The Mazda RX-7 FB has always been a go-to choice for those who want to experience the rev-happy rotary engine on a budget. Being one of the first sports cars sold with a rotary engine in the United States, there are still quite a lot of used RX-7 FB examples on the market. The high-revving engine and the enticing handling still make it a better choice than the likes of the Porsche 944 and Fox Body Mustang, both of which were some of its main rivals.
The Mazda RX-7 FB was officially launched in America back in 1978 and had a production run till 1985. It was a successful moniker and there were more than 470,000 units produced in the time frame. As a result, the parts and support are still available, and it is one of the best cars to get your hands dirty. The cheap used car pricing and quirky design make it even more compelling. Available for as low as $7,000 for a running and driving example, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the Mazda RX-7 FB.
10 The Mazda RX-7 FB Looks Like A Typical Japanese Sports Car Of The '80s
Launched in an era that gave a lot of great-looking sports cars, the Mazda RX-7 FB still retains that 70's charm that many adore. The pop-up headlights, sleek integrated bumper design, and low ground clearance give it an appeal no other modern sports cars could replicate.
The side profile takes forward the design of many Japanese sports cars of the time with clean character lines, timeless 14" alloy wheels, and rounded corners. The rear spoiler and dual exhaust system give it the necessary character too.
9 The Mazda RX-7 FB Comes With A Rotary Engine
The Mazda RX-7 FB comes with a 1.3-liter 13B Resi rotary engine and is the first rotary-powered offering in the United States with the RX nametag. This is a fuel injection engine, and it makes 135 hp and 133 lb-ft of torque, helping to do the 0-60 mph run in 6.3 seconds.
When it came out, the Mazda competed with the Shelby GT 350 and MG B, and what helped the RX-7 FB to garner a fan following is due to the high-revving engine under the hood. This engine could rev all the way to 7,500 rpm and many consider the engine characteristics to be very similar to that of a high-revving motorcycle. It was pretty fast for the time too.
8 The Mazda RX-7 FB Offers Better Fuel Efficiency Than You Think
Fuel efficiency is not going to be a very important criterion for those who are looking to get the RX-7 FB as the rotary engines aren't very synonymous with frugality. Nevertheless, the Mazda RX-7 FB offers 15 MPG in the city and 20 MPG on the highway, and that is on par with the rivals with V8 engines under the hood.
The Mazda RX-7 FB can hold 16.4 gallons of fuel too. However, the tank range is not going to be very impressive, and you would need to fill it up quite regularly if you intend to use it as a daily driver. However, it has a tank range of 328 miles on the highways.
7 The Mazda RX-7 FB Has A Cramped Cabin
The interior space in the Mazda RX-7 FB is less than adequate, and people over 6'2" aren't going to be very happy during those long road trips. The headroom and legroom are slightly lower than the Italian and American rivals and that does affect its usability.
However, some of the later models came with a manual sunroof making it feel airier with the full-black interior. The RX-7 FB also has a rear seat even though it is best suited for kids due to lack of space.
6 The Mazda RX-7 FB's Engine Isn't Known For Its Reliability
One of the biggest deterrents to owning a car powered by a rotary engine is the maintenance and repairs this engine would need down the line. These engines are quite famous for burning an insane amount of oil, especially after racking up quite a lot of miles.
Apart from that, the apex seals do not last very long, and you would need to go in for a full engine rebuild at around the 80,000 miles mark according to many owners from the RX7 forums. The mediocre gas mileage and underwhelming torque rating are also characteristics provided by this engine.
5 The Rotary Engine In The Mazda RX-7 FB Isn't Very Torquey
The performance on offer from the Mazda RX-7 FB is very comparable to the likes of the Porsche 944 and Ford Body Mustang. The Porsche 944 gave out 150 hp which is about 16 hp more than the Mazda RX-7 FB. However, the torque numbers of this rotary-powered moniker are subpar when compared to the rivals.
The Mazda RX-7 FB only produced 133 lb-ft of torque with the fuel-injected engine. The torque numbers were even lesser for the carburetted engine. Along with that, the peak torque output was at a much higher RPM than all the segment rivals, making it a pain to drive through the traffic. The driver would also need to ring the gas pedal for the RX-7 FB to make a quick overtake.
4 The Mazda RX-7 FB Is Much Cheaper To Buy Than The Porsche 944
The Porsche 944 is one of the biggest rivals of the Mazda RX-7 FB. However, if you remove the exclusivity and the motorcycle-like engine character from the list, the Porsche 944 does make a bit more sense to go for. The Porsche 944 is a much more popular offering, and it is also quite a lot cheaper.
You could get a running and driving Porsche 944 for as low as $5,000. The price goes all the way to $28,000 for a pristine example. In comparison, you may not get a Mazda RX-7 FB for the same price tag as the 944. It is at least a couple of grand more expensive than the 944, and it lacks the versatility and reliability offered by the Porsche.
3 The Mazda RX-7 FB Offers Quite A Few Standard Features For The Time
The standard features list isn't going to set any benchmarks for 2022, however, it was quite loaded for its time. The standard features like a sunroof, a Clarion infotainment system with a cassette deck, and a digital clock were rather revolutionary for the time.
The other features include cruise control, air conditioning, pop-up headlights, headlight washers, power windows, and power mirrors. The 4-speaker audio system is onboard and that wasn't something the competitors offered as standard.
2 The Mazda RX-7 FB Has Many Aftermarket Performance Add-Ons
The Mazda RX-7 FB has endless mod potential making it a perfect choice for those who want to build their ride. The performance modification includes everything related to the cooling system, engine tunes, air intakes, and suspension upgrades.
Performance headers and high-performance aluminum radiators are the most common upgrades for better cooling as rotary engines are famous for very high heat emission. The Techno Toy Tuning shock absorbers, upgraded bushings, and better wheels and tires are preferable upgrades too.
1 The Mazda RX-7 FB Isn't Cheap To Own
Being a car that is 40 years old, some of the parts are a lot more expensive than you would think. There are only a handful of websites that sell rotary engine parts and the offline market is not as big as that of the Porsche 944.
In comparison, the Fox Body Mustang parts are very cheap and readily available off the shelf in many parts stores like AutoZone, Oreilly Auto, and Advance Auto Parts. Even the aftermarket parts are quite a bit steeper in price than these rivals.