Griffith Vs RX-7
Discussion
As sensible things take hod, such as houses and mortgages, I am faced with possibly selling my Griff and replacing it with something cheaper. The running costs will not bother me if they are the same, the car only realy gets driven once a week or so.
I am considering an RX 7, relatively standard, in good nick. i've noticed they are coming down in price recently as all relatively expensive cars are.
How will it compare to my tuned Pre Cat. I know I will miss the noise from the V8, but what about everything else?
Any constructive opinions welcome.
Cheers
Chris
I am considering an RX 7, relatively standard, in good nick. i've noticed they are coming down in price recently as all relatively expensive cars are.
How will it compare to my tuned Pre Cat. I know I will miss the noise from the V8, but what about everything else?
Any constructive opinions welcome.
Cheers
Chris
Hi Chris
If your interested I may do a P/X with my UK spec RX7, as I wouldn't mind getting another TVR.
If you want to know anything about RX7's the best place to look is the Mazda Rotary Club forum. They're always willing to answer any question you may have.
I'm not shore how much different the Griff is to drive than my old 400se. But I would say the old wedge was a lot more raw. The RX7 will out handle and accelerate the TVR it just doesn't have the drama of the TVR, which I miss. The engine note of the RX7 isn't in the same league as the TVR. It makes a nice sound don't get me wrong it's just not a V8. You can get a lot of power out of the Rotary with not much effort. They will get to 300 rwhp with a few little changes. I wouldn't say it is much worse on fuel than the wedge was. If you give the the RX7 WOT it does then start drinking also in traffic it uses more than most cars. But if your just on a run and put the cruise control on it's not that bad. If your local to me your more than welcome to have a look at the RX.
If your interested I may do a P/X with my UK spec RX7, as I wouldn't mind getting another TVR.
If you want to know anything about RX7's the best place to look is the Mazda Rotary Club forum. They're always willing to answer any question you may have.
I'm not shore how much different the Griff is to drive than my old 400se. But I would say the old wedge was a lot more raw. The RX7 will out handle and accelerate the TVR it just doesn't have the drama of the TVR, which I miss. The engine note of the RX7 isn't in the same league as the TVR. It makes a nice sound don't get me wrong it's just not a V8. You can get a lot of power out of the Rotary with not much effort. They will get to 300 rwhp with a few little changes. I wouldn't say it is much worse on fuel than the wedge was. If you give the the RX7 WOT it does then start drinking also in traffic it uses more than most cars. But if your just on a run and put the cruise control on it's not that bad. If your local to me your more than welcome to have a look at the RX.
Edited by tvr tommy on Sunday 1st April 18:01
johnfelstead said:
16MPG around town, 25MPG on a run. Start giving it serious beans and you wont be able to keep up with the drop rate on the fuel gauge. 
Not so!
I'm afraid John is talking out of his scooby exhaust! (STI 5 Type RA V-Limited though
) On a run you will see 25 and upwards....around town its rare to get less than 20, on a track you will get into the low 10's....but it depends to what state of tune the car is in....singles or twins....the single is actually more economical as its not on boost as much. It also depends on whether the tuner has gone for the fail safe option of stick as much fuel in as possible so it don't go pop!
Forget fuel economy though....you need to look at the overall package...and the Rex wins...hands down.
It is cheaper to insure
If the engine goes down it is cheaper to repair
The looks are better.
You still get loads of oversteer....but the Rx wont try and kill you if you stop concentrating for more than a nano second.
You can rev it to 9000 rpm....and then get a wee buzzer to tell you to change gear
It wasn't built in a factory in Blackpool!
AtomicRex said:
On a run you will see 25 and upwards....around town its rare to get less than 20, on a track you will get into the low 10's....
Mixed run on Friday night - Motorway (including stationary bits) and through the centre of town. 108 miles and barely moved off the full mark on the tank - maybe 1/5 of a tank - 15 litres. Pretty damn good really. About 37.8 actually
I am runnung in at the mo with a 4k rev limit and that means no boost but the (very) large porting means a steep drop in economy at idle rpm.
Going single (apart from adding grin power and a level of predictability to power delivery) definately improves economy.
If economy is your bag though, don't buy a sports car (be it Griff, FD or Enzo). Maybe a nice Toyota Pious would suit Sir more?
AtomicRex said:
johnfelstead said:
16MPG around town, 25MPG on a run. Start giving it serious beans and you wont be able to keep up with the drop rate on the fuel gauge.
Not so!
I'm afraid John is talking out of his scooby exhaust! (STI 5 Type RA V-Limited though
) plus more stuff...
Given I'm probably considered to be talking from the same sort of exhaust as Felly
I take issue with some of this... I tried to insure an RX7 - it was considerably more than the Griff, but much less than the STi RA.
Looks most certainly are NOT better than a Griff, but I concede they aren't exactly ugly.
My Griff hasn't yet tried to kill me - it's a Griff, not a Cerbera!
Why do you need 9000 RPM? Does it lack torque or something?
Fair point about Blackpool. But I can claim mine was built on the Isle of Wight now.
So how much do you need to spend to make an RX7 not drink like a fish? Very interested for when I get bored with AWD.
Our RX7 returns about 18-20mpg generally, thats with mixed driving, and it certainly doesn't lack torque! Ours is a standard "twin" TypeR '93 vintage.
Spookily, I was pondering what a Griff would be like to run, as an alternative the Japanese stuff I've tended to stick with these past years?
Oh, insurance wise, its costing me £550 for a specialist policy on the FD, thats with a 26yr old mrs as a named driver too. 5k ltd mileage being the biggest drawback. Superb cars though, get a go in Tommys if you can, the handlings fabulous
Ours is a standard "twin" TypeR '93 vintage. Spookily, I was pondering what a Griff would be like to run, as an alternative the Japanese stuff I've tended to stick with these past years?
Oh, insurance wise, its costing me £550 for a specialist policy on the FD, thats with a 26yr old mrs as a named driver too. 5k ltd mileage being the biggest drawback. Superb cars though, get a go in Tommys if you can, the handlings fabulous
Hmmmm Cheers guys, definitely something to think about.
I pay around £350 odd per year fully comp on the Griff, (25yrs old) will I get RX insurance cheaper?
What is a rebuild's cost? My engine on the Griff is tuned, for economey and smoothness of drive, at the most I reckon I'll be looking at a cam.
I would have to say that I have never had a seriously hairy moment in my Griff where I thought I was going to die, and have pushed it a lot.
As far as looks go, I would have to say that the Griff wins my vote, but the RX is definitley not a bad looking car!
Tommy, I may just come have alook once things have calmed down.
I pay around £350 odd per year fully comp on the Griff, (25yrs old) will I get RX insurance cheaper?
What is a rebuild's cost? My engine on the Griff is tuned, for economey and smoothness of drive, at the most I reckon I'll be looking at a cam.
I would have to say that I have never had a seriously hairy moment in my Griff where I thought I was going to die, and have pushed it a lot.
As far as looks go, I would have to say that the Griff wins my vote, but the RX is definitley not a bad looking car!
Tommy, I may just come have alook once things have calmed down.
Wildfire said:
What is a rebuild's cost?
How much do you want to spend?
My recent one is towards the top end price wise. A little short of £5k but I get:
- porting (hooge)
- dowelling (prevents block twis and allows high boost levels)
- ceramic tips (survive higher rpm, resist detonation, etc).
The dowelling and porting add about £1k same for the fancy tips.
A good quality rebuild will cost £2500 plus depending on how much needs replacing. Less if no major lumps of metal show significant wear.
One of the great things about tuning the FD is that extra power is cheap on turbo engines. Much more so than equivalent gains on n/a motors.
Griff or FD and I don't think you can go too far wrong but, if I were going for TVR power, I'd really want a Cerb
johnfelstead said:
AtomicRex said:
You still get loads of oversteer....but the Rx wont try and kill you if you stop concentrating for more than a nano second.
Says he who totalled his RX on a roundabout.
This is very true....I did!
I actually owned it longer in the period between Japan and the UK than I did in the UK!
but!!! It was my fault....I tried to take a wet roundabout....no diesel to be seen, just wet....at 70 playing with a skyline. He didnt try the roundabout at 70 and didnt crash!
Still the new one goes round wet bends! Albeit with wets fitted
I have an Impreza STI Type RA too....but mines not a series 5 nor is it the V-Limited!!! Good fun in the wet though.
My insurance is £315 fully comp for the year. And thats with Rollcage and slightly upped power!
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