Lone Raider

I have really thought of buying a late model RX-7 but I here people say that the Wankel engines are so weak they just give up after a while, and that the turbos gives up very early.

All you late model RX-7 owners, is the RX-7 a hungry money machine that I spend more time fixing then on the roads?
Or are the people that say this completly wrong?

It has so few moving parts so I don't really see how they can be so weak in durability. If you keep the car well serviced it should hold.

I mean once a Wankel engine is warm it doesn't take much damage with some speedy driving, right?

I bet the people that says stuff like that abuses the car to destruction.
So what better place than here to find the truth

travisorus rex

WTF? Is this is a joke?

jsplit

Just read the forum man, the answer should be obvious.
Yes the RX-7 is a money pit, even when mine is running well it causes this disease inside me that makes me spend more and more time, energy, and money.

But it's definitely not a low maintenance car.

TurboIIGuy

Aghaahahahahhahah..........okay but seriously.







AHASHAHHAHHAHAHhaAHA

TurboIIGuy

the only people that have money pit style problems are those that can't do anything to a car themselves. If you are even slightly mechanicaly inclined you can save a ton of money as with any car. More-so with a rotary only because many mechanics won't or can't work on them. As far as your question goes, what kind of RX are you looking to get. Of course a turbo car is going to be more expensive in certain areas but nothing outrageuos.

Lone Raider

Well I have no problem with fixing cars my self, I have no experience with rotary engines but I bet there is a handy book that explains it all.

And due to the small amounts of parts in a rotary engine it sound pretty easy to tear it apart.
But still I don't wan't to spend my time working on the car, I wanna drive it.

Else I will probably get a Nissan Skyline R33.
I am pussled that I get different answers in here too.

alberto_mg

read the newbie stickies and use the search button and you will learn all you want.

your question is so open ended that it is hard to answer.

rx7s in general are pretty straightforward to work on with the exception of the fd's vacuum system.

just like any other car, some examples will be a nightmare and others will be trouble free.

Whizbang

i just got my fc and i have to replace two motor mounts, the gas tank, and the starter. There are other things that i said F**** it and am going to leave alone. But other than that. I like the car!!!

crazyrx7

Buy the skyline if you want a bullet proof car that can take mods easily. The rx-7 can be a monster if modded right and properly tuned. One mistake like bad gas or overheated engine and good buy engine. If you want to go fast then its going to cost you money.

R.K.

PVerdieck

Not compared to a Ferarri.

evil7

It has it's down falls just like any other car,nothing is perfect.It can get pricey if you start modding the car.Just like anything more power you make,more you break.Don't get me wrong though,I love my fd and wouldn't trade it or sell it for anything,its a monster.I think it is funny,if you go out some where like where every one hangs out and races,some one would pretty much have to trailer a car out to beat you,as far as mustangs and camaros go.

Lone Raider

No I wasn't planning on making mods the the engine, not big once anyways. The power supplied by the original engine is good enough.

But I would really like a RX-7 in front of a Skyline, cause it's very diffrent to drive with a car that has a so rare engine design.
Plus it looks like a exotic sports car the Skyline is more of a sedan sensible looking car.
Maybe I can keep the cost down by keeping the engine standard, maybe add some dump valves to save to turbos.
I have to think it over.

Thx for the replys!

scotty305

iTrader: (2)

Since you're in Sweden, you should be able to buy the late-model RX-7. Try to buy a '99 or newer one, it will be in better condition than most of the cars available in the U.S. (RX-7's were no longer imported to America after the '95 model year). The 280 HP R-models should be plenty of power, and dump valves aren't really an issue on these cars; regular maintenance is the key.

-The spark plugs fire three times as often as regular piston engines, so they need to be changed out more often.
-The oil gets much hotter and also mixes with a bit of gasoline, so it needs to be changed out more often.
-The cooling system is running near its boiling point for maximum efficiency, so be sure to keep it in healthy shape. Be nice to your car and it will be nice to you: make sure it is warmed up: the rotary takes longer to warm up than piston cars, as do the turbochargers vs. non-turbo cars.

The 3rd Generation RX-7 is built like a racecar. True racecars receive new plugs, oil, coolant, shocks and tires before each race. Treat the FD3S a little more like a race car and a little less like a Honda, and you will be rewarded with a driving experience like none other. Skylines are pigs: they weigh nearly 1,000 lbs more than the RX-7, drive both cars and you'll feel the difference immediately.

-s-

Montego

iTrader: (1)

No offense but unless you own one you really do not know exactly what kind of money pit this car really is.

Mechanic money is the least expensive. Where this car gets you is in the parts department. Hardly any aftermarket manufacturers make stock replacement parts so for non performance items so you are stuck with the dealer... Yes I know Malloy is a good hook up but he isn't napa autoparts.

Also aftermarket manufacturer prices are much higher than other vehicles too. There are less of us on the road so they do not make their money in bulk.

Bottom line this car is a freaking money pit. Whether you do the work yourself or have someone else do it. This car is so complex that unless you are a certified mechanic chances are you won't be able to do ALL (notice I said all) of the work yourself. Whether it would be figuring out the problem with your sequencial turbos, tearing down your transmission to replace the fith gear synchro, replacing the motor mount, or even fixing that stupid oil pan leak...

95R2-89TII Ground Zero

Yup The 7 is a car lovers car....you can't own it and want to take it to the shop all the time. Otherwise you'll never see the car and it will cost you an assload. You have to be able to understand and fix problems.

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

I'm pretty sure I have that disease too... Is there a cure for this???

krm197

Yea, sell the seven

KaiFD3S

iTrader: (37)

I've had mine for about a year now and the only money that I have dumped into it are just the mods that I want..other than that service wise just the oil for oil changes...

Find a good one and you wont have that many issues with the car

lopedl

iTrader: (1)

That can be true for any car, any car can overheat to a point where the engine will crack, and if not tuned properly can detonaite and destroy your motor. Perhaps it is more crucial in an Rx-7, but certainly not exclusive. The good side to the Rx-7 is if you need to replace the engine, the price for a reman or rebuilt isn't too bad. Try replacing a skyline or other comparable engine and see how much it costs you.

Yes, the rx-7 will break eventually if you expect monster horsepower out of it. But just like any other monster, moving parts under pressure are bound to snap, crackle, or pop. I've seen plenty of guys break there engine, and they weren't rotaries.

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

im addicted

crazyrx7

Thats true with any car. But most other cars are more forgiving than the fd like the skyline and the supra. With that been said I love my fd and love the looks the car gets. Everyone thinks that its an exotic of some kind or a viper. Mind you with all of the money that I have put in to my car I could of bought a viper already.

R.K.

Klar

Old addage: If you have to ask, then the answer is no.

Lone Raider

Well you just made me do a 180 on the RX-7, it's not only looks like a Exotic but it has the same maintance level.
I really need a car that can take some punishing driving once and a while without breaking down on me.
So the RX-7 FD will remain a dream, cause I think I would be disapointed at the dream if I owned one. Maybe testdrives will keep the sprit up.

But there seem to be a conflict between RX-7 FD owners, some of you say that it's not that expensive to own one, but then another one says it's runs on money.

So I don't know if I got to see things clearly or if I got more confussed, but because some people say it's a money pit I have to go on that.

mad_7tist

if you can fix it yourself it is ok. finding the expertise to do so will be expensive. learning on your own car will be dissapointing and expensive

Lone Raider

How can it be so hard to learn a rotary engine? I mean if you buy some littratures and start to take the engine apart it can't really go that wrong.

I mean the rotary has so few components compared to its piston engine design, I would be more likely to make more misstakes while taking apart my piston engines.

Personally I don't think the Mazda dealer mechanics know more on how to fix the engine then I do.