I am looking at buying a 94, 95 RX7. I am not looking at modifying the car for performance maybe an intake and exhaust. What kind of reliability problems am I gonna run into. Basically my Dad is going to buy me a car and I dont have money to spend on repairs because I am still going to school. So is this the right car for me or not.

 

Well, look here to find out more about reliability mods....

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

and as far as this car being right for you, the best thing you could do is find an FD that has been taken care of. An abused one will cost you $ to fix up the things that are worn out. I'm in the same situation as you are and things are currently becoming more grim (recent $1300 repair job just for fuel crap). Although, you will fall in love with the car after you have it. I would personally do anything I could to keep my honey runnin' good. If you don't have any income from a job, scrape some $ together and buy yourself a beater when things go wrong with your rexy. The reliability mods will help immensely and since you aren't doing any extreme performance mods, I doubt you will have any major problems once the relia. mods are done. In any case, always keep a small stash of $ available for when something goes wrong. There's nothing worse than having your FD in the shop. It's painful to not be able to drive such an amazing automobile (trust me, I've been there). Let me know if you have any more specific questions and feel free to send me a private message if you wish.

 

I need the car to last me at least 4 years with minimal repairs. Has anyone bought a used RX7 and how much have you put into repairs.

 

Nearly all of us buy our FD's used. If you plan to keep the car that long without many repairs, it would be best for you to buy an extended warranty since things will wear out sooner or later with this specific car. The repairs will be costly too, so get an extended warranty and don't do any mods that would void it.

 

Your Dad is going to buy the car for you?
Well, by the time you find an excellent used FD (and they are damn near impossible to find) and put the neccessary money into it to make it reliable you could buy a brand new 2002 Integra and have 90% of the performance, double the gas mileage and no worries! I love my Rex, but honestly, you HAVE to love these cars
to justify owning them. 'Nuf said. Do your Dad a favor.......

 

I've had mine just about 4 years now. Total maintenance cost right now is well over $15,000 (yep, bought a lemon, needed a new engine).

Unless you do all the repairs yourself, a cheap part can cost a lot in labor. I recently had Mazda replace the oil lines to the turbos, $90 for the parts, $1300 for the labor.

Honestly, I don't think an FD is for you.

 

If you get reliability mods your car could be in much better shape. Not saying your car will be indestructable, but it will last much longer. Reliability mods such as a downpipe, upgrade radiator, fan mod, intake for better air-flow, steel AST, boost gauge to check ur boost levels, gauge to check engine temps. With those mods you could be well in the temperature range you should be in. The car can last for a long time if maintained. You will have minor bills, but other than that I think you would be good. What do you all think??? just my .02

1FAST7

 

Buy something else. The FD is going to be way too for you to maintain. Not only that, but I wouldn't recommend as a daily driver. Just too many issues...and it would suck to be at school without wheels.

Performance wise, there is not much like the FD...contrary to what was said earlier...the RSX is not 90% of the performance of the FD. The FD will dust it, on the drag strip or on the track. But if you never have had a performance car, the RSX will be a great car to start on...or maybe an Integra that is a couple years old. Get it for less money and maybe dad will fork over a little tuning budget.

Good luck.

 

OK, this is all I wanted to know. My Dad is actually going to buy a used car for my lil bro. I used to have a 95 Eclipse Turbo and all I had was problems. Ive been trying to explain to him that this is not the car for you. He doesnt understand and keeps giving me this reliability mods B.S. I told him to just get a used honda.

 

if he wants something else in the same league, then tell him to get a supra. Just about the same acceleration as an rx7 if not quicker. Not as good handling but the engine is bullet proof. U dont have to worry about reliability with a supra.

 

Actually the reliability mods do make a difference on the RX-7. Yes, ill say that it wont be bulletproof, but then again you will have a better and much more safer rx7 on your hands with the reliability mods. But it is his choice. I mean if he really wants the RX-7 he can get it. If he wants it for 4 years he will probably end up buying a replacement engine after awhile. If he buys a brand new integra, it will be around the same price as the used rx7 with 1 time changing the engine in those 4 years. IMHO, get a rx7. Its more fun to drive and the rx7's styling cant be beat by any other car.

1FAST7

 

How much money do you have to spend? The main thing is how much you know about rotories. If you don't know quite a bit then buying one and learning the hard way isn't the best thing for ya, espically if your in college. I did it the hard way thing and went through hell.My advice to you is Don't buy an fd ever! You will become addicted to driving it 24\7!!! Can't stop thinking about it,ever. And when that **** is in the shop your going to have to cope espically when your in college and you don't have a car so you can't pimp the bitches. And your boys that are into cars(but not 7's) will rag on your **** all day long.And you'll have to whip there asses!!!! hahaha.........Sounds like a true story??!! Do your self and your dad a favor,lean towards something less high maintence....more reliable......Get a supra or 3z, those are still kinda high maintence tho....but something that has a less chance of being out of comission for a while.....

 

My dad is willing to pay 15,500 on a nice rx7. And my lil bro has 2,500 for mods to keep it reliable. He says he wants a exhaust, intake, downpipe, ecu, and reliability mods. hope this helps

 

Well put Dan... wish my RX was not broke down so much, sucks when you can't "pimp the bitches"!!

 

In all honesty the FD isn't a good car to get unless you have a steady income, a nice cushion of cashed saved up and plenty of time to maintain it and so forth. With you being in school now I'd say **** it and get something more reliable. I'm selling mine now just so I can go back to school. Figure that your education is far more valuable than some car that isn't guaranteed to run good (yeah yeah I know I sound like someone's parents, but I'd rather be making 6 figures than to be 6 figures in debt). As far as warranties go I doubt you'll be able to find a company that'll take you or one that'll be cheap. If you're dead set on getting an RX7 then maybe a 2nd gen would be a good thing to look into...a TII maybe...granted they're not easy to come by in good condition due to their age though. Even an n/a 300ZX would be a decent car too...newest body style that is...and with an open exhaust they sound sweet.

 

I don't recommend you to buy it if you don't know how to take care of the car. Moreover, you have to know how to drive it because it would not be like any other cars you've driven. Finally, I don't think RX'7's are for students.