1987 Mazda RX7 Convertible review from North America

The car has been very reasonable for a "toy".

I purchased the car used in 1991 with a few major fixes installed by the dealer:

1) newly installed rebuilt engine. The prior owner made one last oil change prior to trading it in, and managed to blow the original engine (left out oil plug, or something like that!)

2) repaired drivers seat where the side bolster had ripped.

3) repaired one or two body panels to fix dings.

Since then: two major tune-ups (expensive, as expected), three new batteries, new exhaust system, all new tires, replaced top once (needs it again).

Only current problem is that it is in storage too much... When I pull it out after 3-6 months, the battery is dead, and it takes me half a day to get it all charged up.

The top is heavily ripped on both sides along the creases that form when the top is lowered. (But, it is a convertible... I have no reason to drive it with the top up...)

I purchased it because it is the best looking convertible of all time (OK, my opinion...). I still feel it looks great, but I purchased a Volvo C70 last year (with the folding hard top), and now that is all I drive. The Volvo is now the best looking convertible when its top is down. Of course, it looks like a typical high end sedan with the top up, so the RX7 still wins on overall convertible looks. Why the Volvo:

- It has 4 seats (I have 2 kids now)

- Automatic transmission (I am tired of working hard when driving. must be getting old...)

- With the folding top up, it is almost as quiet as a sedan.

-- two words - "Nav System"!!

I am tall (6' 4") and I find the car very comfortable to drive. (Porsche 914 is the only sports I have had that had more leg room.)

I have a 1987 model RX7 Convertible 5-speed, the first year of this body style. Supposedly only 500 were imported to the US that year. So, that makes it rare. Replacement parts are very rarely listed for the 1987 model year. (I find most of the 1988 parts are fine in the 1987 car.) But, I wish my car had:

-- Automatic transmission

-- The 1988 (and later) model tail lights

-- Airbag (s) (driver airbag, then passenger airbags did not show up until later years.)

With a little attention to oil changes and driving calmly, I average over 10MPG, which is not bad for this type of car.