Mazda Made The Best Ever RX7.. and Nobody Bought it - Mazda RX7 FD

Mazda made the best ever RX7.. and nobody bought it. Today I find out why and drive to work out if it they really are as good as people say.

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[jeff]

Had two of these but 1994 model years. One was a stocker with an automatic. One day one of the turbos leaked oil, caught fire and burned to the ground. Not knowing when to quit I bought a highly modified 94 with a large single turbo kit, stand alone engine management, performance exhaust, upgraded intercooler and performance clutch. Dyno’d at 435 RWHP. 1 week into owning it, the apex seals exploded, took out the Turbo. Rebuilt the engine with 3mm apex seals and purchased a replacement turbo. Owned it 3 years and rebuilt it twice more. Overheating was a constant issue to chase despite conservative tuning. Loved the looks, feel and performance of the car but it was just too damn demanding. My wife called it a high maintenance mistress, I agreed and dumped it. Jack, honestly my RX7 took even more work than the Ferrari InfluEnzo

[Calislav]

Mazda 90’s design language is gorgeous

[dalesideroadclassiccarwork]

I worked for mazda as a senior tech in the late 90s. The FD Chassis rex was the by far best rex. Engine problems occurred when owners used them as shopping trolleys. The engine needs to get stinking hot before being revved up to around 9 thousand revs to centrifuge the tips out. Then, you would usually get a 4-foot blue flame blow out the exhaust on the over run. Momentarily, the rotary engine needs to be revved until you get a bleep from the dash on roadtest for the engines to last longer.

[StuartMcFarlane]

I bought a 93 touring when it came out. Still have it. Single owner, mostly stock. Still gets lots of attention on the road. It’s a real pleasure to drive. Love it.

[neoanderson]

I’m biased since I’ve owned mine for 26yrs. I’m the 2nd owner from an end of lease. Grateful the first owner took care of it from the start. She’s an absolute blast to drive. She’s a 94 but has been upgraded with some updated factory parts from the later model years. She’s more of a Mazdaspeed version now. Just certain parts. 😎
I’ll never sell her. She’ll always be with me. 👏🏻😎

[vpanday]

This has very quickly become one of my most favourite motoring channels. Thank you Jack. You have an awesome style about you that makes all your videos something to look forward to. Yours and Jason Cammisa’s are the two I don’t click on immediately, only because I have to make the time to be undisturbed when I watch them.

[bigbanana]

In Australia, I was lucky enough to own a 1995 Rx7 SP. Which was a homologation special built for the Eastetn Creek 12 hour endurance race. As mentioned before, it dominated the previous few years Bathurst 12 hour race in standard form, but more serious competition from Porsche and BMW in 95 meant the car needed to be made faster. Long story short, it won the race comfortably and cemented its place in Australian production car history.

[cib]

A few small corrections.

The 96 RZ didn’t come with those Mazdaspeed seats. They came with carbon backed Recaros.

Also, for the twins systems both turbos were the same size. One came on and then the second would come in and join the first one to redline.

[PatrickHostler]

I think they are absolutely stunning cars, and still look amazing today… but that Rotary engine and its inherent fragility always put me off getting one. Another fantastic review sir!!!

[PSIOnTheDaily]

Easily one of the most beautiful cars ever made. I’ve driven countless, and a stock Spirit R Type A is still on my bucket list. These communicate the road, grip and power as if they’re one with the driver.

[jamiespinks]

The RX7 FD won four straight 12 hour production car titles in Australia from 1992 - 1995, beating the likes of Porsche 968 & 911RSCS, Honda NSX and Nissan Skyline GTR. It is criminally underrated compared with the other 1990's Japanese sport cars.

[shingosshojiopoulos]

Its not that nobody bought it, its that Mazda only brought 1150 cars to Europe

Here in Greece it was very popular and the dream car of a lot of people

[canucklehead]

I can recall returning home from an event in Calgary through the mountain passes of Banff and Jasper National Parks in my much loved Toyota Supra Gen2 following a new little Mazda RX7 FD and there was absolutely No Way on dry roads I could keep up with that little car. I caught up to him in Jasper at a gas station to ask how he liked it, and he responded with "he Loved it!", "But, having to add 2 stroke oil to the gas to lube the apex seals was a pain, as was keeping it's backside planted in wet weather, much like you found out. I thought they were gorgeous, but not as gorgeous as the 1st gen cars from 1978 to 1983-ish, those were just what a sports car should be, little, long bonnet, quick and the best handling this side of an exotic. Great review as always Jack, Happy Christmas, and all the best to you and yours!!! - Dave

[RobertRobert-dr]

No body might have bought it then but no body can afford to buy one now! A gem

[kallsop]

Price was the biggest issue in the States. The Mazda was the least expensive with the base model at ~$28k US and the twin turbo was into Corvette pricing.

People were shopping the RX-7, 300ZX, 3000 GT VR and Supra against the Corvette, 944 Porsche, BMW M3 and even used 911's at the time.

[KapiteinKrentebol]

Possibly the sexiest car ever to come out of Japan.

[lunabouch]

It was an amazing upgrade from the original RX7. Thanks Jack as always!

[bigfella]

These Mazda rotaries are a hell lot of fun. I had a RX4 back in the day and you really had to have a bit of respect for it when applying the power otherwise it would spit you off the road.

[gairnmclennan]

Commonly was called the "Bat mobile Rx" in New Zealand. Almost never see one on the road today. There is a strong Rotary engine crowd and some of the best drift engine tuners specialise in Rotaries. 11 thousand RPM. Very simple engines but they need new seals on the rotor tips. Mad Mike is a famous drifter and put a 4 rotor engine in a Maclaren P1.

[RichardAube-fw]

When I was a kid, I had a R100 coupé... Great car!! In 1979 I bought an RX7... At the time it was amazing!!!