Should you buy a USED Mazda RX-7 | ReDriven used car review
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2024
- This may be the most divisive car we have reviewed! The Mazda RX-7 has a lot of fans but also a lot naysayers. But who's actually right? Well to answer that question check out this review! Subscribe Here! 🛞youtube.com/@ReDriven?sub_confirmation=1
Looking for a used Mazda RX-7? - carsforsale.com.au/mazda/rx-7
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Skip ahead:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - What is it?
05:08 - How's the interior?
09:13 - Tech, features & safety?
10:54 - What's it like to drive?
15:56 - Pricing, fuel use & warranty
17:25 - What goes wrong?
23:54 - Should you buy it?
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#MazdaRX7 #LegendaryCar #TimelessLegacy #CarEnthusiast #CarLovers #CarReview #RX7 #JDM #JapaneseSportsCar #Turbocharged #RotaryEngine #SportsCar #ClassicCar #CarCommunity #CarPerformance #SpeedMachine #AutoMotive #DrivingExperience #CarHistory #CarLegacy
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At ReDriven, we’ll be taking you through the pros and cons of a huge range of used cars to see how well they’re going now that they’re a few years old, have thousands of kilometres on the clock, and are coming toward the end of their warranty, or maybe don’t have one at all.
Plus, thanks to our resident mechanic, Jim, you’ll find out what commonly goes wrong with them and what might need to be fixed.
Most importantly, we want to make ReDriven a voice for the most in-the-know used car experts there are...you guys.. See, you’re the ones that actually buy, live with, love and sometimes unfortunately hate the cars we’ll be reviewing.
So we want to hear your thoughts. Hit us up in the comments, or on Instagram and Facebook.
We’d love nothing more than for you to give us as much feedback as possible, so we can make this channel the best it can be.
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I have a neighbour with an FD, single-turbo rebuild. He only drives it 3 days a week (fri/sat/sun), it's always a pleasure to hear it start, warm up, and then go full send down the road.
Good for him that he actually enjoys the car by driving it!
As a Spirit R owner I can say this review is mostly spot on!
Best analogy I use to describe owning an FD; like being in a relationship with a smoking hot, temperamental woman, she has her quirks, but the ride is literally to die for and the admiring looks and comments is worth the "pain" of ownership! 😉😆
Rotaries in general aren't reliable, The issue is idiots buy them and think they're the same as a piston engine car. They aren't. The housings are aluminium and the plates are steel therefore they need to be warmed up before they are driven and cooled down before they are switched off.
They also need to be taken to redline at least once a week, otherwise they'll build up carbon and eat the apex seals. I've owned 3 rotaries and still have my 1st one over 22 years later. Still on the original engine which hasn't been rebuilt yet since 1979!!!
In a sea of already excellent voice overs, this Morgan Freeman one was just epic. And the RX-7 ... dayum. Easily one of the most beautiful cars ever made, period. I don't think there's a car I've been so drawn to yet so anxious to even consider owning as this one.
You've never driven a Maserati Quattroporte, have you? Having crossed off all the boxes, I bought the Mazza over Holdens, Fords and every other Marque in-between and couldn't justify buying anything else. Must admit, I'm in NZ so the Ozzie Grey import issues, I bought the Mazza for 1/5th of the stamp duty charges in the Premier state.
I like his voice-overs, Hes done Swedish, German etc, but never a Japanese voice over.
For all its flaws, and there are many, there is no doubt an unmolested FD is one of the most timeless exterior designs to come out of Japan, the grey final Spirit R in particular. That and the Toyota 2000GT. The car is an absolute work of art to look at. To think it's design was from the late 80s/early 90s when the concept was first brought up.
Nice vid! The safety features bit is awesome😂!
A couple details:
The fender vents are real and functional, they expel the hot air from the oil coolers through a fender liner duct out the vent.
The US spec steering wheel is fixed, does not tilt or adjust in any way.
It came with a spare wheel under a cover under the trunk carpet.
Reliable if properly maintained!
Should you buy one? YES
20 years on that is still one stunning car. Absolutely beautiful.
We agree, just something that is an objectively beautiful piece of machinery 🚘
They are absolutely gorgeous cars... But they're a Japanese Italian car.. Beautiful yet unreliable haha
Not is you LS swap them
Two people talking about a car they never drove haha
the fender vents arent fake, they work with the rather interestingly designed fender liners to channel air away from the engine bay
Almost there, they channel the hot air from behind the oil coolers.
@@neitjnf you are correct
FD ownership is a lifestyle. It is somewhat like a performance motorcycle. Plan to spend as many hours wrenching as driving. Spot on with your description of maintenance requirements. Couldn't have said it better myself. Shame you couldn't hit some twisties in the vid to show where a well sorted fd really shines.
People will put up with RX-7's personality because of its looks.
Trophy wife psychosis
Many years ago, I lost my licenses for 3 months when driving an RX7, testing the turbo. Apex seals often require replacing in these cars at 60 to 80 thousand Km. Mine had only done 67K and required apex seals. This car was non molested and frequently serviced at Mazda.
Great review
Mazda did 3 of the best chassis out of Japan. The FD, Miata and RX8.
I loved my FD and now have an rx8 . I intentionally only used them for the twisty roads though as that’s what they were made for …plus a good way to keep the kms down on the rotary engines
I appreciate the cockpit is curved to be driver focused ❤
It's my dream car, I'm driving a Miata ND for now and hopefully I can get one of these in 5 years.
Had a 330hp fc rx7 for 20years and used as a daily for many of those years, loved it to the redline every time.
Still one of the best looking cars ever made!
Having owned a classic 911 and classic RX7 i hate myself for selling both!
Awesome reviews 👍
Realistic and informative
I asked for this even though I never thought you guys would do it, thank you so much!!! This is by far my favourite car channel!!
Excellent Morgan Freeman impersonator. I would’ve liked for that alone.
Great video as always.
Achingly beautiful car, and I lust for one so badly😢 brilliant review!
Back in 2004 a local to mine had an FD on the front yard for sale at a now bargain price of $12000k because it has blown the apex seals. I was tempted to put in an offer but had no prior experience with rotaries so I thought it was overpriced for a broken car. Hindsight is 20/20
You can never predict the market you'd be surprised how many cars that were overlooked has just spiked in value!
similar story here. i was wanting a fd around the 05 yr mark and always kept an eye on prices over the yrs but got turned off due to people bad advice and listening to the wrong people. in 2019 i bit the bullet it was a dream car and said ill deal with the problems as they come. i picked mine up for 30k and here we are today at their prices. i'd say i just got in on time because i definitely can't afford to buy one at these prices. 4 years and it has been turn key for me ive probably spent 10k on supporting mods to keep it happy not power related iv'e only put 30k kilometres max since owning it but not a single problem with it starts every time. just gotta keep up with maintenance.
I’ve had a variety of rotaries. Non turbo rotaries are easy. Very regular oil changes, premix and regular tuning will get you 150,000km even when heavily ported. The turbo Rx7s really need a bunch of mods and maintenance to hold together reliably at big horsepower. If you love the sound and power delivery there is nothing else ❤
Second that! I have my pristine FC (non-turbo) in the garage and it takes care of that itch quite well. Almost nothing to buy and maintain. pre-mix anyway.
nailed it. thanks for the lovely experience. keep doing you!
FD RX7 is right up there with the Porsche 993 for robust collection potential. Who gives a flying f**k how reliable it is for daily driving.
Some people like to drive their cars instead of talking about them, I know this is just u heard of. Who does that 🙄
I have a S8 in factory spec with coilovers and BBS rims. I work on the car myself and keep costs down to a few hundred $$$ a year for oil changes. Vents are real and cool brakes -everything was functional. Behind the S8 number plate is a vent that feeds air through ducting direct to the intercooler. The air is sucked in under the number plate but for track days, you can remove plates for more flow. I like the dip in the middle of the roof that helps with aerodynamics. These cars are in their element on smooth roads especially urban streets. Rear seats were added so JDM models were able pay less tax. Locally sold they were $90K in Australia in dealerships. And my wife nags me to sell it every week....
The best-looking car of the 90s, hands down. If you just tweaked a few details (ie raising the sill height), you could easily release that design today.
Most beautiful car to come out of Japan
Reviewing an r34 gtr and fd rx7 in the same year.... 2 of my absolute dream cars!!! Having been in a 500hp fc rx7 I absolutely love them!!! So weird how they just don't stop revving, and that noise is just glorious! I am very jealous of you
Beautiful car and review thanks!
One of my +1 cars. Having just come out of a string of aircooled 911's - turbo and otherwise - and looking down the barrel of retiring in Japan, one of these is jiggers right on my radar. Finding a good JDM will be part of the "fun". A few I've seen so far are a bit ragged, and it seems a half a can of 2 stroke oil in the boot is standard. Call me crazy, but Thanks!!
Love the show especially good because you are Aussie
How were you not given a spot in the aussie Top Gear...best reviewer online!!
That is a spot on Freeman!
a rocket bunny kit is not cheap, and looks fantastic.
Who did the morgan freeman voice? I love this car. Great video. What I found funny was the morgan freeman voice and then adam straight away talking after
Great video . Which car does sell cheap parts nowadays ?
Getting an aftermarket seat that lowers the driving position by 2-3 inches is a massive improvement to the driving position. I believe it was designed for a driver height of 5'8", so much people today will sit too high in the stock seats.
I was really surprised there was no mention of the rotary's main Achillies heel - Apex seals. I remember that technology moved on and there were specialists in fitting exotic ceramic seals (quite successfully I heard).
For the most part, spot-on review..... however no one buys a sports car and cares about fuel mileage lol :) We might as well start discussing the miles per oz of oil too!
Is Jim so cool that he is the only person in the world that wears a polo shirt under a hoodie? Love your work, gents.
Rx7 is a thing of beauty, it wont last long with out proper care. But if you want a car of equal beauty thats reliable just get mx5 miata.
“I like the turbo lag”. Never a truer word spoken. Something to be savoured, to be managed.
I used to have an e2000 twin cab truck with an extended port 13b non turbo and used to regularly get 30 litres per 100k, but it was Fun.
For the most part, yes, you've got most of the points correct. I can see trying to obtain one nowadays would be a very difficult decision. Especially if you're in a relationship. As you mentioned, this vehicle is for the very hardcore enthusiast. Can't stress that enough. Very hardcore. The car does reward you like no other. You have to make sure she's in constant tip top condition. So yeah, it's either the car or your relationship.
Since I've been fortunate enough to own mine at a very young age, I've done all the proper mods and learned alot of what not to do and what needs to be done to keep this vehicle for the long haul. In truth, it's always been a dream of mine to own such a thing. Since it was meant for the "underdog" owner aka work for a living and not born into money aka never being able to afford a Ferrari! lol 🙂
Even in todays market, there's nothing like seeing a properly maintained FD. The lines on her are iconic.
P.S. The little side vents do indeed work. They expel the hot air coming from the oil coolers located at the bumper. It travels over the arch of the front wings and out the little side vents.. 🙂
16:15, as they say its not the miles per gallon, its the smiles per gallon! would love to see an xr6 or xr8 manual review sometime.
"cashed up collectors or hardcore enthusiasts" good summary. Love my RX-7's, but they're so old now that all of them need a lot of work and while I think the engines are reliable enough, it's only to about 80,000 miles (they'll get you there reliably, but also break reliably as well)
6105 is a perfect watch for this review. Well worn.
I just checked out some prices in my local area (200 mile radius of a north Chicago suburb). $54,000 for a 1993! More than double the price of a Corvette from the same year
Shouif you buy one, yes
Did I buy one, yes
Do I love it, oh my god yes
Mines as stock as the day it rolled out of the factory and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Who would of thought in 2023 a stock Mazda would turn so many heads.
It is driving purity at its finest 0:05 and I love it.
Almost as much as I love this Chanel and have been hoping for an RX7 FD video. Loved it!
One thing for the what goes wrong, rear bushes, very common issue. Heater cores, only a matter of time till they leak.
If anyone else owns one should know this quote, Is this the best car ever… “SHIT YES MATEY!!!”
Silly money for a magic car. But they really are magic to drive. They work, you get in and drive them. There is little or no learning how todrive them because they work straight out of the box. Another great video Adam. full of information and I like Jim's comments too. So accurate. but really silly money.
The equation is pretty simple, if you like these things, buy one, just don’t have it as your only form of transportation. The experience isn’t going to be boring, you only live once. Just make sure you get the best one you can afford, and if you aren’t sure what you are looking at find someone who genuinely does.
Doesn't matter, engine will require rebuilding regardless in the future
@@hobo1704 did you miss the part where i wrote ‘not your only form of transportation’? Of course the damn things are unreliable. That’s why you don’t rely on them. 🤔
Buy the FD, then just budget for an engine swap for when the rotary fails. 👍
literally what im doing now, except i recently got a coolant leak on my FD so its been sitting in the garage lol
That car looks in great shape :)
Isn't the engine behind the front axle? At least it was on the first gen.
Yes it is
Yes and 50:50 weight distribution
USDM FDs do NOT have tilt adjust. There are no FDs with tilt adjust, which is really annoying as you can't even swap it in. The FCs do, however.
can you do a 2.0 ZT caldina 2wd? i know its not as cool as the turbo one, but this is a great car, and get one with a nice little exhaust out the back sounds great and very roomy and reliable
It’s the car equivalent of a pair of luxury designer brand stiletto shoes.
Man, those back seats. Actual bucket seats. I love the ridiculousness 😂
I want that morgan freemans details!
1:17 This isn’t a series 7 FD, the blue RX7 is a series 8 FD3S.
I used mine (1995) as a daily for nearly a year, never missed a beat. Couple of things from my experience tho:
1. Before I upgraded the coilovers, the ride was so harsh as to be practically undriveable on rough roads
2. I have rust around the rear windscreen and the rear boot struts are shot
3. Door handles are sticky and feel like they are on the way out
4. Squeaky brakes, cannot figure out why
5. Got a wobbly pop up light but I think that might be from a small knock ages ago
It’s a labour of love but mine has treated me pretty well. Agree with the video about mods, if the engine has been touched at all, just run for the hills. Otherwise, if a compression test stacks up on a stock engine, yeah man roll the dice and join the club!!
I like the way you needed to touch it, not just anywhere but on ...like you said, on it's length???
HEY Mate can u review about camry SL v6 2017 or higher year please thanks
I'd like to see a video or cheat sheet on 1990's honda accord
they arent unreliable IF you rebuild it or it has been rebuilt using the latest technology and not OEM factory standard. Loom, Fuel supply, Turbo, Ignition, Air and motor. If it isnt done already with solid proof then you go in knowing its not if but when you rebuild it and factor in that additional cost.
I bloody loved this, almost like watching a comedy. Thank you 😂
“With this car its not a matter of what will go wrong, more what can you do to put off the catastrophe engine failure”
“Should you buy one? Well! This depends if your single or in a relationship” 😂😂 - really sums up a lot of car purchases doesn’t it? Single or prepared to become single again 😅
Thanks mate! You reckon we have the chops to get a netflix comedy special? 😂
Love the sound of these beasts
The title in 2023 should be "Can you afford to buy a USED Mazda RX-7?".
The shape of the vehicle is timeless although the first thing I would change is those side mirrors which frankly look like a pair of dog ears. Upgrading to a set of Ganadors would be my first port of call and then after that leave it alone.
Can we please have a video on the N-One in the background????
No TBTL rating for this video which is a suprise.
When you said it's got feminine looks but still feels muscular the first think that came to mind for me as a comparison was a female martial artist.
Did you need chiropractic realignment after trying to sit in what they call a back seat afterwards Adam?
While it'd be nice to own an RX-7 I feel like you have to have some masochistic tendencies too actually own one of them from everything mentioned in the video.
Brilliant job guys and as always have a good weekend and look forward to next week's videos as per usual 👍.
The RX-7 is the piping hot mess of a girlfriend you had in college that was toxic to you in every way but you would never fault her because the sex was mind blowing and your street cred was through the roof. That being said, We RX7 fans will forever be in denial of its flaws. What flaws ?
That is EXACTLY how I describe my relationship with my Spirit, every time I climb in I know I'm in for a helluva ride, but is she gonna break my heart?! 😂
I have the same problem with tail gating , and want to race drivers when I drive my old 911, I think they get something in their head that you have only come out to see them. I am only out for a cruise.
Tapping the break regularly will make them change lanes, it works for me.
When the rotary dies swap in a Honda K series or LS
Still is such an awesome car imo. Worth a $ or 2 these days as well......
Buy an Au falcon and review, just as fun. TRUST ME
From what I remember, the RX7 was quite a pricey car here in the UK. This is in contrast with the RX8 which was modestly priced. It reminds me of comparisons between the astonishingly expensive Toyota 2000GT and the modestly priced Datsun 240Z.
Have to admit, …. It’s the sexiest car ever to hit the market, but also the meanest stance. A car to drop the ladies panties, and still a car lovers bro machine 😛
Amen!
Come to Brazil?
Wow maserati in the background!
They put "rear seats" in because it lowered the tax implications in the Japanese market. 4 seats = lower ownership costs.
I’ll never sell mine. Yes, it needs the right work maintenance upkept, it’s a 30+ year old car, mine anyways
Good to look at but that’s it, the real deal is the Supra, do one next
Such a beautiful thing 🙂
Had to click when I saw this one!
Please do an S chassis - 180sx =D
Most RX-7s at this point have had their interiors taken apart and put back together again. Clips get broken in the process and you get rattles. I have a '93 with 22k miles, interior has never been taken apart, and there aren't many rattles.
I want one but can't afford one :(
Please do the bmw m140i next Please
Beautiful car!!!… best enjoyed when you aren’t the owner.
Iunno, ive enjoyed mine.
Maybe you will eventually be able to afford morgan freeman if you keep putting out such great content
Haha, If we ever make ReDriven the movie we'll definitely cast him as the narrator and a cameo!
😂 every1 can express but youre wrong. Good one
Looks fast even standing still a car that requires a lot of tinkering and money spent on it but it is a work of art the deign of it l have never driven a rotary car but have riden a rotary motorcycle the Suzuki RE5 and it was fast much faster than the GT750 l owned at the time
Jza80 Mk4 supra and Jza70Mk3 supra review?
One day, hopefully soon. - AK
Good or bad it's amazing how much they're worth these days.
Yanks to blame, same as Skylines
Could you guys do a BMW M2 OG or BMW M2 competition review please?
Guess what we booked in this week!? Filming in a few weeks time mate. - AK
Awesome can't wait
We looked at 2 today. Both the most expensive ones on carsales. Both died on the test drive…….we decided to buy a supra.
I've driven a few, my impressions have been, looked great went slow
I've owned and driven a few. Each different. My last had a monster single Turbo and would light up the rear tyres on the motorway at 100kmph. One I have now not as quick but still fun. Standard they are not that quick compared to many modern sports cars.
Yes when modified they can become absolute beasts, my mate had a hot RX3 with about 320 hp at the wheels, one of the fastest accelerating cars I've been in@@Stopthegreed