UPDATED with PICS: Opportunity to buy Turbo SA22c... Oppopinions?

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
05/01/2015 at 04:54 • Filed to: None

So I have the opportunity to buy a track prepped SA-22C turbo Rx7.... It has a LSD, the engine has been prepped by a famous rotary specialist whose name I have forgotten that developps around 180/190hp instead of the 160hp it made stock, it has a “livable roll cage” that does not impeach the use of the rear seat, aftermarket suspensions (not much detail on those yet), upgraded brakes and lines, a bi-color homemade white and blue paint that will have to go as it looks really amateurish, no rust, pretty massive wheels for a 950kg car and I didn’t even check on the mileage lol...

But what do you guys think of it? I don’t know much about this generation of Rx-7... I know they are supposedly more reliable than FC or FD but what about the gas mileage on a Turbo? Since they only came out in Japan I don’t have much information of that...

And yes the price... I would pay 8500$ for it.

UPDATE: pics of the actual car. Tires on it are the “street” tires... Set of track day wheels/touge wheels next to it.

DISCUSSION (26)

SJGeorge94 > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 03:17

12a or 13b? Turbo rotaries tend to be more unreliable compared to NA due to the excess heat cooking the seals but if it was built by a specialist it showed be sorted. When was the motor rebuilt?

Flavien Vidal > SJGeorge94
05/01/2015 at 03:40

I’m pretty sure it’s a stock 12a Turbo... I don’t think 13b turbo were ever made from factory. This one was modified a little but not that way. I would have to check though.

I’ll go and take a couple pictures of it right now actually :)

SJGeorge94 > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 03:56

I just thought it a 13b might have been swapped in just do to the availability of parts and the displacement increase but yeah they came with 12a turbos.

Flavien Vidal > SJGeorge94
05/01/2015 at 04:52

A 13b Turbo would produce a lot more HP than that :)

It has 48000 miles. Wheels on it are the “street” tires along with the spare one lol.

Anyway here is the car:

Kinja'd!!!

Nerd-Vol > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 04:57

That paint really takes away from the car.

Flavien Vidal > Nerd-Vol
05/01/2015 at 05:00

Yeah but it wouldn’t stay if I were to buy it :)

pip bip - choose Corrour > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 05:58

do it!

why?

mad if you didn’t!

samssun > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 06:09

“turbo”, “180/190hp” —> wat

Single rotor? 6.5b?

Flavien Vidal > pip bip - choose Corrour
05/01/2015 at 06:10

I leave for a month in Europe end of the month, so If I were to take it, it would be when I get back. On the other end, I could also get an E46 M3 for barely more money, well maintained and taken care of... And well, 10k$ for a nice e46 M3 is rather tempting.

Flavien Vidal > samssun
05/01/2015 at 06:12

huh? It’s a 12a engine with a stock turbo on it. The US or th rest of the world never got the Turbo 12a. It’s 160hp stock.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 06:24

in that case , M3!

Flavien Vidal > pip bip - choose Corrour
05/01/2015 at 06:25

Yeah but I can drive an M3 everywhere in the world... On the other end, this kind of Rx7 is getting rarer and rarer... Not sure yet what I’ll do. I have time to figure it out anyway :)

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 06:52

Personally, I’d try and achieve my dream fantasy of owning a cool Japanese car to drive around in Japan...

samssun > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 07:16

It was a joke given the...modest...output even with a turbo. I’m sure you’ll get plenty of 13B and 20B suggestions.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 08:46

FB’s are most assuredly not more reliable than the FC. Especially with a turbo strapped on, 12a’s consume apex seals at the rate I consume Chips Ahoy, and let me tell you that’s pretty often. If you’re looking for a reliable rotary, get a naturally aspirated one and hope for the best. Don’t go turbo.

Cash Rewards > Nerd-Vol
05/01/2015 at 09:03

Except for the rear wheel arches, I like what they’re going for

Kinja'd!!!

Flavien Vidal > whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU
05/01/2015 at 09:09

Not interested in NA rotaries... On the other hand, I know that rebuilding a rotary engine is annoying the first time you do it... With a bit of training it can take a day.

It’s just annoying the first time.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 09:44

DO IT.

SJGeorge94 > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 12:10

That paint job is so 90s-early 2000s

jayjak > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 14:14

I have an 85 fb 12a that i will be turboing with the same fender flares and everything, and while savanna rx7’s are sought after and the back seats make it worth more the fact that this has been modified takes alot away from the price. An all stock savanna is worth close to this because of the rarity. A modified 12a rx7 is worth significantly less. and if it was whomped on I would definantly get the compression checked which can be hard to do depending on where you are located. I would check out RX7Club.com and post the photos as well as the info you have on the car. They would be able to help you make an informed decision on its worth.

whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU > Flavien Vidal
05/01/2015 at 15:50

I did it to my own car, but the price of apex seals is deceptively high. But hey, that’s just me, if you enjoy wrenching and learning in the process, that’s awesome!

Flavien Vidal > whiskeybusiness NOW A DANGER TO CROWDS NEAR YOU
05/01/2015 at 21:07

Well, for 12a, it seems to costs a bit less than 1000$ which is, I think reasonnable...

http://atkinsrotary.com/store/79-85-12…

But yeah, I think I just it to be done once and for all once. Then, I’ll stop worrying about those damn rotaries lol

Flavien Vidal > jayjak
05/01/2015 at 21:11

Keep in mind, I’m not in the US. Also this one is not REALLY modified. it’s a stock turbo 12a don’t forget, and tuned by some of the specialist in the domain here in Japan.

The market is significantly different here. The value of these cars is going up right now here and could at some point reach the same level of enthousiasm as 240z do (you can’t find one for less than 20k$ here and it’s still climbing...)

And compression has been checked and is good.

With a bit of restauration and a color change, this thing would be NICE. :)

jayjak > Flavien Vidal
05/04/2015 at 11:27

Very True, The market is very similar here in the US. The modifications Im speaking of are the Paint, The Cage, the Gauges (if the firewall was drilled to fit wires), Non stock steering wheel,a and the fender flares ( the ZG Flares that are on require cutting and welding to be mounted correctly. the Savanna rx-7s will be some of the most collectible, but only in completely stock form. that being said if you pick it up as a toy and not an investment (and knock down the price some) you will have a blast with this car and those modifications that may make the car worth less can defiantly make it more fun.

Flavien Vidal > jayjak
05/04/2015 at 19:32

Yes, I have a hard time judging the value of this one...

On one end it’s only got 40000 miles but on the other, the paint as to be redone. Modifications here , if they have been well made can actually fairly easily get the value of the car quite a bit higher. The paint though, will bring it way down...

So yes, as you said, I will try to get the price a bit down and we’ll start from here... If I can get it for 800.000 or 850.000 yen, then I may take it... But it has to be significantly worth less than a potential E46 M3, which I can have for around 10k$ :)

jayjak > Flavien Vidal
05/05/2015 at 10:50

Thats a tough choice, but a good one either way

If you do pick it up and dont want the back seats, I would pay for them plus shipping too :)