Nakor

Hello all, Supra guy here posting some Qs for a friend who has no net. hope thats cool. (7s ROCK )

ok heres the deal, I've done some reading here, and my friend has done some calling locally to try and gather info about the car. It's an 83, 38k miles. 12-something engine, they don't know. he's driven it once, accels fine, dies dropping down to idle. will idle, but usually dies if you let it coast down, or if you let it drop quick. starts right back up NP. My friend called local shops and only one has any knowledge or willingness to service a rotor eng. and the gentleman he spoke to told him to stay far away from a 12-something eng. do to the fact that they need rebuilt every 50k miles. is there any truth to this? I read a post or two from ppl who had motors that lasted well past that, but I want some current feed back form ppl who know!
also, the seller wants 3,500 for the car..... body great, lil paint fade, lil seat wear, otherwise great shape... good price?

thanks ,
Nakor

Rogue_Wulff

A 12a (which is what all 83's came with) will last much longer than 50K, as long as routine maintenance is done.
$3500 is a bit high, even for a car with that low of miles on it.

rxtory

**** he told you the motors are shitty and needed a rebuild after 50k cause he doesnt know much about them adn soem one that ahted rotarry engines probely gave him that info

DJAngelicon

My 12a is around 154K with leaking oil around, driving hard and I tell you it accelerate with no problem at all. 12a are hardcore as long as they have good maintenance. They last like forever I think. Some dude was driving his around 290K I believe I saw on the first gen section. So yea they last long.

nothingbutrotor

I don't have a 12a, but that guy is full of **** about them only lasting 50k miles. Maybe, it would only last 50k if I rebuilt it, and i'm pretty sure I can't do anything right.

I dont really know much on whether the 13b and 12a last about the same time, but I have a 13b with 206k with everything original except transmission, alternator, water pump, and the gas cap.

rxtory

mine has 209 but i dont know if it has ever been rebuilt seems to run fine shuts has a ideling issue that should be fixed when i rebuild the carb

Rotary Weasel

a little over 140k on mine..seems to run fine..but being a rotary I expect it to go at any moment now...*snicker...cough..ahem...oh I kill me...it's the most well put together 20+ year old car I've ever owned..ignorance is bliss for the piston crowd...bah..to any 'mechanic' who blindly spews that kinda bs..I say good day sir...GOOD DAY!

Paradox

iTrader: (1)

sounds like it just needs a lil tweaking to the carb. try adjusting the carb in this pic

supra guy here too, but the RX is a damn fun little car.

Kentetsu

Could be a vacuum leak, but most likely something very minor as long as the power is there and she doesn't smoke horribly.

As far as reliability goes, mine is getting ready to cross over the 200,000 mile mark and its never been touched internally. I suppose a rotary might need a rebuild after only 50k if you drove it like a little old lady every day and let the carbon build up in it. But as long as you drive the hell out of it every day they seem to last forever (this is strictly based on my own experience, which has been awesome so far).

Rotarys are the only engine you can treat the way you really want to treat it, without the guilt of actually abusing it. They love to rev, and they need to rev on a regular basis in order to keep them clean and to keep the apex seals from getting clogged with carbon. Mine goes to the redline several times a day, every day.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Find a new mechanic. A well maintained 12a, in a 1st gen, will usually outlast any other rotary Mazda produced.

kenn_chan

Many of the original rotaries in the states, (and here) had problems that the dealers couldn't figure out at first, and the first couple of versions R100 etc had problems lasting more than about 50k miles....
so the rotaries got a bad rap from the get go. Many of the early problems were solved by the time the first RX-7 got sold, but unfortunately the boinger crowd wouldn't let the memories fo the first couple of years die, and they constantly say the same crap 50k this 50 k that. thats all old history, water under the bridge.

sounds like a vacumn leak, or maybey the idle circuit on the carb is clogged or misadjusted.

kenn

trochoid: slow my *** you typed that out a lot faster than I did

kenn

GavinJuice

either vac leak or maybe dashpot needs a little upping. whats the idle at?

BIll Burdette

The original 12A didn't have the nitride coating and would last till 50 or 60k. An 83 should last much longer. I had 135k on my 85 and sold it while running perfect and with perfect compression.

Wodihor

I have a '83 GS. 172k on it. Has some trouble durning cold weather starting. but i have not done a tune up to the car sence i got it. I have changed the oil and started putting the 2-cycle oil in the gas even though i beleive that my oil enjector is still on the car. also i have an oil pan gasket leak.. really bad kinda.. just have to make sure that i keep an eye on the oil until i can get a place to get it fixed. really truely a great car.

OtakuRX

iTrader: (1)

Ok, I don't always like to admit this but I beat the **** out of little 12a. She gets revved regularly to 6500 to 7000 then shift, I premix ~16oz to tank (I think the OMP is still working so I know rich but she likes it) and I have done this since I bought it at 190k miles and I am up to 220k w/ new carb anc exhaust and she hauls butt, and never lets me down. She even did well the one day I took her out to play in the snow. And as it gets colder they seem to run better.

Wodihor

I agree that most cars run better in the cold weather. reason i understand is that cold air is more condenced. so your air intake is more. i have also gotten on my 12A also.. up to 6.5 -7k shifts. no problems pulling. 55-60 in second gear and still wanting more. i do think that she will behave better when i get the time and $$ to tune her up a bit.

Nakor

Thank you all, my friend has decided to step into the realm of rotary and buy this car. once his net is back on you'll prolly all be able to greet Orbill and his new perchase. again thank you all for your time and voices!

Nakor

Orbill

Thanks to all the replies about the RX-7 I do believe i will like this car will post some more info as I learn more about it.
Thanks Orbill

RXDad

iTrader: (2)

I think you will be happy with your decision.

Welcome to the forum.

RXDad

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Welcome to the club man! For what its worth, my 85 GSL has about 280 on the engine, and I beat the living hell out of that car TRYING to kill it to have an excuse to get a rebuilt engine for it. I literally pinned the throttle to the floor multiple times, in 1st and 2nd gear for FAR too long, I would estimate spinning it to around 10K RPMs needlessly. It now sits with a blown transmission and will start right up and drive as long as you start in 3rd. Damn car showed me.

~T.J.

Tim Benton

iTrader: (1)

I had 200K on my 80 when I sold it. Still ran fine so I guess the BS 50K statement has been dedunked by the many replies on this thread

Tim

Kentetsu

Welcome to the forum Orbill. Tell Nakor that I asked if I could have an orange.

Nakor

sorry, you can't have an orange, I got tired of them, switched to apples. wanna an apple?

Nakor

Orbill

i told him he said that he has a reply for you on the orange when he gets back home
by the way i am told that the rotory engines dont get good milage at hiway speeds or around town any thoughts from anyone

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

A few members have managed to get 28-30 on the highway, though this is rare. With the engine running in tiptop shape and driven conservatively, 22-25 is reasonable, highway. Right now, I'm getting 13.5, in town, on my 1/2bp-1/2 sp while breaking the engine in and keeping it under 5k rpm. It is running quite rich. Once it is broken in and I can use it's potential, I expect it to go down with more right foot action.