InvisibleMonkey

I understand that these cars have a lot of problems...but are they easy to fix? i'm looking into getting one and i understand that there are alot of problems...i started a thread about three months ago...i am willing to work on the car myself if there are problems...but how will i know if there are any problems with the car when i buy it?

and of course, it'll have to be a twin turbo

EDIT: is there a way to look at an RX-7 and know if it's a twin turbo?(I.E. a spoiler or wheels...the eclipse GSX and Supra TT had easy ways of knowing, so i was just curious...i can't seem to find the turbos near the engine)

tt2323

The sequential turbo system can be a nightmare. I've had good luck with mine in the year in the half that i've had it. Besides a motor rebuild ive been extremely happy. Important is to look at the Stickys/search on thing to look for when buying a used Rx7. I was lucky to find someone in the area to put it up on a lift and make a report of the problems

InvisibleMonkey

is the n/a upgradeable to a turbo without it being nearly impossible (i was looking at supras-which are VERY hard to upgrade to a turbo if it's not stock-but they don't handle well, so i've decided on an RX-7 even if it takes some work)

Alcoholic

all 3rd gens are twin turbo...

edit: and what makes you think supra's don't handle well?

InvisibleMonkey

i guess i said it wrong, i meant that RX-7's are lighter and have better handling than a supra

lol...i feel like a dumbass...i didn't know that

EDIT: This one looks nice...

Alcoholic

rx7's are more nimble and would do better on an autocross course, something with a longer wheel base like a supra would probably do better on a real road course...

InvisibleMonkey

lol...so should i stick with the supra? i need it to be a good daily driver...but i'd be willing to work on the RX-7 anyway

Alcoholic

I dunno man, I've never driven either. A turbo supra would definitely be a better daily driver as far as having both power and reliability.

This is an rx7 message board, expect people to be biased towards rx7's...lol..

I can tell you one thing though, DO NOT turbo an na supra (2jzge) and expect it to be anything like a 2jzgte. The NA motor is nowhere near as strong and just does not have the potential without a whole lot more work and money then it's worth.

Swapping a 2jzgte into an NA supra is going to be in the $10,000 range with used parts and labor if you had a shop do it. From what I hear it's quite a bit more complex then being a bolt in replacement, even though it uses the same block. I don't know what's actually involved with doing the swap.

I know the brakes on the NA supra are not on par with the turbo supra (just throw in some used supra turbo brakes if you don't have money for a new brake kit), and I have no clue about the suspension.

Heisenberg

iTrader: (3)

These cars really arent known for there reliability. It may really come down to what you plan on doing to the car and how deep your pockets are. From reading this post so far it appears you may be better off with a Supra.

jic

iTrader: (1)

i second that

Cgotto6

iTrader: (8)

This thread sucks. Dont buy an rx7!

rynberg

Alcoholic

would i be wrong in saying that a car with a longer wheelbase is generally more stable at high speeds which are not seen on an autocross course?

would you care to elaborate and possibly teach us something rather then just rolling your eyes at me?

rynberg

I rolled my eyes because

a) the notion that a Supra is better on a road course than an FD because it has a longer wheelbase is ridiculous.

b) you are commenting on two cars that you've never driven

c) it sounds like you've never auto-x or tracked a car before either.

So, pretty much, you are talking completely out of your ***.

InvisibleMonkey

OMFG ROFL, you just made my day...but what problems does the car have?

rynberg

Invisible Monkey:

The FD is a full-on sports car. Many of the systems are essentially pure race car design and made streetable -- the suspension is a perfect example. These cars are 10-12 years old and are going to have some issues, like any other 10-12 year old car. There is also the fact that many of these cars have been abused -- and by abused, I don't mean just driven hard, I mean owned by people who don't properly maintain them.

So, yes, almost any FD you buy is going to have problems. Please read the newbie sticky/FAQ for a general list and buying guide.

I strongly suggest you make friends with some knowledgable FD enthusiasts in the NJ area -- there are several good guys out there. Buy one of them a few beers and have them go with you to check out a car. They should be able to help you out.

Be advised that you should be one of two things to own these cars -- either mechanically adept with the time, skills, and tools to fix problems, or be financially capable of paying someone else to do it. Unfortunately, many cars have been owned by someone who is neither.

PhoenixDownVII

*Applause for Rynburg*

Make's me laugh to see advice given from other people who don't seem to know what they're talking about.

Say whatever you want about the Supra OR Rx7, but both are awesome imports capable of both straight line speed and hold their own through the corners. Read over @ Supraforums about positive results at the AutoX too!

The fact alone that you didn't know they ALL came Twin Turbo leads me to believe that you should do MUCH more research.

The reliability hurtle is mostly of the mind and takes knowledge and experience to overcome. You have to consider these cars are cheaper than Supra's, more exclusive (as far as engine tuning go's...), and have been owned by not-so-mechanically inclined individuals, of which some owners passion for brute speed overcame sensibility (Common Sense)

I met a kid today who said he works on cars all the time, I asked what, he said his parents minivan, continued to complain about how quiet the exhaust was. Then said he wanted to save up for a real car, like a 3KGT...when I mentioned my Rx7, he go's "All rotaries only take 87 octane, remember that!" I couldn't help but stop smirking and just said "No, my car would die if I did that."

jic

iTrader: (1)

rynberg owns the newbies

Alcoholic

when did I say that? So I guess a minivan is also better on a road course because it has a longer wheelbase? they are both 'true' sports cars, and they both handle very well. from what I understand, from a physics standpoint, a sports car with a longer wheelbase tends to be more stable at high speeds. of course there's a hell of a lot of other variables involved (no ****...), but both of these cars are high performance sports cars and I'm not going to assume that the supra's suspension setup or chassis is somehow inferior to the fd's. another thing aside, i never stated it as fact, hence the use of the word 'probably'. if you would like to shed some light on the subject, please correct me without ridicule. I wouldn't be bringing any hate upon myself here if I wasn't in a forum filled with people biased towards rx7's.

somehow i feel more ridicule coming....yay! s'cuse me for trying to help the guy.

PhoenixDownVII

Hey, alcoholic, have a drink and relax. I know your advice was one of few words, it was just an odd reason to justify "Bigger Track" racing. The FD will hold its own just the same, and I'd guess good tires, alignment, and aerodynamics (COD) are more important than a few inches between the front and rear wheel.

Alcoholic

I don't know the drag coefficients of either, but I kind of doubt either car makes any significant amount of downforce.

I personally think an FD would be more fun to drive around...and I've been shopping around for one, it's just the comparable reliability I could have with a powefull supra...

But oh the FD I could have for the price of a supra...

RochX7

dont buy neither! get a geo metro lsi and turbo it! seems more suiting for ya buddy!

InvisibleMonkey

i'm not taking advice from anyone that can't use proper english, and how will a turbo-ed geo metro better suit me?

rynberg

...something with a longer wheel base like a supra would probably do better on a real road course...

Sounds pretty much like you're saying it right there. If you are going to make statements like that, you better have something to back it up. The magazine statistics show the TT Supra and the FD essentially equal in handling -- in the real world, the FD outhandles the Supra in auto-x or track. I have real personal experience to back that up. If you have no clue what you are talking about, it's often better to not say anything.

And how is your input helping the guy -- you've never even driven either an FD or Supra, let alone own one.

InvisibleMonkey

i know it's kinda old...but BUMP

my question never got answered...what are the usual issues with the car and are they easily fixed?