AbnormalAnimal

I have test driven one recently, a 265hp one IIRC, 70k miles, not rebuilt, but almost perfect, £6000(cheap I know, too cheap for me) it was almost local to me (60 miles away), great drive, as quick as my 200 but that engine is something else.
I think what started it all was my mates series one rx7 many many years ago, I just remember the smoothness of the rotary, it was just like a turbine, and that warning buzzer always came in to early for me, it was only the second car I'd ever driven and I was smitten.
Problem is all the importers/garages seem to be at least 200 miles away, so its a long way to travel just for a test drive, then where can I get it serviced locally?....nowhere!
Mind you I spent 4 months looking for the right 200sx and bought that from a bloke 254 miles away.
I think its the £3k+ for a rebuild thats putting me off, I could build a very strong 330bhp engine for my 200 for less than £2k, and the rotary only has 3 moving parts.....go figure!
I would be looking at modifying it too, Exhaust, FMIC, boost controller, rltc etc (or buying a stg1 tuned one)
Mmmmm......what to do? won't be buying one this weekend thats for sure.
Thanks for the input Graham.

[Edited by AbnormalAnimal - 8/6/2003 10:52:06 AM]

AbnormalAnimal

After going off the idea of buying a 'grale (good ones are like rocking horse sh*t) I've now decided to get a latest shape RX7tt to replace my 200SX,

this one (or one like it!)

anybody got one? forums? advice?

Thanks in advance.

[Edited by AbnormalAnimal - 04/08/2003 13:34:20]

scooby_si

mazdarotaryclub shhh im still thinking about going this route post subaru also there's the FDuk yahoo thing i got loads more at home i'll dig out if you wana get one from Japan http://www.neweraimports.com/ are the daddies the buyer- miguel in Japan has a spanky RX7 you will see if you have a butchers on the rotary club site & generally they are experts in the field although good at importing all jap cars from all i have read
Si

AbnormalAnimal

Cheers Si, already been on newera site, just seems a bit pricey although I've heard nothing but good things about them.
I would appreciate more links if you can dig them out.
Dave

scooby_si

Can't say as i've noticed them being particularly pricey especially when you consider most the garages selling RX7's are actually bort thru newera & then marked up further Tiz my understanding anyway but i'm just working up to puttina deposit down so he can go find me a beasty
Will post up my other bits & bobs in a bit........
Si

scooby_si

here we go then party people:
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/fdukbuyers/
http://autopedia.com/html/HotLinks_RX7.html
http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq.htm#faqanchor
http://www.rx7-uk.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/
http://www.rx7club.com/forum/
http://www.fduk.org/ (doesn't seem to work at the minute)
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/FAQ.html
http://www.hurleyrotary.com/ woo hoo that's a garage which is local to me
http://www.iluvmyrx7.com/
http://www.jimmys-rx7.co.uk/Imports.htm
http://www.optimumautos.co.uk/
nice wheel drag onto RX7 site
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/
http://www.monito.com/wankel/rx-7-3rdgen.html
http://www.pow-r.co.uk/
http://www.wgtautodevelopments.co.uk/

i think that's my favoouries folder covered anyway a few garages but a hell of a lot of info in those links m8y just dont get one before me it's not allowed lol
Si

AbnormalAnimal

Fookin 'ell

I know what I'm doing tonight

Cheers again Si

edited cos i carnt speel

[Edited by AbnormalAnimal - 04/08/2003 17:44:33]

scooby_si

I have detailed files!!! Oh hang on this isn't the terminator thread
Si

AbnormalAnimal

Found www.linny.org

:dribble:

Seen you've been there too, some very tasty rx7's on there,

Shame most of them are sold, me wants one by the weekend

LEE P

Nice one Dave!!!!! sounds a good idea to me!! you know you want too!

they look the bollox dont they when you see em in the flesh!

see ya round bud!

Lee

AbnormalAnimal

Cheers Lee, I've no doubt you'll see me around in one soon, watch this space! (or watch out for me sideways near you shortly lol)

Fuel consumption? who cares! (Id have bought a diesel if I was bothered )

SideShowBob

Very nice cars, but you need to be prepared for a lot of niggles, and expensive servicing and mechanical work, which involves travelling to a specialist.

When the engine does go (usually around 60k miles), budget around £3.5k for the work, and expect to be without the car for three weeks.

Those facts aside, they are amazing cars, very very quick, which respond really well to the usual mods, but one thing to go for is one thats had the ECU changed for a uprated one, as it'll cost you a grand to get one installed here, and its what you want before doing anything like induction or exhaust.
Mine was a '93 Type-R, which was 265BHP in stock form, and I had HKS induction, exhaust complete with decat, and an ECU, with 1bar boost (along with various other mods that wouldnt especially influence power), and it rolling roaded at 330BHP, and it was about the quickest thing Id ever driven!!

Id recommend getting a cheapish one nearing 60k miles, then get it and get it in for its rebuild, and then at least you know you have a sound car that should last 70 - 80k miles (rebuilds are done with RX8 tips now, so last longer), as I got mine, and in hindsight, it could have used its rebuild from day one, but I kept taking it to places, spent £500 on a service, and still ended up getting it rebuilt anyway, and the hassle and frustration of all that pretty much killed my enthusiasm for them, so after it came back from a £3250 rebuild, I ran it in, had some fun, then flogged it, losing pretty much all the investment id made in it, but such is life.

Buy carefully, and make sure you have enough money for the rebuild, and you'll have an awesome machine (Jimmy's sell rebuilt cars, worth checking them out too http://www.jimmys-rx7.co.uk/Imports.htm)

Cheers
Graham

Dark Blue Mark

I seem to recall most of the ones from New-Era have rotor tips replaced before sale? Might be them or Jap Village. Some good re-assurance if thats right.

Apparently they are tiny, and if you'reover 5"10 you will struggle to get in!

MB

scooby_si

maybe in the rear seats lol but i didnt have a problem at least as a passenger & i'm 6"1 will have a test before i buy one thou just to make sure
Saw yers for sale sideshow & did look a beauty were you just fed up of dispear then as surely once sorted you had a sweat beasty?
Si

scooby_si

god damn anyone got a dictionary link my spelling sux shud b sweet car at least lol

scooby_si

3.5k sounds a lot as well i presume your talking with a few additional mods there as well
Si

SideShowBob

Nope, that was only the necessary for the rebuild.
Straight rebuild is now £3000 at a lot of specialists, due to a new price of rebuild kits, but this of course depends on exactly went wrong.
Tips arent the only thing that fail at around 60k miles, the end and mid plates warp with overheating, meaning that water seaps into the rotor chambers.
The end plates cost £250 per end plate, and £350 for the mid plate.
The seals on the mid plates can also decay, which again is a rebuild job, but if you're lucky, no plate replacement.
I needed one plate replacing, hence £3250.

Newera dont replace tips before delivery, no rebuild etc is done, and even buying from Newera doesnt guarentee a reliable car, althou in the market that exists for RX7's, Id still say they are your best bet, as Miguel will help out any way he can if you do happen to have problems.

savanna

Having owned 4 Rotary Mazdas i can comment a little... Respected the Rotary is an awesome machine, and VERY reliable. My TII had 110000 miles on orig engine and was still running great when it was sold. They offer superb value, and once youve enjoyed the rota motor, theres no other. Biggest problem here in the UK ig finding professional, passionate people to service them, a problem we dont have in the USA, or NZ, or Oz, where Rotarys rule.

AbnormalAnimal

To be honest £3k+ for a rebuild sounds a bit too much for me, I can afford to run/service the car, but I bought my 200 for less than 3K and it does 150+mph and nothing new under £20k or so stands a chance, (currently 218bhp at wheels and rising), are they (RX7's) worth it?
Gorgeous cars IMO, one of the best looking cars full stop, just not convinced anymore after reading some of the links Si posted.

Might just buy a bike instead!

Good advice by all though, isn't s/net great?

SideShowBob

Well, if you develope a passion for it, then I imagine it would be worth it.
I went through an ownership stage of really loving it, and I was one of the particuallaly unlucky ones, so its a risk you take when getting one.

The problem I found was that the engine is not tollerant at all. Iverheat the car, and the end plates or seals are quite likely to be affected, detonate, and it kills the engine, the tips will only last to around 60k miles unless you are lucky, although 80k miles is possible.
Add to this lots of niggly problems, like a problematic cooling system, and sparkplugs that dont last past 10k miles if driven hard, and bits that wont stay on propery, and for me, things got a little too risky.

I think a big problem is mods. If you buy a nice, lowish mileage model, with no or very few mods, then chances are you will be able to run it reliably for a lenght of time, as a lot of guys on the forum havent had too many problems.

As to whether its worth it, try one out if you can. Riverdale motors in Kent always have one or two around, so you could arrange a test drive with them or similar closer to you, and see what you think.
They are seriously amazing to drive, great fun, and easy to get the rear out on, plus get loads of looks, people dont have a clue what it is!!
I personally wouldnt get another, I had a pretty awful 5 months with mine, and even though when I sold it it was perfect, with everything possible done to it, I just didnt want it anymore. It was wierd, but I guess getting to that point wittled me down, and my expectations werent met until I had invested nearly £5000 of my own money.

scooby_si

rltc isn't that an upgrade traction control that many put on supras etc RX7 doesnt have TC?
Si

AbnormalAnimal

Sure is, RaceLogic Traction Control

scooby_si

can you put that in RX7's then?
Si

AbnormalAnimal

You can put in just about anything, very worthwhile in anything RWD with more pwer than grip, It takes the stress of driving in the wet away, some of the 300zx boys swear by it.
Variable levels of slip allowed.
Plus it can be set up with launch control too
More info here
http://www.racelogic.co.uk/

Robertio

iTrader: (1)

I can't remember the details, but someone on FDUK had problems caused when running traction control near the end of last year.

Graham seemed to have everything that could go wrong go wrong with his RX-7. I managed to see less than 150 miles out of my original engine, but since getting my car back in April I've had nearly 7k trouble free miles. The car is just great to drive whether going slowly or quickly. Fuel consumption is terrible, you can drive carefully for a full tank off boost and still struggle to get close to 20mpg, but I can't think of a sensibly priced car I'd rather have

scooby_si

Hmm still tempted but i reckon i will be doing many Don palmer type things to try & avoid totaling myself
Si

scooby_si

most the people on rotary club are saying they had bad experiances with R/L but no probs with motec traction control
Si

Steve@RSX

We have a RX7 year 2000 for sale. Has one or two small mods on it. Looking for about 18k for it i think.
2000 RB
Blue
15000 miles (i think)

Hertfordshire.

Robertio

iTrader: (1)

Si, I'm just guessing, but, the Motec being part of the ECU can tie in with the mapping, where as the Racelogic is a standalone system so if it does something contrary to what the ECU is planning things go bye bye.

Danny Fisher

The issue is that the R/L system cuts the fuel, this is not good for rotary's.

Motec deals with it differently, think it cuts the ignition instead.

But I dont know much anyway.

Dan