RX-7, Supra or Skyline?
Discussion
Hey guys. New to the forums so be gentle 
I'm finally looking to get a decent motor so I no longer feel inadequate compared to my missus and her VX Turbo.
My budget is realistically 8k but I could probably stretch to 10k. I'm a big fan of most Jap cars but think I'd like something fairly rare and ideally more of a coupe rather than a saloon. Also, it would be my only car so I'd be doing about 60 miles a day.
I've roughly narrowed it down to an RX-7, a Supra or maybe a Skyline.
What are peoples' opinions on these cars (reliability, running costs, fuel economy etc.)? I'd be interested in other suggestions too.
Thanks.
I'm finally looking to get a decent motor so I no longer feel inadequate compared to my missus and her VX Turbo.
My budget is realistically 8k but I could probably stretch to 10k. I'm a big fan of most Jap cars but think I'd like something fairly rare and ideally more of a coupe rather than a saloon. Also, it would be my only car so I'd be doing about 60 miles a day.
I've roughly narrowed it down to an RX-7, a Supra or maybe a Skyline.
What are peoples' opinions on these cars (reliability, running costs, fuel economy etc.)? I'd be interested in other suggestions too.
Thanks.
Edited by Shyvah on Monday 16th October 09:34
The RX-7 is renound for pretty bad economy, so for a 60 mile trip it wouldn't be great. Both the skyline (GTR obviously) and supra are great cars, but you'd have to look long and hard to find a good example, and almost all are modified. However, they are also both very tunable.
This one's quite nice:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83947.htm
And a good choice of supras:
www.whifbitz.co.uk/fstoyota.html
This one's quite nice:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83947.htm
And a good choice of supras:
www.whifbitz.co.uk/fstoyota.html
RX economy definately depends on modifications. The engine is much more efficient at higher rpm so idling in stop-start traffic will see really low mpg.
A standard car (stock twin turbos) will return anything between 15 and 20 mpg depending on your right foot. My significantly modded 7 gives me 20-25 normal driving and 25+ on motorway trips. It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time - I get boost from ~4500rpm a standard car gets it from a little below 2500rpm.
I know a few people who use their rex for commuting. I did for a while and it was great - actually looked forwads to the daily trawl!
Reliability of a standard car if it's been well maintained would be no worse than either the liner or supra and repairs are likely to be of a similar cost. They're all getting a bit long in the tooth to expect completely trouble-free motoring (mine's 15 years old!).
The 7 is a lot lighter than the Supra and a bit lighter than early liners and much less than the R34s. It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
As for the looks - I think the supra and liner are great cars but the 7 is still the best looking production car to have come out of Japan imo!
Good luck with whatever you decide to go for. Worth checking out the owners clubs. For the rx-7 try www.mazdarotaryclub.com or www.fduk.org
A standard car (stock twin turbos) will return anything between 15 and 20 mpg depending on your right foot. My significantly modded 7 gives me 20-25 normal driving and 25+ on motorway trips. It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time - I get boost from ~4500rpm a standard car gets it from a little below 2500rpm.
I know a few people who use their rex for commuting. I did for a while and it was great - actually looked forwads to the daily trawl!
Reliability of a standard car if it's been well maintained would be no worse than either the liner or supra and repairs are likely to be of a similar cost. They're all getting a bit long in the tooth to expect completely trouble-free motoring (mine's 15 years old!).
The 7 is a lot lighter than the Supra and a bit lighter than early liners and much less than the R34s. It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
As for the looks - I think the supra and liner are great cars but the 7 is still the best looking production car to have come out of Japan imo!
Good luck with whatever you decide to go for. Worth checking out the owners clubs. For the rx-7 try www.mazdarotaryclub.com or www.fduk.org
iaint said:
It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
I spent a while driving an NA VX on Saturday and without pushing it the whole thing felt so much more together cornering than driving my FD round the same roads. It also felt a lot harder work too mind, it was effort just holding it round a roundabout at a modest pace. Would take longer to feel comfortable in it I think, and these things generally come down to drivers - yesterday id have been quicker in the FD but not once I know the VX.
Theres no doubt the FD would have blitzed it in a straight, but then im about 330 hp and it was an NA. A VX Turbo has 200 bhp though, and less weight than an FD. I doubt a stock FD would compare well to it on anything but space (lol), comfort, and looks.
Im probaby getting a VX very soon, but I do think ill miss the FD when it happens. From the list above id pick it. Id think about an Integra Type R though given the circumstances described as it might be more suitable and they really are good. Id rather that to a Skyline and Supra at the moment.
Lee
Pulsatingstar said:
iaint said:
It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
I spent a while driving an NA VX on Saturday and without pushing it the whole thing felt so much more together cornering than driving my FD round the same roads. It also felt a lot harder work too mind, it was effort just holding it round a roundabout at a modest pace. Would take longer to feel comfortable in it I think, and these things generally come down to drivers - yesterday id have been quicker in the FD but not once I know the VX.Lee
Have you had the alignment checked on the RX? Mine has been lowered, without having the camber reset. Had full camber and toe alignment, and it feels much more planted than it used to (although a bit more tail happy
)identti said:
My god that's a lot of car for £10k !!! looks fantastic too.. and thankfully unmolested!
...I'd still go for the FD out of your choices though.. indeed I might be getting one sometime next year, but it's tricky to find the right one (I want a close-to-standard '96 or later type RB with less than 50k on it
).. edit: just looked at the WhifBitz selection... that black one at the top of the list looks mighty fine too!
Edited by Pierscoe1 on Monday 16th October 23:00
I know this isn't one of your choices.......but how about this for a leftfield option?
OK, so it's German, but what a lot of car for the money. More cruiser than bruiser, but it appeals to me. Economy probably not much worse than the turbo sixes you're already looking at
www.pistonheads.com/sales/84488.htm
OK, so it's German, but what a lot of car for the money. More cruiser than bruiser, but it appeals to me. Economy probably not much worse than the turbo sixes you're already looking at
www.pistonheads.com/sales/84488.htm
Twin Turbo said:
I know this isn't one of your choices.......but how about this for a leftfield option?
OK, so it's German, but what a lot of car for the money. More cruiser than bruiser, but it appeals to me. Economy probably not much worse than the turbo sixes you're already looking at
OK, so it's German, but what a lot of car for the money. More cruiser than bruiser, but it appeals to me. Economy probably not much worse than the turbo sixes you're already looking at
Further out than leftfield though... only 300bhp, probbaly > 1800kg. Would corner like a whale (or supra
). He's looking for something to compare to a VX turbo for performance and this ain't it!iaint said:
RX economy definately depends on modifications. The engine is much more efficient at higher rpm so idling in stop-start traffic will see really low mpg.
A standard car (stock twin turbos) will return anything between 15 and 20 mpg depending on your right foot. My significantly modded 7 gives me 20-25 normal driving and 25+ on motorway trips. It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time - I get boost from ~4500rpm a standard car gets it from a little below 2500rpm.
I know a few people who use their rex for commuting. I did for a while and it was great - actually looked forwads to the daily trawl!
Reliability of a standard car if it's been well maintained would be no worse than either the liner or supra and repairs are likely to be of a similar cost. They're all getting a bit long in the tooth to expect completely trouble-free motoring (mine's 15 years old!).
The 7 is a lot lighter than the Supra and a bit lighter than early liners and much less than the R34s. It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
As for the looks - I think the supra and liner are great cars but the 7 is still the best looking production car to have come out of Japan imo!
Good luck with whatever you decide to go for. Worth checking out the owners clubs. For the rx-7 try www.mazdarotaryclub.com or www.fduk.org
A standard car (stock twin turbos) will return anything between 15 and 20 mpg depending on your right foot. My significantly modded 7 gives me 20-25 normal driving and 25+ on motorway trips. It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time - I get boost from ~4500rpm a standard car gets it from a little below 2500rpm.
I know a few people who use their rex for commuting. I did for a while and it was great - actually looked forwads to the daily trawl!
Reliability of a standard car if it's been well maintained would be no worse than either the liner or supra and repairs are likely to be of a similar cost. They're all getting a bit long in the tooth to expect completely trouble-free motoring (mine's 15 years old!).
The 7 is a lot lighter than the Supra and a bit lighter than early liners and much less than the R34s. It might keep up with the VX round twisties and would, as standard, blow it into the weeds on a streight.
As for the looks - I think the supra and liner are great cars but the 7 is still the best looking production car to have come out of Japan imo!
Good luck with whatever you decide to go for. Worth checking out the owners clubs. For the rx-7 try www.mazdarotaryclub.com or www.fduk.org
What he said!!!!
iaint said:
It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time
if you were to take a standard car, and de-sequential the turbos (I understand this removes lots of potentially problematic pipework etc), and install a PowerFC.. would it improve economy over stock? would if adversly affect driveability? where would boost likely come in?
edit: AtomicRex.. just looked at your profile.. Fantastic!!!
Didn't know there were any FD's racing in the UK.. always love to watch them in the aussie Production GT championship when I can....
Edited by Pierscoe1 on Tuesday 17th October 21:46
Gazboy said:
Pierscoe1 said:
iaint said:
It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time
if you were to take a standard car, and de-sequential the turbos (I understand this removes lots of potentially problematic pipework etc), and install a PowerFC.. would it improve economy over stock? would if adversly affect driveability? where would boost likely come in?
If you want your car to be slower, go ahead! I believe the above set up made Iain's life harder in Wales with no guts below 4k.
You'd gain headline BHP and have a more predictable delivery BUT at the costr of power low down. A stock turbo setup is driveable at any RPM but had a big power hike at 4.5k that catches people out sometimes!
iaint said:
Gazboy said:
Pierscoe1 said:
iaint said:
It's better than a standard car because I'm off bosst most of the time
if you were to take a standard car, and de-sequential the turbos (I understand this removes lots of potentially problematic pipework etc), and install a PowerFC.. would it improve economy over stock? would if adversly affect driveability? where would boost likely come in?
If you want your car to be slower, go ahead! I believe the above set up made Iain's life harder in Wales with no guts below 4k.
You'd gain headline BHP and have a more predictable delivery BUT at the costr of power low down. A stock turbo setup is driveable at any RPM but had a big power hike at 4.5k that catches people out sometimes!
Too right; that sudden jump can be quite exciting, especially mid damp corner! I've kept the sequential on mine, I really like not having to thrash it to make decent progress
Gazboy said:
identti said:
The RX-7 is renound for pretty bad economy, so for a 60 mile trip it wouldn't be great. Both the skyline (GTR obviously) and supra are great cars, but you'd have to look long and hard to find a good example, and almost all are modified. However, they are also both very tunable.
This one's quite nice:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83947.htm
And a good choice of supras:
www.whifbitz.co.uk/fstoyota.html
This one's quite nice:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/83947.htm
And a good choice of supras:
www.whifbitz.co.uk/fstoyota.html
God, the R33GTR bubble has burst hasn't it! This time last year you'd expect that to have been £16k!
Is this a 60 mile round trip? That's not too bad, especialy if it's mainly motorways or free flowing traffic- 60 miles stop-start each way? Screw that- I'd get £1000 spunker to commute in, and the Jap car for fun (ie what I've been doing for 5 years) as it works out cheaper.
Nice GTR but I think 440 BHP is pushing it.
iaint said:
Gazboy said:
"power under the curve".
I'm sure that makes sense to someone. Somewhere!
its Gaz, so i doubt it
had my first drive in a Rex @ the weekend.
love the position/speed/gearbox/styling etc etc,
just really unsure i like the engine noise.
reminds me of a sewing machine (*dons flame suite)
as for fuel consumption, a standard RX does 220 to a tank were as my Alfa does 250.
which makes me think even more......
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