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From: cal@pyramid.UUCP (Craig Alan Levin)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Questions about Mazda Rx7's
Message-ID: <221@pyramid.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 29-Mar-85 00:50:21 EST
Article-I.D.: pyramid.221
Posted: Fri Mar 29 00:50:21 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 1-Apr-85 03:18:56 EST
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Organization: Pyramid Technology
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After owning 3 RX-7's ('79 GS, '82 GSL, & '85 GSL-SE) I feel I am
qualified to answer your questions.  We still have #1 & #3.

>>  Is there anyway to get an Rx7 GSL-SE WITHOUT all the luxury features?
>>  They claim to come standard with just about everything.  Is there
>>  anyway around this (e.g. ordering through some kind of international
>>  concern)?

Not in the US, and Mazda has made it difficult to "grey market"
any of their cars.  ( I would really like to get one of the new
Cosmos - Turbo 13B engine in a sedan).  You can special order an
S version and get an after market 13B engine.  That is as long as
you don't want to register it in California.

>>  What is the current state of Mazda's (the world's) rotary engine
>>  technology?  Mazda's rotary engine used to have seal problem (that
>>  could be fixed by countersinking some bolts, or so I was told).  Are
>>  there still similar problems?  Are there fixes (I am willing to have
>>  mods made on a new car)?

I have 101,000 miles on the '79 and it still goes to Tahoe every
weekend to go skiing.  The repairs have been water pump, clutch,
pilot bearing, U joints, and tires every 40K miles.  Of the over
a dozen people I have convinced to buy RX-7's instead of anything
else, none have had any internal engine troubles.  I have put
headers and removed the Smog pump from the '79.  It is almost as
quick as the '85, but does not have the same smooth power curve.

>>  Of what importance is the 'performance-tuned rear suspension'?

I have not noticed much difference in the rear suspension that a
good pair of Koni's would not fix.  But the limited-slip, not
available on the S & GS, is a must.

>>  What are the advantages/disadvantages of a fuel injected rotary
>>  engine (vs. a 2-stage, 4-barrel carb)?

The EGI system adds the smoothness to the power curve.  But much
more horsepower is available using weber configuration.  In Japan
they have a turbo version, called savanah, that may be here in
'86-87, but that depends upon the voluntary import quotas.

>>  Finally, what are peoples general impressions of the Rx7 (and Mazda).

Before buying my third RX-7, I looked at everything.  The only
cars I found that even tempted me were the Ferrari 308 and Lotus
Turbo Elite.  At 3-4 times the price of the GSL-SE, the choice
was more than obvious.  It was not only the offered features but
the cost of ownership.  When I traded in my '82 after 3 years and
35K miles I got back 80% of the original cost.