Mazda RX7 advice please

[Justin Case]

I have recently had a look at and am thinking of buying a 1st series RX7. As it is a car that I am completely unfamiliar with any advice would be appreciated. The car has only done 84,000 miles; I don't know whether is has ever had a new engine and I haven't driven it but the engine starts instantly from cold and runs freely on idle and under throttle and there are no oil leaks or smoke coming from it. Otherwise it seems OK and the couple of minor faults are obvious and should be easy to sort out. I'm expecting that it won't be cheap to run, but is it likely to be a real money pit or just be like any other classic with unexpected but not too horrific bills? (I'm thinking of Alfas of about the same age) Many thanks for anything that may be helpful

[probedb]

Get onto mazdarotaryclub.com or similar, it covers 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen RX7s

[rotarymazda]

Justin Case said:

I have recently had a look at and am thinking of buying a 1st series RX7. As it is a car that I am completely unfamiliar with any advice would be appreciated.

Start by reading the Brian Long book on RX7's.

If still keen, get a rotary specialist to look over it for you.

[Claudia Skies]

Love those cars. Haven't seen one for years. Very, very scarce and you'd need to go in with your eyes open. Getting a pre-purchase inspection by a rotary specialist must make sense.

[dern]

As said, get a specialist to look at it and get a compression test done to give you an idea of what state it's in. Rotary engines are not that expensive to rebuild (I've had two done this year) and the engine is an amazing thing to have in a car although I have no direct experience of the model of rx7 you're looking at.

[KevinK2]

Check for rust with a friend that knows how to do it. Engine sounds healthy, they run long as long as there is no turbo. But agree on the special compression testing unique to rotaries.

This rx7 model is fun to drive with a good power/weight ratio. But the engine does not magicaly get that power from just 1.2L, as Mazda advertizes based on their unique rating system. Compared to the rest of the millions of 4 stroke engines out there, with pistons, it's displacement is 2.3L .

Edited by KevinK2 on Friday 12th September 06:17