1984 Mazda RX7 GS review from North America

Speedometer floats at 80mph.

Oil Pressure Gage failed.

Poor Electrical output (i.e. Battery charge fluctuates with blinkers on)

Right headlight refuses to open (On occasion).

Pedal Wear as well as, brakes, tires, paint...etc.

Rear glass window latch loose.

Sunroof, minor water leak.

I just want to say that in my own opinion, this is a Great first car. It's reliable (Thus far), quick, and so much fun to drive. While it is by far not the fastest thing on the road, you can impress your friends by taking down their brand new Honda's with your 20+ year old POS. I kid you not.

It's got aggressive styling and girls seem to love it. The stock exhaust is throaty for a Japanese car and sounds ridiculously good with even a moderate exhaust system. In my eyes, this is a true sports car. It doesn't have tons of horsepower like a muscle car, but it does well on a track. It handles like a dream (Even without power steering or even assist!) it accelerates fairly quick for it's class, and it's just fun to drive. Period.

Like all cars, there are a few problems. First and foremost, the Power Steering. It would help, a lot. A speed, the unassisted steering is great. At low speeds (Say, in a parking lot), you better have done your push-ups, it's a pain.

While the car has a nice high red-line (7000rpm), the Wankel rotary engine doesn't shudder, shake, or groan when it approaches or surpasses the redzone. It's a little to easy to let each gear go a little high, because you don't catch the screams of the engine as you do with most other cars.

Manual Choke. Fun to mess with at first if you've never seen one... But it gets old. Really, really old.

I still have to say that this is the best car I ever owned. With more than 300,000 miles on the same tranny and engine and no overhauls, doubt many can contest it's reliability. But like all beauties, it has it's flaws.