1987 Mazda RX7 GTX Twin rotary from North America

Summary:

Incredible handling; a great sports car for more experienced drivers

Faults:

It has some minor issues. The driver's seat has a small tear in the back, sunroof sticks. Nothing major.

General Comments:

I can't really comment on the reliability of this car, as I recently acquired it.

However, you would be hard pressed to find a better performing car under $10K. Unlike most cars available, even including those that are marketed as "sporty", the car has virtually no understeer built-in to protect a poor driver. This means that the car handles perfectly neutrally, and it is shockingly easy to shift the handling balance with a little gas or braking. This also means that the car rewards an experienced driver far more than most other cars on the market.

The acceleration is excellent. While off the line a speed on the GXL isn't spectacular, it can still do 0-60 in under 8 seconds, and has enough power to pull quite strongly at freeway speeds. But most importantly, it provides this power through the small and compact rotary engine that enabled the manufacturer to provide a car that is both better balanced and more than 500 pounds lighter than its competitors.

Inside, the highly bolstered seats hold the driver tightly, and the dash is dominated by a large, centrally mounted, tachometer. My car is equipped with a short shifter and aftermarket steering wheel that provides short throws and excellent ergonomics.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 20th April, 2006

20th Apr 2006, 12:34

Unless your car was severely abused by its previous owner you should enjoy outstanding reliability.

My friend had the convertible and drove it to nearly 300K miles. She never wanted to give it up, but ultimately had to as she switched careers to become a realtor. She talks about that car even today as it was bulletproof, much more so than the Passat she got to replace it.

24th Apr 2006, 20:00

That's what I have heard. A lot of people complain about reliability, but the most knowledgeable people I have talked to say that a well maintained 7 is very reliable.

The last two owners maintained it perfectly, and passed on over 10 years of maintenence records.

24th Apr 2006, 23:48

A naturally aspirated RX7 seems to been very reliable, as I'm thinking of buying a 13B second generation with 217,000 miles on it (original engine). But, I've heard numerous people mention that the turbo fitted cars are notorious for blowing the apex seals around 80K or so. Also, the 12A motor doesn't seem to hold up very well either, at least from what I've seen.

1987 Mazda RX7 n/a 13b from North America

Summary:

I'm in love..

Faults:

Ha ha, what hasn't gone wrong with it. I have had the car over a year now and I keep very good care of it. Just recently I have started to have problems. One day I was driving and I ripped my exhaust right out the end of the header. I replaced the part and all was well, for about a week. My master cylinder on my clutch now leaks into the passenger compartment through the firewall (what a mess), now I need a new carpet. And my engine won't rev-up past 3500rpm at full throttle, can't figure out why, I have ran so many tests on it and just can't get it. I still drive it every-day, slowly.

General Comments:

I will not own anything other than rotary.

This is my second Rx-7. My first was a 1991 convertible, I owned it for about a year and loved every second of it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th March, 2006

1987 Mazda RX7 GLX from France

Summary:

Very fun car, and also very rare in France

Faults:

I have my alternator belt broken the first day I purchase it, because it has not been driven for 3 years.

Interior plastics are squeezing when driving.

The clutch is noisy.

The clutch pedal, don't return back sometimes when you press it too long.

The white color was ugly need some good polish.

General Comments:

The rotary engine is very strong, and the driving is very enjoyable.

The exhaust has quite a sporty sound, but the idling is a little bit too noisy.

Best bang for your buck if you have money for gas.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th August, 2005