• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

anyone here driven/owned an rx-7?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Engel
  • Start date Start date Jan 6, 2007

Engel

Member
Apr 2, 2005
219
0
16
Currently Fort Walton Beach
Jan 6, 2007
#1
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #1
Has anyone here had any experience driving or owning an rx-7?

They are pretty rare where I live so never had the opportunity to drive one, just seeing if anyone had any driving impressions.



Ive been wanting to buy an rx-7 for about a year now and drop and ls1 into it, but as of right now I don't have the time nor money for the swap.

So I was considering purchasing a stock rx-7 and driving it around for awhile, and do the swap later on (i hate 4 cyls). I heard these cars have alot of problems..



buying the car straight up with the ls1 swap already done is 17k-20k, Im pretty sure I can get decent 7 stock for about 11k.

I want to get a roller do the engine swap myself having it cost me only 16k, but in college right now and really don't have the time and the extra money.
 

Blackened302

Active Member
Jul 21, 2005
1,439
0
36
South TX
Jan 6, 2007
#2
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #2
4cyl? those cars have a rotary engine--no cylinders! rx = rotary expirimental
 

xr8d302

I bought a 27" monitor to compensate for my lack o
Apr 29, 2004
1,113
0
36
Medicine Hat, AB
Jan 6, 2007
#3
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #3
What generation are you talking about?

the 94-ish era RX-7's are incredible cars, stay away from anything earlier than that generation.

The last generation of RX-7, from my experience, was a hell of a car, my only complaint was in-car noise....but that had soemthing to do with the fact that the rx7 was modded quite extensively. If it had been my car, I probably would have spent the extra money on some sound deadening
 

fawcett

Member
Sep 10, 2003
380
0
16
Cohasset, Ma
Jan 6, 2007
#4
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #4
Rotery engines are pretty cool and dead quiet. Too bad they need boost to make power. The RX8 revs to like 9grand, if I remember right a chime comes on somewhere above 8,000rpms to remind you to shift.

The problem with the design is that over time the engine is prone to carbon build up-accelerated by turbo boost. Then the engines get blow-by and shoot smoke out of their pipes like their diesels.

An LS1 in one of those would be killer, I've seen one with that set up before. Talk about a G-machine. Big power, decent handling, light weight and you can build up the brakes to make it give you nose bleeds.
Sounds like fun!
 

Engel

Member
Apr 2, 2005
219
0
16
Currently Fort Walton Beach
Jan 6, 2007
#5
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #5
oh I would definitely go with 93 and up.

Thats right I totally forgot it doesnt have cylinders
 

Therian

The Highlander
Founding Member
Apr 21, 2002
0
1
0
Waterloo, Ontario
Jan 6, 2007
#6
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #6
I'm going to disagree and say that the late eighties generation RX7s are also excellent. My friend had one in highschool, and it was an awesome car (no turbo)
 

mo_dingo

20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 26, 2003
3,031
2
58
Tucson, AZ
Jan 6, 2007
#7
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #7
My dad owned an 86 non turbo from the factory brand new, put only 50k on the car and the tranny blew and there were a plethora of electrical problems.
Scott
 

1slow95

Founding Member
May 16, 2002
1,797
3
48
ohio
Jan 6, 2007
#8
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #8
I used to have an 85 1.1L non turbo. It was extremely slow, but still a blast to drive. It had over 150k and it was starting to burn a lot of oil. I heard something about once the rotary engines get over 100k on them it's about time for a rebuild. Other than, my car only had the usual high mileage problem...Clutch, brakes, water pump, etc. Oh yeah, they're gas mileage sucks for some reason.

I have no experience at all with the 93 up cars...
 
T

tjh566

New Member
May 22, 2004
608
0
0
Northern Va
Jan 6, 2007
#9
  • Jan 6, 2007
  • #9
lol he said plethora
 

Engel

Member
Apr 2, 2005
219
0
16
Currently Fort Walton Beach
Jan 7, 2007
#10
  • Jan 7, 2007
  • #10
tjh566 said:
lol he said plethora
Click to expand...

 

1red95gt

New Member
Dec 22, 2006
31
0
0
Three Rivers, Mi
Jan 8, 2007
#11
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #11
I own an 84 rx-7 gslse....but i have an 95 1.3L n/a motor in now...its not fast but handles like no other
 
9

95five-oh

New Member
Jun 25, 2006
158
0
0
Mount Airy, MD
Jan 8, 2007
#12
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #12
My grandpa used to have a rx-7 convertible a couple years ago. It was maybe a '90 or '91. I remember it sliced through curves but was way lacking on torque and had to be wound way out to go fast. Cool car tho, wish he woulda kept it around.
 

Engel

Member
Apr 2, 2005
219
0
16
Currently Fort Walton Beach
Jan 8, 2007
#13
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #13
yea apparently roller + swap costs around 16k total with the ls1/t56. labor done myself.

It seems like a good combination of torque/handling, even with the v8 its only 20pds heavier in the front then the back. weighing about 2800pds total.

With a stock ls1 its performance/handling is the same as a 03 z06, go kart on steroids im pumped!
 

Adam95GT

New Member
Aug 14, 2006
2,564
3
0
Burlington, NJ
Jan 8, 2007
#14
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #14
Therian said:
I'm going to disagree and say that the late eighties generation RX7s are also excellent. My friend had one in highschool, and it was an awesome car (no turbo)
Click to expand...

yea they are.... but i still like the FD's 1993+'s
 
Z

zZsKyZz

Member
Dec 1, 2005
503
0
17
Jan 8, 2007
#15
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #15
Kinda reminds me of the miata with the 5.0 swap.
 
M

MustangGT95

New Member
Jul 29, 2003
407
1
0
Jan 8, 2007
#16
  • Jan 8, 2007
  • #16
I have driven a LS1/t56 1993 RX7 it was insane. Realllly sweet cars. I love the LS1 camaro's but that rx7 is way more badass. It handled very well also.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Block questions
  • s_vargas54
  • Jan 25, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
655
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 8, 2026
Trogdor
Fox Xtremely high fuel consumption
  • PonyGTrider
  • Apr 11, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 9 10 11
Replies
213
Views
3K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 9, 2026
PonyGTrider
Hard to start when engine is cold
  • 86_Capri
  • Mar 11, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
32
Views
821
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 21, 2026
CAMTWO1070
J
Help Figuring Motor Choice(Possible future turbo)?
  • jaygee15
  • Dec 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
13
Views
484
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 3, 2026
Jarhead67
J
351w turbo build.... Turbo guys teach me things...
  • Kid wita 5oh
  • Oct 22, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
13
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Oct 23, 2025
General karthief
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?