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Mazda RX-7 - Page 2

post #16 of 51
12/10/07 at 7:24am
Here's some pics of one that I recently owned:


















Mods were a fully built motor and a custom turbo built by Danstoy. That car actually made Danstoy what it is today...
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post #17 of 51
12/10/07 at 7:37am
I like the rx-7 because it's light for it's class, handles well, and looks good. I won't say the engine sucks and I like that Mazda is sticking to the rotary but imo the engine is the weakpoint of the car atleast for the FD. You don't do performance mods for the 13b, first you do RELIABILITY mods I just thought that's kind of ridiculous even though some mods help both. Even if you know how to maintain it properly and do it, some problems are always expected. Otoh I think the older rotary engines and the new renesis are pretty reliable, i mean inherently rotary engines should last longer since they lave less moving parts. I guess when it comes down to it I always wonder what would have happened if mazda put a turbo four or inline 6 into the rx-7, the chassis was so good for its time.
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post #18 of 51
12/10/07 at 9:43am
A mod RX-7 will better a mod RX-8?
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post #19 of 51
12/10/07 at 10:55am
Well, yeah, I could find another one - but it wouldn't be MY '80 RX-7, the one I washed, polished & changed it's oil. *sniff* *sniff*

BTW, I wasn't implying that the RX-7 needed more maintenance than other cars - it was actually a VERY reliable car. All of the items I mentioned led a full and happy life. The tires were only short-lived because of the amount of rubber I left in the corners of all those autocross courses. I only mention the condition at the time of sale because although it had needed some routine maintenance, I really wish I had spent the money then and kept the car. Instead, I bought a Mazda B2200 truck for those Home Depot runs - arrrrgggghhhhh!
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post #20 of 51
12/10/07 at 11:14am
The FD3S (3rd gen) is a great car with an excellent base platform. Some reliability mods are required but as a daily, I can't think of anything more fun. Maybe a Miata in slower traffic.

For modding, it can crank out some big power with that little 1.3L Wankel. My autox/lapping toy puts down 426rwhp with a conservative tune. And it's so easy to drive.

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post #21 of 51
12/10/07 at 4:16pm
Thread Starter 
Holy crap - that's a wild ride! Yes, reliability mods are very important, especially considering the newest of these cars is 12 years old (the domestic models, anyway). You've more than doubled the horsepower of the engine, which shows how much potential is left in a 13B-REW. I'd prefer to retain some semblance of fuel economy and emissions, as well as the twin-turbo setup. I've heard this is possible using a mild street port.
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post #22 of 51
12/10/07 at 6:26pm
Even with a monster port you can have streetability. It's your definition of streetability that varies from person to person.

Frankly a 400HP car, I think is isn't really "streetable"...more or less, it's just able to driven on the street.

Streetable is atleast 20MPG and able to hang with most everything out there...i.e. a Turbo S2000, or H22 in a Civic HB, etc. You still get all the streetability without really losing anything.

It's solely the reason I turned to motorcycles. I get supercar performance, thrills, and excitement in a 10-$25K package and STILL GET 40mpg between fill ups....when put that way, it makes everything else look like crap.
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post #23 of 51
12/10/07 at 8:16pm
...And with a motorcycle you can make some really neat long, bloody streaks on the roadway...
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post #24 of 51
12/10/07 at 10:10pm
Actually, you don't get as ballsy on a bike as you do in a car going around turns and whatnot....at least everybody I hang out with doesn't. You can get downright stupid in a car (****, look at all the fools on the roadway now who think they're race car drivers), and the worst you get sans dying, is an accident or spinning out. On a motorcycle, death sticks in the back of your head and you think twice about being an ass....

Example? People won't hesitate to top out their riced out car, or hooked up Camaro or Mustang.....most people on a motorcycle never see above 140 for the shear fear of eating it at that speed.
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post #25 of 51
12/10/07 at 11:23pm


I drove one similar to this one in the 90's, and man, it was pure joy driving down Pacific Coast Highway winding roads in this thing. Personally, I felt they should have continued with the more muscular, brawny look in the 3rd generation...
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post #26 of 51
12/11/07 at 12:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by oicdn View Post
Actually, you don't get as ballsy on a bike as you do in a car going around turns and whatnot....at least everybody I hang out with doesn't. You can get downright stupid in a car (****, look at all the fools on the roadway now who think they're race car drivers), and the worst you get sans dying, is an accident or spinning out. On a motorcycle, death sticks in the back of your head and you think twice about being an ass....

Example? People won't hesitate to top out their riced out car, or hooked up Camaro or Mustang.....most people on a motorcycle never see above 140 for the shear fear of eating it at that speed.

Agreed!

Although, I must also point out that (at least in SoCal) the motorcycle riders who weave in and out of the freeway traffic jams at 40 mph are probably putting themselves at a much higher risk of death & dismemberment than a rider doing 140. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a rider narrowly miss becoming a stain on someone's fender when a car decides to change lanes at exactly the same time the rider is moving down the stripe.

However, as much fun as motorcycles are, there is also something to be said for traveling down a twisty road on a warm, sunny SoCal day in a nimble sports car with the roof off, the windows down, and Aerosmith blasting away...
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post #27 of 51
12/11/07 at 1:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by billybob_jcv View Post
Agreed!

Although, I must also point out that (at least in SoCal) the motorcycle riders who weave in and out of the freeway traffic jams at 40 mph are probably putting themselves at a much higher risk of death & dismemberment than a rider doing 140. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a rider narrowly miss becoming a stain on someone's fender when a car decides to change lanes at exactly the same time the rider is moving down the stripe.

However, as much fun as motorcycles are, there is also something to be said for traveling down a twisty road on a warm, sunny SoCal day in a nimble sports car with the roof off, the windows down, and Aerosmith blasting away...
I hear ya, lane splitting I think is ridiculous at anything over 5mph. That's what it was designed for. Statistically, the odds of survival for a motorcyclist lane splitting(responsibly) are higher when lane splitting, than if they're sitting in line for traffic. It's the reason Cali allows it, aside from the obvious traffic.

Also, the same can be said for carving the canyons in socal on a sportbike. There is no feeling that can replace the 1st time you drag a knee in full leathers. It's similar to the feeling you get when losing your virginity, lol.
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post #28 of 51
12/11/07 at 10:04pm
Thread Starter 
There's nothing like a winding road, particularly a deserted one that has been well maintained. The sweet sound of a rotary engine is the only thing that disturbs the stillness of a radiant morning...
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post #29 of 51
12/11/07 at 11:56pm
I have owned many high HP turbo vehicles and still own a modified 2006 STi. But my DD is an 06 Si that I absolutely love for its simplicity, motorcycle like power band and tossable chassis. I appreciate a 8.8k red line, reliability, sub 20K price tag and 32 MPG from the perspective that only age and wisdom seem to bring. The more power and less drivable the cars became, the more disappointed I was. I have known lots of RX7 owners. I know someone that went through 3 Petit built 13Bs before he decided to drop a LS7 in it. Talk about Frankenstein. I still hold that the 3rd gen is the pinnacle of Japanese design, at least until I see the new NSX.
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post #30 of 51
12/12/07 at 3:14am
I'd take an FD RX-7 with an LS1 swap any day. That would be a BADASS car right there. I doubt I'd keep the rotary in it...sure, they can make OK power, but at the end of the day a V8 with mild performance upgrades will take a beating for 200,000+ miles.

As for 400 hp being streetable...of course it is. Will you get good mileage? Depends...you can certainly pull it off with a GM LS family engine, and I imagine the Ford 4.6 could pull decent numbers. Remember that gearing plays a good roll as well. I could build a 1000 hp engine and get 50 mpg with it with the right gearing...doesn't mean it's going to be very fast, though.

My dad has a 1968 Camaro with a 502 BBC in it. 450hp/550ft.lb, so it goes. It's certainly very streetable. No traction issues with it, and the you can give it a good amount of gas without it really letting loose. I'd say once you get into the 600+hp range you're going to start seeing issues with traction, reliability and throttle response.
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