So after the domino effect of electrical problems with my 86 GXL NA, I have decided to lay it down and either sell it as is or keep it as a project car.

I have just been hooked into a superior importing broker firm here in vancouver, and i am just about to go ahead with purchasing a 1992 rx7 from japan. It has 112K kms on her, and the auction report states no problems there in.

My question is: i know in japan this car would be considered a junker, becauae of the lack of cash put into it. but here in canada she would be considered pretty high profile, with many mods and adds on her. when i first purchased my 86 gxl, i did so because i was strongly discouraged from an rx mechanic to buy only 2nd gen as they are the most reliable. the 92 i am looking at has the 3rd gen body, i am assuming that it is 3rd gen... what probelms were there with the 3rd gen rx7s? what kind of things should i be on the lookout for/aware of? the car is bought by pictures only, i am placing great trust in this broker that the car will be running normally. this broker has a very good reputation and has come highly recommended from import lovers everywhere.

i just want to know what kind of problems are common with the 3rd gen... i know i will most likely get a biased opnion from the posters here as we are all RX lovers, but please please try to be as objective as possible. criticism and bad press about the 3rd gen WONT change my opinion of the RX as i am a steadfast supporter/lover. but importing is somewhat pricey, and if i amt o expect too much hassle from the 3rd gen then i may just pay for a conversion on my 86.

please assume that the car is running and has nothing abnormal about its operation as yet...

 

the engine's only response to bolt ons seems to be detonation. you cant just slap on an exhaust or intake without risking blowing the engine. the radiators suck, the turbos suck, the stock ecu sucks. theres also the whole vacuum mess of twin turbo actuating ****, which is usally brittle, cracked and leaking by this point. i honestly believe the best thing a third gen owner can do is switch to a standalone and a single turbo ASAP. with that said, i would ask the 3rd gen section, they know more than me.

 

more engine bay room in the FC. FD's are a lot more expensive too. 12k for a stock FD can go a long way in an TII FC

 

that sounds more like worst case scenario...

radiators suck? there is someone running 600 rwhp with the stock rad. they are no worse than 2nd gen rads

turbos suck? they just aren't easily rebuildable. other than that i haven't heard of anything terrible... given they put up with such high exhaust heat.

ecu is fine for near stock levels...

do some reading in the 3rd gen section