I'm pretty sure I want a 3rd gen Rx-7, I have read a lot of posts concerning reliability issues. I hear people say "treat the car well and it will do the same for you" but what if I get one t hat has been treated bad by it's previous owner? What are some common problems with mistreated Rx-7's? I realise I could repair some of it because it's a simple engine but what would most prices for repairs be in the range of? I would have this car for a great while longer and I want it to burn rubber, not money.

Thanks

 

Keep at least 5k in the bank for those "oh sheeyat" repair and flatbed towing occurrences and you'll be ok, The 3rd gen RX-7 is not for everyone.

 

I would never buy another one!

Its just one of those cars that you will never sell if its running well.. And Whens its not runnign well people usually sell them to unsuspecting fools ( this COULD be you) and then your fugged!

I say save youe $$ and buy something with a Warranty!

 

Don't listen to him- i'm 16 and i bought my first FD from a sweet old man and now i realized i got "fudged". But i would do it again and again.
like he said keep some money stored away and then just take care of it.

~Luke

 

id say you cant beat a fd! just save enuf money for a new engine (possibly a V-8) and you'll be fine! the only thing is that you might want to get another car if you dont like to get stared at cuz a fd will draw a lot of attention! my brother almost caused 2 or 3 accidents cuz the guys in the other cars were paying more attention to his car rather then the road! also, fd's are far better in the corners then in drag racing, get a supra if you wanna drag.

Last thing is that the after the basic upgrades, get a 6pt safty harness as well as a roll cage!

 

Alright, thanks for the advice guys. What is the best way to check out the engine ect so I don't get "fugged"? Thanks again

 

Get a compression test done and have it looked over by a knowledgeable rotary familiar mechanic. Even then though there's no assuring it'll be a good car. I did all of that and more and mine crapped on me at 48k miles. There is no real way to tell exactly what kind of condition the engine is truly in w/o tearing it down completely. The compression test will give you a general idea how well the seals are holding up, but it's no sure fire guarantee. Unless you're ready to make a major financial and time consuming investment I'd suggest looking at something else like a Supra *gasp!* or a 300ZXTT *gag!* . Both of them look pretty good, handle decently, are quick in stock form and even quicker when modded. Plus both of them have removable roofs . But the FD will definately edge both out in styling, handling, and overall appeal, but just be warned that it's a relatively big financial and mechanical undertaking. You'll have some guys that say "oh it's no big deal..blah blah blah", but wait until they have to replace something major...their tune will change pretty quick. But if you can deal with the money and maintenence issues you can have a very good time with an FD and get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

 

It blew at 48k miles? If I got one I would assume it would be very high in miles, around 90k or so. I also would have about 13-14 to spend on the car so any money left over could be used for repairs...but it sounds like I might need more then that. Thanks for the help guys.

 

Be very inquisitive. I just went into the buying process for a 95 (yesterday). When I looked at it, it seemed to be running well. The owner had an aftermarket exhaust and a boost gauge, which immediately signaled to me that he knew what he was doing. He had it serviced not long ago at PFS, which made me even more confident. A compression test and a carfax later I sprung.

Ask them questions. Go to every website about these cars and learn everything about FD's. Knowledge is power. A good question to ask is "why are you getting rid of it." In my case the owner took on a job that required him to have a four door car. Kind of suspicious, but when looking around the garage and seeing Rx-7 parts here and there and the receipt from PFS, that gave me the confidence I needed.

 

Wooohoooo someone else from CO. Anyway Tra2xx I know of one that may be for sale. check your PM's

 

Get a vacuum/boost gauge. Nothing special, just one from an auto parts store. Hook it up to the nipple that is capped off on the extension manifold and run the hose into the cab. You should see at least 15 inches of vacuum at idle, 10 lbs of boost at 2,200 rpm, 8 lbs at 4,500 10lbs right after, and if unmodded around 8lbs at redline.
RX7's are the most incredible cars out there, but if you don't meticulously monitor and maintain them they can become a nightmare. Don't by an RX7 unless you have the skills and time to fix the things that will go wrong and the money to to do so. I think that no one should own an RX7 unless they are or are going to befcome an enthusiast.

 

Check out this site


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