Hello and welcome! I'm sure you're going to get a lot of positive feedback here, that it is indeed worthy. However, you may want to provide some additional details on condition, price, your expatiations of the car and some pictures if possible.

 

It could be a worthwhile investment if the car remains in original condition and is not modified. Thee are a lot of common issues these cars have and the biggest is storage bin and wheel well rust. This rust will extend to the rear control arm mounts and can even be found in the hatch channel and the front wheel wells at the seam. The hunting idle is common and cold be as simple as a throttle position sensor that's out of adjustment. Would love to see some pictures of the car and get some more details about it. There are club members that have gone over 300k miles on an original GSL-SE engine so trust me when I say, its the most reliable and longest lasting rotary engine that Mazda built.

 

 

^^^ That made me laugh. Perfect hahaha!

 

The car has certainly been painted. I would still check for rust issues in the bins and wheel wells. How do the engine bay and interior look? Does the owner have any service records or records of replaced parts on the car? Have you driven the car yet?

 

For $4000, it should be well sorted and not have too many things that need fixing. That is middle of the road money IMO, plus the car isn't what I'd call low miles. As Dave says, look under the glossy surface to see what may be lurking. This is your 1st car? I know it may have your juices flowing, but remember this is an 34 year old car. They are reliable vehicles, but at this age, little things like U joints, fuel pumps, electrical switches can just "go out". You should be prepared or willing to do a certain amount of mechanical work yourself or with your Dad. It kind of goes with the territory of owning an older car.

Then there's the whole "rotary" thing. It's really just a different way to achieve the same compression, spark, explosion of a traditional piston engine, but the general populace shy away from things they don't understand and treat it like some sort of black magic. Not trying to scare you off, just let you know that if needed, it's not always easy to find mechanics who are willing to work on these engines. Again, it tends to force owners into working on the cars themselves and back to places like this for information. An old Rx-7 owner isn't the same person or have the same experience as your typical young, 1st time buyer. It's cool that there are still young people who want to own and have these cars. Its a testimony to the original design!

 

Buying cars is never a worthy investment. Period.

Buying this car may be worth $4,000.00 if it runs ok (other than idle issue) and its not a rust bucket under the new paint. I'd ask why and when was it resprayed. I'd also like to see a lot more pics of under, in and around the car to help you with the evaluation.

Looks like maybe this is in Hawaii by the plate, so getting parts from either the states, japan or AU will be expensive. Make sure you are prepared for that.

 

I cant really comment on what cars are worth in the US, but the first thing I noticed is that the RHS sill looks stuffed - dented right in like it had a jack under it.

 

For me, there is no excuse for the seller to provide photos of the bodywork before paint. I am documenting the hell out of my build, so if I do have to sell I can prove that the car had a solid foundation for the respray. Ask for pictures.

 

 

Your mother is calling the right shot but not because of t he lack of airbags but because this is your first car. You need something reliable, cheap to keep up, and of course safe. Get a 7 as a second car later if you can afford it. Then its all fun and games with no worries.

 

absolutely this.

 

Yeah I would've passed on that car as well.

 

Not sure why, but there's something about this car I'm not digging. I think the paint job was the first minus.

 

to me it just looks naked without the side molding.