RX7 Thinking of Buying One!
Discussion
70,000Km on the clock.shadowninja said:
45k miles IIRC. Need to check who did the rebuild... I understand some companies miss bits out. 
Damned nice looking cars, handle well. Sound like noisy sewing machines.
Thanks for the advice, the one I'm looking at is an import. It has 70,000Km not miles.Damned nice looking cars, handle well. Sound like noisy sewing machines.
Think it could be ready??
Is there anyway I can tell if it's been done?
shadowninja said:
I'd prefer to buy one already in this country with history of ownership in this country preferably by an rx7 OC member...
Will check some out, I think!This car is within budget so long as it lasts out a couple of months I could afford a rebuild at £3000. If needs be, though I'll check out the RX7 OC!
I am thinking of getting one next year aswell so i have been doing a bit of reading up on them.
I think the engine should have good readouts of 7+ to show it is strong and is not away to give up the ghost. Also look out for badly matching panels - most likely been bent at some point. Make sure the engine starts ok, and if possible drive it from cold.
Other than that i think a lot of the horror stories are untrue, but its certainly a higher maitenance car than most. It uses quite a lot of oil aswell but that is more by design than fault. Like i said this is just info i have picked up on my travels to please don't take it as gospel.
Finally, I would import the car fresh from Japan. Never ceases to amaze me the condition a 15 year old car is from there!!On the down side you have to wait a few moonths...
I think the engine should have good readouts of 7+ to show it is strong and is not away to give up the ghost. Also look out for badly matching panels - most likely been bent at some point. Make sure the engine starts ok, and if possible drive it from cold.
Other than that i think a lot of the horror stories are untrue, but its certainly a higher maitenance car than most. It uses quite a lot of oil aswell but that is more by design than fault. Like i said this is just info i have picked up on my travels to please don't take it as gospel.
Finally, I would import the car fresh from Japan. Never ceases to amaze me the condition a 15 year old car is from there!!On the down side you have to wait a few moonths...
DO IT! I looked into buying one a few years ago, test drove a couple and they are simply gorgeous. Company that was recommended to me is in Norfollk near Hemel (Lotus track) and a lady owns the place, she knows her stuff.
Engines need redoing when the tips are worn, and depending on how it's been looked after depends on when it needs doing. When people pick a mileage it can vary. I've heard everything from 45K to 80K mileage. What seems to be the best answer is, get a compression test done and then you will know how soon it is likely to need it.
Friend of mine walked to work Mon-Fri and drove his at the weekend and once a month (or thereabouts) drove to his parents in Devon. Had no problems with it and was really well looked after (but then he did take it to Dragon the RX7 specialists...).
As always, oil oil oil is the other key thing to look out for, but then again it depends on car, mileage and ownership. I've been told the same thing about Alfa 156's and it seems to be complete rubbish in my cars case.
Enjoy if you do get one!
Engines need redoing when the tips are worn, and depending on how it's been looked after depends on when it needs doing. When people pick a mileage it can vary. I've heard everything from 45K to 80K mileage. What seems to be the best answer is, get a compression test done and then you will know how soon it is likely to need it.
Friend of mine walked to work Mon-Fri and drove his at the weekend and once a month (or thereabouts) drove to his parents in Devon. Had no problems with it and was really well looked after (but then he did take it to Dragon the RX7 specialists...).
As always, oil oil oil is the other key thing to look out for, but then again it depends on car, mileage and ownership. I've been told the same thing about Alfa 156's and it seems to be complete rubbish in my cars case.
Enjoy if you do get one!
Reasons for rebuilds:
1) Water Seal failure. This is the mot common reason on standardish engines. It's a sign of a lack of TLC and age. Tell-tale signs are contamination of the coolant with oil/water. Extreme cases will often start on only 1 rotor.
2) Tip wear. General mileage and lack of TLC. Signs - poor hot starting, low compression test results (rotary test kit needed).
3) Dead tips. Usually on a car modded OR that has some fundamental components in a state of disrepair. Caused by detonation. Tips can also chip when they stick due to overheating (clearances are quite tight and heat = expansion).
I love my rex, it's great to drive, stops like it hit a wall and screams like it woke up next to Ann Widicombe. It's 'quite' modded and frightenes the bejesus out of me even in the dry. I'm also lucky enough to also be getting ~25mpg from it due to the single turbo conversion so it's not so bad.
A rebuild wil be in the region of £3k but could be more if the failure is due to ancillary components. I know of some owners who've been through a number of engines until they tracked the problem down to a small component external to the engine...
Do it if you can affor d to maintain it.... an import is likely to need a suspension refresh and definately a new set of boots.
I
1) Water Seal failure. This is the mot common reason on standardish engines. It's a sign of a lack of TLC and age. Tell-tale signs are contamination of the coolant with oil/water. Extreme cases will often start on only 1 rotor.
2) Tip wear. General mileage and lack of TLC. Signs - poor hot starting, low compression test results (rotary test kit needed).
3) Dead tips. Usually on a car modded OR that has some fundamental components in a state of disrepair. Caused by detonation. Tips can also chip when they stick due to overheating (clearances are quite tight and heat = expansion).
I love my rex, it's great to drive, stops like it hit a wall and screams like it woke up next to Ann Widicombe. It's 'quite' modded and frightenes the bejesus out of me even in the dry. I'm also lucky enough to also be getting ~25mpg from it due to the single turbo conversion so it's not so bad.
A rebuild wil be in the region of £3k but could be more if the failure is due to ancillary components. I know of some owners who've been through a number of engines until they tracked the problem down to a small component external to the engine...
Do it if you can affor d to maintain it.... an import is likely to need a suspension refresh and definately a new set of boots.
I
Wadeski said:
the only problem with RX-7s is they are so bloody expensive to insure vs equivalent cars!
I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Not true - I am driving a civic VTI just now and my insurance is 400 pounds fully comp, change the car to an RX7 and it goes up to 750 pounds. Not bad considering. Obviously everyone is different with insurance but just my experience...I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Wadeski said:
Who is that with Dan?
and is that for an import or a (practically non-existant) uk car?
That is with Bell Insurance. Its for an import aswell, 1994 i think. and is that for an import or a (practically non-existant) uk car?
I am not sure why i get insurance so cheap (This may start Tino off on one) as i live on a street with only on street parking and only have 2 years NCB. I am not complaining though!
danrc said:
Wadeski said:
the only problem with RX-7s is they are so bloody expensive to insure vs equivalent cars!
I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Not true - I am driving a civic VTI just now and my insurance is 400 pounds fully comp, change the car to an RX7 and it goes up to 750 pounds. Not bad considering. Obviously everyone is different with insurance but just my experience...I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Get one before you die !!! best BHP for the £. If you are hands on and maintain well it will give you 60K miles of top notch performance.
Edited by buckman63 on Tuesday 18th December 15:52
danrc said:
Wadeski said:
the only problem with RX-7s is they are so bloody expensive to insure vs equivalent cars!
I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Not true - I am driving a civic VTI just now and my insurance is 400 pounds fully comp, change the car to an RX7 and it goes up to 750 pounds. Not bad considering. Obviously everyone is different with insurance but just my experience...I could get a Z3M Breadvan fully comp for half what Admira, Bell, A-plan or Flux want for an FD RX7.
Get one before you die !!! best BHP for the £. If you are hands on and maintain well it will give you 60K miles of top notch handling and performance.
Edited by buckman63 on Tuesday 18th December 15:54
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