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The Mazda RX-7 was not like another sports activities automotive of its period as a consequence of its distinctive rotary Wankel engine. The rotary engine doesn’t have standard pistons, however slightly has one giant reciprocating piston that resembles a triangle. The result’s a compact, easy, and lightweight motor that has a better power-to-weight ratio when in comparison with a standard inner combustion engine. This additionally implies that the Wankel rotary engine can rev at a lot larger rpm.

Mazda constructed the RX-7 for almost 25 years from 1978-2002 and spanned throughout three generations. All RX-7’s have been constructed to be entrance mid-engine RWD sports activities vehicles with two seats, though there have been a number of 2+2 configurations.

Due to its distinctive look, engine and publicity in films, video video games, and magazines, the RX-7 has reached legendary standing amongst the JDM neighborhood. As these vehicles are very wanted, costs are steadily climbing and discovering a superb, unmolested instance is turning into more and more troublesome.

We now have created this in-depth patrons information for these available in the market for a brand new RX-7 or for somebody who merely simply desires to know extra about this distinctive Japanese sports activities automotive. We condensed quite a few hours of knowledge into one intuitive and useful purchaser’s information that will help you higher perceive and know what to search for when shopping for your dream automotive.

Execs and Cons

Execs:

  • Smoother engine
  • Excessive revving
  • Nice sounding automotive
  • RWD
  • Light-weight engine
  • Nice dealing with automotive
  • Timeless design

Cons

  • Poor gas consumption
  • Low torque
  • Rotary engine mechanics are onerous to seek out
  • Motors use plenty of oil
  • Chilly begins make the engine run wealthy
  • Alternative elements may be even tougher to seek out
  • Exhausting to discover a clear instance

Widespread Points

Mazda RX-7 Buyers Guide
through Shopify

Low oil degree. Not like conventional engines, the rotary makes use of oil. They’ve a devoted pump that squirts oil within the motor to maintain the apex seals lubricated. A brand new and uneducated proprietor may very simply overlook this vital reality and never examine their oil repeatedly, which is the quickest approach to wreck your engine.

Flooding. The RX-7’s may be finicky vehicles, particularly in chilly climate. When they’re began in colder temperatures, they may run extraordinarily wealthy and it’s really helpful that you simply allow them to slowly heat up. In the event you flip off the automotive earlier than it has reached the temperature you danger the prospect of flooding the engine. If that occurs, there’s a sure sequence that must be adopted as a way to get all of the unburned gasoline out.

Engines want rebuilding typically. This one is controversial. Most RX-7 engines that want rebuilding will likely be as a result of they’ve been uncared for by their homeowners. It takes a particular breed to personal an RX-7 as a result of it’s not like having a standard combustion engine automotive. It requires particular consideration and most homeowners didn’t do their analysis beforehand.

Poorly designed cooling system. The third-generation RX-7 got here from the manufacturing facility with an underperforming cooling system, even on a inventory setup. So, in the event you’re planning to mod your automotive, you should definitely pay some consideration to your automotive’s cooling system as effectively. If not, you’ll be on the quick observe to an engine rebuild.

Brittle vacuum hoses. The turbocharged RX-7’s are infamous for having vacuum leaks as a result of over 67 enhance and vacuum hoses it got here with. As these vehicles age, these hoses are nearly assured to develop cracks and unfastened stress. We advocate that you simply go forward and do some preventative upkeep by changing all of them with artificial rubber hoses.

Rust within the spare wheel effectively. Though the Mazda RX’7 just isn’t recognized for rust, it’s a good suggestion to examine within the spare wheel effectively for rust or water injury. This will even provide you with a greater concept of how effectively the automotive was taken care of by its earlier proprietor.

Common Costs

Given its rarity, the RX-7 just isn’t an affordable automotive to purchase or preserve. That being stated, you possibly can nonetheless discover examples on the market beginning at round $8,000, however pristine third-generation FD’s can go as excessive as $45,000. Let’s take a look at what the most affordable and costliest RX-7’s appear to be.

Respectable examples of the third technology RX-7 hover across the $25k-$30k mark, whereas pristine examples will go into the $40,000 mark. Second-generation RX-7’s in good situation promote across the $10k-$15k mark, whereas some poorer cared for examples will dip beneath $10,000.

View all Mazda RX-7 vehicles listed for sale.

Comparable Alternate options

There isn’t any direct alternative for a rotary engine automotive until you desire a Mazda RX-8, however there are many vehicles on the market related in format and efficiency. This part will provide you with an concept of comparable vehicles that might make an ideal different for the RX-7.

Fashions and Specs

As we talked about it within the intro, the mighty RX-7 was produced for almost 25 years and was provided over three variations. We’re going to take a better at every technology and the defining components that every had.

First Era (SA22C/FB) 1978-1985

Mazda RX-7 First Generation
via car throttle

The primary-generation RX-7 was launched in March of 1978 with the intention of changing the outdated Savana RX-7. It was designed to be a enjoyable, economical sports activities automotive and was one among solely two Wankel-powered vehicles in Mazda’s arsenal. Because the rotary engines produced pretty excessive horsepower from a comparatively small displacement motor, the RX-7 turned highly regarded with the Japanese shopper as a consequence of the truth that Japan had very strict taxes for vehicles with motors over 1.5L.

RX-7’s have been provided with three engine selections. Two 1.1L, one among which was turbocharged, and one 1.3L naturally aspirated engine. Moreover, purchasers had the selection of 4 transmission choices. They might select between a 4 and a five-speed guide and a 3 and four-speed computerized.

Because the FB went on, slight modifications have been made to enhance the dealing with, look, and even security of the automotive. The 1981-1983 automotive obtained lighter and acquired four-wheel disc brakes alongside some inside enhancements.

Second Era (FC) 1985-1992

Mazda-RX-7-Second-Generation
via wiki media

Mazda launched the FC in 1985 with fairly a number of enhancements, each mechanically and cosmetically. Within the appears division, the RX-7 regarded much more streamlined and aggressive. They even provided a convertible model of the RX-7. Moreover, Mazda ditched the outdated carbureted engines and launched state-of-the-art gas injection to their vehicles.

For this technology, the automaker saved is slightly easy when it got here to engine selections. All of them have been the now-iconic 1.3L motors. There was a complete of 4 variations of the 13B engine. Two have been naturally aspirated, whereas the remaining two have been the extra highly effective turbocharged variations. A five-speed guide and four-speed computerized transmission have been the one two selections out there.

In 1988 Mazda launched the Tenth-anniversary version RX-7. This consisted of an all-white exterior with colour-matching wheels, moulding, taillight housings, and mirrors. The GTU trim was offered between 1989-1990 and it was extra geared in direction of efficiency. It began off as the essential automotive with no sunroof, A/C, and different goodies that might add weight. Mazda then added four-piston brakes, 16” wheels, particular fabric seats, one-piece brakes, and many others. to make it a track-ready automotive from the manufacturing facility.

Third Era (FD) 1992-2002

Mazda-RX-7-Third-Generation
via bringatrailer

Imagine it or not, the final technology RX-7 was in manufacturing for a complete of 10 years. By this time, the RX-7 was a novel sports activities automotive that everybody wished to get their arms on. The perfect half is that the FC got here with the identical 1.3L engine, however for this technology, it was twin-turbocharged and produced roughly 250 horsepower and 217 lb. ft. of torque.

The draw back was that the value was significantly larger than different comparable fashions available on the market, which turned many individuals away on the time. The truth is, Mazda solely managed to promote 1,152 examples of the FD RX-7 in all of Europe.

Because the years progressed, modifications have been made to extend the reliability of the FD. Most of these modifications have been unseen and got here within the type of mechanical and suspension upgrades. The physique kind of stayed the identical.

A high-end “RS” model of the RX-7 was unveiled. It got here with barely extra energy (276hp), customary 17” wheels and was general lighter in comparison with a inventory mannequin. The “Type R” was even lighter than the “RS” and included a surprising purple inside alongside completely different wheels. Lastly, the “Spirit-R” took all the perfect options from earlier FD’s and mixed them to provide this automotive in a restricted variety of only one,500.

Mazda RX-7 Third Generation
via cloudfront

FAQ

Was the RX-7 provided in LHD configuration?

Sure. They have been offered in North America till 1995.

Are alternative elements onerous to seek out? 

They are often. Because the Wankel rotary engines are now not getting used within the automotive trade, most RX-7 homeowners report that alternative elements are very troublesome to supply. 

Is the RX-7 a dependable automotive?

It may be. All of it is dependent upon the earlier homeowners. Most homeowners didn’t take excellent care of their vehicles and subsequently you will notice a lot of them with rebuilt engines, particularly the turbocharged variations. 

Is there an RX-7 neighborhood?

After all! These days there’s a discussion board on absolutely anything, and the RX-7 isn’t any completely different. What units the RX-7 neighborhood aside is that they’re among the most tight-knight teams of automotive fanatics on the market and are all the time keen to assist out a fellow RX-7 proprietor. 

Is the RX-7 onerous to seek out? 

Considerably. There are many examples on the market for each price range, however discovering a clear, unmodified instance generally is a actual problem. And in the event you do discover one, be ready to spend a reasonably penny on it. 

Sources

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7
  • https://www.drifted.com/mazda-rx7/
  • https://www.breakeryard.com/car-parts/mazda/rx7/common-problems
  • https://www.rx7club.com/new-member-rx-7-technical-256/common-problems-come-owning-rotary-986744/
  • https://www.hagerty.com/media/buying-and-selling/fd-mazda-rx-7-buyers-guide/
  • http://www.superstreetonline.com/options/1706-jdm-supercar-alternatives-this-not-that/
  • http://www.speedhunters.com/2018/10/taking-the-time-to-build-an-rx-7-the-right-way/

How you can Import a Mazda RX-7

Learn our final information, How to Import a Car from Japan.

Are you able to make this information higher? Are you an enormous fan of the RX-7? If that’s the case, please contact us.

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