UK Spec Rex

[Vinny]

Hi there,

this is my first post so bare with me here.

I am looking to purchase a UK spec RX7 within the next 6-8 weeks and have been reading up on reviews and articles on the internet about the car for about 3 months now.

So i was now wondering if you all can help me here. I have read reviews saying that the RX7's tend to run hot, so when i purchase my RX7, what would be the best thing for me to buy to help solve this problem?

Also....

are the engines really that un-reliable? (as i do worry about spending 9k on a car that may just cause all ends of problems) I know you have to keep an eye on the oil, but when i look at ones for sale, what signs do i look for to know if the engine is on its way out and that it hasn't been abused.

And last of all (sorry about this...)

I live down in Sussex, UK and was wondering where the nearest garage would be to get an RX7 serviced?

Thanks

[Jovic82]

Hi vinny

Welcome!

Check out this link because i had the exact same quesitons when deciding what to do.

http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=505

i also live in west sussex but only place i know of is rotechniks in grazely , reading.

Hope this helps

nick

[bnaellis]

Hi Vin,

Have you seen a UK spec forsale they're not the easiest cars to come buy ? The cars do run hotter than piston engine cars. The best way to get rid of under bonnet temps is to get a vented bonnet. I don't personally think the engines are that unreliable, it's a known fact that around 70k they need a rebuild, cars from Japan tend to last longer in general compared to Uk specs due to the quality of the fuel there, and that's not just octane rating.
If you are buying a standard car things to look for is lump idle, difficulty starting form cold & from hot, check dipsticl for browny colour gungy oil, which is a sign that the water and oil has mixed, aslo check the oil level make sure it's not been starved of oil. Check radiator pipes for splits leaks. Change air seperator tank.
If it doesn't have a boost gauge check that you feel boost as low as 2000 - 25000 rpm and a bigger increase in boost at 4500 rpm when second turbo kicks in. What do you mean by the engine being abused ? that's what we buy them for:D
Thrashing a rotary id healthy, I personally believe they handle thrashing better than a lot of piston engine sports cars.
People say to get a compression test to check state of the engine, I can understand the logic behind this, but in a sense it does not really tell you much as you can have a rx7 with low compression and the car will run fine for 20,000 miles + obviosuly if compression is say 5.5 5.5 5.5 it will be having problems with hot starting etc due to really low compression. Where is sussex are you? rxmotors are between salisbury and blanford, sense tuning in bournemouth, reworx in portsmouth.
Hope this is helpful.

[Vinny]

Cheers for the replys,

I am looking for a UK spec mainly due to insurance reasons. Once I tell the insurance people that its and import, the price goes through the roof.

I haven't yet found a UK RX7 for sale around but once i get the "notes" in my back pocket in a couple of months i will be looking further a field. My price range is up to 9k.

I;m honest in saying i'm no mechanic so was thinking about having the AA look at a car once i found one for sale. i read in your thread Jovic that you were going to do this. Did you and how did it go?

Once i get one of these fun RX7's I hope to meet at events etc....:D



:D

[Fish]

Vinny, your better off getting one of the specialists to look at it for you. The AA are great for putting your car on the back of a flatbed, but crap at rotary's. Normal question from them is your cam belts snapped. :D

Dan