Friend wants to buy RX-7, needs help

[InitialE]

So my friend is looking for a manual, RWD car that he can "drift" for around $5000. At first he wants to get a AE86 since he's a InitialD fan boy (jk) but I insist the car was crap for what you pay for and he couldn't find a decent one locally so he gave up. I told him to get a 240sx (S13) but for some reason he doesn't like that car much and now he's looking at 2 RX-7 FC's, the first one is 88' and the other is a 91'. Is there any major difference between the two? Is there a model year that is better than the other? Any issues with these car other than constant engine rebuilds? I told him rotary engines expensive to rebuild and drinks too much but he doesn't seem to care . Both cars are non-turbos.

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/car/299744447.html

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/car/302788007.html

[Elder_MMHS]

Someone posted an '89 RX-7 here too for $4500 obo.

http://www.bcmazda3.com/forum/index.php?topic=7500.0

[d1]

I can't comment much on their reliability, etc.. All I'll say is that FC's and FD's are sexy beasts

[jefferino]

Get the red one!!

[RajunCajun]

alright, before you believe what most people say (here or otherwise), I'll tell you now to read this first and take it as you wish.

I've owned a 1991 RX-7 for 2/3 years, bought it with the original motor at 140K kms and nitrous injected it at 160K kms.  I abused the hell out of it and injected almost every chance I could until I sold her at 190K kms.  It never failed me once.  I talked to the new owner, who drives it the way I did, and says it's never failed him once either, and he's at 210K+ kms.

It's a very reliable motor, BUT you have to hold it's hand alot.  You can't miss scheduled oil changes and such.  Go to rotary-specific mechanics for your needs.  I went to Chris @ Eunos Custom Automotive.  He's in N. Van, I'm in Surrey.  I'd do the drive just for an oil change - that's how much I trusted him.

Don't drive it hard or redline it until it's fully warmed up.  Don't do too many cold starts; you'll flood her.

If it's a T2, get a good turbo timer.

Now for your question in the first place:

'88's are known as S4's (series 4) and 91's are S5's  S4's were made from '86-'88 and S5's from '89-'91/'92.  There was no '92 RX-7 as there was no '98 Cobra.

S4's are generally lighter with some exterior and interior differences to S5's.

The engines' are essentially the same = 1300cc fuel-injected Wankel Rotary 6-port motor; T2's are 4-port.

S5's just have a few minor modifications to make it more reliable and powerful, hence the figures:

S4 = 146hp
S5 = 160hp

Rotaries drink oil and NO, they do not require constant rebuilds.  People just don't know how to treat them or are stupidly mis-informed.

It's a reliable car, but nothing close to a Toyota.

They are the most efficient engines in the world and have the most hp/litre of any naturally aspirated car ever; the RX-8's are ever better.

I apologize for the long response.

PM me if you wanna' know more

[oracle]

great info carlos

[InitialE]

yo man, thx for the reply, lots of good info there . RajunCajun, is your car a T2 or the NA? My friend wants the car a little tail happy so he can "drift" it but I have another friend who drove a 91' T2 and he said the car doesn't really slide much . Then my friend did some research and found that NA models are better "drift" cars than turbo models because the turbo model has a weird power band . I have no idea where he got that from.

[silvia_s14a]

Your friend is a very typical bandwagoner. They banned a bunch of those on the bcrotary forum and other serious drifting forums. Based on the things he said and your description of him, he's a complete tool. Tell him to stay away from drifting, or a RX-7 for that matter, before he gets himself killed (or ridiculed).

[RajunCajun]

Thanks, Oracle.  God! I forgot your name.  You remembering mine makes me feel like a tool

You're welcome guys.

I miss my 7...even more than my Mustang, despite it having almost 150hp more.  I drove a 1991 Brave Blue RX-7 NA, auto swapped to an all T2 drivetrain.

NA's have a typical NA car powerband = predictable.
I don't know what your friend is talking about a T2's powerband; I've never owned a T2.

They're tail happy cars if you make them, but nothing even close to my old Bullitt, which would slide abit everytime I turned the T/C off.

NA 7's have about 2ft/lbs of TQ...lol...if it's wet, you can do donuts.  If it's dry; goodluck.

[jefferino]

What year was your Bullit? I wanted to get one of those but no way I could afford one back then.

[oracle]

no prob man

todd

[InitialE]

Are there any difference between US and Canadian models for 91'?? I found specs for the US model but not Canadian

[RajunCajun]

Ah, yes, thanks, Todd.  I should stop working 84hrs/week and go to more meets...lol.

Jefferino:  Bullitts were only made in 2001-2002 @ only about 5500 units worldwide; mine was #00606.  It was the first of the 3 planned commemorative editions Ford would make in successive years.  It was followed by the Mach 1 in '03, then the idea for the 3rd. car was a Boss or the GT500.  But then the retro Mustang came out a few years later and the 3rd. car never happened.

I believe the Canadian model appeared on the S5 as the GX, which was the normal GTU only with DRLs and KM/h-marked speedos.  But don't quote me on that as my RX-7 info. is hard to remember.

Mazda put only 2 distinguishing features (that I am aware of) on the '91 to make it different and unique as it was the last FC year before the FD:

-Brave Blue was a '91-only colour option
-The MAZDA on the airbox is embossed as opposed to a sticker.