DUDE21

I have been thinging about which car to get for a long time. You name it I have thought about it. I finally narrowed it down to a stock turbo car (gotta love that turbo). Out of all the stock turbo cars, the RX-7 does it for me. But, most of my friends with hondas and acuras keep telling me Rx-7's are very unreliable. The funny thing is my friend with a twin turbo 300zx , is the only one incouraging me to get one (go figure). I've come down with my own conclusion, that the RX-7's are unreliable if not tuned correctly. Is this a right usumption to make about rx-7's? I really want to get one, but getting scared about all these threads about motors blowing up. This car will be my daily driver, if that helps with rating relaibilty issues.

Thanks guys for helping me out

GoRacer

iTrader: (2)

Honda owners will spend double what they paid for the car for power. 300ZX TT has had plenty of reliablity issues. All turbo cars will be high maintenance since it shortens the lifespan and you have to replace things.

Are you under 21? Maybe you should just get a used 350Z. That's plenty of power, sexy, no turbo problems and you'll still kick any Honda's ***.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=68640

diablone

iTrader: (2)

If you want reliability, go somewhere else. These cars look impressive when looked upon from a non-owner standpoint, but you'll soon find out it's a money pit. If you can't afford a 2nd car for a daily driver, I wouldn't touch it. Many will tell you the first mod for a turbo RX-7 is a reliable daily driver, followed by AAA.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

That's somewhat correct. Also, modded cars tend to be driven hard at higher than stock boost, which in itself means more wear and tear on the engine, and given the complexity of the turbo system, there's many things that can go wrong.

If you want a "reliable" 3rd gen. RX-7, find the cleanest, lowest mileage, well cared for example you can find, do a full tune up, install a downpipe, boost and water temp. gauge, do the fan mod or install a Miata Thermoswitch, and, LEAVE IT ALONE. With this car, less is truly more.

DUDE21

I realize and know from first hand that turbo cars are high maintenace, but I am willing to spend time and money on the car. But it just seems that people make the rotary engine out to being this "driving time bomb", it cant be all that bad? is it?

obviousboy

This isnt a daily driver..unless you got a good chunk of change laying around to fix it quickly everytime something happens..

On the other hand this thing will out perform, out run, out handle, out everything a 300zx can do..I had...theyre a dog compared to these things.

and to add to this drunken post....My 300zx ran 95% of time as for my rx7..its still in my garage

DUDE21

Any more input? it is greatly needed

racer1

RX7 will make a good daily driven as long as it is maintained correctly. I disagree with those saying that it's not a daily driven car. As long as you make the reliability mods, and take it easy with it and don't step on the gas all the time in every straight road you find you'll be fine with it. Of course you'll have to spend money on it and it is not reliable as a honda.

SlingShotRX7

FYI:

Just be selective on the FD you buy. and from there
don't abuse her and you'll be fine. Just don't
WOT at every light and race every civic rubber necker
out there

I drove my FD brand new as a daily driver up to
130K miles, 93thats with a few mods. Just get a boost
gauge, intake, catback and downpipe, and radiator
and be done with it. and Be joy for years..
BTW my buddy's 94 300TT was in and out of the shop
more than my fd.

I believe I would still be on my original motor and turbos
if I didn't get deep into racing and times and turning up
the boost.

and come on .. What other car out there looks better
than the FD?? especially with aftermarket kits and etc.
outside, lamborgini's,ferrari's and porches??? NONE.
Domestic?? NOT, hondas? acuras? Lexus? Toyota?
NO NO NO..

Good luck

Beny

FDs are basicaly an ongoing project car, unless you love fixing broken cars and spending money, id go for a supra or something. If your heart-set on an FD and can do major work your self, beware of your tuner. im shure people on this board can tell you far to many horror storys about that.

diablone

iTrader: (2)

One thing to note, because of racer1's location, he is able to purchase newer RX-7's than we can here. The newer models had many fixes over the years that we never received. No discredit to racer1, just additional information.

aREX4X

If you are afraid of wrenches buy something non turbo and stay away from the FD (unless you have deep pockets and live near a rotary specialist)

x...

XSTransAm

if you buy the car make sure you have enough money in the bank at all times for an engine replacement. They can go out for no reason at all sometimes. i paid 14k for the car a year ago expecting not to have to mess with engine costs for a few years to come... im now well over 20k deep in the car and i havent heard it start since january

racer1

diablone actually many things were fixed but some remain the same. AST for example. Also i don't know why but my MAP sensor broke 3 days ago without reason. FD's are FD's even if they were build in 2000 like mine

jpandes

My FD has een daily driven since 1996 and I have the credit card balances to prove it

I'm actually seriously considering buying my GF's 1992 Integra from $2500 to use as a Dailiy Driver(She just bought a new Infinity G35x AWD today)

sicass7

hey dude they are bad *** cars and you will get a lot of respect but you really should know what you are gettin into just like xstransam i bought my car in january with only 60k miles on it and 4 days later the engine popped and then you can check out my horror stories about dirty south rotary on the board and just like everyone else is saying if you are going to buy this car make sure you have a daily driver or a good pair of shoes good luck jimmyd

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Call me old fashioned, but isn't respect something you earn?

DUDE21

Danm, getting real scared now about getting a FD. I guess I am better off getting a RX-7 that already has a rebuilt motor, rather than spending more and getting one with like 26,000 original miles on the motor? Seems like Iwill have to rebuilt it in a year anyway.

Please explain to me how these rotary motors go out so quick? I can understand if you run high boost with out upgraded apex seal or not properly tuned, but what else causes this problem?

DUDE21

oh yea, I live near Peter Ferrell Supercars, I heard they are one of the best tuners for FDs.

jpandes

Dude, Read this: http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/buyaused.htm

diablone

iTrader: (2)

You really need to sit back, and do alot of reading from the links in the Newbie thread.

You're obviously quite scared of this car (And probably just want it for speed & looks ), and if I was in your situation, I'd go with a different car. I don't want to rely on a car I'm scared to drive in fear of problems every day. Since you already stated it would be your only car, find something that is known for better reliability. Someone above mentioned a 350Z, it would probably work out well for you. Plus, it has a warranty.

SpeedKing

iTrader: (4)

I mentioned this above, and aside from detonation, it's heat. Do the fan mod or install a Miata Thermoswitch. You can also run the A/C on any of the fan settings to keep water temps low.

And don't let all the negative advice get to you. Lots of people here just repeat what someone else said and so on and so on. Keep things in the proper context. For your peace of mind, find a well cared for car with low miles, and even as you mentioned, you can buy one with a new engine, do the "reliability mods" if they haven't been done already, and leave it alone. That said, the FD is truly a great sports car, performance is still relevant 10+ years after its inception, and it is one of the most beautiful cars you'll ever see.

sicass7

yeah i totally agree but what other kind of cars can you pretty much take to the drag strip the night after you buy it (not that i recommend that) and be extremely competitive against cars that guys might have put a bunch of money into. there are a few i know but the point is that these cars have potential and people recognize that isnt that why we are all here plus what i meant was the car gets a lot of respect not the driver jimmyd

skunks

dont be afraid of a fd, just keep boost to 10psi (very hard as you get use to hp/torque very quickly and want more) and do normal maintance stuff for a 10 year old car and you'll be fine.

NOTE: FD's were built as passenger cars! they were ment to be driven on the street as daily drivers so why not

also have an extra 5-7k for a new engine/turbo as well as a beater car just in case and everything will be good. it will still be cheaper then almost any new car out there under 40-60k much less the 16k which is how much it will probally cost you in total; even after the new engine and turbo/s but much better looking

DUDE21

ok, so if I rebuilt the engine and not go insane with it, will it be more dependable than the stocl motor. Basically I am asking for personal experience with reliability with stock motors versus rebuilt motors. I want to figure out if it is worth buying a high miled rx-7 and rebuild or buy a low mile rx-7 with original motor.




Thanks everyone so far with all your inputs, it has helped a lot!!!