For some people a great car under $1000 dollars is a vehicle that can be fun to drive and serve an economical purpose. Being a great daily commuter or a winter beater is typically a task that is sought after in a cheap used car. However for some its all about the drive and the fun factor thats why I'll go ahead and say that the vehicle featured in this profile is for those who are looking for a pure sports car.

Profile: (79-85) Mazda RX-7

In 1979 few people in America had ever driven Mazdas or even knew what the heck a "Rotary" engine was, but that all changed with the debut of the RX-7. Mazda set out to build a flagship sports car to compete against the Datsun Z series, and the RX-7 is the product of that effort. What instantly sets the RX-7 apart is the fact that it uses a very unconventional engine known as a "rotary engine". I won't go into great detail about these engines as that is an article in itself, but to give those not in the know an idea; the rotary is basically an engine that does not use pistons like a conventional engine. It uses rotors that "rotate" in a housing in a clock like motion.( remember that spirograph when you were a kid? Now you get the idea). What this allows is a very small and compact design that can provide smooth and high revving power.

The first generation of RX-7 is composed of the parts one would expect in a sports car. A small light weight chassis, high revving engine, rear-wheel drive, and in this case a "front-mid engine" placement. Stock power levels were at about 100hp which provided very respectable speed compared to competition of the time. There were also 3 models the GS, GSL, and GSL-SE each having better features than the next. The GSL-SE models can be highly sought after for their fuel injection and 5 lug hubs making aftermarket wheel choices much better than the other models.

Now on to what makes this car an All-Star. This car was a smash hit for Mazda in the early 80's and although we are only covering the first generation in this profile Mazda produced more advanced and more powerful models all the way up to 1995 in the US. So these cars can be had all day for less than $1000 dollars and most parts are still easy to find and cheap. What makes these cars so much fun is that although the early models didn't have a very technologically advanced design (no rack and pinion steering and a live axle rear end), but they provide everything that a sports car should have. When you sit in one the controls fall to your hands perfectly and even for a 6 + footer like myself the car fits like a glove. Staring at you is a big center mounted tach that the rotary engines just love to push to the limit. For those that are looking for the pure sports car experience that is offered by makes like MG, Triumph, Alfa Romeo, and Porsche this is a car that can fit the bill. The cars balance is perfect, but it is prone to a little snap over steer and the 5.5 inch stock wheels don't provide insane amounts of grip, but none of the other great sports cars of the past really did either. Even the manual steering is a pleasure in these cars as you can really feel the road and the available power is just enough to get you in trouble.

The rotary gets a real bad wrap from a lot of people, but there is a reason it has such a dedicated and enthusiastic following. The 12A engine that came in the early models is a very under stressed engine that in my opinion can hold up to the abuse just as good as anything else. ( if you want some serious horsepower there are several V-8 swap kits available that this chassis can handle with ease) Now after driving and owning a few of these vehicles I can go ahead and say that if you decide to venture out in the snow in an RX-7 do so at your own risk, and as far as fuel mileage goes the rotary is a little thirsty (expect 20 mpg avg. even from this small engine) However gas mileage and winter drive-ability is NOT what this car is all about. These cars are what gave Mazda the right to preach "zoom-zoom" as they provide a true experience for the driver not just another drive. Thats why to this day this author still owns one.