1993 Mazda rx-7

[Chadi335is]

Thinking of picking one up that hasn't been modded?

Anyone have one? Thoughts?

[Billup]

Buy it and drop an LS1 in it if you really want to enjoy it.

[Chadi335is]

Wondering how the reliability will be and access to parts....

Or if the BRZ is a better option

[fcman]

Originally Posted by Billup

Buy it and drop an LS1 in it if you really want to enjoy it.

As long as you never plan on being able to sell it. Once I finally buy a house I plan on picking up and restoring another 2nd gen and a 3rd gen. Both I think are future classics in stock form.

Originally Posted by Chadi335is

Wondering how the reliability will be and access to parts....

Or if the BRZ is a better option

As long as it's a weekend car you should be ok. They definitely aren't what I would call reliable but I daily drove my 2nd gen for 4 years with minimal issues (other than the occasional flooding which could be fixed on the spot) Granted the first year I had it I blew the motor on it, but it had $150k miles on the original motor and I stupidly slapped on a giant turboback exhaust with no fuel upgrades

[Red Bread]

No, it's not reliable and yes it's miles better than a BRZ. My dad's had one since 1993 and his has actually been very reliable, but that's certainly not the norm.

They have no torque before either turbo engages, they make S2000's feel like big blocks. With the a/c and heat in the 90's or higher they're comically gutless until you get past 6k rpm. Once the turbos kick in they like to oversteer like crazy.

But when you get it all right and it doesn't throw you into the weeds, it's very fun. In a straight line it's pretty much dead even with my old S52 M Coupe to about 120 where its aerodynamics give it a good advantage and even stock, it would do a touch over 165.

Lots of parts are getting very hard or impossible to find and some that are still available are quite pricey for a Japanese car. Mazda dealers will almost certainly not have any idea what it is either.

One funny note, since it's not a piston engine, parking and leaving it in gear does not create compression, so always use the e-brake. Ask me how I know this.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

One funny note, since it's not a piston engine, parking and leaving it in gear does not create compression, so always use the e-brake. Ask me how I know this.

Had mine roll into a friend's brand new (to him) car. He hadn't even taken it home yet.

[Billup]

Originally Posted by fcman

As long as you never plan on being able to sell it. Once I finally buy a house I plan on picking up and restoring another 2nd gen and a 3rd gen. Both I think are future classics in stock form.

Debatable. I purchased my old FD for the lone fact that it was LS swapped. Didn't have to deal with any of the maintenance nightmares on a stock rotary, plus it ran like a bat out of hell.

If you're a purist, then absolutely. Any car in it's pure form is going to be the most sought after. I value reliability and the driving experience itself more, though.

[lowbudgethero]

They are pretty unreliable and hard to work on. Do it only if you really love those cars.

[pukicabuki]

If you look at it from a collectible standpoint then find one with as few miles as possible that is all original. Clean stock ones are rare. You'd have to hang onto it for the long term though. There is no money to be made as a short term investment type of situation.

If you're wanting a fun car to enjoy then buy one with an LS swap and beat the crap out of it. Its a great chassis with a crappy drivetrain in stock form but the LS swap fixes that.

[evo335xi]

Low miles and receipts for maintenance a must. But if you find one of those, you might as well get a new car sadly. With that said it would be awesome to have one for a bit.

[Boostin FD]

There's one here locally on craigslist with low miles and 100% stock. I miss mine ;-(