Buying a first gen, restoring it for winter car...am I crazy?
 

Hey guys,

I was looking through Craigslist for a winter beater so my 91 Toyota MR2 won't have to go through another winter. I was looking for a car costing less than $1000 and runs. I found myself looking at a 1st gen RX7 that runs but needs a tune and am setting up a time to check out the car...have I gone crazy?

I am working full time the next two weeks and I won't even have a weekend to work on this until school starts up again. But can someone tell me good reasons NOT to buy this car?

I have started researching about repairing/restoring this car but it seems like any other car. I think the biggest fear for me is blowing up the rotary and being out of money to not fix this great car...

Otherwise, I want to know what to look for when looking at the car besides the things you should look out for every car. What are the troublesome repairs that I should look out for?

Thanks guys, just wanted some quick answers while I read through the bible of RX7s :)

a very light, rear wheel drive sports car, prone to snap oversteer...perfect for a good time in winter.

Other than that I would say come to the dark side and get one haha. There is a thread in the Faq about what to look for when buying

You can't seriously be considering trying to drive one of these in the snow full time.

I think I have you all beat in the snap oversteer department...having about 60% of your weight over your rear wheels will do amazing things...in different situations :p

Thanks, I'm looking over the FAQ's right now. I'm learning a lot but I STILL have this feeling inside me that is holding me back a bit...I can't say I am great with cars, but good enough to follow directions and strong enough to turn any stubborn bolts lol.

How long do a well maintained 12A and 13B tend to last on average?

I've gone through a blizzard and iced roads in my MR2 with preeeeetty bald tires and I made it out alive...

If you're from Indy, I think you remember that blizzard that hit Southern Indian this past March. My gf and I were on our way to Mammoth Cave and we hit nasty, nasty snow of up to 8inches. It was scraping the bottom of my car lol. But after seeing at least 40 cars in the ditch, and making it to Mammoth cave in one piece, I can say you just need to be level headed and smart about what you are doing.

https://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3296/img3382cv3.jpg
https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/...3090440fq4.jpg
It was much, much worse than this in some parts...I won't say it was easy driving, because it wasn't, especially when I would half spin out everytime I would pass over a bridge with ice under it...

Kind of proof...imagine the snow accumulation times 10 on the ground, under my bald tires lol.



BUT I'm not here to argue about this...please tell me reasons I shouldn't buy the car...I seriously feel lost in the battle that is going on in my head right now and I need outside voices. Thanks again, guys, for your help!

I've driven mine in the snow a few times years back. It took years off my life, and I won't ever try it again. I am very experienced in winter driving, and have the skills to do well at it, but the 7 was just way too light and tail happy. At times, I could barely even get the car moving.

I would recommend you look for a cheap front wheel drive hatchback and put some really good snow tires on it.

Besides, who'd want to do that to a 7 anyway? She'll rust out in no time and be headed for the junkyard.



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A reason not to get it: Rust.

About 4 years ago I stored it late, was forced to drive it once through the snow back home from school. I was going about 20mph, applied the brakes for a stop sign, about 60 feet later I was finally stopped, sideways. If you come upon a stop sign on a hill going up it you may as well call it a day because you won't be going any further. Can you say 1993 Dodge Spirit? Perfect winter car. Cheap too.

Well, there's your problem; you're not supposed to use the brakes on an RX in the snow.

Just wait for the rear end to come around (& you know it will!), then accelerate in the opposite direction. Just like a rocket.

I have chains for mine; used to take it skiiing.

It's a wonder I survived into my 40's.

I daily drive mine year round through the winter in colorado. I have chains for it but have not needed to use them. I'm in Colorado Springs, CO. I figure if the roads are so bad that I cant make it that I probably should not be driving on a day like that anyway.

Remember on ice it is just as hard to stop no matter what you are driving.

Driving a 7 in the winter isn't impossible, not the greatest of ideas imo, but doable. There was a guy i used to know in Alaska who drove a SE year round up there. I asked him how he did it and he said he just threw on winter tires and put a 50lb bag of sand in his trunk. Said it handled fine...

I never had any problem driving my first gens in the winter as long as I had good snow tires on all corners. If it weren't for the fact that they rust and I want them to last a few more decades I would still be driving them year round....

I guess that would be the biggest concern, rust and life of the car. I'm probably making enemies by telling people I'm gonna drive the 1st gen through Chicago winters lol.

Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

Been there, done that! I cringe at the thought of what the salt does to a 7, and I have learned how to handle one in the snow. But, you have to watch out for getting high centered in a low sports car. If the bottom of the car is caught on top of deep snow the wheels will get no traction and you don't move. I came close a few times in a 7 and Z 28. Got totally high centered in a Mustang Gt. Here in Wisconsin I stick with 4x4's in the snow.

It's not a good choice for a winter vehicle. I won't even start up my rusty if it's under 40 she stays parked. Look for some used truck is my advice.

with out a limited slip differential every time you shift on snow or ice the car is going to Try and slide sideways other than that its not that bad just like driving a 70's camaro in the winter but if you buy one you will figure out what the rest of us crazies have figured out it's such a nice car and so much fun to drive that we don't like to waste them in the snow because of the rust problem so the way I see it is that you are asking the other crazies in the psych ward if they think your sane LOL

lol, i drive my fb all year around.. but it don't snow down here!

NA rotaries are super-reliable, but first-gens do not make good winter cars, believe me. I've tried driving mine in the snow exactly twice. Never again.

Having the weight over the rear wheels in your MR2 is an advantage in the snow. It allows you to get at least some traction. You don't have that in a 7.