Savanna RX7 convertible . . . good or crap? - GT-R Register - Official Nissan Skyline and GTR Owners Club forum

gtrlux · 17th August 2008, 04:30 AM

Made a sunday morning drive today to the icecream shop and stopped at a crappy dealer on the road, had lots of clean cars thought and has got a very tasty black Savanna RX7 convertible Turbo.
Here are the pics, he wants around 3k for it, thought millage is obscure. The car has the brown leather trim (rare for japan) and some nice afermarket wheels. I really love the Savannas, great nostalgic looks and back then a real Porsche competitor for a bargain price . . .

Some one has got experiences, how much for a Savanna engine rebuild?

simmie · 17th August 2008, 08:21 AM

I have two of these , not sure what I am going to do with them, due to a change of plans with the GTR.

I was goimg to build 1 drift car out of them . Be intrersted to see what can be done with it and how much hassle it is.

gtrlux · 17th August 2008, 08:47 AM

Hi Simmie ,
are your cars reliable, or are they fragile motors? Have heared bad stuff and good stuff about the engine, every one waffles that the post 1988 Fcs have so much better engine updates, thought others tell me the pre88 are better for tuning

I just want to know what to look at when buying one, rust must be an issue, but I worry about the Turbo engine, can a 22 year old Turbo still do the job and how long do thoses old rotaries hold???

WPL · 17th August 2008, 09:25 AM

Love the look of the FC... arent they just normal rotary engine you get from a normal turbo FC?

gtrlux · 17th August 2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WPL

Love the look of the FC... arent they just normal rotary engine you get from a normal turbo FC?

Sorry what do you mean by normal? The non turbo rotary was only availble for the export market as far as I know, all japanese are Turbos.
I think this one has 200HP

nozza1 · 17th August 2008, 10:57 AM

love the seat, why is it the older cars always come better equiped!

Miguel - Newera · 17th August 2008, 11:29 AM

Hi Chris,

The Savanna as a manual is rare. The roofs are usually black - so this one appears to have been changed. The original roof material also suffers from cracking by the B pilar, so check to make sure it's all OK. There are two things to watch for on rotary engines. Check the coolant is a nice green colour and that the engine fires up right away when it's cold. If it only runs on one rotor initially then the water seals may be gone. Get a compression check. Above 7.5-7.5.7.5 on each rotor is good. Most likely you'll get around 6.8 - 6.9. 7.0 ish on each rotor, that indicates a worn but OK engine...
If there's a large difference, say 7.5-6.5-6.6 then you have a worn rotor tip and are looking at an engine rebuild soonish. Look also for oil leaks and for signs of a worn turbo, etc. The nice thing about rotaries in Japan is you can buy a complete exchange engine from Mazda for around 500,000 Yen including all ancillaries. You will need to get it swapped, or DIY if the eventuality comes though. Rotaries are fun.... Sorry you didn't get a go in mine, perhaps next time you're in Tokyo.

BTW, the leather on those seats usually splits. Take a close look in the driver's side to make sure it hasn't been split and poorly stitched back together. These Savannas won't usually rust in areas where there's no heavy snow in Japan.

gtrlux · 17th August 2008, 12:43 PM

Thanks Miguel, the dealer of course says its perfect, which I don't mind him to say, as the customer who buys it, will rip him in parts if the car breaks after only a few days or weeks . .lol

If there is no rust and the car hasn't been accidented it would be a cheap way to get the hands on a project car

. Engine rebuild lies on the hand. What power can I expect from the 13B?
There are some really nice widebody kits on the market for this car, looks just brilliant as convertible . . . . actually my dream would be to have a Savanna Convert. and an S13 Silvia convertible . . . the main problem of th dream being to have a parking to put so many cars in japan . .lol

Snowgasm · 17th August 2008, 01:51 PM

Wow, as you say: "tasty" car. Though it looks as if it has had a rough life (dents).

Why are the wheels on the back different from the front? A new Jap. trend of has it been used for drifting?

gtrlux · 17th August 2008, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowgasm

Wow, as you say: "tasty" car. Though it looks as if it has had a rough life (dents).

Why are the wheels on the back different from the front? A new Jap. trend of has it been used for drifting?

Yep got some dents, but would swap, in case I buy it, anyway front bumper, wheel arch fenders (wide body) and rear bumper and probably paint the entire car new . . . basicly if the engine holds for a year or two I would be happy, because changing every thing on this car doesn't make sense now, cos you get one with a broken engine for 1 Yen at the junk yard for a rebuild project.
Wheels are probably for drift or chav life style, or just the dealer fault . .lol
Anyway no worries, would make that dealer cry if I start breaking his sales prices one after an other and get this car for a nothing at the end. . .

simmie · 17th August 2008, 03:00 PM

I have had an FC2 for a long time almost since new

The engine has always been OK no major problems , Always went through exhausts and clutches . However mine is a 12? not a 13B no turbo

Hence drift project rather than Drag. In terms of power you can with the right mods get an excess of 400 , intercooler , tubbies, induction, injectors

17th August 2008, 04:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
gtrlux Registered user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: with mom or in the garden Posts: 5,064	Savanna RX7 convertible . . . good or crap? Made a sunday morning drive today to the icecream shop and stopped at a crappy dealer on the road, had lots of clean cars thought and has got a very tasty black Savanna RX7 convertible Turbo. Here are the pics, he wants around 3k for it, thought millage is obscure. The car has the brown leather trim (rare for japan) and some nice afermarket wheels. I really love the Savannas, great nostalgic looks and back then a real Porsche competitor for a bargain price . . . Some one has got experiences, how much for a Savanna engine rebuild?

17th August 2008, 10:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
nozza1 GTROC Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 701	love the seat, why is it the older cars always come better equiped! __________________ . . . . . . . . . . . AUDI QUATT TURBS 20V, LANCIA INTERGRALE EVO 2, GOLF TDI ANNIVERSARY CHIPPED 250 BHP, KAWASAKI ZX7R

17th August 2008, 12:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
gtrlux Registered user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: with mom or in the garden Posts: 5,064	Thanks Miguel, the dealer of course says its perfect, which I don't mind him to say, as the customer who buys it, will rip him in parts if the car breaks after only a few days or weeks . .lol If there is no rust and the car hasn't been accidented it would be a cheap way to get the hands on a project car. Engine rebuild lies on the hand. What power can I expect from the 13B? There are some really nice widebody kits on the market for this car, looks just brilliant as convertible . . . . actually my dream would be to have a Savanna Convert. and an S13 Silvia convertible . . . the main problem of th dream being to have a parking to put so many cars in japan . .lol

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17th August 2008, 08:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
simmie GTR Register Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Glos'r Posts: 134	I have two of these , not sure what I am going to do with them, due to a change of plans with the GTR. I was goimg to build 1 drift car out of them . Be intrersted to see what can be done with it and how much hassle it is.

17th August 2008, 08:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
gtrlux Registered user Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: with mom or in the garden Posts: 5,064	Hi Simmie , are your cars reliable, or are they fragile motors? Have heared bad stuff and good stuff about the engine, every one waffles that the post 1988 Fcs have so much better engine updates, thought others tell me the pre88 are better for tuning I just want to know what to look at when buying one, rust must be an issue, but I worry about the Turbo engine, can a 22 year old Turbo still do the job and how long do thoses old rotaries hold???

17th August 2008, 09:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
WPL GTR Register Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Manchester/London Posts: 335	Love the look of the FC... arent they just normal rotary engine you get from a normal turbo FC?

17th August 2008, 11:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Miguel - Newera GTR Register Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tokyo, Japan. Posts: 613	Hi Chris, The Savanna as a manual is rare. The roofs are usually black - so this one appears to have been changed. The original roof material also suffers from cracking by the B pilar, so check to make sure it's all OK. There are two things to watch for on rotary engines. Check the coolant is a nice green colour and that the engine fires up right away when it's cold. If it only runs on one rotor initially then the water seals may be gone. Get a compression check. Above 7.5-7.5.7.5 on each rotor is good. Most likely you'll get around 6.8 - 6.9. 7.0 ish on each rotor, that indicates a worn but OK engine... If there's a large difference, say 7.5-6.5-6.6 then you have a worn rotor tip and are looking at an engine rebuild soonish. Look also for oil leaks and for signs of a worn turbo, etc. The nice thing about rotaries in Japan is you can buy a complete exchange engine from Mazda for around 500,000 Yen including all ancillaries. You will need to get it swapped, or DIY if the eventuality comes though. Rotaries are fun.... Sorry you didn't get a go in mine, perhaps next time you're in Tokyo. BTW, the leather on those seats usually splits. Take a close look in the driver's side to make sure it hasn't been split and poorly stitched back together. These Savannas won't usually rust in areas where there's no heavy snow in Japan.

17th August 2008, 01:51 PM	#9 (permalink)
Snowgasm GTR Register Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Groningen - The Netherlands Posts: 375	Wow, as you say: "tasty" car. Though it looks as if it has had a rough life (dents). Why are the wheels on the back different from the front? A new Jap. trend of has it been used for drifting?

17th August 2008, 03:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
simmie GTR Register Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Glos'r Posts: 134	I have had an FC2 for a long time almost since new The engine has always been OK no major problems , Always went through exhausts and clutches . However mine is a 12? not a 13B no turbo Hence drift project rather than Drag. In terms of power you can with the right mods get an excess of 400 , intercooler , tubbies, induction, injectors