1988 Mazda RX-7 Convertible | Retro Review

[@bghoody5665]

They're one year early on discussing a Mazda version of a small, British roadster sports car replacement.

[@ctre97]

I was going to say that they would be eating their own words in about a year's time

[@a.person7825]

Yes, Mazda will do it again! I miss it when cars had individuality and quirkiness.🥺

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I had an 87 Convertible in Black on Grey that I bought in the early 2000s.. By then very few people knew exactly what they were looking at! I had so many people coming up to me who thought it was a BMW or a Porche or Austin or anything other than what it truly was.. I kinda got a kick out of it. You could take this car anywhere riding in style, from Beverly Hills to Laguna Beach and I often did. The most fun was taking long drives on PCH right next to the ocean.. Loved my RX7 Convertible!

[@xxxpensive1415]

Yes same thought here especially in the mid or late 80's

[@tinystar3010]

I don't remember a FC turned into a convertible, and with factory BBS wheels too. What a time to live.

[@milfordcivic6755]

The wheels looked nice but hard to keep clean

[@johnjones393]

Those BBS wheels ended up on the 93 Miata special edition.

[@VideoAmericanStyle]

Headphone speakers! That’s something you don’t even see offered in many convertibles today. Neat.

[@kalefajita2722]

Linda Ronstadt on the radio!

[@JoshuaNewhook]

Wow, $24k is over $60k in today's money! That's more than a Toyota Supra 3.0! At that time, a GTI was half the price (around $12k, $32k adjusted for inflation)

[@GarrisonHundt]

This is probably the car I know the most about ever

[@milfordcivic6755]

I haven't seen this generation RX7 in 30 years

[@roddydykes7053]

Lots in Saskatoon Sask, way more than the FDs anyway

[@RomanJockMCO]

You know when the Mazda engineers and executives saw that intro they just giggled a bit to themselves. Just wait until next year, John. Just wait.

[@BlackNAVYAmericanVET]

Wait till the MX5 comes out !

[@nateoverthehorizon1176]

I’d dream of having one of these

[@HenrySchecker]

They had no clue about the miata on the horizon. Talk about great British roadsters lol

[@AngelLopez-hc2df]

❤ Toyota GR Corolla ❤️

[@roddydykes7053]

If you closed your eyes you’d think he was talking about the Miata in the intro. How far Mazda has fallen

[@DizzyMan24]

Wow. They're way slower than i thought.

[@davidaubin3902]

1:46 John: Remember, however, that this is a sports car built for the driver's pleasure, not the passenger's luggage! LOL

[@Mx5pro]

Rx7 convertible was truly stuff of dreams coming true

[@kokocostanza2036]

"They're quite secure, when they work." Well that's certainly reassuring.

[@tinystar3010]

Everything works 100% of the time, 50% of the time.

[@AWDfreak]

​@@tinystar3010Just like a Taser.

[@ctre97]

I'd kill for one of these even these days, though i gotta say the 1st gen might be one of my favorite looking cars of all time

[@zahemi914]

True indeed.... I always crazy in love with the 1st model design...(even prefer the 1st gen model design than the later facelift model)

[@klausschwab11]

I owned a 89 GTU Coupe and a 91 Turbo II Coupe for years and daily drove both. Out of all the cars I ever owned they were my favorite. I wish Mazda would make a modern version but I know the Rotary will never come back sadly.

[@GeeEm1313]

This generation of RX7s were everywhere in the 80s and early 90s. I miss those days.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

The Mazda rotaries were ruined not only by emissions laws (diminishing the thickness of apex seals), but, also the fact that people didn’t treat them they way they should be treated - like an exotic Italian two-stroke. You need to top of the oil regularly, if not also adding two stroke pre-mix into the gas tank. And they should be allowed to idle and warm up before being driven, especially with a turbo. And never short-shift them, once warmed up, let them get into the high rev-range.

[@pjsneeringer5942]

AMEN! RED LINE ONCE A DRIVE

[@ctre97]

It's crazy how much tech that was developed for this car ended up in the miata

[@hellkitty1014]

Such a good looking car with excellent lines, and has aged gracefully. The rotary will always be novel ICE engine and while they did have oil consumption issues, they weren't terrible to work on.

[@KenanTurkiye]

I would love to have a garage with all series of the RX7's, another with RX5/Cosmo's, another with RX4/Luce's, another with RX3/Savanna's, (never was a fan of the RX2's so let's skip that as this imaginary garage is costing me an arm and a leg) :)) Love rotaries, especially old style ported (lbridgeported) N/A rotaries, braaap braaap braaaaaap !!

[@albear972]

5:26, Mazda added those 2 gauges on the extreme left only for John Davis. As you can see, they were afterthoughts.

[@bobkaiser8782]

I owned a 87 GXL years ago. Wanted the convertible so badly.

[@jeremyanderson1139]

I'm not surprised that the Miata easily outsold the FC RX-7 Convertible. If Mazda put a rotary engine in the Miata, that would be sweet

[@303nitzubishi4]

Who knew John Davis would get his wish of a small affordable British roadster only a couple years later. And from the same Japanese automaker!

[@DavidJCarrell]

I had an ‘88 GXL and a ‘95. I daily drove the ‘88. Both great cars.

[@kevinbarry71]

I remember this video when it originated; and I have the same basic thoughts. Stop talking about British traditions; they forgot about the part that calls for massive leaks when it rains, electrics that work occasionally, and oil that leaks everywhere.

[@GoonSquadLifeMember]

I believe, based on what I'd read in the journals, that all UK-manufactured vehicles were required for all rubber seals to be natural, not synthetic.

[@jasonknowledge8824]

Now that is a sports car! And an even better convertible! Such a rare combination.

[@mattr85]

a commendable 69 decibels 😉😎

[@wolftmfg]

What a classic 👌🤩

[@rushbroussard5399]

The 1988 Mazda Rx7 Convertible Was Mazda Convertible Before The Mazda Miata.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Yes, I had an RX7 Convertible and it's too bad Mazda didn't develop it further into the 3rd Gen. The Miata was fun, but the RX Convertible was more like a Grand Touring Machine. It had much more Style and was a very sexy car. Guys were a little embarrassed to be seen driving Miatas compared to the more Macho RX7..

[@rushbroussard5399]

@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary I Would Like If Mazda Would Have Keeped The Mazda Rx7 Convertible We Would Have Had The Mazda Rx7 Convertible & The Mazda Miata The Third Gen Mazda Rx7 Neverd Lived To The First Gen Mazda Rx7 The Mazda Rx7 Convertible Is What The Mazda Rx7 Could Have Been.

[@brandondavis7695]

no shade but is anybody else seeing Dodge Shadow convertible when looking at this RX-7?

[@martinkirin912]

I can see that

[@agrippa1234]

When I was craving a vert and didn't have a lot of money I test drove a Suzuki Samarai, yep it was incredibly slow and corned like a frisbee on its edge but what really killed the idea was the most incredibly complex and ill fitting softop I've ever come across. I still marvel at how close I came to buying one......

[@Cheezwizzz]

Hit like if you love MotorWeeks retro reviews!!

[@AcuraLvR82]

A CD player was a really big deal as an option back then. I always loved the color of the dash and radio lights at night.

[@pjsneeringer5942]

WANKEL 4 LIFE

[@MSimmonsAZ]

I bought a used 1990 rx7 convertible in 1997. I had it 14 years, when I moved overseas. I wish I had that car back. Mazda slogan at the time was "it just feels right," and those cars felt great. The 1990 and 1991 had some improvements over the 88/89. Better stick, better turn signal. No one used the roof as a targa, what is the point? Also in arizona that think roof was a big help in keeping the car cool. It was a great car. Mine was even almost trouble free. Also I loved that I would only see one or two others a month.

[@mumwifeteacher]

The Japanese were able to get modern braking preference without abs more than 30 years ago. Less is more

[@kevinmartinez2548]

Funny how this was the nice luxurious trim but now sell at a significant discount when compared to the hatches.

[@philsmgb4393]

Had a TR6 at the time and remember thinking how boring it must be to have a car with a power top, a radio that worked, modern features and never needed the carbs adjusted.

[@mumwifeteacher]

400 lb more weight is nuts because that a small light car.

[@성태김-c1w]

Only One High Road

[@TheCosmicGuy0111]

Vrooooom

[@seanhershey3390]

My dad had a black one..loved it

[@itzed]

Did you have to add oil while you had it? 😂

[@disgruntledfaerie]

Miat's weird older brother

[@TrailBlazerSS502]

I have a Matchbox version of this fine machine; before there was the MX-5 Miata, there was this.

[@philberto78]

I didn't know there was a matchbox car, thanks for the info! I just bought one on ebay haha

[@SataniaMcDowel]

Bro is too hung up on Britishness

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

The British and Italians dominated the 2 seater convertible market from the 70s to the early 80s so it was still pretty fresh back then.. Mazda changed everything about that..

[@tinystar3010]

It's of the times, of course they are comparing this to the British. Back then the base FC RX-7 design was imitating a Porsche too. Mazda was trying to compete with the European market. So naturally, car reviews back then had to compare it to what Mazda was trying to copy.

[@ys_a1659]

Back in the days when Japanese car manufacturers tried to fill all kinds of gaps and searched for new gaps in the automotive market. This thing looks like a Ford Mustang convertible of those days.

[@Tahvyy]

Interesting 🤔, I always thought it looked like a small 1988 Dodge Daytona. The rx7 hardtop especially.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

Sooo much Sleeker and lower to the ground and better looking than a Mustang of those days! I had one.. 80s Mustangs were fun but never had this much Class!

[@Snake-ms7sj]

Can't help but compare the 80's & 90's cars' performance to my last small car, a 2012 Ford Focus hatchback SE. Even with the non-turbo 160 hp 2.0L engine, that Focus would have blown the doors off many of those cars in a stoplight drag race with a 0-60 mph of 7.6 secs, not to mention out handle most of them in a slalom.

[@radsk8rbigollies594]

When I was 16-17 yrs old, I had a manager where I worked (Merry-Go-Round) who had this car and would allow me to drive it to run errands. I loved it and would pop the clutch and burn rubber on every start😆

[@johnjones393]

It seems Mazda was perfecting their take on the British roadster formula with this car. Mazda could save money by modifying an existing platform and then apply what they learned to the clean sheet Miata. It was a good plan.

[@bln3576]

Got any videos of a GMC Jimmy with a 454? I found one on the weekend. Watford Ont. Oh. It's also a convertible.

[@bradfromthevalley]

Wihout the RX-7 there likely is no Miata MX-5, though I wonder if it owes it's convertible to the development of the Miata.

[@Trance88]

I'm happy to say that I still see late 80's RX-7's from time to time. I love these cars so much! It's one of my dream cars.

[@suomenpresidentti]

3 years til' MX-5. That's Miata to you foreigners.

[@ryanmundt9628]

I learned how to drive manual on a white one of these. Still love this model. Timeless design.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

And just like that! They top it off with the Miata a year later! And it became a legend!

[@agrippa1234]

I'm still in the loop as my current vehicle is a C7 M7 Vert!

[@kapoo7841]

chaijvi she siro

[@rockbottomrhythm_blues]

This car was and still is a car for suckers. The one from Rocky w Carl Weathers was better. There's a million better Mazdas out there.

[@philberto78]

Maybe I'm a sucker but I like driving my 1991, I don't really care if other Mazdas are better or not.

[@williamheinsinger7390]

Had one back in 98 ,same color, Awesome car ❤

[@datnguyen1615]

I hope to see MW post 1989 Toyota Supra soon

[@bobbbobb4663]

Commendable gauge cluster

[@sjhudon386]

John knows how to tap a vein

[@netowork3d]

👍

[@itsPikachu]

Ryosucc

[@bradwart]

That left exhaust looks like a dog wagging its tail when taking off during the 1/4mile test segment 😄

[@성태김-c1w]

Do Roadsters Have Power Windows?

[@austinfrazier7325]

Eh. Not a very good car. You don’t take coupes and cut off the top. Look at the back sagging with the top down. You must design a car to be a convertible from the ground up. Plus low torque rotary and 400+ pound weight increase is not a good combo.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I had an 87 back in the 2000s. It was a Great Car! It was an enormous amount of Fun, very solidly built, very reliable and sexy with an absolutely Gorgeous Exhaust Note!

[@philberto78]

I know what you're saying but this car actually wasn't just a coupe with the top cut off and scaffolding bars welded on. Mazda actually designed it separately to be a convertible. That's why it's still got 70% the body rigidity of the coupe which was very good in the 80s.