yeah, i dont have a rx7 ( yet ) but im saving for one now ^^, anyways for daily driving this just doesent seem like the best car, and if you worrying about replacing things again this doesent seem like the best car, a good rx7 engine from what i understand and have heard from others, last 100k or a lil more. iv never seen one reach 200k so yeah. you will need to replace stuff, if im wrong im sorry, im trying to learn too and wil probably learn faster once i get my 7.

 

The turbos in particular create most of the problems. They generate enough heat to make the exhasut glow orange. Thiis heat is hard on engine bay items. You will spend lots of money operating this car daily. These cars are OLD and will need repairs.

Spend time here:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68640

 

start upgrading and who knows if they will last 50k mine quit at 6k

 

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

Try searching this forum with the terms "buying" and "daily". You should see plenty of hits.

Dave

 

It's really all about proper care for the car. You can blow a stock motor after 20K or have a modded one run 80K like me (time for a rebuild for coolant sake though), it's all about the way you maintain the critical engine pieces.

Compression Test
Oil Change
Coolant change
Tranny fluid change
Diff fluid change
Injector cleaning/balancing
Fuel filter change

All of those should be mandatory when getting any used car, but overlooking them on an RX-7 could cost you an engine (the compression check is really just to tell you if it already cost someone else the engine)

 

i think you can daily drive an FD just fine even if it has lots of mods - but you have to be ready to replace a lot of parts one way or another - and thats on top of fluids and maintenance.

I've been daily driving mine since I bought it in november and since then its been in the garage for about 2 full months (spread out) - so when you buy the car be prepared to fix things that break because of age or because of the driver.
Its a high performance car and dont start thinking you have more ability than you actually do...

 

Try looking for a non-modified FD (almost impossible), look through this forum: https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68640

Just be reliable to your car (maintenance checks regularly) and it will be reliable to you!

But if your pocket isn't deep enough, and you purchase one of these guys.. be prepared to live on food stamps and canned foods

 

Don't have it as a daily driver !!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a 12 year old sports car. It's gonna need parts replaced. and it will leave you stranded. Hope you have a good mechanic nearby, it sucks having to drive far, and get rides from people to the shop and back. It's worth it, but the car is gonna have problems, just have another vehicle, so you don't have to rely on other peoples to get you places. Just my 2 cent.
I have a motorcycle for when the ride would be down for alittle bit.

 

biggest thing overlooked yet...it's an automatic. BOOOOOO!

My car is baby'd like hell, but I still have to say that an RX7 is not a daily driver. Especially considering the guidelines you mentioned in your initial post of this thread.

 

^^^ I've been daily driving mine for a while. A bad coolant, boost, ignition, or fuel related problem can put the car down for a while. As long as you dont encounter these problems, its safe to daily drive. Maintenance is key along with "safe" modding.

Its ok to take it to a Mazda dealer that knows what they are doing. Be prepared to pay an arm and a leg though. (I dont take it to the dealer for anything)

 

Agreed. However, such a place does not exist

 

This is not the car for you. You can search ALL day long on this subject because it DOES come up probably on a daily - semi daily basis. There are lots of people who have had minimal trouble and who do daily drive it - however these are FAR outnumbered by those who have sank lots of money into repairing it and maintaining it and often those costs far outweigh what they paid for the car. This was one of the original Japanese Supercars and does not make a Great daily driver.

 

I disagree. There's a Mazda dealership on oahu that knows what they're doing. They have one guy who is a "rotary specialist".

I dont personally know about any other shops (performance shops) that know how to work on these cars. Perhaps some other Hawaii peeps can chime in here

 

I guess I view Hawaii as "not counting" since I always assumed that the entire island conglomerate needs to be self-sustaining and have an expert in every field possible en residence.

 

Check out my thread. It will answer most of your questions, we were looking for the same thing.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...2&page=1&pp=15

 

I agree...........having an auto FD is like having a pool without water