peterdaniel

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mazda-RX-7-56K-MILES/281247644491?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D4309358538118889672%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161201875064%26
This is the ebay 1984 GSL-SE that I am pretty interested in.. I posed this before but not with the link so hopefully this makes it easier for anyone to chime in with their opinion.

To me, it seems like its missing a bunch of stuff, has been repainted in several areas and possibly some left rear quarter damage. The bumpers dont match color wise and the carpet has dark areas that say to me, mold/mildew. Its from Washington and its hella moist up there. I know from running a carfax that the car has been sitting at least 10 years without any miles added. The seller is a pain in the *** to get ahold of. He is a used car dealer and has no service records. He said he replaced the original tires ( 56K miles???) The exhaust has been changed, power antenna changed and the cover for the rear wiper is missing. There are some strange metal hinges on the back glass.

By the time the auction gets done, probably looking at 6500.00!! to buy and get it down here..
So, why the attraction? Its white.. I like white a lot.. and of course its a GSL-SE

Now... heres the fun thing. I can buy a 58K miles Royal Maroon GSL-SE with full service records, original paperwork, rear optional seat, California car for the most part, AC works perfectly and it LOOKS like it should for a 58K miles car... The white one looks weathered like an old man....
Sooo... have you ever bought a car in a color you perhaps werent that crazy about and grown to love it? Or do you think that I should be happy I found what I did and be happy?

Thanks
PS.. Will post soon when I figure out how, an original road test for the RX-7 from the 1978 Issue of Car and Driver

rotordogg

iTrader: (4)

Buy the one you know is complete and in good shape and paint it white. Problem solved.

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

Its a great car - for a person who is absolutely in love with white and wants a 100% solid foundation to build on. but as you note it needs work. I wouldn't get it unless you start dreaming about it every night

Cookboy

iTrader: (10)

Are you buying it to drive or to look at? I've only had one car since 1978 that was the color I really wanted. That was my 1st Rx7. In 1988.

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

Personally, if I'm buying an rx7 it's to look at just as much to drive.

If I wanted something purely for commuting I'd go back to my old ford focus.

That said, I'm not too picky on which color, most are gorgeous if taken care of. I was hoping to get the darker blue/gray color, but ended up with silver. So glad I did

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Buy the maroon one. Plasti-Dip it white.

Like this:
Transformation!!!!

MosesX605

It's a no-brainer, buy the maroon one. It's got service records, which should make the decision right there, and has working A/C and is registered in California which means it's passed emissions recently.

Besides, RX-7s don't look good in white. You're way better off in the maroon car.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

the white one:

it had rear window louvers, this is the odd crap you see on the rear window. the antenna is aftermarket, and the rear wiper is missing its cap, easy fixes.

its had a clutch, the AC line gets dented when you pull the trans, this one is dented.

i would say that the drivers door is a replacement, you can see the paint is peeling, and its black underneath, new parts come in a black primer, or its just a used door. the rocker is a bit weird in the center of the door too.

the tow hooks in the rear are white, they should be black, so this means it got paint work in the rear as well. the fuel filler door has also been off.

the panel fit on the front left isn't as good as it should be, but the engine bay pics don't show the fender/light assembly seams, so its inconclusive.

the interior is faded enough that it wasn't garaged. the grey carpet tends to look blotchy, although there is something up with the passenger seat

i think that one is overpriced, its a decent car, but you're really just buying a low odometer reading, and that is something you can do with a screwdriver in about 12 minutes.

peterdaniel

You guys are awesome! Thanks! Now that I look at it closer with your help, I see clearer what raised so many red flags

The gas cover has been removed but what I first saw was how new the filer nozzle/receptacle was.. now I see the different color screws holding the lid on

In the same picture you can see the over spray on the molding that is missing the running light because it most likely was smashed in the accident

The rear bumper has been repainted ( thank you for the observation on the rear tow hook!)
and now I know why the exhaust is not original since it probably got smooshed in the accident as well

Also, now that you point it out the left front of the hood doesn't line up very well at all

Good catch on the left front door as well with the paint peeling

Never knew that about the AC line… excellent knowledge

thank you so much!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Nice detective work on that white one folks, I thought it looked good at first too and I like white.

But it just didn't smell right, and it's a long way from the West Coast to Georgia.

On the other hand, that Royal Maroon GSL-SE sounds like a winner.

Rare very late model body color (only one with the painted side mirrors, as I understand it) and a uniquely well cared for specimen, from your description.

Post up the pics Daniel, but I'd suggest you buy it first, for obvious reasons.

(And you do learn to love the color your have, I had a brown 85 GSL with excellent paint, but it took a while to warm up to. After 6 months I loved it!)

A friend of mine has his 85 GSL painted the royal purple, looks great in person.

Here's a couple pics

peterdaniel

Thats very nice!!

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i had one in maroon, but with red leather, and it kind of clashed, that brown looks WAY better.

the 4/85 and later GSL-SE's came in a few colors with the painted mirrors and shaded glass, the maroon, white, tender blue, black*, and silver**. at some point around there they went to a taller 5th gear too, so these late cars are excellent freeway cruisers.




* the painted mirrors are actually cast from a different plastic which is white, so they are pretty easy to tell vs the normal black ones that got painted.
** i've been reading books with a lot of footnotes.

peterdaniel

Any way to tell about the taller 5th gear? the one I am buying was built in 4/85

peterdaniel

The ebay rx7 GSL-SE with all those problems, went for $9,000!!!!!!!!!

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Their passion got the best of them. FB's will do that to people.

But you could buy three really nice 12A-powered GSLs for $9,000, a much better investment, IMO.

So Daniel, are you going to buy that purple passion? If not, why don't you pass her on to the rest of us?

Let's see the pics!

mikeric

iTrader: (20)

So, the lesson learned is that if you want to sell your car, ebay is the way to go.

RRTEC

iTrader: (13)

I used to be very focused on color.. But as someone else mentioned.. Paintshops exist for a reason. Wouldn't be the worst thing to have a $2000 paintjob done in a few years on a solid car..

peterdaniel

I will as soon as it gets here next week

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

it says from july 84 build date, or after vin 850001

13bGsl-se

iTrader: (1)

Stay with finding a white one if that's what you want. And yes white is a great great color, my Se and Fd. Now to find a 10ae and vert.