hey mazda board. im looking into RX-7s and I was wondering is it a good choice? I had a 2nd gen mitsu eclipse turbo but it was giving me waaayyyy too many problems so I sold it. So the 3rd gen RX-7 or FD i believe is what its called began appealing to me. but besides the attractive body style, how are they as far as part prices(oem or aftermarket)? engine life? are they reliable? mpg? are there good tuner shops in the bay area if any working on rotary engines? and how EXACTLY does a rotary engine work? and whats this about having to rebuild the engine every 60,000 miles? Im really considering buying one but I wanna know what do you mazda guys think of it? 10 out of 10?

 

it would be in your best intrest to go back to a eclipse. Parts are cheaper and more reliable in the dsm world. However if you can afford a fd well than you might have a good running car, and a sexy one at that.

 

If you do your research and start off w/ a pretty good condition car, then mod it in the correct manner, you should have little to worry about.
As far as FD's go this usually means 10k plus. (minimum)

Or you could go the fun route and try to find the cheapest, blown-engine FD you can, which would leave a lot more money to build the motor the way you want it from jump street. It really depends on how much cash you got and what you want out of the car.

Although, for what you'd spend to get an FD in perfect running order (either paying for a good car, or building up a not so good one) you could have a kick ass FC.... But to answer your other Q's:

The after market support for the FD is great. There's more stuff than there is for the FC (from major brands) but it's usually a little more expensive too.

OEM is OEM, no dealer is cheap. I've never had a problem getting a part from the dealer (so availability isn't a big issue)

Stock FD motors go for about 90-100k usually a lil less. IMO due largely to the stock cooling system. (T2 FC's go for about 100-150k).

They're at least as reliable as a DSM lol. Seriously its all about preventative maintainance. Stay on top of your oil changes, coolant flushes, and such and you'll be good. Upgrade the cooling system!

Can't speak on the FD, but I get around 18/25 in the FC. I'd imagine its somewhere in that neighborhood

If you've got FD money, then you can run to the tuner shops I suppose. Mazport does good work, but it'll cost you good money too.

How a rotary works: Howstuffworks "How Rotary Engines Work"

Rebuilds are not done every 60,000 mies unless....
A) The car is owned by an idiot that neglects maintainance
B) It is a street/ race car

I'd give it an 9.0/10 due mainly to the sub par cooling system, cheap plastic interior pieces

 

If you are worried about how reliable DSM's are, I would not recommend an FD. I would recommend an FC. Mazsport is the best tuner shop and they are located in Largo. I have a race bred FD. I expect my next rebuild to happen at 30K miles if I keep my current tune (250rwhp). However on my next tune I expect 500rwhp and the rebuild then becomes necessary around the 15,000 mile mark (or less). This however is not my DD and it will take more then 4000 laps at Sebring before I need a rebuild. I am usually good for 50 laps per event so it will take at least 80 events before I need to start worrying.

As for a dailey driver, I have another Mazda. It sounds like you are looking for a DD with some pop. Buy an FC. Read this thread -> Link.

 

its a 1994 vintage red[damn near perfect] fd. The motor is out and I have a ls1,trans,comp,wiring harness, a/c, power steering the whole 9 yards if you want to finish the project. 12,500 takes it. Read more it the section of cars for sale.

 

If you're gonna buy an rx-7, buy one with a rotary engine. Thats what it came with, so thats what should be in it. If you do buy an rx-7, and the engine is in goood shape but then goes bad, ( IT'S YOUR FAULT ). If you get lazy and don't want to fix it and even think about throwing a piston engine in it, just sell it. Someone else who really wants it will buy it and fix it. Nobody wants to see another ruined rx-7. Anything is unreliable if mistreated.

 

Honestly owning a turbo rx7 myself and my brother owning a turbo awd talon, I can say that the parts for DSMs will always be much cheaper... In your situation I would have thrown a 6 bolt first gen motor into your 2nd gen eclipse (no crank walk, much more reliable).

That said, the rx7 is such a nicer car. DSMs can be quick and fun to drive, but the reality is that they are not sport cars, they are just economy coops with turbochargers. If you do decide to go into the rotary platform start reading. You will have to understand how the engine works and what you will need to do as preventative maintenance. There are two shops in the area that specialize in rotary engines, Mazsport and Maztech. I recommend letting them work on you internals until you are familiar with the platform. Don't go to them for everything though that can get pricey... and you wont learn anything.

Read the things that we have stickied at the top of mazda tech.. alot good stuff there. Also check out RX7club.com.

good luck

 

buy a 3rd gen and do whatever you want to it. Its your car, not tito12a's. He has no rite telling you what to do with it. Personally if you want a reliable car like I said get a dsm. If you want mine or if you are intrested come take a look at it. 3rd gen fd's with mods 10,000-maybe 20,000. 3rd gen with ls1 15,00-35,000. Iwill sell you mine with the swap almost ready 1994 vr fd 62,000 miles on dash for 12,500. I am not going to finish it. im over the whole racing bullshit. I cant afford to lose my house or family getting caugh racing and the drag strip is to crowded and boring. If you go onto v8rx7forum you will see what a fd with a v8 goes for. why people cry like little babys about a rotary being taken out of the rx7 is beyond me. I think maybe datsun and toyota should cry over the rotary's going in there little shitbox cars like the starlet. Oh its because they are light and thats all a rotary has power for.

 

stated in tito12 message he said "if you buy a rx7 and it goes bad its your fault" Thats the stupidist shit I have ever heard. There are many diffrent reasons for purchasing a used vehicle and having a problem. Maybe the last person didnt take care of it. Maybe they used the wrong oil for the car. Maybe they drove it hard, Opps wait aernt rotary's supposed to be sports cars and driven hard?

 

Did you read it right because i said " If you do buy an rx-7, and the engine is in goood shape but then goes bad, ( IT'S YOUR FAULT ). Now i didnt want to offend anyone, but your the one thats always saying rotaries are unreliable. My rx-7 has over 150,000 miles, and its all stock, never rebuilt, no problems. And i know if he buys a car its not gonna be my car, i was posting my opinion. He was asking us what we think.