Mid-Ohio Driver new to Rotarys
 

Hello all!

I recently just bought a 1983 Mazda Rx-7 GSL for $3200.00 which I thought was a fair price given the condition of the car. The Rx-7 remains mostly stock, I believe that only the exhaust end is an after market. Only 91k miles with the original engine. It is in relatively good condition, no visible rust, the paint is in great condition aside from a few spots where the decal pin stripes have rubbed off. Manual transmission that shifts smoothly. The interior is all stock and in largely good condition. Mechanically, the car is great, there are only a few problems with accessories. Someone cut off the radio antenna and the tape player does not work. If someone has experience with these models, feel free to give advice on the do's and don'ts of a rotary. I am low-income, so I want to keep it in good condition for a long time, I know these things can be expensive for even minor fixes.

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As for me, I am a 22 year old history student. I have always had an affinity for cars and driving them. When I was looking for a car before this one I had two stipulations, it had to be stick and a rotary. I've grown an interest in the design and engineering of the Wankel engine after watching Initial D and the Takahashi brothers. Ironically, I have little to know interest in racing this car nor putting many after market modifications on it, I do not feel as if I am skilled enough as a driver to try such a thing. I taught myself how to drive a manual transmission on the Rx-7, I probably should've practiced with a junker beforehand.

It is very nice to become a part of a community of drivers.

-Stavros Zhekhov

Does anyone know about Rotary or Rx-7 meet-ups in the East of Columbus area? Rotarys are not really accepted in Mopar for my area.

Welcome to the site and very nice FB! I cannot chime in on the meets in your area but keep posting and you should get access to the regional forums soon. Enjoy

[QUOTE=StavrosZhekhov;254398] I do not feel as if I am skilled enough as a driver to try such a thing. QUOTE]

Lord do I wish more people would be smart enough to think this way... Really the best way to learn your way around things is A: Do a lot of research, and B: do as much stuff as you can yourself. And not to mention if you get stuck on anything you always got a group of people willing/wanting to help out.

O yeah, and a lot of us can be quite the smartass some (most) of the time... Ill just appologise in advance for us all.

No Apology!


Or Apologize?

More posts Stavros. How is the weather?

Haha, I was pre-appologizeing for mine, and everyone elses jackassery

At this moment, I want to get this car comfortable. I want to get the radio fixed, but it'd be cheaper to get it fitted with a CD player since I have one on hand. I need to get shifting to be seamless first before I try anything tricky. My criminal record is nothing but speeding tickets, I seem to like driving fast. I used to take an old Buick at 100+ mph, but this car I am more careful about.

Weather is fair, very hot at times, I need to get the air fixed at some point, but windows down feels more natural. The occasional rain makes me wonder if I should remove the leather bra on the front bumper. I don't like driving in the rain, this car drives very different from my previous cars. I almost spun out on the freeway. I fishtailed at 65 mph on a entrance ramp.

Ooof careful..

4am on a straight highway, I didn't see much point in driving the limit then. It's hard to improve your driving skills like that without a legal circuit or anything nearby. I think the closest one to me is a professional track only. BUT this is a new car and I am playing it safe for a while. I haven't even gone over 70mph in it. For a while I thought I wouldn't need 5th gear.

Haha sounds like you are having fun with it...

If you're near Columbus Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is less than an hour north on I-71. It's the perfect place to learn how to drive the car at it's limits in my opinion. There are plenty of "track day" events during the year.

I thought you have to take one of their driving courses in order to take the track.