DaveW

Gas mileage:

I've gotten, on the average, about 18-20 mpg in local driving (about half of which is freeway). On the highway for long trips, I get 22-26 mpg, depending on my average speed.

iluvmy3rdgen

It says that the tires are too big, wouldn't that mean the speedo reads less then how fast you really were going?

technonovice

Correct. Thats a brain cramp. The new tires are actually .1 inches smaller. I'll correct that. Thanks for keeping it real.

Mazda99Nikon

If you are looking for a dependable, sub $10,000, sporty car why not a 90 or 91 Mazda RX7 FC???? I have driven mine since 1991 and even with an engine rebuild at 75,000 I have spent only $.30 a mile to drive it. I now have 160,000 miles on it. It is a great winter car with Dunlop Graspic snow tires. The cars are plentiful, look for a good one with a new engine and no rust around 70-80,000 miles in the $5-6,000 range.

As to the cost of daily driving an FD, I only drive mine in Spring, Summer and Fall, but I would figure a set of tires every other year, oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles and gas at 18-22 miles per gallon depending on mods. Do most of the routine maintenance yourself for another $3-400 per year. If you keep it close to stock, you can drive it on a par with most any car. But frankly, I would put around $100 a month aside for an engine replacement - that will happen eventually.

Foz'sRX-7

Hey Bender, Are you in Tampa?

So am I

I used to drive my 93 every day, but since I had it rebuilt, I've had a second car for everyday. Now with a new reman (18 months ago) I only drive it one or two days a week...by choice.

I had a 87 RX-7 NA with 200k on the original rotary and it ran great. It was my daily driver for about four months, when I got an offer I couldn't refuse. Now I drive a 97 Honda Passport everyday.....But I love my 93 RX-7!

teamafx

iTrader: (4)

could always go ls1 rx7

RevZempoe

just fyi, i calculated my mileage last tank... 19.5 miles to the gallon...and that's not taking it easy on it. So i bet if I didn't jump into boost much i could get it over 20....

but yeah definitely not good for a daily driver.

StealthFox

iTrader: (2)

ls1 FC will cost under 10k and will be reliable, not to mention fast . this and a Mk.II MR2 would probably be the best 2 choices

kuning

Sorry if my comment is too newbie (coz i am) so flame me if u feel I'm wrong.

I'm getting an FD in 2 weeks time. The car is 92 Jap spec. The engine is pretty much stock apart from No Brand stainless steel catback and air filter and Mines ECU. When i test drive the car, the boost went a bit higer than the normal boost pattern 10-8-10 probly bccoz of the air filter n catback (not a rotary expert).

Exterior and interior are still considered OK for a '92 car, no bent chasis no rust or major disaster watsoever.

I will get the car's engine detailed-check by a rotary workshop once i got it along with servicing n stuff. I realize that the engine will pop anytime soon, if the previous owner hasnt done so (it has clocked 104,000 Km). I can not find out bout the history coz the prev owner is in HongKong and his friend's selling it for him.


I've come prepared if rebuild is necessary since I've saved some money from the price of the car (got it for AUD$23,00 where as market value for the same spec is AUD$32,000+). FYI, the owner's in need of quick money,not in Australia anymore and that he wont be using the car no more. That's why he's selling it for under-priced market value.

In addition, I will be doing reliability modifications as outlined in 'FAQ for 3rd Gen & other useful links' and some other thread u'all have posted. (I.e. DP, catback, AST, cooling system,etc2) as i go along with the car.

I realized the car is a money pit and I've come prepared to live with it.

Apart from reliability mods and keeping the car alive, I'm not planning to build a race-car and such with the FD.

So my question is, am I on the right track? Anything else I should consider? Any other homework I havent done that i need to know before formally own the car?

And back to the topic of this thread, can it be used for a daily driver? Not in terms of to/from work everyday but just a car I can use to get food for lunch/dinner and as a weekenders considering how the car drinks heaps of petrol. Other than that, I'll drive my boring Mazda6.


My apologize if my post is out of place I post here coz I dont want to open another thread and fill up another junk in this site.


So ladies and gentlemen...start your flaming

RevZempoe

No flaming needed. It wasn't an off the wall post. Anyways If you're looking to make this your daily car, get mods that help it breathe. You've got the cat-back, get a downpipe, and all that jazz...get preventative performance parts. Look at a new intake system (i hear that's what makes the engines blow). Yes you're on the right track.

technonovice

There are many reasons that cause engines to fail. Most are caused by poor or NO tuning to handle otherwise good modifications. Poorly controlled boost in high on the list. From my experience its been simple problems/solutions that led to big failures. These are not drive and forget cars. They perform as reliably as you build and care for them to be. Overheating is a big one

teamafx

iTrader: (4)

never ever use this car as a daily. Sooner of later its gonna need a motor. People who say it wont havent had the car long enough or dont drive it enough to make that comment. See how many have made it to 100k on the stock motor

technonovice

I made it to 120,000 on my first FD which still was ok when I sold it. The new owner overheated it within a week. Toasted it. It was a bad hose that I warned him about. Still, while you can drive them daily if you must, I would not recommend it. Besides these cars are special and getting even more rare on the road. I wish I could adopt a few more.

DannyD

its pretty much an entusiast car only.

technonovice

Well, add new wastegate and pre-control solenoids along with coolant hoses to my list above . March is off to a pricey start.

ksource

So would it be safe to say that cars nearing the 100k mark for sale should be bought atleast a few grand less than one around 70k and less?

cruiser

Doesnt really matter IMO. They will both need a rebuild soon.

PhoenixDownVII

Some people complain way too much.

Given the drive is right, the sun is out, and the roads are clear. ENJOY YOUR CAR.

Whether you put 80k miles on your motor in a year or 10 years...eventually it'll hit rebuild time.

Yes, Daily Driving gets you there sooner, but you've compressed 10 years of joy into 3-4 years whenever it happens.

You only live once, Might as well be in an Rx7. Tomorrow is NEVER promised to anyone...

technician

My 7 does well on gas (18-22mpg), as long as I lay off the turbos. Once those kick in you can kiss mileage goodbye.

If you are looking for a second sporty car on the cheap with good MPG and nice all-year-round, look no further than an Eagle Talon. Nothing like the look of a snowmobiler in the winter as a Talon goes by on the trail. Hehe...

Mooboy

So i'm curious. If I bought an FD at the present, should I only go for a car with a rebuilt motor, or would low miles like 70k be alright?

darkphantom

iTrader: (2)

THATS SO TRUE. but then again its sad about what majik said. eventhough you rebuild the engine theres other things on the car that you will have to rebuild or replaced also. I had one with 80K on it. and was afraid to drive it and put more miles on it. But hey you only live once so might as well enjoy it.


Me I plan to keep my car forever until i die. I love the car but Just wondering how much longer it will last with 80k on the chassis. And the price of the FD's are dropping as well as little of them left in this world. being wrecked by youngsters (no effence).




Just for editing how many miles or years (either one) you think until a rebuild is to be done. saying that you just had a rebuild 3000 miles ago.
and would you recommend doing a 300mile roadtrip in a Rx7?

darkphantom

iTrader: (2)

find a one with a rebuild. if not your going to have to rebuild it anyway just in case!

technonovice

If I were looking for another, I'd buy one with a blown motor. That way I'd know exactly what was going in it.

Spooln7

I often daily drove my 7, but now I just drive it on the weekends. It gives me something to look foward to when the weekend comes around.