Topic: Dent's gone rotary (again) - 1985 Mazda Rx-7 GSL

[2latecrew]

Ah the 1st gen RX7. So simple. Brings back fond (and some not so fond) memories of my 2nd Gen RX7.

Very nice as a fun toy. Everyone should drive a rotary at least once just to experience the free revving power.

Unfortuatly you also have to experience the ungodly (for a such a tiny engine in such a light car) fuel consumption and copious oil consumption. As a "commuter" car I'd have to say a Miata or Mr2 would be superior for those 2 reasons.

Maybe keep it around and put it put on the track? Make a nice cheap race car with a few small mods. 

[safristi]

"MODS" yer off yer "ROCKER".....

[sirAQUAMAN64]

What a prestine example! The centre dash is remarkably current in design to my eye. I remember seeing those wheels on 'em too, along with various assortment of rear badging on Mazdas that wore inconsistently.

[Giant Dwarf]

The centre dash is remarkably current in design to my eye.

You're right... the large, easy-to-use rotary knobs and placement of most controls would be well suited today too.  And (aside from Lincoln thinking they're being 'retro cool' with the Navigator's squared-off interior bits), the RX7 would just need a little more roundedness of the edges and it could be pretty modern looking interior. 

[Snowman]

Nice find AD and enjoy the commute!

[Bullet Blue]

Very cool looking car, congrats! Have fun with it 

[mdxtasy]

You won't be hard to spot on the commute....well....maybe when all them 3/4 tons are hogging the Foot. 

[The Mighty Duck]

How do you find it, Arthur?  Since I'm away eight months of the year and my car is only driven in the summer these days, I'm thinking about upgrading (downgrading?) to an older, more fun car...

Without having had an opportunity to look and drive, right now a second-gen RX-7 (maybe Turbo) is topping my list...  but the rotary and gas/oil consumption scare me more than a little.

Is it really as bad as I've been led to believe?  I need something decently reliable, obviously, but it'll only be driven four months and probably <8000 km a year, so I'm thinking I could get away with something like the RX-7.

I'll start a thread on the issue when I go home for the summer and actually start looking, but since you're now an RX owner, I thought I'd ask. 

[Arthur Dent]

This is my second 1st generation Rx-7. The NA Rx-7s are pretty reliable - especially the 12A ones IF they haven't been overheated or run low on oil. My old 81 was bullet proof. 12As go about 250-300k kms before needed a $2k rebuilt if taken care of. Turbos seem to have shorter lifespans - maybe more like 200k kms. Second generation ones are heavier but have nicer rack and pinion steering. Gas/oil consumption is not bad (at least for the ones I've owned) - I'd say its about the same a V6 powered car of the same era. Oil isn't too bad - add a little once and a while. The one I bought I'm having a few issues with mostly due to the previous owner - he swapped out parts after I bought it. Story below:

Anyway the night I test drove it I said I'd make him an offer, he said ok give me a call tommorow - I want to clean it out first. Ok fine I thought. Turns out he must have swapped some parts from another, crappier car - the carb is junk, choke doesn't work, wipers don't work - all things that worked fine when I test drove. And here is the kicker - he balded the rear tires (burns outs or something) and me being a moron didn't re-check the tires the morning I picked it up. So this morning there was a bit of snow, driving to work on the highway and the back end kicks out - tried to save it but ended up spinning across three lanes and arse end first into the ditch. Amazing luck not to hit anyone else in the process! Car stuck in the snow pretty good - so I walk home next to the highway about 6 kms, call a tow truck to pull me out. Wife takes me back, tow truck pulls car out, wallet $125 lighter, then wife immediatly gets a ticket for not wearing her seat belt - expensive morning! So now I'm stuck with an Rx-7 that is no where near mechanically what I thought and I'm wondering what else could there be. I mean who balds tires then sends the buyer off in the winter?   

[mdxtasy]

Anyway the night I test drove it I said I'd make him an offer, he said ok give me a call tommorow - I want to clean it out first. Ok fine I thought. Turns out he must have swapped some parts from another, crappier car - the carb is junk, choke doesn't work, wipers don't work - all things that worked fine when I test drove. And here is the kicker - he balded the rear tires (burns outs or something) and me being a moron didn't re-check the tires the morning I picked it up. So this morning there was a bit of snow, driving to work on the highway and the back end kicks out - tried to save it but ended up spinning across three lanes and arse end first into the ditch. Amazing luck not to hit anyone else in the process! Car stuck in the snow pretty good - so I walk home next to the highway about 6 kms, call a tow truck to pull me out. Wife takes me back, tow truck pulls car out, wallet $125 lighter, then wife immediatly gets a ticket for not wearing her seat belt - expensive morning! So now I'm stuck with an Rx-7 that is no where near mechanically what I thought and I'm wondering what else could there be. I mean who balds tires then sends the buyer off in the winter?   

Well there's a class act assshole.  But I guess it is buyer beware in all this.  Did you contact him and ask about the anomolies you've noticed?  I'm sure he's going to be 'surprised and completely ignorant'. 

Too bad about the ticket and the tow....but I'm glad you didn't get injured in all of that.  It was slick this morning and the highway you travel, is usually packed. 

[Turbo Bob]

Wow what a con! 

 

[safristi]

 headline  "ARTHUR'S WALLET DENTED BY ARSEHOLE!!!"..... ...wot happened to all those nice hospitable Westerners.............was he from Stoney Creek....