Hello everyone. Im new to the forums, and had a few questions about the FD3S because I plan on buying one very soon. I currently own a 1998 Civic EX Coupe, and love it, but the RX-7 has always been my dream car, and now im close to being able to buy one. So, a few question are in order...

1: On average, what kinda of mileage can the rotary engine take? How many miles before major problems usually occur?

2: Are transmissions swappable? (I found a great priced FD close by to me, for cheap, but its AT, and I want manual)

3: Why is this car so damn sexy?! Thank you Mazda!

 

Mileage:

On a 12a, I've seen them go way past 200,000miles before problems started. On a N/A 13b (86-91), generally before 200,000 (mine popped around 197,000).

For the trubo rotaries, 86-91, they generally go out around 150,000mi. The 3rd gen (93-95) seem to have quite a few problems before 120,000mi.

Transmissions are swapabe. They'll all bolt-up (I know the ones up to 91 do anyhow) to whichever motor you want. The problems lie in shifter positioning, tranny mount location, and driveshaft length/interchangability. Clutches can also be a problem, but there are quite a few "specialty" clutches that solve this problem (turbo tranny on an N/A). For auto to manual swaps, there are quite a few write-ups on this subject, and I know many people who've done 3rd gen auto to manual swaps.

As a bare minumum, you'll need a flywheel, tranny, driveshaft, pedal box, and all hydraulics. I don't know if the FD's require a speedo-cable gear or not, or weather the driveshafts are interchangable (I think not).

Agreed! Sexy cars! Especially the FD.

 

Hey, thanks a bunch. It also confirms some things I've heard on the mileage from others. Here's a link to the specific one im looking at. Hell, im not even sure if its still there, but I hope so.

1993 Mazda RX7

 

Looks clean but the milage is really high for an FD. 101k, Id say dont get it unless your ready to change the engine soon... Also its an ATX. But for $11,000 it still sounds like a good deal.

 

Yeah, thats kinda what im thinking...im gonna save up for a while longer and get a lower mileage one. Im still gonna try to go test drive it though, just to see what its like to drive an FD.

Thanks all.