Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette
Hi guys, there seems to be a lot of VS posts recently. I thought I would start one that would actually compare a real sports car to a Vette.
Do you think that an older stock 93 to 95 Rx-7 would outperform a
stock L98 or even LT1 Vette?
I'm asking because I almost bought one a few years back. I read that it does 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds, but I'm also wondering how it does on the top end, like 75 and up.
Has anyone here ever raced one of these baby's? any videoclip would be also very cool!
Thanks!
:cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by TheStef, 4:43 PM 3/3/2004]
Do you think that an older stock 93 to 95 Rx-7 would outperform a
stock L98 or even LT1 Vette?
I'm asking because I almost bought one a few years back. I read that it does 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds, but I'm also wondering how it does on the top end, like 75 and up.
Has anyone here ever raced one of these baby's? any videoclip would be also very cool!
Thanks!
:cheers: :cheers:
[Modified by TheStef, 4:43 PM 3/3/2004]
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 0
From: Gloucester Va
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TM-96CE)
RX-7's are cool cars, but they lack torque, and as we all know torque is what moves you. I had a 80 RX-7 and it was crap from a start. They are hi-rev motors because of their lack of valves, cam, and lifters. I also remeber auto crossing with a few guys that had them. 93-up body style. they never finished any race. Same went for drag racing they never finished. Also messing up. I hung out with a Rx-7 club for a few because a girl I dated was in one. Non of them could even out run my saturn. They where all gen 2 style. This included the turbo models. So take it how you want this is my experience.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
If your car is stock, don't fool with one. (LT1 included) I had a 95 RX7 TT, they are light and quick! Having said that, IME they are a pain in the butt. Mine was OK, but I got rid of it when I lost the ONE mechanic that actually knew anything about those cars. (They only imported about 1300 of them in 95) They were very complicated, and cooked themselves to death with the twin turbos. I sold mine with ~ 15,000 miles.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 540
Likes: 1
From: Taunton MA
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
but I'm also wondering how it does on the top end, like 75 and up.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 1
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (h rocks)
That's what also discouraged me from buying one, they are rare, and I'd ate to see a peace break on one of those cars $$$ and trying to find someone to fix it.
I wonder if I could take one with my Vette, I have an 88 with most the basic mods, (front frisby removed, K&N filter, MAF Screen removed), the engine is a 383/shaved heads, Flowmaster cat back but I have the stock TPI intake.
I should be installing a full exhaust this summer LT headers, high flow cat.
I wonder if I could take one with my Vette, I have an 88 with most the basic mods, (front frisby removed, K&N filter, MAF Screen removed), the engine is a 383/shaved heads, Flowmaster cat back but I have the stock TPI intake.
I should be installing a full exhaust this summer LT headers, high flow cat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
They sure look beautiful. I've spoken with a few owners and there are of course all the well-known reliability problems.
On the national-level autox scene, they ate the C4 for lunch for the most part :o
On the national-level autox scene, they ate the C4 for lunch for the most part :o
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Team Owner
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From: Athens AL
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Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
stock or stock-optioned its nothing, turbo'd you might want to be careful because he probably has other mods but if my memory serves ive beaten a couple in that year range
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (JasonL)
Well, he specifically mentioned the '93-95 model so that would be the twin-turbo.
My best friend owns one, Single Turbo T60-1, He totalled hes, so he bought a shell and we swapped everything over and painted it.... 3 "kids" built the car from nothing to gorgeous in about 11 days. which sounds more then it even really was.. cuz most days we didnt even get to work on it. Check out the link and tell me what you think.... (Im gonna make an Off topic post of the whole build and we are doing the other kid that helped Wide body 95 Supra at the moment... I want to show everyone the work)
Below is a link to the car and the process. They arent that confusing and difficult at all with the single turbo in there opposed ot the twin. All teh vacuum lines are gone.
And let em tell ya.... Single Turbo RX-7s are VERY VERY fast. The thing is nasty. It weighed in at 2600 lbs too!!!!!
Totalled
New
You L98 guys, dont go to long with even a stock one.... they will catch you top end, before the quater mile... they are high 13s stock and can drop into the 12s with minor bolt-ons...
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/32218/index.html
[Modified by StealDads67, 6:08 PM 3/3/2004]
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 21,510
Likes: 0
From: On a Wisconsin Death Trip
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (JasonL)
It's about the only car (I can afford) that I would trade my Corvette for. They are beautiful cars and it's a shame Mazda no longer imports them. The story I heard is that, with the Miata, Mazda saw no need for two sports cars and pulled the RX7. Too bad as the Miata is a pile of junk IMO. Advantage of the RX7 is power to weight - it runs like 2700 or 2800 pounds and pumps out 250HP or thereabouts. Not bad.
FWIW, my non-turbo '86 RX7 wasted a brand new 1996 Ford Probe back in the day. That '86 was a lot of fun to drive and it went almost 150K before it the guy I sold it to cracked a rotor housing because he was running straight water in it and it froze. :nonod:
FWIW, my non-turbo '86 RX7 wasted a brand new 1996 Ford Probe back in the day. That '86 was a lot of fun to drive and it went almost 150K before it the guy I sold it to cracked a rotor housing because he was running straight water in it and it froze. :nonod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (loiq)
Mazda (Ford) pulled the plug because of emissions reasons. They could not meet OBDII standards with the 13B-REW. That is why we now have the Renesis with totally different port configurations. Plus I am sure the fact they didn't like to live past 50K when they were in the hands of an aggressive driver can't help and declining sales, etc. Bad time for Japanese sports cars, sad to see 300ZX, Supra go as well.
I've had 7 Rx7s, loved them all. I am still wondering if I like the low-end kick of a V8 or the mid-range rush of a turbo better...
I've had 7 Rx7s, loved them all. I am still wondering if I like the low-end kick of a V8 or the mid-range rush of a turbo better...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
Raced a twin turbo in my 89 auto, performance axle once. It appeared to be stock & I was pure stock.
He got the jump on me as I didn't know for sure it was a race, but then I slowly caught him and passed. Ended race around 80-90mph as I recall. My L98 was clearly the winner, but I certainly didn't blow the RX7 away. It was really a pretty close match.
He got the jump on me as I didn't know for sure it was a race, but then I slowly caught him and passed. Ended race around 80-90mph as I recall. My L98 was clearly the winner, but I certainly didn't blow the RX7 away. It was really a pretty close match.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 21,510
Likes: 0
From: On a Wisconsin Death Trip
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (ninetyfivevette)
I guess I heard wrong, ninetyfivevette!
Mine never did pass emissions! :lol: Pizzed me off when they wouldn't let me drive my little car and I would see all these dump trucks and diesel pickups belching black smoke. :banghead:
Oh well.
Mine never did pass emissions! :lol: Pizzed me off when they wouldn't let me drive my little car and I would see all these dump trucks and diesel pickups belching black smoke. :banghead:
Oh well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (loiq)
loiq- I'm sure the miata had a lot to do with it, had sales remained strong, I am sure they would have come up with a way to make it pass, given modular nature of the engine, changing port configurations would just involve a different casting. But realistically, the Rx7 started out as a sports car for the masses and with each year it got further and further from thats for sure!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Malta Europe
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (loiq)
Here is an RX-7 with the best of both worlds !!!! An RX-7 with an LT-1 engine :Dhttp://members.tripod.com/~grannys/hagen.html
:auto:
[Modified by marlon88, 7:22 PM 3/4/2004]
:auto:
[Modified by marlon88, 7:22 PM 3/4/2004]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Inland Empire CA
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (wildman738)
One guy I know from HS has a turbo one. He loves the car, but last time I talked to him he told me all the strange problems he has with it, besides it using a noticable amount of oil. But hey, what you like is what you like. :cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,229
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From: Kansas City MO
Re: Mazda Rx-7 Vs 88 Vette (TheStef)
I raced a 91 RX-7 in my (then stock) 91 L98 Vette. The RX-7 had cold air, a huge wing on the back, and at least 10 stickers. (I'm not really sure how much horsepower the stickers gave the 91's but I'm sure it's a lot by his calculations). I absolutely killed him. He did not believe that mine was stock and wanted me to pop the hood. Just to make him keep wondering, I would not let him see it. I wanted him to try his luck (and get killed by) the next Vette he came across too.