OT- Does Mazda still make the RX-7
03-30-2001, 03:47 PM
#3
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The new one
is referred to as the RX-8.. IMO, the generation 3 RX7 looks 10X's better, the new one looks like a saturn with the "tricked" out doors.. But I really haven't had a chance to read up on it..
03-30-2001, 04:13 PM
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When I was looking for TTs, a dealer had a mint, white '95 (or '94)
RX-7 in the showroom - with less than 3000 miles! I almost bought it, but waited for a TT instead. Glad I did, although it was pretty tempting at the time. I've sworn off Japanese machines for good.
03-30-2001, 04:27 PM
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It's the RX-8 - Go to the website and click on new models. It's a 4 door, 4 seater.
Having owned one of the first RX-7's (LOVED that car; got it in 1980 and kept it for 10 years) as well as three Miatas, I kind of try to keep track of what they're doing. It will be interesting to see how the RX-8 does.<ul><li><a href="http://www.mazdausa.com">Mazda Website</a></li></ul>
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03-30-2001, 06:11 PM
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yes...
....but only in Japan. In Japan, the rx-7 has recieved only slight modifications such as a different front end since it was last sold in the US. It's reputation as a true sports car compared to the heavy fairladys ( 300z) and the Supra was grown. The Rx-8 will be better in that the placement of the vavles will allow better gas mileage ( in previous rotaries, the valves allow gas to flow through the camber without getting burned ). Also, I have heard that they have solve the problems with the Apex seals which by the way is a huge problem when buying a rx-7.
03-30-2001, 06:55 PM
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no evil rumors about apex seals, please...
Yes, it's true that the 3rd gen RX7 still exists in Japan,
but the problems with apex seals date back to before the 1st RX-7 in 1979.
Mazda had lots of problems with seals back in the '70s but they solved
them when the RX7 came out and since then the rotary engine has been
practically bulletproof, that's why it does so well in endurance races.
I put 163K miles on my 1984 version before I sold it, and the engine was
still going strong at the time.
The 3rd gen RX7 (1993-) added a turbo, which did have some reliability
problems (and cost around $6K to replace if I recall), but the engine
itself was fine, if dirty and fuel-hungry as with all its previous versions.
The new series rotary engine is supposedly much cleaner and somewhat
more fuel efficient. But the planned RX-8 needs a face lift...
The car itself is 2+2, isn't bad and has a neat 1/2-size suicide door,
but the face looks like a Pokemon character - Mazda marketing dept.
has fooled themselves into thinking that all their vehicles need a
similar-style "5-point" grill (wonder where they got that idea, maybe
from *Ford* nahhhhh... - plus, the grill shape looks just like Chrysler, ick).
Anyway, the RX-8 isn't really meant to take the RX-7's niche, so there is
still some hope they'll bring out a new RX-7 one of these days - 100% sports
car, none of these extra seats and extra size jazz - if so, should be good.
We will see...
but the problems with apex seals date back to before the 1st RX-7 in 1979.
Mazda had lots of problems with seals back in the '70s but they solved
them when the RX7 came out and since then the rotary engine has been
practically bulletproof, that's why it does so well in endurance races.
I put 163K miles on my 1984 version before I sold it, and the engine was
still going strong at the time.
The 3rd gen RX7 (1993-) added a turbo, which did have some reliability
problems (and cost around $6K to replace if I recall), but the engine
itself was fine, if dirty and fuel-hungry as with all its previous versions.
The new series rotary engine is supposedly much cleaner and somewhat
more fuel efficient. But the planned RX-8 needs a face lift...
The car itself is 2+2, isn't bad and has a neat 1/2-size suicide door,
but the face looks like a Pokemon character - Mazda marketing dept.
has fooled themselves into thinking that all their vehicles need a
similar-style "5-point" grill (wonder where they got that idea, maybe
from *Ford* nahhhhh... - plus, the grill shape looks just like Chrysler, ick).
Anyway, the RX-8 isn't really meant to take the RX-7's niche, so there is
still some hope they'll bring out a new RX-7 one of these days - 100% sports
car, none of these extra seats and extra size jazz - if so, should be good.
We will see...
03-30-2001, 07:12 PM
#10
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too expensive for market of the time
The 3rd gen RX7 did suffer from some early quality problems
(they rushed it to market about a year too early, should have done the
testing in-house), but the real problem was price and competition.
The price was around $30K and fair enough for what you got,
IMHO the car looked great and went like h*ll - 255bhp and under 3000lbs -
but there was a lot of competition from other similar cars (300ZX, Supra,
3000GT, etc.) and also lower-priced cars (Miata, MR2, Honda, etc.)
and in the end, they couldn't sell enough to justify it.
Some emissions issues may have also played a role, too.
Also, in the mid-90s, Mazda as a company was in bad shape, losing money
like mad, so a small-volume seller like the RX7 was destined to be a victim
of the times.
There's hope again now that things have turned around a bit,
but hopefully the Ford beancounters and styling Uniformitarians don't
ruin the Mazda individuality and commitment.
(they rushed it to market about a year too early, should have done the
testing in-house), but the real problem was price and competition.
The price was around $30K and fair enough for what you got,
IMHO the car looked great and went like h*ll - 255bhp and under 3000lbs -
but there was a lot of competition from other similar cars (300ZX, Supra,
3000GT, etc.) and also lower-priced cars (Miata, MR2, Honda, etc.)
and in the end, they couldn't sell enough to justify it.
Some emissions issues may have also played a role, too.
Also, in the mid-90s, Mazda as a company was in bad shape, losing money
like mad, so a small-volume seller like the RX7 was destined to be a victim
of the times.
There's hope again now that things have turned around a bit,
but hopefully the Ford beancounters and styling Uniformitarians don't
ruin the Mazda individuality and commitment.