3rd Gen. RX-7 Reviews -- Thoughts/Help?

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

I am strongly considering buying a 3rd gen. Mazda RX-7.

I found one in my area that has 25,000 miles on it(rebuilt motor). The body of the car has 103,000 miles on it. The seller wants $14,750. Kelly Blue Book for this car is $14,000.

I talked to a buddy of mine and he said these cars are high maintenance. I am just curious if 3rd gen. RX-7's are worth buying?

I don't want to buy this car just to sink a load of maintenance money in this thing every other month, you know? I go to college and pay for that all on my own. I work full time, however.

I have an 03' Mazdaspeed Protege and am VERY happy with the reliability factor. The only reason I would sell my car would be to get a 3rd gen. RX-7 which is my favorite car.


Any thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated. Also, not sure how mechanics feel about wrenching on a rotary engine. I.e. how much more difficult they are to work on versus a regular motor. Plus, the amount of money for working on these rotary engines.


Thanks guys,

Randy

 

[SpooledupRacing]

Who rebuilt the engine?
yes FD's are VERY needy and need lots of attention.

The are the covenant RX model but most people do a single turbo swap so they get a little bit of reliability back, the stock twins are junk and tend to need rebuilt every 40K or so.

Make sure u do your homework well before u purchase..

and when buying ANY rx7 KBB is not going to be accurate because these are an "enthusiasts" car and will always be worth more and hold more value then KBB or any other value book will tell u.

run a carfax and make sure the car has not been in any accidents

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Hey Dave, thanks for the input.

The car im looking at is right here: http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp;?tracktype=usedcc&searchType=21&pageNumber=0&numResultsPerPage=50&largeNumResultsPerPage=0&sortorder=descending&sortfield=PRICE+descending&certifiedOnly=false&criteria=K-%7cE-%7cM-_30_%7cD-_284_%7cN-N%7cR-75%7cI-1%2c7%7cP-PRICE+descending%7cQ-descending%7cZ-21122&aff=national&paId=288548410&recnum=0&leadExists=true

Im sorry but im not used to the Acronyms, what is FD? FC?

Problem is the guy doesn't mention anything about the car having a rebuilt transmission which leads me to believe the transmission has 103,000 miles on it. I have BAD experiences with 100K+ tranny's. I used to have a 2nd Gen. Mitsubishi Eclipse GS-T 95' and as soon as the car hit 105K miles, the transmission fell flat on its face and died....I ended up dumping $2,500 into getting it fixed....The motor was still going though.


I really want this car but I also don't want it to be a money pit, too....

:-\

 

[SpooledupRacing]

hummm 80+ compression... well I would think that "80" is low.. I would like to know the ACCURATE compression numbers.. just because it was rebuilt does not mean it was not using used irons and used housings and nicked up rotors.

Try and get a REAL compression numbers b4 buying.

FD = 3rd gen
FC = 2nd gen


and one last thing you cant compare a DSM to ANY other car but a DSM

RX trans are good for unlimited miles as long as there is no grinding.. syncros do wear out but u will know it when u take it for a drive..

I recommend u go test drive it and BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF IT... if it holds up with no grinds, clunks etc good start.

make sure the car is cold when u get there (feel the hood)

make sure it starts up easily. after the test drive. start it up again within 2 minutes and make sure that it starts easily again (cold start problems or warm start problems can tell u if there is compression or seal problems)

Make sure to check for discollored exhaust (lots of white is bad)

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Yeah, Im going to call the guy today and see if I can get more info on this car. I love the car but one thing that I think everyone should know about this is, I would like the rx-7 to be my daily driver...I don't exactly make enough money to afford a beater car.

Plus I have no clue what insurance will look like for this car. Im 21 years old.

Any other questions you think I should ask him? Im going to write down a list of questions to ask this guy.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

an FD does not make a good daily driver.. if u want an RX7 buy an FC (2nd gen) and use that for a daily..

things to ask would be about:

who built the engine
receipts
were new or used parts used, if so what new was used
miles on clutch
what clutch he has in it
how much boost is he running

if he claims to say stuff like "it has been up to 18psi and does good, but I only run 12" RUN

if he is hessitant and cant answer yoru questions about the rebuild.. run

etc


If u would like I can give u my cell number and u can GLADLY call me while u are there and Iwill grill the guy for ya. lol.. I know what to ask just cant think/type it right now works got my brain tied up lol

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Excellent, yeah, a similiar situation happened to my brother when he purchased his WRX in 2006. The car looked completely bone stock but when he asked the guy how much boost he was running it at first he asked him over the internet and he said stock boost but when my brother was about to buy it, I guess his guilt kicked in and he said well I had it up to 20 lbs. of boost but turned it back down....Not even a year later in 2007, my brother had to get the transmission rebuilt....There were teeth missing from second gear. I was riding with him the day second gear screwed up so I know what that sounds like.

Yeah, I will ask this guy on the phone when I get home from work and see what he has to say. If he beats around the bush about the boost or rebuild, im not even going to look at it because then I would know he is holding some information back about the car that could, quite possibly stop a potential buyer from buying the car.

Damn, that's a shame. I wanted a 3rd gen. RX-7 specifically. I guess I will need to see if I can find a beater car without sinking money into it. You say an RX-7 3rd gen. does not make a good daily driver. Are they that unreliable?

 

[SpooledupRacing]

FD's would be the most unreliable of the RX7 family.

they can be but the turbos are weak and leak, and they normally cause other seals to leak. however as far as internals go the FD's are the best internals

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

they can be but the turbos are weak and leak, and they normally cause other seals to leak. however as far as internals go the FD's are the best internals

So if I buy a new, better turbo and get rid of the stock turbo then I should be ok?

Regardless, if I end up buying this car, it's got to be my daily driver. I can't afford two vehicles.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

well no I would never consider any FD to be a reliable daily driver if u dont have time and the ability to fix it when it does break down..

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Ok, well that's a shame. Thanks for your help buddy.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

Sorry, its just the way it is.. no problem sorry to burst your bubble, having an FD is one of my goals in life

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Sorry, its just the way it is.. no problem sorry to burst your bubble, having an FD is one of my goals in life

Haha don't worry about that, im glad you told me before it was already too late and I purchased the car. Then I would be really up the creek. My commute is not bad. I average about 200 miles a week (college and school with a little crusing time)

I guess that's Mazda's way of making sure the RX-7 is well taken care of

 

[SpooledupRacing]

yeah there u go lol...

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

Ok this may take some further insight but have you ever played the PS2 game - Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero?

If you did then im most certain that you seen a "Wanderer" riding around the highways of Tokyo in what looks to be a super 3rd gen. RX-7? It looks like a 3rd gen. RX-7 racecar (if there even is one). In the game the regular 3rd gen. RX-7 is like 38,000 credits but this "3rd gen. RX-7 Racecar" exceeds 100,000 credits easy.

The question im trying to ask, is this an actual REAL car? I.e. can people buy it or is it just for racecar companies. The lights of the car look more sleek, like the new Corvette Z06 lights, the body style looks somewhat like the RX-7 3rd gen. except its more aerodynamic.

Sorry if you don't fully understand what im talking about. It's sort of at the end of the Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero game.

Those Tokyo Extreme Racer games are hella fun.

 

[Shadow102]

Ok this may take some further insight but have you ever played the PS2 game - Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero?

If you did then im most certain that you seen a "Wanderer" riding around the highways of Tokyo in what looks to be a super 3rd gen. RX-7? It looks like a 3rd gen. RX-7 racecar (if there even is one). In the game the regular 3rd gen. RX-7 is like 38,000 credits but this "3rd gen. RX-7 Racecar" exceeds 100,000 credits easy.

The question im trying to ask, is this an actual REAL car? I.e. can people buy it or is it just for racecar companies. The lights of the car look more sleek, like the new Corvette Z06 lights, the body style looks somewhat like the RX-7 3rd gen. except its more aerodynamic.

Sorry if you don't fully understand what im talking about. It's sort of at the end of the Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero game.

Those Tokyo Extreme Racer games are hella fun.

Never played the game and never seen it but i am wondering if the car your talking about is similiar to the car SCOOT built in limited production. Its based on the FD with alot of custom body panels and runs a 4 rotor NA built from 12A housings.

And honestly if you are looking to get into the RX-7 game a logical choice would be to pick up a cheap FC (they can be had for as little as 500-1500 in running condition) and learn your way around a rotary car, learn to work on it yourself, and then when your ready step up to a FD that way if anything does go wrong you can save yourself money bringing it to a mechanic.

I never knew that about the turbo's dave its quite funny because we have the same problem with twin turbo supras that come to my dealership i have never come across one i the 5 years i have been here that has had the stock twin turbo setup on it and actually working.

 

[SpooledupRacing]

I would get a screen shot of tha car u are talking about.. it could be a "scoot" or just a REA body kit FD like the orange one in F&F3

yeah the stock twins are useless.

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

ok, sounds good, I will beat the game again and when I come across it, I will take a picture of it from my TV and show you guys. I won't forget, but it may take some time to see that car again. After all, it's sorta at the end of the game

RX-7 FTW.(cabpatch)

 

[SpooledupRacing]

Rx-7 Deff Ftw!!!!! Woot Woot!!

 

[MzdaSpeed_Pro]

I found the RX-7 I was talking about earlier. Take a look =]!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44XiGb7LL-M