Just got rid of my STi8 PPP and i wanted to know what RX7's are like to own. I am not worried about fuel consumption. But ido you really need to rebuild the engines every 10 metres.

 

Why'd you get rid of your STI8 PPP?

Just wondered as I'm thinking of getting one in a couple of months.

As it will be used for business my company won't allow me to buy a car over three years old. I have seen some nice RX7's on import.

http://www.neweraimports.com/stock.htm

http://www.linney.org/MAZDA_current_stock.htm

This one looks pretty good - bit pricey though!

http://www.japvillage.com/stock_detail.asp?car_id=61

 

As far as I've heard they need a rebuild at 60K. The rotor tips need to be replaced. Specialists are few and you better not rely on a main dealer.

The cars on the other hand are real sports cars and big fun. Maybe some owners around?

 

Great to drive, but expensive to run. You say you are not bothered about fuel, but 10-17mpg on road use, and I've had mine down to 6mpg on track when running SUL/Optimax + octane booster it isn't cheap. Should see a minimum of 50-60k between rebuild on a stock or close to stock engine (more power, less life). Main problem is that you never know how the car was treated before you bought it, and there is no sure-fire way of testing the engine. A rotary compression test can show that the engine is about to go, but even a good result doesn't mean you will necessarily get the car home.

I go for oil changes every 2k miles or 2 months, and change plugs every second oil change. Since the rebuild mine has been faultless for 11k miles. If you plan on doing track days you will have to stick with the stock exhaust, every aftermarket one fails noise limits. Mods are plentiful shoudl you choose to go that route, but ever small change requires the map to be checked / changed if you don't fancy visiting your favoured rebuilder. Specialists are thin on the ground, but somewhat necessary for diagnosing problems, any good mechanic will be fine with routine maintenance on it.

Compared to a scoob it is light on its feet (hardly uses tyres) much more involving, but super tight on space.

 

crikey thats some maintenence nice looking motors though

 

Got rid of the STI8 because i was selling them and i got to drive them every day. It spoilt the ownership experiance if you know what i mean. So i was thinking of getting something diffrent. I am about to purchase a mustang unless i can be convinced otherwise.

 

woodnt think they're exactly the easiest to service either lol so which neck of the wood do you live?
Si

 

They are very expensive to run. Fuel last about 5 min and just pray you get one where ther engine doesn't need any work

 

I am living in Central London. I love th eidea of an RX7 but it sounds like the Mustang might be less hasstle. A new engine only costs about £600 on a stang. I dont do many miles so fuel is of no real concern, and i thing 300bhp through the rear wheels should be enough. I am getting a short shift put in but who cares when you have to double de clutch.

 

blimey i was guna say at least the engine rebuilds are cheaper on RX7's when compared to normal piston engine rebuilds of a similar performance but if you can get the yank un sorted for £600 then that dont work but may i ask how kum they're so cheap
Si

 

I get down to that in my MINI your obviously not trying hard enough :-)

 

Whats it like to own?

RX7 = Total fanny magnet!

 

1969 Mach 1 = much more of a fanny magnet than RX7?

 

Both = Hey look, I have a small ***** :-)

[Edited by mn_angrybeats - 12/23/2003 1:31:53 PM]

 

hey mate if u get a uk spec with full history then its all good ive had 4 and the uk spec was the best the rest a load of sh!!t
and yes yu do need a engine rebuild at 60,000 try www.rxmotors.co.uk and ask to speak to tim

 

True, but anything would look small next to a a 6l V8

The only car i could own that would make me look like i have a large ***** is a people carrier with kiddies seats in the back. And even then it would just make me fertile, anyway who on earth buys a car based on pulling chicks. I just like having something a little out of the ordinary.

 

i'd say it's like all performance cars buy one with dodgy history & it aint guna be a pleasure, or cheap, to run!
Gota say it's probably the best looking jap car ever thou?!
In terms of which you want it's always guna be impossible as we dont know wots guna float yer boat so best advice is get out there & have a go in both then you can make a decision on which you prefer & whether you can live with any other assorted pros & cons
Si
Si

 

A 1.3 litre doing 6mpg!

Does it qualify for cheap road tax though

 

Ever thought of test driving a car before buying it? No reason for a UK car to drive and better/worse than an import, just depends on how they have been treated.

Cheap road tax depends on the car, DVLA aren't happy with people doing it (and get a bit upset if they notice you've claimed it is a 1.3), but some of us (mostly cars imported a 2+ years ago) get cheap tax

mn_angrybeats, I know it is possible to get lower, but I was only running at 85% injector duty, with a little more boost I'm sure 4mpg will be possible BTW, thought of setting up the carbs on your Mini? on past experience badly/non setup carbs drink fuel at an alarming rate.


If you do decide to go for an RX-7 drop me a mail, I might be forced to get rid of mine next year

 

so wots the best MPG you've made then Robby?
Agree with yer UK vs JDM type comments especially given Jap uns will usually have less miles less bodywork eating nasties more rule abiding ie servicing owning type owners & then there's the performance thing init
Si

 

Sorry mate, it's not a proper mini is a 243hp supercharged MINI
:-)

[Edited by mn_angrybeats - 12/23/2003 7:19:59 PM]

 

29mpg, but to the best of my knowledge no one in the UK has got to within 5mpg of it. 1 journey at 55-65mph for over 400 miles, enough to make you question your sanity


Suddenly the mini mpg makes more sense

 

Makes you luv the scoob MPG now, doesn't it....

Dan

 

LOL If my scoob had drunk like a fish then perhaps - ultimately I haven't found there to be a huge difference what's 4mpg anyway?

 

Excuse me if I paint a dismal picture, as mine is only one ownership experience, and many others havent been as unlucky. There appear to be many happy owners out there, but you may as well hear a bad ownership experience, as you could potentially have one.

There were a number of things I should have considered, like where to get the car serviced. I used TW Whites, full service cost £500. Other alternative was Portsmouth, about an hour and a half away, so the petrol costs alone were very high.
I also underestimated how poor the engine builders and tuners for the car tend to be in relation to timescales and customer service. Even the so called best as recommended to me were a let down, and being without your car for three weeks means hiring a car, or using an alternative. Also, if you import, mine was over a month later than I was informed (I also went through the apparent best importer too), meaning I had to keep a "cheap" runaround, and struggled to sell it, as dates were never confirmed for collection.

Niggling problems seem to be very difficult to resolve, and you find you are constantly paying professionals to misinform you. I was often going to specialists, does it need a rebuild? does it not? and eventually plummed out £3250 to get it rebuilt.

You find problems with coolant, and oil, and it is the most frustrating thing. Buzzers go off, things dont sound right, turbos dont come on line properly, they are a beautiful car when going right, but the sheer complexity and fragility of them makes them a potential ownership nightmare.
One solution would be to buy cheap, and put it straight in for a rebuild, at least you know your car is sound then.

That was my experience with RX7's, and once my car was perfect, I seriously couldnt stand the sight of it, so sold it. It cost me a fortune, but Id say, if the RX7 is a car you could be passionate about, then go for it, as they are very quick, and loads of fun, but if you are simply after a quick jap turbo car, and dont want a car that requires a LOT of looking after, it may be worth getting something uglier, but more conventional.

Oh yes, Robertio isnt joking about fuel consumption, mine was modded to 315BHP, and I had to hire a refueling plane to follow me on any long trips.

 

If you're selling an STI8 for this have you considered an RX-8 as a replacement?

Ok so it's not quite as cool as the RX-7 (and that's from me who's taking delivery of an RX-8 tomorrow!) but the economy is more 'Scoob-like' and the engine is good for 150k according to Mazda.

Just a thought...

Laurence

 

Could another, i.e. piston engine be fitted in place of what sounds like a liability, I know its been done on the old ones but the bonnet line is very low.

Have to say its not one of the best looking Japanese cars, its one of the best looking cars from anywhere ever, shame about the question mark about the engine though.

 

I've seen a 3rd gen RX-7 with a rover V8 in it but its kind of missing the point isn't it?

 

I love rx7s there good to look at and listen to.
if i ever bought 1 I would do 1 of 2 things.
A) buy 1 and have the engine stripped and rebuilt with stronger tips.
B)buy 1 and have a triple roter engine striped down made stronger and dropped in place of the twin roter.

Its all about what your into but if you like it standard put as much as you can on buying a low mileage 1 with a flawless service history.

+There very light weight,very fast,very good to look at!
-They drink fuel,if not proper looked after there unrealible

 

Hmmm suck it & see
Si + his