Originally Posted By: artificialist
You mention reliability and the Mazda RX-7? Only the early non-turbo models would last.
I have heard, however, that turbocharged RX-7 models are so enjoyable to drive, that people would be willing to pay the high price to maintain and repair them. People who claim there was never an unreliable Japanese car will make excuses for the RX-7 "Because rotary."
A 300ZX Twin Turbo would be far more affordable and reliable. The MKIV Supra was a little bit better, but they are far more expensive.
15 years from now, importing more FD RX-7, MKIV Supra, and Z32 300ZX models will be easy. It may save some people a good deal of money if they are willing to live with right hand drive. I have heard that a few years after those cars stopped being sold in the USA, they got a few improvements. The MKIV Supra gained VVTi and got less lag despite using a single turbo. The Z32 300ZX had some styling upgrades, and I don't remember how many things were done to make the FD RX-7 better.
When getting an R34 in the USA is easy, I wonder how many people will be buying them and what they will cost.
RX-7 Reliability:
N/A: Pretty darn good.
13BT (FC3S, second gen): Touchy. Watch yourself, and stay on top of things, and it can go kinda far.
13B-REW (FD3S, third gen): Engineered to destroy itself. Every ancillary system on this engine is a hand-grenade with the pin pulled out. This engine was the 6.0 Powerstroke of rotary engines. If you remove or replace every part that isn't the engine itself, it could go a good distance.
Exhaust: 1900 degree EGT's with major exhaust reversion, exhaust from firewall to axle is all catalytic converters that love to go up in flames.
Turbos: Too small, and manifolds built in a "crack" house.
Cooling system: Too small, and equipped with a little tank that literally explodes.
Intercooler: Too small, high IAT's, perfect for an engine with a magma exhaust, pathetic cooling system, and tiny turbos with low efficiency.
Oil coolers: Too small, which is perfect for an engine that cools its combustion chambers through direct oil contact and marginal cooling everywhere else.
Also issues were the sheet metal made from Reynolds wrap on second gens. I'm fairly certain that the crushers crush this car by sitting on it. Electrical system? Probably a joint venture with Lucas Electronics. Interior? Follow your parents' advice when you were 4 years old: Just don't touch anything.....at all.
This is coming from the former owner of 2 Gen2's, and one Gen3.
We used to have a spreadsheet documenting the mileage of unmodified 13B-REW's. The record at the time was 92,000 miles before destruction.
You mention reliability and the Mazda RX-7? Only the early non-turbo models would last.
I have heard, however, that turbocharged RX-7 models are so enjoyable to drive, that people would be willing to pay the high price to maintain and repair them. People who claim there was never an unreliable Japanese car will make excuses for the RX-7 "Because rotary."
A 300ZX Twin Turbo would be far more affordable and reliable. The MKIV Supra was a little bit better, but they are far more expensive.
15 years from now, importing more FD RX-7, MKIV Supra, and Z32 300ZX models will be easy. It may save some people a good deal of money if they are willing to live with right hand drive. I have heard that a few years after those cars stopped being sold in the USA, they got a few improvements. The MKIV Supra gained VVTi and got less lag despite using a single turbo. The Z32 300ZX had some styling upgrades, and I don't remember how many things were done to make the FD RX-7 better.
When getting an R34 in the USA is easy, I wonder how many people will be buying them and what they will cost.
RX-7 Reliability:
N/A: Pretty darn good.
13BT (FC3S, second gen): Touchy. Watch yourself, and stay on top of things, and it can go kinda far.
13B-REW (FD3S, third gen): Engineered to destroy itself. Every ancillary system on this engine is a hand-grenade with the pin pulled out. This engine was the 6.0 Powerstroke of rotary engines. If you remove or replace every part that isn't the engine itself, it could go a good distance.
Exhaust: 1900 degree EGT's with major exhaust reversion, exhaust from firewall to axle is all catalytic converters that love to go up in flames.
Turbos: Too small, and manifolds built in a "crack" house.
Cooling system: Too small, and equipped with a little tank that literally explodes.
Intercooler: Too small, high IAT's, perfect for an engine with a magma exhaust, pathetic cooling system, and tiny turbos with low efficiency.
Oil coolers: Too small, which is perfect for an engine that cools its combustion chambers through direct oil contact and marginal cooling everywhere else.
Also issues were the sheet metal made from Reynolds wrap on second gens. I'm fairly certain that the crushers crush this car by sitting on it. Electrical system? Probably a joint venture with Lucas Electronics. Interior? Follow your parents' advice when you were 4 years old: Just don't touch anything.....at all.
This is coming from the former owner of 2 Gen2's, and one Gen3.
We used to have a spreadsheet documenting the mileage of unmodified 13B-REW's. The record at the time was 92,000 miles before destruction.
