Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Queries / Hints and Tips on purchasing a rotary => Topic started by: Turbotomcat on May 02, 2007, 09:58:02 PM

Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 02, 2007, 09:58:02 PM
Hi guys I recently joined here with a view to becoming a regular member and contributor, after deciding my next car shall be an FD. This is of course dependent on all you gurus answering my questions with what I want to hear!
 
Since deciding to sell my current car I have been looking pretty much every day at the various advertising media to find a nice RX, seen a few nice ones within my budget but cant buy till I\'ve shifted this one first (and you may laugh, I have a Rover 220 coupe turbo, I would put in the burnout smilie but there isnt one for the front wheels! :Laugh ). Have always thought the RX7 looked stunning and it was only recently I realised how affordable they can be nowadays...
 
...which leads me to my first question. By affordable I mean I can afford to buy one, but from what I have read here and everywhere, thats where the fun begins. I was just wondering how much I can expect to have to spend on it just to keep it running - fuel costs arent a problem, and assuming I get one in good order with rebuild and history etc, should I still expect to have to fork out at the garage regularly during ownership? I would be using it purely as a weekend car, perhaps 2-3000 miles a year max, and I dont generally drive hard although it has to be done sometimes. Obviously you get your good ones and bad ones, Im just wondering if hefty bills are part and parcel of rotary ownership.
 
Cheers for any help guys
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Kash_ on May 02, 2007, 10:39:37 PM
The running costs are the same as any other high performance car... regular oil changes every 2000 miles, new plugs every 3000-6000 miles, coolant flush every 1-2 years and other general maintenance, e.g. brakes, clutch, etc.... You also have to remember that the Rex is a 10+ year old so you may need to replace things like bushes, etc... but once these are done then you dont have to worry for a while. Since your using it as a weekend car the maintenance shouldn\'t be that high
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Steve Burnett on May 03, 2007, 12:54:47 PM
The car can cost very little each year (outwith fuel). About £100-200. It\'s when things start going wrong, Turbo, suspension, diff, brakes, gear box etc etc that the bills can get very high (I once had a bill for £800 and the car was still not fixed!!)
The main cost is modding it, wheather its wheels, stereo, performance most owners do something.
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 04, 2007, 05:58:19 PM
Woulnt be too fussed about modding, would get one that looks nice and maybe get wheels if I fancy it but wouldnt spend the earth on engine mods anyway. Sounds good though, I was half expecting answers like "aye they cost the earth, always breaking down but its worth it!". I will continue my search then, will have around 5k to spend max and I\'ve seen a few pretty standard, but very nice, examples for that budget.
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 04, 2007, 06:00:14 PM
Steve, just realised you\'re from Aberdeen, I dont suppose you were down at Crail last weekend were you? I\'d never actually seen an RX7 \'in the flesh\' before Sunday, when there must have been 6 or 7 there.
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Brett on May 04, 2007, 06:58:10 PM
Just remember the basic rules:-

You get what you pay for.
Buy with your head and not your heart.
etc.

:wave
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: interloper393 on May 04, 2007, 07:16:08 PM
Hey bud mike (scottish rep) and Neil(Rassberryboy) we`r at crail,.. lol i couldnt make it.. did you talk to any of the rex owners?
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: interloper393 on May 04, 2007, 07:17:17 PM
How much are you looking to spend on a rex? mines on the road in a few days after a full respray WOOHOO!!!!
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 04, 2007, 09:03:33 PM
Didnt speak to any of the owners mate, no-one was around their cars when I was checking them out. There were a couple for sale, one nice red one with colour coded dash and console which I thought looked the business :cool
 
Before I started fancying a rex I was gonna spend around 4-4.5k on a car but I might stretch that to 5-odd if something grabs me :Giggle
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: interloper393 on May 04, 2007, 09:09:10 PM
u cn have mine for 7k :D lol..
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 04, 2007, 09:23:19 PM
Hmm will you take the Rover as part/ex? Lol thought not :Giggle
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: interloper393 on May 04, 2007, 09:38:30 PM
i had the 220 coupe.. nice cars :) the turbo i found couldnt put the power down, thought then/a was quicker? your car n 6k :yes
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: banned advertiser on May 04, 2007, 11:06:01 PM
have a nice one here
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/1995_Bathurst_RX7.html
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 05, 2007, 09:30:32 AM
Quote from: rotaryart.uk.comhave a nice one here
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/1995_Bathurst_RX7.html (http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/1995_Bathurst_RX7.html)

Link doesnt seem to be working mate?
 
Quotei had the 220 coupe.. nice cars :) the turbo i found couldnt put the power down, thought then/a was quicker? your car n 6k :yes

Still alot above my budget mate, I think any amount I spend on a car is a lot considering I dont even need one lol.
 
About your 220 turbo, I admit I\'ve never driven a completely standard one but mine is lowered on 17s and it gets the power down great unless you cane it in 1st of course. The n/a feels quick in low gears but cant compare with the tubby :3gears-rh
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: n4bes on May 05, 2007, 09:31:02 PM
Quote from: interloper393Hey bud mike (scottish rep) and Neil(Rassberryboy) we`r at crail,.. lol i couldnt make it.. did you talk to any of the rex owners?

That\'s Mr Rasberry boy to you Craig......................lol

How Do Mate,

Where about in Fife are you situated.....???? I have an Rx as a second car and it\'s only the modifying bits that really skin you mate, all the day to day parts are what you expect for a high performance car,not cheap but it\'s not a punto is it............ They are superb fun mate and you get a good laugh with the owners who go to the meets as well as turning alot of heads when you drive it.
I had the Black one at Crail, black wheels and it was sitting on the grass, pitty never seen you there.
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: interloper393 on May 05, 2007, 11:31:45 PM
Quote from: n4besI had the Black one at Crail, black wheels and it was sitting on the grass, pitty never seen you there.

has the odd spade chip in the front bumper :Thumbs-up :yes  lol loving the avator pic :InLove
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Turbotomcat on May 06, 2007, 03:04:32 PM
Quote from: n4besThat\'s Mr Rasberry boy to you Craig......................lol
 
How Do Mate,
 
Where about in Fife are you situated.....???? I have an Rx as a second car and it\'s only the modifying bits that really skin you mate, all the day to day parts are what you expect for a high performance car,not cheap but it\'s not a punto is it............ They are superb fun mate and you get a good laugh with the owners who go to the meets as well as turning alot of heads when you drive it.
I had the Black one at Crail, black wheels and it was sitting on the grass, pitty never seen you there.

Hi mate think I saw your car there, was it beside the white one which was for sale? Looking back I should have hung around till I saw an owner and asked for a look inside.
 
I\'m situated in newport on tay mate, will probably be making a few more trips along to crail in the next couple of months, whichever car I happen to have at the time. Think someone is gonna buy the rover this week so I will be on the prowl for a replacement :chat
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: Rotary_Menace on May 13, 2007, 10:59:16 AM
Quote from: rotaryart.uk.comhave a nice one here
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/1995_Bathurst_RX7.html

Gary hush, i want that one ,its a stunning example, banging in the overtime in the next couple of months.

Neil
Title: Looking for my first RX7
Post by: banned advertiser on May 13, 2007, 11:46:33 AM
Quote from: Rotary_MenaceGary hush, i want that one ,its a stunning example, banging in the overtime in the next couple of months.

Neil

I dont think you will be dissapointed, she is really clean
Best bet might be to follow link and have word with owner, maybe a very small deposit would secure you a very nice car.