Buying an RX-7

[SupraGirlie]

lol - Nell a good place to start is a guy called Andrew who works at jimmy's rx7s.

 

That guy is a super gentleman and knows rx7s inside out and is a fantastic supplier of rx7 used parts (very useful ). He often buys cars which need a rebuild, rebuilds them and sells them for circa. 6k with a warranty.

 

At least if you buy a car from him you know it will be a good one. Very highly respected guy and he was the only owner in the uk of the spirit r type A rx7. The rarest rx of them all. Give him a call, he is a very nice guy and does not BS. He often helped me locate problems when my car went wrong for free on the phone.

 

http://www.jimmys-rx7.co.uk/

 

I was going to go with Super-7 in Henfield as they are fairly local to me, I will take a look at that site too though

 

Seems the solution is find a nice one with great exterior modifications and prepare for an engine transplant when the rotary pops

 

Everone makes out like they need a rebuild every 100 miles lol, you can easily do 70,000+ miles before a rebuild, and I dont think I have driven that many miles in my life and I doubt I would own an RX-7 that long anyway RX-7's really aren't as scary as everyone seems to make out LOL just got to find the right one, no big deal. It'll be worth it

[cashpoint]

Rxy mpg is way way worse than a supra. I was getting near single digits and my was stock twins. Yes if you drive it like a nanny you make get supra mpg but trust me you wont.

 

If your getting single figures these something wrong with your fueling. Only got single figures on a track day 7 mpg in fact. Generally got high teen to low 20's.

 

Singles can be more efficient as they come on later but with my's street port larger injects (1000cc primary and 1650cc secondary) GT4088 turbo I'm having issues getting it through the MOT emissions test.

 

Excluding tryes and the rebuild (not that it was broken) I've spent £200 on repairs in the last 2 years and that was for a horn ,blown fuse and an issues with the sequential turbo system but as mine is a 99 spce no rats nest so replace black box, done. As with all cars if they looked after they last. I spent more on the Supra in the first 2 years I owned that.

 

RX's have got a reputation for frailty (spelling) that I really don't think they deserve. Mine is a weekend car and only does 4k miles a year.

[KimberleyAnn]

Supragirlie- Is your supra up for sale then? x

[SupraGirlie]

If your getting single figures these something wrong with your fueling. Only got single figures on a track day 7 mpg in fact. Generally got high teen to low 20's.

 

Singles can be more efficient as they come on later but with my's street port larger injects (1000cc primary and 1650cc secondary) GT4088 turbo I'm having issues getting it through the MOT emissions test.

 

Excluding tryes and the rebuild (not that it was broken) I've spent £200 on repairs in the last 2 years and that was for a horn ,blown fuse and an issues with the sequential turbo system but as mine is a 99 spce no rats nest so replace black box, done. As with all cars if they looked after they last. I spent more on the Supra in the first 2 years I owned that.

 

RX's have got a reputation for frailty (spelling) that I really don't think they deserve. Mine is a weekend car and only does 4k miles a year.

 

Yeah I heard you need to find a friendly MOT garage with these I do think because their engines don't last as long as a normal piston engine they have got a bad reputation, doesn't bother me, it means that I can get people down in price and get alot for my money if there isn't much market for them

Supragirlie- Is your supra up for sale then? x

 

Maybe

[ronttuk]

I had a rx7 drove it parked it tried starting it after a cpl hours ran like a tractor dropped a rotor never again !

[SILKYSMOOTH]

Might have an RX7 for you, I've heard it's amazing and I'm trying to get the details for you, think they want £5000, no promises but if I get the details I will pass them on

[DSK]

The RX7's in my opinion are a good, great looking cars but suffer from abuse and neglect, this is where endless wallets are required. A customer of ours has a 1995 car, not sure what the mileage is, but he says the car in his 6 years of ownership has been reliable, needing only the scheduled servicing, for which he uses a Mazda dealer opposed to finding a specialist. His vehicle is standard, but he said that the car's main issue is the absurd fuel economy, about 14mpg.

[SupraGirlie]

Might have an RX7 for you, I've heard it's amazing and I'm trying to get the details for you, think they want £5000, no promises but if I get the details I will pass them on

 

Please

[Guest Garfy]

I have always wanted one of these, and I looked at them for 2 years before buying the supra, I did a fair bit of reseach at the time, the engine is nothing short of fantastic, its nothing like driving a piston engine, the more you rev it the more it goes, and its as smooth as silk, I love it, but, its very juicey, and prone to requiring a rebuild, in addition to what has already been said, the rotor tips suffer from fatique as well as wear, so you could give it a compression test and all could be fine, then the next day a tip could break, this will also render the rotor housing useless, thats when rebuilds get expensive, from memory I believe a housing is a little short of £1000, so if you do both of them that 2k before you even look at the tips and apex seals etc, also the turbo system is even more complicated than the supra system, which is why a lot of them get converted to single turbo.

 

that said, if you buy one with the intention of getting it rebuilt (before one of the 6 tips breaks and wrecks a housing) with modern designed tips which dont suffer from fatique, and you look after it religuosly with oil changes every 3000 miles and be very carefull in letting it warm up properly before giving it the beans (bear in mind that it has the equivilant of 4 head gaskets) then thre is no reason why it shouldn't be good for 100k miles, and what great miles they would be to I think of them as grown up mx5's with balls, and I love MX5's to,

 

oh, and don't use synthetic oil, they dont like it

[SILKYSMOOTH]

Please

 

Just got a message back from my contact and unfortunately the car has been sold sorry

[SupraGirlie]

I have always wanted one of these, and I looked at them for 2 years before buying the supra, I did a fair bit of reseach at the time, the engine is nothing short of fantastic, its nothing like driving a piston engine, the more you rev it the more it goes, and its as smooth as silk, I love it, but, its very juicey, and prone to requiring a rebuild, in addition to what has already been said, the rotor tips suffer from fatique as well as wear, so you could give it a compression test and all could be fine, then the next day a tip could break, this will also render the rotor housing useless, thats when rebuilds get expensive, from memory I believe a housing is a little short of £1000, so if you do both of them that 2k before you even look at the tips and apex seals etc, also the turbo system is even more complicated than the supra system, which is why a lot of them get converted to single turbo.

 

that said, if you buy one with the intention of getting it rebuilt (before one of the 6 tips breaks and wrecks a housing) with modern designed tips which dont suffer from fatique, and you look after it religuosly with oil changes every 3000 miles and be very carefull in letting it warm up properly before giving it the beans (bear in mind that it has the equivilant of 4 head gaskets) then thre is no reason why it shouldn't be good for 100k miles, and what great miles they would be to I think of them as grown up mx5's with balls, and I love MX5's to,

 

oh, and don't use synthetic oil, they dont like it

 

 

Thanks very much Garfy, sound advice.

[SupraGirlie]

Just got a message back from my contact and unfortunately the car has been sold sorry

 

No worries

[JohnH]

make sure you get a compression test

[Guest Garfy]

Thanks very much Garfy, sound advice.

 

if you find some you want to look at I'm happy to go along with you.

[SupraGirlie]

if you find some you want to look at I'm happy to go along with you.

 

Thanks, that's very kind

[adnanshah247]

not your friend anymore, traitor!

[icemanv6]

Quite new here but thought i'd post anyway.

 

My friend has one, although his engine blew about 2-3 weeks back, was rebuilt about 18k miles (i think) before hand, he was expecting it to last a lot longer (only really used it on weekends mostly) and was rather annoyed when it happened but he has a big wallet so lucky for him. He's putting a new engine he bought into it, selling it, buying a V8 engine and putting it into the new chassis he has also bought and going that route so he can use it more

 

Fuel economy wise, I asked him about that as well several times, gets around 15-17mpg, or should I say used to get

 

On a good note, the handling is absolutely fantastic on them from what I can tell when my mate has been driving.

[Guest Garfy]

Quite new here but thought i'd post anyway.

 

My friend has one, although his engine blew about 2-3 weeks back, was rebuilt about 18k miles (i think) before hand, he was expecting it to last a lot longer (only really used it on weekends mostly) and was rather annoyed when it happened but he has a big wallet so lucky for him. He's putting a new engine he bought into it, selling it, buying a V8 engine and putting it into the new chassis he has also bought and going that route so he can use it more

 

Fuel economy wise, I asked him about that as well several times, gets around 15-17mpg, or should I say used to get

 

On a good note, the handling is absolutely fantastic on them from what I can tell when my mate has been driving.

 

the V8 will wreak the handling

[pistonbroke]

I've heard there is a company in the Midlands that does LS1 V8 conversions. the Corvette engine is one of the lightest engines you can buy, so although it may be heavier than the little rotary, I'd be willing to sacrifice some handling for a v8 soundtrack and reliability.

[j_jza80]

, also the turbo system is even more complicated than the supra system, which is why a lot of them get converted to single turbo.

 

I'd be looking for a single turbo car myself (Although it may stretch your budget), as the 'rats nest' of vacuum hoses on the twin setup is regarded as a major weakness, which a single turbo does away with.

 

Great advice by the way Garfy!

 

I think of them as grown up mx5's with balls, and I love MX5's to,

 

 

Hmmm, the idea of a Rotary MX5 has just popped into my head

[Guest Garfy]

Hmmm, the idea of a Rotary MX5 has just popped into my head

 

its been done but its a shed loads of work, easier just to slap a tubby on the MX5 engine, 250bhp can be had no problem

[SupraGirlie]

I just realised no one would have been able to look at my 3rd choice without signing up, so here it is, as I am now in contact with the owner..

 

 

 

The engine was rebuilt approx 4000 miles ago by a local specialist (Dave Henson-Green) who is well known among RX7 owners around the Bristol area & on the mazda rotary club. Many of who will confirm his credentials as a rotary engine expert!

The car had 71000KM when it was first imported and has done 18000 miles since, so approx 62000 miles in total.

Car is a 93 L reg oil every 3000 miles using only mineral oil & the plugs every 6000 - 8000, i have lots of reciepts for money spent on the car and it really has been well looked after.

Car has just had a full remap by WGT last month and made350bhp at the wheels 420 at the fly..i have printouts to prove.

Also has a years MOT and 6months tax(has the 1.3 logbook loop hole so tax is 120 a year.)

 

i have changed the diffuser to the pro street one and i have a Genuine GT11 wing coming from Japan,these will come with the car.

Spec is as follows-

ENGINE SPEC

Fully re-built approx 4k miles ago by local specialist using all new parts

Large Street port

Ported Upper & lower inlet manifolds

Garrett T04Z Turbo

Stainless Tubular Manifold

60mm External wastegate with Screamer Pipe

Blitz Front Mounted Intercooler

Koyo Alloy Radiator

Uprated secondary fuel rail with 1680cc injectors

Adjustable aeromotive fuel pressure regulator

K & N air filter

Custom 3" downpipe from turbo

3" de-cat/mid pipe

Blitz nur spec back box

Bosch 044 fuel pump

Cooling mist Water & Methanol injection system

Alloy hard pipes

 

ELECTRONICS

Apexi Power FC ECU with hand controller

GReedy Profec B spec 2 Boost controller

Turbo Timer

Coolingmist water injection progresive controller

Alpine CD head unit

CHASSIS

Ultralite Atec 2 18" wheels 8.5" front 9.5" rear

Falken FK453 tyres

Tein Type RA coilovers

Front & Rear strut Braces

BODYWORK

Border Japan Type 2 front bumber

Veilside GT side skirts

RE-Amemiya street diffuser

Aero marker mirrors

Custom skyline/afterburner style rear lights

 

Scoot Carbon Fibre Bonnet

Carbon Fibre Door Handles

INTERIOR

Recaro SR recliner seats

rear seats in leather

 

 

 

 

 

Offers around 7k.

[Guest Sacrilegious-FD]

Quite new here but thought i'd post anyway

 

Well then Claytos......dont

 

 

My friend has one, although his engine blew about 2-3 weeks back, was rebuilt about 18k miles (i think) before hand, he was expecting it to last a lot longer (only really used it on weekends mostly) and was rather annoyed when it happened

 

 

Well upon tearing down the block, I'm not sure whether it has been rebuilt simply due to how damn hard the bolts are..... true it was a weekend only car, although as you know it did make an appearance when the I had to cart more than 1 passenger around, so to utilize the spacious rear seats!

 

I think it has just split an engine seal, so i will rebuild it, sell it and make some ££ back (thats the plan anyways)

 

 

 

but he has a big wallet so lucky for him. He's putting a new engine he bought into it, selling it, buying a V8 engine and putting it into the new chassis he has also bought and going that route so he can use it more

 

Nope on the big wallet comment, but I was however lucky enough to find a rolling chassis and engine (with good compression) for £850 which I'm going to swap out and put in my current car, then sell it. Then have a chap called Craig in Birmingham put a LS2 engine in the rolling chassis, get a body kit from shine auto, and fit in the interior.

 

 

Fuel economy wise, I asked him about that as well several times, gets around 15-17mpg, or should I say used to get

 

 

Rx-7's are not known for their good fuel economy, that's what happens then engines are designed not to burn all the fuel in the combustion, but to use a good amount for cooling purposes!

 

On a good note, the handling is absolutely fantastic on them from what I can tell when my mate has been driving.

 

 

This is true they handle like they are on rails. They are very lightweight 1310 kg, low centre of gravity and 50/50 weight distribution.

 

the V8 will wreak the handling

 

Ignorance bliss is it?

 

No it will not, the LSX series engine is all aluminium, hense light, with all the weight being located at the sump, 50/50 distribution is very achievable. Mine when finished should return 25-30mpg a very easy 400rwhp, and take it like a champ all day long (craig whats that rather hot looking woman you live with?)

 

 

Neil

[Guest Sacrilegious-FD]

I just realised no one would have been able to look at my 3rd choice without signing up, so here it is, as I am now in contact with the owner..

 

 

 

The engine was rebuilt approx 4000 miles ago by a local specialist (Dave Henson-Green) who is well known among RX7 owners around the Bristol area & on the mazda rotary club. Many of who will confirm his credentials as a rotary engine expert!

The car had 71000KM when it was first imported and has done 18000 miles since, so approx 62000 miles in total.

Car is a 93 L reg oil every 3000 miles using only mineral oil & the plugs every 6000 - 8000, i have lots of reciepts for money spent on the car and it really has been well looked after.

Car has just had a full remap by WGT last month and made350bhp at the wheels 420 at the fly..i have printouts to prove.

Also has a years MOT and 6months tax(has the 1.3 logbook loop hole so tax is 120 a year.)

 

i have changed the diffuser to the pro street one and i have a Genuine GT11 wing coming from Japan,these will come with the car.

Spec is as follows-

ENGINE SPEC

Fully re-built approx 4k miles ago by local specialist using all new parts

Large Street port

Ported Upper & lower inlet manifolds

Garrett T04Z Turbo

Stainless Tubular Manifold

60mm External wastegate with Screamer Pipe

Blitz Front Mounted Intercooler

Koyo Alloy Radiator

Uprated secondary fuel rail with 1680cc injectors

Adjustable aeromotive fuel pressure regulator

K & N air filter

Custom 3" downpipe from turbo

3" de-cat/mid pipe

Blitz nur spec back box

Bosch 044 fuel pump

Cooling mist Water & Methanol injection system

Alloy hard pipes

 

ELECTRONICS

Apexi Power FC ECU with hand controller

GReedy Profec B spec 2 Boost controller

Turbo Timer

Coolingmist water injection progresive controller

Alpine CD head unit

CHASSIS

Ultralite Atec 2 18" wheels 8.5" front 9.5" rear

Falken FK453 tyres

Tein Type RA coilovers

Front & Rear strut Braces

BODYWORK

Border Japan Type 2 front bumber

Veilside GT side skirts

RE-Amemiya street diffuser

Aero marker mirrors

Custom skyline/afterburner style rear lights

 

Scoot Carbon Fibre Bonnet

Carbon Fibre Door Handles

INTERIOR

Recaro SR recliner seats

rear seats in leather

 

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/minter_2006/Picture011.jpg

 

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/minter_2006/carpictures012.jpg

 

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/minter_2006/carpics3010.jpg

 

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i182/minter_2006/Carforsale2013.jpg

 

Offers around 7k.

 

I paid that for mime standard (well ish), and tha car has been previously up for sale at 11k, thats a bloody bargain!

 

someone very soon will be buying that to break and make a large profit selling all the rather nice parts,

[Mas]

I always liked them and still want one (aswell as the supra ofcourse)

Try to import a stock one from japan yourself, they're very clean and usually go for a good price, let me know if you want a few examples and Im more than happy to direct you to the actual car.

 

Its true they're not very reliable but I know a few still working fine after nearly 100K miles!

 

My choice would be the first one with a better lookinf side skirt and rear lip (drift style)