This is My RX7 Imported from Japan in Feb 2004
These were the first pictures from when my car was in Japan. They are the pictures I was given by the Importer of my car (The very Respected Vine Place in the Northeast) As you can see the car had been well looked after. The car is a Type S model that was the entry version for the RX7 in Japan. All Rx7's of this Type (Third Generation) share the same powerplant. Mine is the 265 HP Engine. They all displace 1308cc (2x654cc chambers) but because the Japanese engine design has six power cycles for each full revolution of the engine the UK and other Insurance based companies have classified them as 2.6 litre motors.
Thats fine by me but as the import certificate says 1308cc I am happy to pay the reduced rate for road Tax ha ha .
I had and have since driven a Number of 'Type R' cars and have been very unimpressed with the Ride (You need a Spinal Board rather than a Seat the ride was soooooo hard!) My car has the standard dampers fitted at the factory and they are just fine, no rattles or bangs that should not be there.
If you are looking to buy an RX7 then there are a few very important things you should know. Firstly the engines are not as fragile as people would have you believe. Take a look at the Subaru flat four. They have an impressive reliability record and one that is quite justified, but just have a read of Scoobynet and look at the number of people who have blown engines. This is nearly always due to a serious failure of the Nut behind the steering wheel. For example one guy was quizzical as to why his engine had let go for the second time in a year, this after a very high speed run (125 mph for hours on end ?) on the french toll roads. If you disengage your brain you will suffer !
With the RX7 the biggest single killer is compression failure due to Apex seals and in 99% of all of these cases the problem was down to OVER HEATING and the rotor housings warping. My own car suffered an apex seal failure shortly after landing in the UK.
Now consider this in Japan there roads are so congested that its doubtful that the car would have been driven for extended periods at high RPM's. However bring this car to a dockyard where the stevedore's will routinely ragg the pants of any and every car they can get to drive off the ferry you can see the problem. This of course is all compounded by the lack of lubrication in the engine as its been standing for six plus weeks. The number of cars transported in containers half way around the world is minuscule when compared to the Ro Ro type of Ship where you simply drive on and then off the decks.
I saw the pictures of the Car on Vineplace's website. I have been a window shopper there for many years and had finally decided to part with my Impreza WRX so had a chat with Paul and arranged a test drive once the car had landed. I was able to view the car "as was" on the day it arrived and this can be extremely useful as you get to see the car as it was shipped from Japan and can access the relative condition of the vehicle without being blinded bay that Autoglym Shine.
I had already made up my mind to buy the car before we even backed the car out of the showroom. It was sat there popping and banging as the lads warmed it up "Fantastic"
During our test drive we were about three or four miles from the garage when the car began to exhibit some engine malady, It was as though it had run out of fuel "missing" and such like. We got the car back to Chilton without any fuss though. We did the deal and I awaited the cars preparation. A week later I was told of the engine issue (The car had an apex seal issue and the engine would need to be replaced. TRAUMA !) Paul informed me that the car was no use to him as it was and so the engine would need to be rebuilt whatever the case. He did however give me the option of walking away from the car..
I thought about it for a few days and decided that the Engine failure was my great fortune as basically I would be getting an Immaculate RX7 in fantastic condition bodily that was going to have a new engine. The car was trailered to Jimmy's in Norfolk for the Engine work was completed to a very high standard. As you can see from the work list and cost there was no expense spared in the rebuild, everything that was found to be suspect was replaced as required. Over 4k was spent replacing as necessary any parts. Before the engine was replaced into the engine bay it received a new coat of Engine Paint and looks great !
Six weeks later the car was mine. I have been extremely impressed with the car and am very happy with the service I have had from Vine Place and would recomend them to anyone wanting to buy a Good Jap Import.
The car has behaved faultlessly during my term of ownership although I can honestly say It has become a Garage Queen. I have NEVER driven it in the Wet / Damp / Cold at all and have only covered an additional 1300 miles since the engine rebuild. I passed my Bike test last year and in a straight head to head the Bike wins everytime.
Honestly the car only gets wet when I wash it.
I attended the Japanese Thorsby Park Car show in june last year and put my car in the Arena with the other Rotary Rockets. I was very impressed with the Gas mileage I got from the car that I estimate to be about 20-23 to the Gallon over the 340 miles. YES I did drive at 60mph down the A1 / A19
The car has a couple of performance mod's , a HKS replacement panel filter that sits in the original Airbox. It has a very nice Strut brace painted in old Ford Orange (very nice) It also benefits from a Kakimoto Racing Exhaust that makes the car sound just like a Ground Attack Harrier ! and thats it. No single turbo to destry the finesse of this car. Just this year as part of the MOT I replaced the drivers door handle (extreior) with a new one sourced from the USA so that is 100% fine.
The Oil gets changed VERY frequently (three times in the last 18 months for less than 1000 miles and will be done again next week !). The radiator was completely refurbished at Hartlepool Radiators in June last year due to a crack in the core. (They re-cored the radiator and supplied a new header tank for the Radiator one week before the Thorsby Park Gig) The Car has a very nice £350.00 Radio /CD and of course a Cat 1 Alarm with Certificate.
Under bonnet the car looks wonderful but dont take my word for it click on the pictures to see them in full resolution.
As you can see from the Pictures the Car now has Anthracite colored wheels. These are the Original Alloys that were refurbished at a company called Romax in Stockton. They blasted the lacquer off then repaired any light scuffing etc. The wheels were then painted and received 4 coats clear of lacquer. They have never been cleaned with any aggressive product (Wonder Wheels and the like are Alkaline based ) and look fantastic. They are totally Unmarked and have NO KERB Damage, the tyres were all replaced as part of the PDI at Vine Place and so have about 2k on them....
I have recently replaced the interior floor mats with some high quality carpets made for the FD3S, these look a treat and really do finish of the car.
Bodily the car is in near perfect condition. There is NO ROT antwhere, all panels are as they should be and there is 100% no sign of damage or repairs.
I will be at this years Thorsby Park show (If its not sold) so the car can be viewed there.
Once I got the car home a significant amount of time and sweat not to mention the blood and tears was spent getting this Car as near to 100%. as possible. This car is as standard as standard gets and has not been abused or adorned with a dubious body kit that spoils the stunning lines of the original concept.
My Tip for Black Cars is AutoGlym's new polish followed by Ultra Gloss Protection to keep the car looking as good as New.
