Love anything to do with technology, IT Tech and cars. Always on the lookout for new opportunites an...
Love anything to do with technology, IT Tech and cars. Always on the lookout for new opportunites and experiences. Ideas or Suggestions? E-mail me...
Member since:17.03.2006
Reviews:47
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I had to babysit one an RX7 for a friend of mine while he was out of town. Knowing my liking for street racing, he gave me consent to use it anyway, while I got the customising done for him.
When this car was first made, I believe it was aimed for the businessman who wanted something to drive that was a little "cooler" than everyone else, with a little "kick" and style - well, Mazda achieved that in this car. However, because of the discontinuation of this model and the introduction of the RX8, this car has been relegated to and is being sought after by street racers, who just find it to be a very good mergeance of style and power.
However, I must admit that I am a fan of Nissan (300ZX, 350Z, 200SX, Skyline) and Mitsubishi (every model of the Lancer Evolution, Eclipse and the 3000GT), and rotary engines are new to me. By comparison, a normal engine has
four, six or eight pistons and a corresponding number of cylinders (one for each piston to move up and down in), whereas a rotary engine has no pistons or cylinders of the sort. The premise of the design was the engine power is lost in the assorted movements of the pistons and other internal engine components - less moving parts translates into a higher efficiency.
As a result of this, the engine looks tiny when you pop the hood.
At 1.3 litres, you may think that this car is only about looks (which was my first impression). However, the advantages are that because of its rotary engine, and lack of pistons, it lends itself to modification easier than I had earlier thought.
As a stock car, this car holds its ground rather well. However, I find that the bucket seats are a little too "deep" for me, since every time I have to get out of the car, I have to grab on to the sides of the car and lift myself out. The car's ground clearance is much lower than a standard car, so be extremely careful around speed bumps. The controls are more or less easily accesible, although I find that the central console around the gear shifter is a touch too high for me - my left arm (I got a right-hand drive model) was almost perpendicular to my torso whenever I had to shift. Other than that, the car was rather spacious - even the trunk (which opens with the entire rear windscreen), but in spite of everything, this is not the car to buy if you are expecting twins.
When my friend purchased the car, he did some work on the stereo and the alarm system - as a result, most of the original features were changed, so I cannot comment on them anyways. But, the car was equipped with an automatic transmission (for a sports car?), CD player, air conditioning and a very classy black interior.
Driving this car was quite an experience. It leaves a little to be desired in terms of its top speed and its cornering, but because of its low ride height, it handles rather well. In the driver seat, visibility is very good, but because of the way the front of the car is shaped, the average driver may have some trouble in traffic, estimating the distance between the front bumper and the car in front. Oh - one thing to remember, because of its rotary engine design and lack of pistons and chambers, it tends to burn a little more gas than you would expect, so this is more or less a weekend car than a work-commute.
This car, however, shows its beauty when modified.
One thing about this car - the public has seen the normal internal combustion engine prove its merit on the road, and rotary engines are not as popular. But, the body style is still extremely popular - as a result, accessories and body parts are extremely easy to get - but be warned, this is a discontinued model, and parts can be a little pricey.
Unlike Nissan and Mitsubishi, where you have to replace pistons and change piston rings and so on, rotary engines lend themselves rather easily to customisation.
With minor modifications, my friend's car was equipped with twin turbos, a nitrous oxide system and boost controller.
If I remember correctly, this car was manufactured back in the 1990's, around 1997-99, and the production of high-horsepower vehicles for the road was very limited, and this car was shipped with about 185 or 200 bhp - again, I stand to be corrected on that. However, with the right modifications and care, horsepower can reach as high as 600, rivalling most of Nissan's and Mitsubishi's, as well as Honda's offerings.
Before modification, the stock configuration had a single airbag in the steering wheel (I cannot remember if there was a passenger airbag) and there was all-wheel ABS (anti-lock brake system). Standard 3-pointseat belts and a comfortable seating arrangement made for a very safe feel - plus, because of the very low ride height of this car, overturning was not much of a concern.
I only had about 2 months with this car, so I cannot say much in terms of reliability and after sales service (since it was never mine, to begin with). However, I had no problems with it (and I am not the person to baby a car - steel doesn't cry) and keep something in mind - yes, the RX8 comes with a rotary engine too, but if something goes wrong and parts are required, you may have a waiting period, because most of Mazda's cars (such as the Familia and the 323 as well as the Tribute SUV) actually ship with a standard inline 4-cylinder engine.
Long story short: if you come across a stock model RX7, check it out thoroughly - especially the engine. Rotary engines aren't as mainstream as we would like, so not many people know how to fully care for one. Stock versions of this car are rare, and are highly sought-after.
So, if you want a car to turn heads without modification, this is the car for you.
If you want a car that is easy to modify, then this is the car for you.
If you want a car with cheap modifications, look elsewhere.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: real sports car performance without attracting too many stares Disadvantages: she's a little older and parts are getting into the "hard to get" bracket
sting_of_the_scorpion 20.03.2006 (11.04.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Nissan 200SX
Advantages: Ergonomically very nice to drive, easy to heel & toe with good steering Disadvantages: Very poor starting in cold weather, also cannot fit a block heater.
berbician 03.01.2005 (02.02.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of MazdaRX-8
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