Cameron38

iTrader: (2)

Hey guys..

New member here. I'm looking at a 85 GSL-SE in very good condition. Runs good. Totally stock with 147k on the original engine. Seller wants $4500. Do you think that is a fair price? I see prices all over the place on these cars.

Thanks!

t_g_farrell

iTrader: (1)

We'd have to see pics of the exterior, interior, under the hood, and under the car to give you
a good analysis. That price may be reasonable but it depends on the condition. Very good to me
means almost minty like new all over.

7aull

iTrader: (2)

It would have to be S-P-E-C-T-A-C-U-L-A-R to be worth that price with that mileage. Like, an original-owner car with all maintenance records, up-to-date servicing, new or as-new paint, etc. etc.

I realize you are probably limited to CA RX7s there, so you might not have the choice the Rest of us do (ie: the whole USA)?
I would def get this car to a reputable rotary shop, of which LA has MANY, to get a clean bill of health, assuming the cosmetics are in order.
LOT of choices in that price range of lower-mileage RX7s if you have access to them. But again, if this car has the documented history of great care it might be worth something close to that.
Post some pics - give us some history details if you want more specific advice.
'luck and welcome.

Stu Aull
80GS (bought in San Diego!)
Alaska

dougingraham

I paid $3500 last summer for a GSL-SE that is in good condition with 113k miles. Ive spent about $1k on repairs so far. If this car is completely rust free and the interior and exterior are original and unmolested and in excellent shape then it would be worth more than that. On a car this old with mileage over 100k the mileage almost doesn't matter. It is the physical condition and originality. Some people put great stock in service records. When the car is this old that is less important to me but it could be of great importance to the person you would pass the car onto. The two cars that seem to have the most value are the unmolested SA's and the GSL-SE's. Any work done to the car, even stereos and alarm systems tend to reduce the value.

It depends on what you want to do with the car. If you are going to turn it into a racer then the cosmetic condition apart from being rust and dent free is of no importance. You are going to be changing so much stuff anyway and that would be too much to pay for such a car. If you want to use it as a daily driver then you may want to rethink the situation. You almost certainly need to do a thousand dollars worth of repairs to fix the stuff that is wrong with a 28 year old car so that it won't let you down. I am talking about normal maintenance stuff like brakes, clutch, belts, tune up which may include plugs, wires, filters, tires, bearings, shocks/struts, exhaust system, coolant, trannie and diff lube. You also have things like door and window seals, hatch gas lift tubes. The hidden stuff can also cost you a lot. For example, in my car the rubber bushings in the rear suspension components are at what I would consider the end of their life. They still work and don't seem to be a safety issue but if I decide to change them out it will cost around $800 for just the parts not counting the labor. There will come a point where this will seem like a good idea though. But no way will this increase the value of the car to a prospective buyer (at least not by $800).

There is a reason the seller is selling the car. That reason, if you can discover it, could tell you a lot. They are asking $4500, tell them all the stuff that you like about the car and then point out all the stuff that is wrong and you will have to fix and then offer $3000 and see what happens.