Buying an RX7

Carrington · February 11, 2007, 11:36:08 AM

Hi guys, Iv finally grown up and want to buy rear wheel drive toy instead of my front wheel drive toy so im looking at an FD3 RX7. Iv found a very nice FD3 down in Southampton which i really like. My big concern is the mileage and the lack of engine info to determine the state the engine is in. The mileage is 57,000 miles and i dont think it has had an engine rebuild. My question is if i take the car out for a drive is there anyway of determining what the state of the engine is in (ie compression). Will it feel like its boosting alot but lack of performance or will it idle erratically with compression problems. There is an engineers report from Japan saying everything is mechanically sound but for all i know they could have just check tightened everything.

Any opinion welcome.
Thanks

Freddy · February 11, 2007, 11:45:55 AM

Hi,

Is this car a fresh import? Also who is it being sold by? Is it twin or single turbo.

Drive the car, check that it boosts fine. Start from hold and cold shouldnt require too much effort. Ideally have the compression tested by a rotary specialist. Check too see what level the car is idling at.

Can you post a copy of the engineers report?

Carrington · February 11, 2007, 02:38:21 PM

The car is a twin turbo with a few bolt ons like fmic and apexi fc commander. It is a fresh import and its being imported by F1autos. When i go to see the car i\'ll see if i can get a copy of the report or have a good read and pass the info on. It is graded as a 4 which i think is good but does this only apply to the bodywork? What sort of idle level should it be at cold and hot?

Thanks

John Yorke · February 11, 2007, 05:30:18 PM

on startup you will see about 1200 and it should be even once it has warmedup the revs should drop to about 800ish and again it should sound even, dont be alarmed on startup if you see quite a bit of white smoke - this is normal and should clear after a min or 2.
One word of caution if this is a fresh import you need to look at replacing the tyres and also get the apexi re-mapped for our fuel, for what ever reason Jap tyres dont like out roads and the car would have been mapped for 100ron fuel.
You also have a couple of rotary specialists not far from Southampton - REworx in Portsmouth and RX Motors in Dorset, both would be happy to provide a comp test and report ..... just to put your mind at rest [and use this as a bit of discount getting:Thumbs-up ]

m4drx · February 11, 2007, 05:32:16 PM

i second that!

Freddy · February 11, 2007, 05:42:17 PM

Very very few cars have been graded 4 recently - especially RZ models. Do you have any pics of the car? Also, mileage?

Also check to see any knocks from the rear end during test drive as a way of worn bushes.

Warthog · February 11, 2007, 05:43:10 PM

Good luck with your new venture into the world of rear wheel POWER..............:3gears-lh

Mazdarotaryparts · February 12, 2007, 08:53:06 AM

Welcome to MRC,

Have a read through this section, it may help and also in conjunction with the advise above make sure the car starts hot as well as cold as this can mean low compression.

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=256

Also listen for any gurgling noises from the water system after it has run as this also is not good.

Hope this helps

Carrington · February 12, 2007, 07:10:58 PM

Hi guys, thanks for all the info i appreciate the help. Here are some photos that i got sent of the car when it was in japan.

Like i said its been graded as a 4. But my main worry is the milage which is 57,000. Before i get it remapped for English fuel can i run about on optimax, ultimate or tesco 99? or will this damage the engine.

Thanks again.

Freddy · February 12, 2007, 07:40:01 PM

First up it is not a RZ. Also, it looks Montego Blue to me. Anyone else?

I\'ll try and dig some more info by e mail. Drop me a line; freddy__k@hotmail.com

stylus350 · February 12, 2007, 07:55:31 PM

Quote from: FreddyFirst up it is not a RZ. Also, it looks Montego Blue to me. Anyone else?

I\'ll try and dig some more info by e mail. Drop me a line; freddy__k@hotmail.com

I\'d second that, I think I can see a bit of the green flip in some parts.

My personal recommendation is remap asap. At least take it easy until the maps been checked. Optimax / 99 Tesco is the way to go anyway.

Carrington · February 12, 2007, 08:18:23 PM

Hi guys, i dont think i mentioned it was an RZ but the advert says type R. I never noticed the green shine to the paint work.

How did you know it wasn\'t an RZ by the photo?

Thanks

Morrmat · February 12, 2007, 08:35:54 PM

Quote from: Freddyalso check to see any knocks from the rear end during test drive as a way of worn bushes.

sorry to hijack the thread but i\'ve had my rear bushes replaced and i still get a knocking noise from the rear passengers side? i was told by a friend that its the safety cage needs re-welding? could this be the reason? where is the safety cage?!? :3Confused

stylus350 · February 12, 2007, 09:04:46 PM

Quote from: Morrmatsorry to hijack the thread but i\'ve had my rear bushes replaced and i still get a knocking noise from the rear passengers side? i was told by a friend that its the safety cage needs re-welding? could this be the reason? where is the safety cage?!? :3Confused

I don\'t understand what your friend is saying. Does it have an aftermarket cage fitted?

m4drx · February 12, 2007, 09:07:30 PM

Quote from: CarringtonHi guys, i dont think i mentioned it was an RZ but the advert says type R. I never noticed the green shine to the paint work.

How did you know it wasn\'t an RZ by the photo?

Thanks

not an rz, has no badges on the rear quarters & it has a rear wiper.

hope that helps,

if you are being sold it as a RZ then you can be certain you\'re either being ripped off or those are not the pics of the right car.

Buying an RX7

John Yorke