I bought the bait and had one delivered on September 4th, Thursday of 1996. Why do I say that? I approached their sales department in order to prepare myself for the coming 'rare' version. Remember that the following year would mark the 30th anniversary. They told me they hadn't heard of it nor anticipated such an event. Half year after getting the car, sure enough, the RS-R came out. I was vindicated, upset and overjoyed in a fairly mixed state of emotion.
A little after 1PM on Thursday, September 4th of 1996 did the dealers drive over and ring the doorbell. I knew it had to be them. I took the day off just for the occasion. It was a hot day and my window was open. I reckon hearing a purring noise a few minutes before the much anticipated delivery. I looked out the window and lo and behold. A spanking new, silver 7 was there. I hurried down to meet the folks and to welcome my new car.
They came on my 7 and were retrieving the Levin. They told me the key was in the car. I headed over to open the door. Sure enough, it was in the ignition (the dealer wasn't gonna be joshing me anyway). I got in and turned the key and heard the engine squealing. Why? I wondered. The engine was already on!
Being used to a 4-banger, I thought it was turned off. "Man (I thought afterwords), it's quiet." I then remembered reading that power derived from rotaries went much more directly to the drive train. There are fewer parts moving, meaning less noise, relative to cylinder engines. Sitting inside, I could hear it was really on and purring.
Thereafter began my gruelling and trying bout of 'running it in.' I was aware that many damaged their engines by 'stepping on it' before carefully breaking it in from the lower zones to the higher end of the tachometer.
It was my 1st rotary and I wanted to make sure I did my damndest to let it come to full maturity. I had to run in the engine, transmission, rear differential and shocks and the rest. What's the big deal? When new, all moving parts are kind of stiff, they need to be moved regularly and progressively put to higher modes of attention. But this applies to any car with any cylinder engine also. I guess folks who drive plain old sedans for shopping and family use don't need to be that nervous. They're not going to be putting the car through strenuous bouts. But I myself believe in running in.