MAZDA RX-7 SERIES 4-5
BODY & CHASSIS
For a long time these RX-7s weren’t valuable and shoddy repairs with cheap repaints and slap-dash rust protection were regrettably common. Now that people are paying upwards of $20,000 for excellent cars insurers can also choose to repair rather than write off good cars following quite serious crashes. Look, with the car on a hoist, for transverse welds to the floor pan and signs of filler where the windscreen joins the turret. Worn or damaged hatch seals allow water and exhaust fumes to enter through the boot area and must be replaced. Hatch supporting struts are frequently weak and generic replacements should be available locally. If not USA suppliers have them for A$70 per pair plus freight.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The days of endemic rotary unreliability are long gone, but you can still break one if you try. Running excessive boost, the wrong lubricants and even fuel-system cleaners can do serious damage, however an engine rebuild costs $4000-5500. Check the mirrors while test driving for smoke from the exhaust; blue for burning engine oil, white is from the turbocharger. Check that wiring and rubber components that sit close to the turbocharger or exhaust pipes have heat shields. Mazda was at one point quoting over $5000 to replace an exhaust system, so cars with non-genuine components are probably common. The clutch in turbo cars is vulnerable to abuse and fitting a heavy-duty unit just means transferring the stress to something more expensive like the differential.
SUSPENSION & BRAKES
Standard suspension settings are biased towards a comfortable ride rather than pin-sharp handling. However, owners who fit heavier springs and sway bars may have dialled out too much of the comfort. Largediameter wheels with low-profile tyres lose the ability of the tyre walls to help with damping and send bigger road shocks into the cabin. The rear suspension is complex and needs to be professionally checked for worn components and correct alignment. Series 4 and 5 RX7s brake better than earlier cars and can be improved further with after-market rotors and pads. Quality sets of both range from $1200 to more than $2000.
INTERIOR & ELECTRICAL
RX7s used good quality trim materials but 25 years of Australian summers will see a lot of plastic parts looking washed out, cracking and perhaps crumbling. Seats sag and dashpads crack and replacements, judging by the number of web-site ‘wanted’ ads for them, are not easy to find. Test the sunroof and inspect the hood-lining for signs that water has been sneaking past the seals. Also check the electric windows on both sides, looking for scratches on the glass signifying the mechanism is out of kilter. Make sure that the headlights pop up quickly and remain that way while the engine is running.