At least it's not a mazda rotary.
The second generation RX-7s had a problem with the cold idle setting on the ecu. If you started one with a few miles on it, drove it a few feet, and killed it, it would sometimes flood. "you may think big deal it's flooded" Flooding a rotary would wash the oil off the inside of the engine and with worn rotor tips it would not make enough compression to start."EVER" The solution is to pour a bit of automatic transmission fluid in the top 2 spark plug holes, replace the plugs and it would start and smoke terribly till the tranny fluid burned off. It was something I had to plan my day around for a while. :banghead: Nothing you could predict, and never when you weren't already running late.
I know it doesn't help you out any, but you may someday come upon a second generation RX-7 for sale really cheap that won't start and you'll be able to drive it home.
You're not smelling gas when it runs poorly a short while and dies are you?
Neil