DUDE21, Let me try to sum this up.

1 - If you buy one that already works perfectly and you don't F#$% it all up, it will probably last a long time.

2 - You can modify the hell out of them and they will last a good long time if you DO IT RIGHT. 90% of the people don't do it right, then it breaks.

3 - If this is a daily driver, you better know what you're doing on RX-7s or have a backup piece of crap car to drive when the RX-7 breaks.

4 - Don't even think about buying this car unless you will do ALL repairs yourself, or don't mind paying someone else thousands to do it for you... and they will most likely screw it up anyhow. See item #1

5 - ANY RX-7, fully modded or bone stock, can make a great daily driver if you LEARN about the car, FIX the car, MAINTAIN the car. This is NOT a Honda. You have to watch the gauges... listen for noises, take every little rattle or misbehavior very seriously! Keeping an RX-7 going is about two steps... getting it built right and KEEPING it right.

My RX-7 makes over 400 hp at the wheels and I would have NO DOUBTS about using it to drive every single day except that it would mess up the paint But, if it did break, I've got a beater to putt around in while I fix it so I am good there.

Anyone that says RX-7s (with 220 rwhp or 420 rwhp) are not good daily drivers just doesn't know what they're doing.

*edit* And I'm not Mr. Can't Do Wrong here myself... I blew my first engine in my car but it was 100% MY FAULT and MY over-aggressive modifications....

 

id buy a fc first and try to rebuild that engine. its cheaper and if you cant do it, at least your not really loosing that much money! blown fc=only a few bucks (literally if your in the lower 48's!).

in anycase, I'd go with a rebuilt/modded engine. it will have 0 miles on it and you will know for sure if it had ever over heated/abused or not. then again, not ever rebuilt motor is done correctly and not ever one is put back in correctly.

 

ok... so I understand the concern, but I'd like to interject something here. You can get a 1993 3cyl Geo Metro for ~ $500. Just buy one of those too. You're talking about spending $14,000(ish) for a car and it being your only one, so why not buy a second (that's really reliable and gets good mileage to boot) as a backup. $500 isn't that much for peice of mind.

p.s. I saw where everyone else was suggesting you get a "beater." I just think that this is a great example... good milage and cheap.

 

true, It looks like I will have to get a beater, just in case.

I was also wondering how hard it is to pull the motor out yourself, if you only have basic tools. Are there any books that go in to the specifics about how to work on a rotary engine, or tranny? I kinda wanna do the work of rebuilding the motor myself and wondering if it is possible.

 

http://www.rotaryaviation.com/Books_videos.htm

Don't forget to get a Factory Service Manual (FSM).

 

Thanks that website helped. I know for hondas and acuras when you put in a motor it comes with the tranny. Do builders provide the tranny with a rebuilt rotary engine? like does the tranny come with the drop in motor?

 

Typically you just get a short block (core, flywheel, waterpump housing) with a reman. A rebuild is just a rebuild of your blown core.

You can usually get trannies when ordering J-Spec motors, however, they will be used and probably torn up. There is no reason to change out your tranny unless you have torn up all the gears and it's cheaper to get another one rather than rebuilding yours.

 

werd! that's what i do for my FC when the tyranny gives up on me. Oh and Hondas and Acuras are for kids!

 

How's te ride for long distance drives?

 

well I actually don't have a rx-7 yet, just trying to learn as much as I can about them. I am asking about trannies because I am interested in this 1995 rx-7 and it had 87,000 original miles. I've seen a picture it looks clean, but i don't know how it runs. The dealer is asking $13,500, if everything is "pretty god danm" is that worth it?


LOL, Hondas and Acura for kids, hey, wait I drive a RSX-Type S right now.....

 

hey glad to know that you're passionate about RX-7. Well just doing it slowly bro, i'm sure that one day ur RX-7 will become a beast on the street that strikes terror to any ricer out there.

 

wot?

the stock RX-7 already strike fear to those ricer!

damn...you does not deserve to own an FC.

 

Dialone, you said it perfectly!!! Don't get one if it has to be your daily ride. Or get it but find a beater to use as your daily. If you can afford a 7 you should be able to afford a daily cheap ride IMO.

You may find that once you've been indoctrinated you may never be the same again in terms of your perspective on cars. There's a revspeed clip around here somewhere...if that doesn't get the juices flowing then try something else...

 

Well one thing i'm still confused though, why do you guys buy an RX-7 and spends so much money into mods so that u can use it as daily driven car?

for me, i'll never in a million years i'll drive my FD. The car is too precious to be driven daily!

 

what do you guys thing about the FD for sale is it a good deal? oh yea, i have also decided if I do get this rx-7 I will let PFS rebuilt and street port the motor, rebuild the tranny, and either rebuild the twins or go single, I have not decided yet.

 

It's car. It SHOULD be driven...

 

I bought my FD and sink loads of money into it so I CAN drive it. I have a motorcycle and my rotary truck as back-ups but the FD is my daily driver. I have had it for less than 4 years and have put on overy 50k miles. It does occasionally have a problem, but I find if I keep on top of maintenence and replace anything that is starting to look worn then it never will fail and leave me stranded. For instance, my turbos are leaking internally and my exhaust smells like burnt oil all the time. This weekend I am replacing them with a 6k mile set I found for $500. Not bad, much better than waiting for them to completely fail on the highway, getting towed home for $100, then having to figure out what else the turbos took with them when they failed.

The FD makes a wonderful daily driver if you can live with a tiny car with very little storage, if you like the harsh ride, if you can afford to keep it maintained, and if you have some kind of back-up plan for when it is down.

 

my '93 has been very reliable. i've got 70k+ miles and just had a compression test done. it has about 128 to 133 psi in all chambers. i think reason is 1500 to 2000 mi. oil changes with mobil1, use of premix 2 stroke synthetic, all reliability mods, keeping boost to 12psi, keeping fans on most of the time. I have all the bolt ons too. Change hoses and fluids. Basically take real good care of car, don't get crazy with it, and it will be very reliable.

 

hey i just came on this site to get more info on FD's and such, as my friend is interested in buying one, and i have always wanted one myself. now i see this car would defintly not work for him, but i would still love to buy one down the road as a play car thanks for all the detailed info---kim

 

Who's got any expierence dealing with PFS?

 

My PFS a-pillar single gauge pod warped, does that count?

 

did they install it?