Discussion
After a few years in Subaru’s interspersed with a bmw and a honda Ive scratched an itch thats been with me for 20 years.
I was 16 playing 5 a side and another player arrived in his white RX7. I’ve lusted after one ever since.
I’ve never been brave enough and never really had the opportunity to own one until now.
18-24 was too expensive on running costs and insurance as I was doing 70 miles a day commute.
24- present day Ive been in company cars and the missus has used whatever the second car is as her daily. Hence the hot hatches and imprezas. Mode of transport for her. Fun weekend car for me.
Its always difficult to balance the two needs of the car. She hates any car that garners attention. Boy do a spec c impreza and a 2dr type r impreza get attention.
The decision was made to find her a car. Dull as can be. Anonymous if you will.
Bought her a bmw 130i. Fantastic little thing. Most importantly she likes it. Quick enough and completely invisible to 99% of the population.
Now with the Impreza type r sold, I started looking for a third car. I looked at and dismissed many. Hot hatches were out as I didn’t need the practicality. Caterham, too hardcore. Lotus Elise, fun but didn’t make me turn around to look at it after parking.
Nissan r32 gtr, too expensive for a good one and there are lots of bad ones around, also lacking that “something “ I was looking for. Love seeing one at a show, no overwhelming urge to buy one.
Wonder what rx7 are available. Lots of rubbish with poorly executed mods and body kits. Tired cars that needed a lot of work. The nice ones were out of budget. Spirit R is now a 100k car.
Jumped on the uk rx7 forum and put a wanted add up. A member messaged but wasn’t sure if he wanted to sell. Car had barely covered a couple hundred miles a year before going back on a trickle charger.
Thought nothing more of it.
6 months later with nothing good coming to market I messaged him to see if he was still thinking of selling.
This time he was.
Why are all the cars I buy located at the extremities of the uk. Arrangements made and a train booked. 5 hour train journey down south with a 1/2 hour delay due to a swan on the track.
Garage door rolls up and I’m greeted by my childhood hero. The price was the price. I either took it or got the train home.
No way was I heading home in anything other than the Mazda.
Cash transferred with Chase bank doing their best to stop play. Natwest not even are you sure you want to send a large amount of money to a random person.
5 hour drive home. Stopped in oxford to refuel and get something food. Unfortunately no pictures as I just wanted to get home. Also with a new car it was all going too well. An unknown rotary engined car giving no troubles. Make hay when the sun shines.
Home for 10pm completely exhausted from the day.
First impressions as 5 hours is enough time to get acquainted with the car.
Bad points first.
Only one speaker “works” its just muffled static.
Exhaust knocks on rear tow point.
Exhaust noisy. Very tiring on a long journey.
Suspension is fit for the track only. Multiple times I was bounced out my seat driving on a motorway (more on this)
Sooooo many rattles and creaks from the interior.
Good.
Just look at it.
Engine is strong with very healthy compression numbers.
About as standard as you will find.
No rust.
Been painted at the front but done well. Rest is good for a 26 year old car.
Driving position.
The experience of being in the car.
Only pic I have as I've been to busy to really do anything with it and it needs a clean after the trip home.
Only modifications are coilovers and a backbox.
Oem box rotted out so a coppy was made by TGS in stockport. It’s a quality system but needs stiffer mounts to stop it banging on the tow point. Its also a bit loud for my liking. Luckily they are 20 miles away so will pop in to see if they can silence it a bit and adjust the way it hangs.
Coilovers are Nitron R3.
These are a full on 3 way track spec coilover.
Previous owner set them to full soft as they were too stiff. This just made it a backbreaking pogo stick. I have no idea what the high and low speed compression is set to but they aren't nice on the road.
The spring rates are 11/10kg front and rear. Wayyy too much for a road car.
These are the doggs if you have a dedicated track car. This will see possibly one or two a year with me s
tting my self all the way round. Pushed hard on track this car will not.
These coilovers are literally shaking the car to pieces. Ive had a very quick play and set everything to mid point. They are much better than yesterday but its the wrong suspension for what I want the car to do.
Ive messaged Nitron for some advice and also messaged a very good garage up in preston who transformed my old impreza to see what they think.
The Nitrons are £4.5k so don’t want to write them off and spend 3k on Ohlins if I don’t have to.
I like making bad financial decisions not insane ones.
And there we have it. Up to date with a single picture and a small list to work through this winter.
Updates will be slow as once the cold wet weather rolls in this will be tucked away In a carport I’m yet to build for it.
These are some of the old owners photos. Hope he doesn’t mind as I’ve removed any identifying details.
Also saw these two in the services.
I was 16 playing 5 a side and another player arrived in his white RX7. I’ve lusted after one ever since.
I’ve never been brave enough and never really had the opportunity to own one until now.
18-24 was too expensive on running costs and insurance as I was doing 70 miles a day commute.
24- present day Ive been in company cars and the missus has used whatever the second car is as her daily. Hence the hot hatches and imprezas. Mode of transport for her. Fun weekend car for me.
Its always difficult to balance the two needs of the car. She hates any car that garners attention. Boy do a spec c impreza and a 2dr type r impreza get attention.
The decision was made to find her a car. Dull as can be. Anonymous if you will.
Bought her a bmw 130i. Fantastic little thing. Most importantly she likes it. Quick enough and completely invisible to 99% of the population.
Now with the Impreza type r sold, I started looking for a third car. I looked at and dismissed many. Hot hatches were out as I didn’t need the practicality. Caterham, too hardcore. Lotus Elise, fun but didn’t make me turn around to look at it after parking.
Nissan r32 gtr, too expensive for a good one and there are lots of bad ones around, also lacking that “something “ I was looking for. Love seeing one at a show, no overwhelming urge to buy one.
Wonder what rx7 are available. Lots of rubbish with poorly executed mods and body kits. Tired cars that needed a lot of work. The nice ones were out of budget. Spirit R is now a 100k car.
Jumped on the uk rx7 forum and put a wanted add up. A member messaged but wasn’t sure if he wanted to sell. Car had barely covered a couple hundred miles a year before going back on a trickle charger.
Thought nothing more of it.
6 months later with nothing good coming to market I messaged him to see if he was still thinking of selling.
This time he was.
Why are all the cars I buy located at the extremities of the uk. Arrangements made and a train booked. 5 hour train journey down south with a 1/2 hour delay due to a swan on the track.
Garage door rolls up and I’m greeted by my childhood hero. The price was the price. I either took it or got the train home.
No way was I heading home in anything other than the Mazda.
Cash transferred with Chase bank doing their best to stop play. Natwest not even are you sure you want to send a large amount of money to a random person.
5 hour drive home. Stopped in oxford to refuel and get something food. Unfortunately no pictures as I just wanted to get home. Also with a new car it was all going too well. An unknown rotary engined car giving no troubles. Make hay when the sun shines.
Home for 10pm completely exhausted from the day.
First impressions as 5 hours is enough time to get acquainted with the car.
Bad points first.
Only one speaker “works” its just muffled static.
Exhaust knocks on rear tow point.
Exhaust noisy. Very tiring on a long journey.
Suspension is fit for the track only. Multiple times I was bounced out my seat driving on a motorway (more on this)
Sooooo many rattles and creaks from the interior.
Good.
Just look at it.
Engine is strong with very healthy compression numbers.
About as standard as you will find.
No rust.
Been painted at the front but done well. Rest is good for a 26 year old car.
Driving position.
The experience of being in the car.
Only pic I have as I've been to busy to really do anything with it and it needs a clean after the trip home.
Only modifications are coilovers and a backbox.
Oem box rotted out so a coppy was made by TGS in stockport. It’s a quality system but needs stiffer mounts to stop it banging on the tow point. Its also a bit loud for my liking. Luckily they are 20 miles away so will pop in to see if they can silence it a bit and adjust the way it hangs.
Coilovers are Nitron R3.
These are a full on 3 way track spec coilover.
Previous owner set them to full soft as they were too stiff. This just made it a backbreaking pogo stick. I have no idea what the high and low speed compression is set to but they aren't nice on the road.
The spring rates are 11/10kg front and rear. Wayyy too much for a road car.
These are the doggs if you have a dedicated track car. This will see possibly one or two a year with me s
tting my self all the way round. Pushed hard on track this car will not. These coilovers are literally shaking the car to pieces. Ive had a very quick play and set everything to mid point. They are much better than yesterday but its the wrong suspension for what I want the car to do.
Ive messaged Nitron for some advice and also messaged a very good garage up in preston who transformed my old impreza to see what they think.
The Nitrons are £4.5k so don’t want to write them off and spend 3k on Ohlins if I don’t have to.
I like making bad financial decisions not insane ones.
And there we have it. Up to date with a single picture and a small list to work through this winter.
Updates will be slow as once the cold wet weather rolls in this will be tucked away In a carport I’m yet to build for it.
These are some of the old owners photos. Hope he doesn’t mind as I’ve removed any identifying details.
Also saw these two in the services.
I was one of those trying to talk you into an rx8... I'm glad you didn't listen 
. This car looks amazing and, IMHO, in one of the best colours.
There are many small mods you can do to the car to make the interior a bit less fragile and rattly.
Will follow this thread with great interest.
. This car looks amazing and, IMHO, in one of the best colours.There are many small mods you can do to the car to make the interior a bit less fragile and rattly.
Will follow this thread with great interest.
Bloody'ell Sam - not what I was expecting; but that's gorgeous 
Ste & Don will soon have you sorted; understand re the Nitrons, exactly what I had on my DC5 many moons ago; it was not nice driving down to Anglesey; the track was superb; the drive there & back, not so much
If you remove them; they'll soon sell I'm sure. But I think Nitron will be able to advise and probably offer decent advice on what to do etc
Ste & Don will soon have you sorted; understand re the Nitrons, exactly what I had on my DC5 many moons ago; it was not nice driving down to Anglesey; the track was superb; the drive there & back, not so much
If you remove them; they'll soon sell I'm sure. But I think Nitron will be able to advise and probably offer decent advice on what to do etc
Very nice. Are those the 16" or 17" wheels? looks good on them.
If it's rust-free and has a solid engine you've done well.
Notable that three of the five bad points relate to aftermarket mods (four if you include the interior being shaken by the coilovers). I definitely think these don't need super-hard suspension, mine was stock and still quick around a track despite comedy body roll. With low c.g. and wishbones all around, body roll isn't a big impediment.
Enjoy!
If it's rust-free and has a solid engine you've done well.
Notable that three of the five bad points relate to aftermarket mods (four if you include the interior being shaken by the coilovers). I definitely think these don't need super-hard suspension, mine was stock and still quick around a track despite comedy body roll. With low c.g. and wishbones all around, body roll isn't a big impediment.
Enjoy!
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