V-12. Shooting brake. That badge. Didn’t matter. 58% of you want that CS in your garage. But how loyal are you? How much does an engine matter? What if we took it away, and replaced it with something better, even if it broke the “rules”? An RX-7 with an LS swap?
It’s an all-RX battle in honor of 7s day.
The FD Mazda RX-7
See the 1993 RX-7 LS swap listing here
The 90s are long over, but the cars of the era still draw a crowd. That’s why 7’s day, or July 7 (7/7) will always be a thing. Despite not even making an RX for well over a decade, the Mazda rotary is still beloved by many.
Well, sort of loved. It’s a difficult engine to be in a relationship with. Oil leaks, a dwindling parts supply, and the fact that few knew how to work on (or care for) these rare engines means you will have your patience tested at some point during ownership.
But the RX-7, and specifically the FD generation, was so good-looking and nimble. What if we just put something waaaay more common, reliable and powerful in the bay? Will it kill the FD’s soul?
1993 Mazda RX-7 with an LS swap
We’re going to visit Cars & Bids this week, because they have two RXs going against each other. First, this LS-swapped car:
- Current bid is to $17,000
- A 5.7-liter V-8 from a Pontiac GTO mated to a six-speed manual (the RX came with a five-speed).
- How many miles on this car? Even Doug DeMuro can’t find that answer.
- Two accidents – one minor, the other unknown
- Some of the bodywork is…misaligned.
- The interior has recently been redone but it still needs some work if you ask me.
- The rear pillow bushing are worn out – guess you’ll be sleeping on your arm.
- The car has no heat.
In the world of Talk Me Out Of It, this RX might just be the worst yet. But I must admit that this chassis with that engine has me smiling – it’s gotta be a thrill. Still, it’s not really the true RX-7 experience you might be looking for, so…
1993 Mazda RX-7
This car might be the “same” as the one above, but they couldn’t be more opposite:
- One owner since 1995
- Some gaps in the CarFax history. Discomfort ensues.
- Pretty much stock – catless downpipes, an EGR valve block – it’s basically as Mazda left it.
- Oh man, that blue..Montego? Nice!
- Some wear and tear that’s normal for a car this old – I think it’ll need some work to make it factory-fresh
- From 2016 to 2020, this RX-7 was out of commission, during which it received a new engine and many other things.
- Peep the car start video and let that giant blue cloud of oil smoke envelope your sense of fear.
- Current bid: $20,250
As far as FDs go, this one isn’t terrible, but the gaps in reporting are a bit scary – was the odo rolled? I suppose in the end it doesn’t really matter – this is a car that you can work on and replace parts as you see fit, but will be fun regardless. The owner in the comments explains, but this is the internet and the world is cruel, so it’s always buyer’s risk.
How much for how much?
This is a different kind of Talk Me Out Of It because honestly, both of these options stink. “But Mike, what do you expect?”
I expect a better history. I expect cleaner cars. We might as well find an FD in the junk yard and fix it up. I say that because these cars are likely going to be bid much higher than where they currently are. If they remain low and you want one, I suppose these are as good as any.
And has the market already spoken? The “original” RX-7 is currently bid higher, and has more days remaining. But if you dismiss the LS swap, you might be missing the point: making a fun car more fun, while making it easier to live with. Feels like a soul question to me.
Which do you want?
Want your car reviewed?
If you live in the tri-state area and want me to check it out, send me an email!
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