andrewdelvard

I was talking to my Agent in Japan about importing an R33.Now he happens to own an R33 plus a Mazda RX7 and to my suprise he was much more enthusiastic about the RX7 and how the rebuild issues are a 'myth' as long as it's fueled correctly and modified sensibly. So he's got me thinking a little bit especially seeing that the RX7 is half the price.
So,what do you think?

[Edited by andrewdelvard - 1/20/2002 5:16:58 PM]

MattN

I would.

I've been set on one for ages but circumstances keep changing and now I can't afford one.

I'm local to a rotary engine specialist and they seem to think as long as it's well maintained it fairs no worse than any other performance car.

Just not sure about the 15mpg!!!!!

andrewdelvard

Here's a detailed reply I received from another board.....


The engineers who designed the 3rd generation RX-7 managed to squeeze a lot or power out of a small engine. This highly tuned power plant won't tolerate a lot of abuse from lack of maintenance or unintelligent modification. At the same time, it will happily rev to 8,000 rpm all day long. In my opinion, the only design flaw in terms of reliability, is the coolant seals. It seems some owners who have followed all the rules still have had their coolant seals blow necessitating eventual engine replacement. At the same time, we have a number of owners who have gone over 100,000 miles with no problems.

Some basic rules for 3rd generation rotary engine operation:

-change the oil every 3,000 miles.

-never let the car overheat. even one instance of overheating is likely to ruin an engine. keep the cooling system in tip top shape. some minor modifications will help, such as replacing the plastic AST with a metal cannister.

-detonation is deadly. run on premium fuel, and replace the fuel filter every 15,000 miles.

-allow the engine to idle for a cool down period of 30 seconds or more
after highway driving or hard running. (most of us do this even for a routine grocery getting trip.)

-bypass the high idle startup that is programmed into new cars by having the car in gear while you push in on the clutch. (the high idle is there to warm up the catalytic converters quickly, but 3,000 rpm on cold oil doesn't do your engine any good.)

polarbearit

They are good cars, but surely not half as good a skyline - as I understand it to get an RX7 to about 400 bhp takes loads of work (10k+). For that sort of cash you could have a 550bhp + skyline...

Personally if I was looking for a RWD car I go for a Supra TT, similar cost to the RX7, much more tuning potential, but similar traction problems being RWD.

Jon

47 NAT

Theres a company in Reading that specialise in RX7's and other Jap cars (by junct 11 M4) that have a full race spec one (owned by a guy called Tom)running at about 500bhp+. Its been down Goodwood a few times testing and it sounds awesome.

Nath

Spudgun GTR

i see the purple rx7 now and then when my car goes down to dragon in colchester.
pretty car, sounds like a petrol lawnmower

andrewdelvard

RX7 more expensive to tune than a Skyline you say? An article in Japanese Performance reported the opposite! Guess I'll have to speak to some mechanics....

bing-bonger

Hey just thought, i'd add my views, I'm soon going to be getting onoe of these RX7's, yep all the points meentioned above are true i've been researching this car for about 3 months now. Below are a few good sites i found along the way:-

http://www.rx7club.com/index.php (US forum) (good for research)
http://uk.geocities.com/gouldkim (UK Owners club)
http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/reliabiltiy.htm
http://7sins.rx7life.com/

I have others too, please let me know how it goes, also you may want to give Rotor Techics a call (can;t remember the number) in regards to running costs and mods!!!!

Hope this helps.....

GaryC

A close friend had one years ago, bloody fast in (near) standard tune - and certainly the fastest 1.3 I ever drove

If all you think about is BHP (and presumably 0-60 and 1/4 times) then the RX-7 is not for you, but then neither is the Impreza. The RX-7 is not a big horsepower junkie, but then thats not why you buy it. It looks great, sounds weird, goes well and handles well. The wankel engine is very responsive, and if 400hp is possible, I can't honestly think where you would want more??

Any 1200-1400kg car with more than 400bhp is going to be so compromised in 95% of driving cicumstances, that it will be far better to get a second, raw performance car.

Obviously, if the main reason for buying such a car is to brag to the boys down the pub "how much she's pushing" then thats a whole different ball game

MattN

don't they have two 1.3 turbocharged engines hence 2.6 twin turbo?

ian/555

I think that rotary engines are usually able to get away with having half the displacement of a conventinal engine layout whilest still giving virtually the same output. If you was to look at the Internals it would look something like a bloated Triangle instead of pistons with the tips making the seal with the cylinder wall, oh and it only has one rotor but 3 tips. I'm not sure exactly how it works but I will try and find something that explains it better than my pigeon English ever could.
ian

ian/555

found at this site

http://www.hurley-engineering.ltd.uk/

brickboy

See also the other RX7 post today -- if you get a bad 'un then it's a nightmare. Mate of mine had the previous shape RX7 turbo: he left it with the Mazda dealer he bought it from and got a refund after it needed a third new engine in less than a year. Carbon build-up destroyed the rotor seals, apparently.

Markus

ahhh, RX7, lovely car. My uncle used to work for mazda and part of his department handled the press cars and I always remember going round to see him one lunch time and there was this gorgeous DBM RX7 sitting there, he then proceeded to take me out for a ride, wow! awesome car. I'd still like to have one, as I think the latest shape is great.

It's odd why the rotary engine never really made it. it's got potential, and it's not nearly as bad as some people make out.

Doesn't the RX8 have a rotary? though I don't think it's a turbo, unlike the '7

Pete Spanker

Hello everyone,
I've got a '98 RX-7 and it's fantastic. I've had it for nearly a year now and have not had a single problem. As has already been mentioned, just make sure to change the oil regularly.
I bought my car with an induction kit and straight thru exhaust and it's putting out 307 bhp.
My mate has a P1 and although it has more tourqe it cannot compete with the RX's top end. Fuel consumption is not the best although the 15 mpg mentioned elsewhere is as bad as it gets, you can see mid 20's on motorway runs. The consumption doesn't seem much worse than the P1 or any other highly tuned turbo engine.
As for comparing skyline outputs with the RX-7, you've got to remember that the RX weighs 230kgs less, so power to weight would be a better comparrison. Threre's also the handling advantages of the lighter car and the fact that the only driver aids are ABS and a limited slip diff.
So in answer to the original question... RX7 or Skyline? There's little in it for performance, The RX is a little thirstier, i think that the RX is much better looking and certainly rarer. So it comes down to RWD or 4WD, if there's still not much in it The RX is HALF the price!!
Just make sure that you get a good one.... Did i mention that mine is for sale!!

[Edited by Pete Spanker - 1/23/2002 11:28:10 AM]

bing-bonger

Peter,

I am currently looking for one of these, how much do you want for yours? What is the spec? how many miles? Is it still on the original engine? Oh yeh an where is a good place near London to get it servied and get parts......

Thanks

Pete Spanker

Hi Bing,
It's '98 on an R, has done 32,000 on original engine, full UK service History. Air con, electric windows & mirrors, CD, Remote locking. It's white and has 17" split rims. Stainless exhaust and induction Kit. There is also 3 months left on a transferable warranty.
I'm having to sell as i've just bought a place, i'm after £13,500.
Best place to go is Abbey Motorsport in Oxted. It's doubtful that Mazda dealers will have a clue what they're doing.
Let me know if you want a photo.

Cheers, Pete

andrewdelvard

Thanks for all the replies fellas, very informative thus far, more than I could have hoped for!

Now I just have to get a ride in one....?

[Edited by andrewdelvard - 1/24/2002 1:40:48 AM]

bing-bonger

Hey Peter,

Thanks for that info, sorry mate but that price is slightly above my budget......I wanted to ask you did you get any service history with yours also did you import it yourself? Have you done any reliability modsd?

Oh and one more thing where exactly are Abbey Motorsport in Oxted......

many thanks

Pete Spanker

Bing,
I didn't get any service history with the car but i did get a comprehensive warranty and i also had a compression test done to make sure that the engine was healthy. If you're buying privately i'd suggest getting a specialist to check it over for you. The car was bought at Prestige Imports who have now closed down.
Reliability Mods...? What do you mean?
Abbey motorsport Phone number is 01883 732 331, ask to speak to Tony. I can't find their address.

Cheers

bing-bonger

Pete,

I've been doing some research on the US owner forums, they reccomend that you do some reliability mods in order to aviod engine detonation, mods include replacing the platic AST with a aluminiam one, de-catting the exaust, adding an after market water temp gauage and boost gauge and also adding the thermostat of a MX5 to switch the fans on ealier. Please forgive my ignorance, but if I went to a dealer and asked for a compression test what would be the process of doing one and also what are 'healthy results'. Sorry to keep bother you but I an deffinatly hunting for one of these and don't want to be 'stiched-up'


thanks

andrewdelvard

bing-bonger I really suggest you speak to Pete at www.neweraimports.com Their buyer in Japan Miguel is an absolute RX7 nut. Try them out Pal.

andrewdelvard

You have an email bing!

bing-bonger

Hi Andrew,

My email is bingbonger@hotmail.com