1991 Mazda RX7 GS review from North America
"A fun ride only in a world of inexpensive petrol"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Brake pads & rotors were shot when sold to me used.
Transmission got baulky & difficult to shift over time. 1st gear was the worst.
Leather seats got wet & ripped apart after shrinking.
Fried wiring in an electric window due to a stuck console switch.
Steering wheel column mounted switch unit failed, had to disassemble & clean.
Water pump failed.
General comments?
Rotary engines were a nice experiment, but it's logical why they never made much of a splash in the market. Although the tiny 1.1 Litre rotary had over 100hp and could easily rev to 7000RPM without complaining, the gas mileage was TERRIBLE! The best you could get was maybe 20 MPG, even less if you had a heavy right foot.
The radiator fan clutch connected to the engine driveshaft was a poor idea from Mazda. The fan made a loud roar when you revved the engine. A thermostatically controlled electric radiator fan would have been a better solution.
The car is comfortable, attractive, quiet, and ergonomic. It's only a 2-seater, but it has a large liftback trunk space available.
Recommended reviews
| Owning this car was one of the best experiences of my entire life. The car was awesome |
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| You know what you're getting yourself into when you buy one of these suckers |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1991 |
| First year of ownership | 1994 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1995 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.1L Rotary Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 7 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 81000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 97000 miles |
| Previous car | Oldsmobile Delta 88 |
| Date of Entry | 11th June, 2001 |