Hey all, im in the market for a new (used) car and have narrowed down my choices to a few cars.

Now im not asking you guys which I should get (afterall this is an RX7 forum), just giving you some info.

Ive been looking at used C5s (00+) w/z51 as they are a great performance bargin. My main problem with this is that there are tons of them everywhere.
Also while the car is an excellent handler and pretty fast its really not the most entertaining to drive (due to size).

I had been looking at spuras, and while the car is excellent, it just seems like too much money for what it is.

And odbviously Im looking at the third gen rx7.
I really love this car. Its so unique and looks sexy 10 years after it was made (and 100 more years to come ).

One of my friends just got an RX8 in november and the re-ignited that passion ive had for the 7.

Anyway, when buying a third gen what are things to look for? Is there a specific model year that has more/less problems? What is the rarest color (ive been looking for black but havent seen any)?

Really I would just like some good info on the car. Im pretty set on getting one as I think its one of the best looking/handling produstion cars ive ever had the pleasure of sitting in (not driven one yet ).

Anyhow im sure you guys have been asked these questions a million times before. But thanks for your time! (except those of you who will tell me to search )

Future third gen owner...
LAW

 

yellow and montego blue are rare colors look for a low mile car if u can or a car with a rebuilt engine

 

C5 = good looks, torque, american muscle, runs forever

FD = amazing looks, turbo, japanese sports car, you will be paying off your credit cards for 50 years.




it's pretty simple, if you need a reliable car, get a C5. if you want something rare then do something to make it rare. If you want a weekend toy that you will ALWAYS be working on and spending money and more money on, then get an RX7. If you know nothing about the engine then don't get one until you have spent a lot of time on the forum here. These cars take A LOT of maintenance and even then you are not guaranteed anything. a motor can be blown 100 different ways, most of them being minor. The FD is an amazing car which i have a deep passion for, and that's why i don't mind spending all the time and money i do on it. but it depends on what you want/need in your life. If it is you ONLY car, i wouldnt reccomend it at all. if you want a toy, then it's a pretty fun ride. (help to have deep pockets)

 

Well pretty much 1 out of every 2 that i've seen have had a rebuilt engine.

Let me stay that I know my stuff when it comes to normal piston engines. And im learning about the rotaties. But im still a rotary nooB.

 

I wont be buying for two months, so now I can take my time and learn about the engines and fd before I get one.
Unfortunately my pockets arent bursting with money, but I do have a seccond car. And I love to work on cars, so it shouldn't be much of a problem. (untill the mod bug hits)

 

http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/buyaused.htm

I'll only add that 3rd gens are not for everyone. They are great performers when set up properly. They are a nightmare for people who don't know what they are doing. Good luck either way.

 

They are a huge headache, but it will put a bigger smile on your face when you dust all those guys in the C5s. Do learn a lot about the car (I would say more than two months) before buying and make sure you get one in good condition. FDs are pretty much you get get what you paid for, especially if you buy one from somebody who knows about it and took care of it. I would try to avoid buying from somebody who cant tell you anything about whats under the hood unless it is totally stock with almost no miles.

 

i would buy a " spura " .... ...no im kidding...7's all the way...but make sure you keep in mind....its not like your going to buy the 7 and thats it...it will require alot more money than if buy a c5 or a supra in the end.

 

if you are really set on the fd then just do the LS1 swap on one. You get the torque, reliability, and you only add 50 lbs to the car so handling is pretty much the same. ooooo

 

Oh yeah, because that's cheap. The guy said he didn't have that much money.

 

MB is the most common color I see.

I seem to notice CYM and black being the most rare.

 

montego blue automatic is most abundent on used market

 

You know, there are pretty much two kinds of FD (3rd gen rx7) owners:

Those who knew everything about it, and bought it, and those who had no idea what they were getting into and bought it. And id venture to say more ppl fall in the 2nd category...

Unlike many cars, the RX7 has a long rich racing heritage behind it. Something few of us even really appreciate it. So to me, owning an RX7 is like owning a peice of history -- not to mention a car that stock was and continues to be more capable than dozens of cars double and triple it's price.

Also, personally I like to stand out from the crowd. Not in the sense that I want to show off, but in the sense that if I'mma fork some serious dough into something, I don't want it to be something everyone else has (like a civic lol...or even a vette. those are VERY common where I live...as are M3s)

Supras have a history and are pretty rare too (twin turbo manuals are VERY rare at that...almost every one I've seen is NA and automatic...)

That brings me to another point. Like stokedxiv said, what do you want out of the car you're gonna buy??

The RX7 is def. high in the uniqueness factor (not mentioning RXs are the ONLY rotary powered vehicles), but it's a pure race car. It'll give you a thrill (and terror) you just won't get from other cars (at least not ANY other car I've been in). Beauty...I dont think i need to speak about that.

As a cpl of people have said, reliability isn't a strong point. But at the same time, I gotta say that can be a strong point, in the sense that if you stick w/ your RX7, it brings about a bond or obsession that you just won't find w/ other ppl and their cars irrespective of how expensive or rare they are.

So I mean...in short, does the RX7 offer everything? Of course not. But what you need to ask yourself is does it offer you everything YOU need and are looking for? Or are there some things you find crucial that it lacks?

Oh and don't take the deep pockets thing lightly. Most FD owners have spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on their cars...enough to by another FD! lol -- and a LARGE chunk of that is just to keep the car running!! I mean, you can talk to MANY FD owners (me included) who'll swear their car has been in the shop (or downtime in general) practically half the time they've owned it... but ask them how they feel about it, and they'll say they wouldn't have it any other way

As for color, I'd have to agree that CYM (competition yellow mica) and black are pretty rare...so is silver (from what I've seen - or not seen haha). Red and blue are common up the wazoo

On a side note, stokedxiv, I forget to get back to ya. Didja ever sell your R2???

 

Well said. That made me wanna get an RX-7 even more.

 

Well, Competition Yellow Mica is, anyway...

VR = Vintage Red
BB = Brilliant Black
MB = Montego Blue
SS = Silver Stone
CW = Chaste White
CYM = Competition Yellow Mica
PW = Pearly White

1993 U.S. Production - 9,976
1. VR - 4,264 / 42.7%
2. BB - 2,438 / 24.4%
3. MB - 1,589 / 15.9%
4. SS - 1,335 / 13.4%
5. CYM - 350 / 3.5%

1994 U.S. Production - 3,403
1. MB - 1,110 / 32.6%
2. VR - 696 / 20.5%
3. BB - 647 / 19.0%
4. CW - 622 / 18.3%
5. SS - 327 / 9.6%
6. PW - 1 / 0.03%

1995 U.S. Production - 500
1. MB - 150 / 30.0%
2. VR - 123 / 24.6%
3. BB - 115 / 23.0%
4. SS - 62 / 12.4%
5. CW - 50 / 10.0%

Total U.S. Production - 13,879
1. VR - 5,083 / 36.6%
2. BB - 3,200 / 23.1%
3. MB - 2,849 / 20.5%
4. SS - 1,724 / 12.4%
5. CW - 672 / 4.8%
6. CYM - 350 / 2.5%
7. PW - 1 / 0.007%

Which explains why Vintage Red is the most commonly seen color, followed closely by Brilliant Black and Montego Blue.

 

Wrong again...

Total U.S. MKIV Supra Production (1993-1998) - 11,239

Turbo Production - 6,977
1. M6, Sport Roof - 3,712 / 33.0%
2. A4, Sport Roof - 2,939 / 26.2%
3. M6, Fixed Roof - 326 / 2.9%

NA Production - 4,262
1. M5, Sport Roof - 1,429 / 12.7%
2. A4, Sport Roof - 1,306 / 11.6%
3. SE* A4, Fixed Roof - 592 / 5.3%
4. SE* M5, Fixed Roof - 412 / 3.7%
5. A4, Fixed Roof - 274 / 2.4%
6. M5, Fixed Roof - 249 / 2.2%

*1995 only

 

Jimlab, thanx for the info. But in regards to both the 7 and the supra, I wasn't referring to rare in the sense of production #s...I was talking about the pool we still have today, and the ones that I tend to see (because I'm not really concerned w/ how many 7s they have 10 states away...vs. where I live)

Check ebay, autotrader, and your local community. 90% of the 7s I see are red and blue...silver and black ones are harder to find. CYM ones are rare, but there are countless 93s that have been painted CYM just for the effect...

also, again in regards to what is AVAILABLE, in my area, which has a very high # of nice expensive cars, tt manual supras are a rarity. everyone's got NAs and automatics...

on an ironic note tho, where I live has one of the highest concentrations of 7s in the country...so much for it being "rare" haha

 

Obviously it's impossible to take into account geographic distribution or the number of remaining vehicles, especially several years after the last cars were imported. But statistically speaking, the cars that were said to be rare in both cases were one of the most common originally.

 

Go for low mileage and unmodified... except for reliability mods.

http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/

Some reading that helped me when I was looking. Good luck.

 

I like to compare the FD to a supermodel, or really hot celebrity.

For example, lets use Paris Hilton

I dare say not a single straight guy wouln't want to have his way with her, but how many guys could actually keep up with her? Put up with her ****? Or afford her?

That is the FD, a whinny, bitchy, expensive pain-in-the-***, but is so very much worth it when "used" properly.