So I have wanted a rx7 for years but I have always been pushed away from them because im always hearing of how. MUch maintenance they need.

My question is this...is that true? Do they require a insane amount of maintenance, more then normal cars?

Im in a area where Idk how many ppl actually work on rotaries. So like I said I have been scared to purchase one because of the stories I hear.

 

there like an average car that has several years on it... things break and will require immediate care...

i wouldnt say they need special care as long as you keep up with the oil changes, keep the coolant full and understand that these car are meant to burn oil for lubrication purposes you'll be fine...

 

Any car over time will eventually break, I wouldn't say they are any more maintenance then any other car but they are quite old and its hard to find parts sometimes. I have not been able to find any mechanics that specialize in rotary's but this website is loaded with information. It doesn't matter if you have previous mechanical experience's, rx7 club has enough information for you to rebuild your engine step by step if you would like to. If you have enough work space, time and money you don't really need someone that specializes in rotary's. Rx7's are sweet cars and pretty quick. I highly recommend you buy one if your still interested in them.

 

I've had four Rx7s over the years, and outside of the motor itself, every other part is "normal" so any mechanic worth anything can work on it. That covers most of what will break on your car. In other words, you don't need a rotary specialist to fix the air conditioning, brakes, alternator, etc.

They are great cars; sure they have their own little "issues" which you should learn about which only helps to prolong the motor's life (like change oil often, check coolant, pre-mix in fuel, warm up before driving).

If they were junk cars I wouldn't be on my 4th one right now. In fact I think they are superior to 99% of the cars on the road.

P.S. Before you put money down for an Rx7, have the motor compression tested.

 

The RX-7s made up until 1991 have fairly low maintenance. The engines are generally good for 100,000 to 150,00 miles, and some have exceeded 200,000 miles. The engine never needs a timing belt or valve job, and there are only 4 spark plugs, but an engine rebuild is rather expensive at around $2,000-6,000 for parts and labor. Basic replacement parts like clutches, brake pads, and tires are easy to find and reasonably priced. The convertible RX-7s require more maintenance due to the top, and the RX-7s with an IRS will require a 4-wheel alignment, but both of these cases are true with any other car with these features. Some parts are no longer produced or produced in expensive limited-production batches. Be sure to check on parts availability before you buy a used car of any type. This website is pretty good for checking on RX-7 parts:
http://www.mazdatrix.com

These cars are very old now, and many repairs will exceed the sales price of a used car. However, you need to keep the original price of the car in perspective. For example, an RX-7 Turbo II sold for about $24,000 back in 1988, which is about $45,600 in today's dollars. Unfortunately, some people will buy an old beat-up 88 Turbo II for $800 and then get upset that it needs a lot of work. This is probably the type of person who told you that RX-7s are difficult to maintain.

 

Yeah, since I got my baby running she hasn't needed anything more then basic stuff. Check the oil frequently and change your oil on a regular basis.

 

Everything said so far is true but take into consideration the model of Rx-7 too. If you get a N/A model Rx-7 it will be more reliable then the Turbo2 or turbo model Rx-7. A turbo rx-7 is under more stress due to the boost meaning the engine internals wear faster then an N/A engine. N/A's can last for over 200 thousand miles while you will probably never see a Turbo2 with its original engine over 200 thousand miles. In my opinion I would rather own a Turbo2 just for its power output next to the N/A. Mods can make the car have a higher maintenance too. Rx-7s are great cars though and since a lot of people have little to no knowledge of these cars and tend to abuse them the rotary has a bad reputation when in reality it is alot more reliable then a piston engine. There are 3 main moving parts in a rotary engine vs. hundreds in a piston engine so basically if something fails internally in a rotary the only downside is there is a high chance that major damage was done but not always. There are ups and downs to every car. Depends on what you want to do with your money and time. Once you own an Rx-7 you will become addicted...

 

you gotta baby the rotary engine a little more then most engines...keep up maintenance...but just regularly check oil level

 

this is soooo tru!! i thought it wud be like any other hobbie, but something about the rotary!! its just sweet!! plus when people ask what is in it, u get to say the word "Wankel" lol