Japanese RX-7 Vs U.S. RX-7???

[Antoine]

I honestly have no need for a car in Japan with the excellent public transportation system but the longer I stay the more I'm itching to get my own ride...that lack of a ride is really starting to get to me...I've been able to hold off just because I can get around easily without one...

Sooooo...I've been checking out possible rides...if someday I crack and get myself a set of wheels...One of my current top picks is a late model rx-7...what are the main problems with these cars and how do they differ (if at all) from the ones sold in other markets?

My 1st priority is reliability I don't want to be stressing every morning if my 7 is going to give me trouble...what areas should be upgraded to ensure consistent operation and smooth performance?

My other possible choices are...

MX-5
Previous gen STI
RX-8
Altezza
Maybe a euro ride...
Others I can't remember now...

I'm not so interested in skylines and silvias as much because they are too much the "obvious choice"

 

[vindication]

why not wait till the new rx-7 hits the shelves?
but actually, with the traffic in Japan, why not get the Smart? I see them when I go to Europe and I like those little buggers. I think they are coming to the States also.

 

[Shane5425]

a late model rx7.. after 70k they need new motors/turbo/wiring harness...

from what i hear the TT rx7 is a love hate relationship.. love the car, hate to fix it so often..

 

[Antoine]

a late model rx7.. after 70k they need new motors/turbo/wiring harness...

from what i hear the TT rx7 is a love hate relationship.. love the car, hate to fix it so often..

I've had my share of love/hate relationships...so I'm not looking for another...but there are few cars that attract me like the 93 and up 7's...when did they stop making them...late 90's?

 

[Dexter]

I think they stopped production in 2000 or 2001

 

[shaolin]

August 2002...

In 1999 they refreshed the front and rear fascia, and addressed the cooling problem. An upgraded ECU, and a more efficient running turbo, so the highest powered RX-7 is around 280. Prior to 1999 they are basically the same as US spec.

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

a late model rx7.. after 70k they need new motors/turbo/wiring harness...

from what i hear the TT rx7 is a love hate relationship.. love the car, hate to fix it so often..

Not to flame, but did you just pull that out of your ass? Wiring Harness? What?

Depending on the year of the RX7, you may encounter several different problems. First and foremost, the car itself. Depending on where and who you buy it from will merit it's condition. RX7's are very finicky when it comes to previous owners. Some have had hard lives..some haven't. So when looking for one used, have them THROUGHLY inspected and diagnosed. What type of RX7 are you looking for? 2 rotor? 3 rotor? Turbo? Crystal Clean 2002 20B sporting RX-7 that cost eleventy billion dollars? It's really what your looking to do with the car. If your getting up every morning and this is for the commute..Probably wouldn't recommend one. No one ever said rotaries get great gas mileage. However, good luck with your search. Why not get a mazda AZ-1 and be a throw-back mazda trend-setter with the wicked cool gull-wing doors? (naughty)

 

[Antoine]

Yeah...I was looking at 95 and up 7's (all TT right?)...Stock and in good condition...I always knew 7's could be troublesome but not sure of the specifics...If I decide to save up and get a ride...I want something with a lot of potential but also something I can trust to not drive me crazy with problems (I get enough of that from "the ladies" )

Also...I'm always looking for a good value Guess I'll start checking out other possible choices more...

 

[MadBiker]

Antoine,
Have you checked out the Autozone used car magazine that you can pick up in ramen places here? Also like Happy (used car chainstore)

I've seen so many RX-7's here in Shiga it's not funny.

Although I'm no expert on cars, if the previous owner was/is an enthusiast, they usually take good care of their cars here, even if they do drive it hard. The low mileage on the cars helps also. I'm driving a used, 1998 WRX Wagon that had like only 55,000 km on it. My red one that got killed by a stupid b---h was a 1997 WRX Wagon with only like 28,000 km on it!!

So I think, if you have the cash, and if you don't mind paying tons of money for hai oku and the high taxes plus like 5man yen / month for parking, and you can get a Japanese drivers license (oh yeah, you'll have to take the driving test to drive a stick shift here, int'l licenses mean jack snot here in Jpn), then go for it!!!

 

[Shane5425]

Not to flame, but did you just pull that out of your ass? Wiring Harness? What?

no i didnt pull it out my ass, after about 70k , the heat from the turbos, and the moister in the air, dry rot the harness, so when you go to unplug a connector it is very brittle and crumbles in you hand. I am talkin from experiance when i worked on a 93 and my brother inlaw who has dont 5 or 6 engine/turbo jobs on this car at mazda.

 

[noclue119]

I've also heard about the wiring issues on rx-7. but also once their apex valves(piston ring) goes ur engine makes no power and engine rebuilds are a bithc. As a rule of thumb if u going to get a car with reliablility go with a N/A car.

My best suggestion for u Antoine is go get urself a bd or mx-5. After being in japan i've seen how hard it is to find a parking space.

 

[MadBiker]

mx-5's are real hard to come by here in Japan. Even late model protege's are few, not to mention stick shifts. The only findable used sporty mazda's are RX7's and Demios (besides all the other weird boxy and small cars). Believe me, I was looking for a manual drive Familia Sport20 (protege5) that was used but they are far and few between. But used RX-7's seem to be plentiful. OK I'll butt out now. You techies, please help Antoine out!!

 

[Roywhitep5]

i'd buy this

 

[sundevilMP5]

late model 7s are definitely fun cars...but just not practical enough to use as a daily driver. just as mentioned before you must be meticulous in the maintanence of the vehicle and even then you're playing with fire (the engine could still go at anytime no matter how good you are at maintaining it). I love seeing/driving here because it's somewhat of a rarity..

if you really want to get a vehicle i would get a gc8 impreza...sti or not...they are built rock solid. IMO it would be cool to own a true turbo gc8...but that's me coming from a subaru bias...

good luck with whatever you get

 

[FC3s Boy]

i would grab a nice FC if it were my money

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

I'd kill for a Turbo II Savanah...

I just want rishie's white one..

sigh...

 

[Antoine]

Keep the info coming (thumb)...Yeah the FD's seem to be plentiful...especially in 1000+ page used car catalogs like "Car Sensor"...Are the FC's also plagued with the same funky reputation?

Car Sensor seems to have a decent number of MX-5's although not many...I've never owned a true sport coupe (2 door)...I'd like to try it out...something rwd or fwd, nimble and nice power potential...any ideas?

I'm not into mainstream rides...I like what Mazda and Subaru have to offer...but I'm looking for the best match for my situation and taste...also I'm open to other makes that have something worthy to offer...Ive got plenty of timelooking at a year or morebut you can never start searching to early

 

[FC3s Boy]

FC are a lot easier to work on and don't have as many problems, when looking at a rotary see if you cna have it comp. tested to see the health of the motor

 

[Captain KRM P5]

i had heard after 95 mazda fixed a good majority of the problems with FDs...?

 

[Shane5425]

dunno, after 95 we stoped gettin them... and my bro told me on the rx8s they are seeing some of the same problems as the 7s ..

i mean, motor was leakin coolant on one rx8 and they had to change the engine cause mazda didnt send them any of the special tools to take the new rotary apart..

i say give it time the rotary will become a great engine even with a turbo.. what i would like to see is other motor corps. mess with the rotary, but mazda has its hold on that engine...