I need your Help on the RX7

[Jas]

:3Confused

HI guys
i know it seams bit of a wierd one but im in need for you guys to give me the real time and down to earth advice on the RX7 fd3s
 
I have never had a rx7 but just by reading some of the Threads it has all most put me off ever buying one.
im a trades man not a hi flying rich guy who is happy to spend loads of money on my dream car at a dop of a hat.
iv read a lot of Threads about engine rebuilds that can cost from £2500 right up to all most £5000 JUST for the engine.
 

Things i Know so far

• Engines if driven well (not racing) should do a happy 60miles
• Rebuild will cost £2000 + even if you fit it your self
• Rx7 should do 18mpg (dont know if thats urban or not)
• they drink a lot of oil! top up after some thing like every 1000miles
• hard drive on your bum (very stiff suspension)
• group 18 insurance
• 0 to 62 in mid 5 sec

point is even with all this in mind and knowing that you might be a rx lover is it a car i should spend my hard cash on.
Or do i blow my cash on a slow merc clk 320.
 
if i sould like im thinking to much about the bad stuff
your right but i think about it i would not pay to join MRC if i dident love the car so much that i would pay to join a club when i dont even own a rex
 
any help you could give would be great
Jason (going mad)

:wiggle

[David Nock (RIP)]

:3Confused

HI guys
i know it seams bit of a wierd one but im in need for you guys to give me the real time and down to earth advice on the RX7 fd3s
 
I have never had a rx7 but just by reading some of the Threads it has all most put me off ever buying one.
im a trades man not a hi flying rich guy who is happy to spend loads of money on my dream car at a dop of a hat.
iv read a lot of Threads about engine rebuilds that can cost from £2500 right up to all most £5000 JUST for the engine.
 

Things i Know so far

• Engines if driven well (not racing) should do a happy 60miles
• Rebuild will cost £2000 + even if you fit it your self
• Rx7 should do 18mpg (dont know if thats urban or not)
• they drink a lot of oil! top up after some thing like every 1000miles
• hard drive on your bum (very stiff suspension)
• group 18 insurance
• 0 to 62 in mid 5 sec

point is even with all this in mind and knowing that you might be a rx lover is it a car i should spend my hard cash on.
Or do i blow my cash on a slow merc clk 320.
 
if i sould like im thinking to much about the bad stuff
your right but i think about it i would not pay to join MRC if i dident love the car so much that i would pay to join a club when i dont even own a rex
 
any help you could give would be great
Jason (going mad)

:wiggle

Autobox failure due to coolant ingress on the CLK (The dreaded Valeo problem) can cost £5000 to put right. Then there\'s the oil infusion into the wiring loom to worry about, plus tracking is a 3 dimension job with weighting applied to the CLK, then the MAF might fail......and so on and so forth.
Fortunately none of these things has happened on any of my 3 Mercs but I\'ve read a lot about them on the MB forum.
I think the moral is be wise but don\'t be too put off by scare stories. I\'m lucky, the CLK is a pigeon catching dream car and the 1st Generation RX FB is built out of solid stuff so \'nowt goes wrong with that. If you fancy an FD (and I think your list is good)....find a good \'un and keep it maintained.

Just my personal view...
Ancient Dave.

[Jas]

thanks David
like you said guess there will all ways be horror stories with any car thanks dident know any of that about the merc now im kinda put of my second choice lol

[SleepyDude]

I have to admit that i have seen a few things go wrong with RX7\'s in the past but most bits only start when the engine is due a rebuild. Get a car with a recent rebuild and you should be fine.

Best idea is to budget in a rebuild then you have no worries.

[CharlieP]

You have to remember most RX7s are getting on for 14years old now....and maintenance becomes an issue with most cars this age...especially real sports cars!
I\'ve had a few silly problems with mine, but just end up loving it all the more
 
Even Ferraris and Porsches need engine rebuilds at 80k miles (probably less)...and dont you think that would be a bit more than £3000!!
 
Hard ride- not on std suspension and 17s or 16s wheels
MPG- my std rex did 20-22 average...ie. part cruising, part thrashing...so pretty good I think

[David Nock (RIP)]

thanks David
like you said guess there will all ways be horror stories with any car thanks dident know any of that about the merc now im kinda put of my second choice lol

Don\'t be put off, they\'re great cars, as are the FB,FC,FD.

If you do want one, just buy a CLK made after September 2003 because that\'s the production date for the cure of the Valeo Rad Problem, plus they started galvanising under the paint from that date. Mercs are getting back to the glory years now and I think they\'re now real quality but they were bad 1998 to 2003 (approx), because the factory accountants tried to penny pinch. Some guy came out of his house and a spring broke while his car was parked! Must have looked good that one.:2eek

[Jit]

1. Yes - a well looked after and well built engine will go on for a long time
2. Rebuild price depends on mode of failure and damage done - could cost as little as 200 DIY or as much as 5k.
3. 18mpg? yeah good luck with that. I got 15 mpg cruising in a standard rex although my single turbo does return a bit better.
4. yes they use a fair bit of oil as they are designed to (oil metering system)
5. depends on the suspension. The ohlins on both of my FDs are beautiful - even my girlfriend doesnt complain. Standard R1 suspension is pretty damn horrid. Type X is good and RX Bilsteins are a good compromise
6. Yes group 18-20 depending on insurance company although u can get them insured on classic policies with limited miles
7. yes.

On a side note - dont bother with standard FCs...they are rubbish. Ive been in boats that are more agile.

[dthebuk]

If you buy one with a recent rebuild you should be fine. Just be sure to make sure the fueling and cooling is all up to scratch. Engines usually go pop due to leaning out on high boost or over heating, or the oil pump dieing.( im sure they go pop for other reasons to, these seem to be the most common). The oil consumption ive never really had a problem with, ususally change it quite often, as with any sports car. As for the suspension, its completly subjective. IMO coilovers are fine as long as they are something like teins. My fd currently has megan racing coilovers and they\'re great on the road in comparrison to the kei office coilovers on my fc which are just a nightmare on the road.
 
If price really is an issue, and you dont mind the look, I\'d get an FC. They\'re very tuneable(similar to the fd) and about half the price for the same spec. They\'re more comfortable inside (in my opinion), they handle slightly worse, but the handling is still jaw dropping.
 
And all the horror storys arn\'t that bad. They\'re just the same as other highly tuned jap machines. You just need to watch out for the fueling a bit more.
 
also you wont beat the sound of a rotary on full chat for the same price

[Tim_B]

Putting it on a classic policy will help lower insurance
and one close to stock with a recent rebuild will probably give you the least hassle/expenditure

Oh and oil consumption is not a problem btw as cheap-ass mineral stuff is the best bet anyway

[neil_jdmr]

I doubt many rx7 owners are "rich kids" tbh mate, Fd\'s are too an old car for the wealthy "your car was made in the mid 90\'s scoff scoff"
 
Taking your time buying and reading and investigating thoroughly what you want to buy and not rushing in is your best bet, buying because its pretty is a definate no-no.
If you get a freshly rebuilt car from a rotary tuner or enthusiast it gives a piece of mind especially with a warranty on your build.
If you go wild with mods then yes it will wear out quicker(but which motor doesnt) but a mid 300hp with reliability mods should give you trouble free motoring (although the infamous rotary paranoia will be ever present)
I get about 15-20mpg on a 320bhp standard motor tuned by wgt
My car uses barely any oil and barely drops off full over 3000miles
The rebuild on my car was indeed over 5k but that was taken into the price paid and also that was everything done inc turbo\'s/cooling/hoses the lot
I found the insurance very reasonable for what it is.
Im on 17"s on coilovers and the ride is much better than most "performance cars"
0-60 ranges from 4.9 to 5.4 depending on where you read, with a exhaust and a mapped ecu that is closer to 4.5 imo and never fails to pull your arms off.
 
You will be bored and unimpressed by a merc, if you like driving get the rx7 but expect to get annoyed with it from time to time

[ro284]

If you want to have a ride in an FD Jas. come to Dorset, and i.ll take you out for a 30 mile trip in mine, if it helps,
Bob This one,

[Jas]

dont tempt me there would be no chance i could say no fact is never really been driven any where in a rx so i wouldnt know what to expect.  
but im sure i would have a great big cheesey grin at the end of it.
i guess that it what its all about if you have a bit of a boring car that will get you to A to B
or a car that you feel could break you hart and your pocket at a blink of an eye but you love every minute of driving it washing it and even looking at it.
 
like i said the cars is sold on me before iv even driven it.

[neil_jdmr]

like i said the cars is sold on me before iv even driven it.

 
I was just the same before i bought mine

[Jit]

youre not a million miles away from a fair few people tbf...theres a lot of guys in Reading and a lot of guys in West London....all with cars in various states of tune. Im sure one of them wouldnt mind taking you for a spin...literally!

[dthebuk]

ah your in wokingham. If your ever about beaconsfield way (jnct 2 of the m40) i\'ll take you for a spin if you want