I saw this RX7 parked in someone's yard, and I'm seriously considering buying it. The owner says it ran when it was parked, and that was a couple of years ago. I want to offer about 350, but what do you all think?

 

With all that rust on the back, I'd say no. If it was running before, odd place to just park it.

If you're really good with body work i.e. making patch panels it might be a project, but not for me.

 

Offer him $100

 

The owner should be happy if you take it away for free.......I have seen cars in much better shape and running for $500 or so.

 

Before you offer any money I'd pull up the rear hatch carpet to see if it's rusting in the spare tire well. In addition, I'm guessing it's leaking from the sunroof area as well so it may be rusting on the floor board. The sunroof looks like those old double sided sunroofs I use to see on mini trucks from the early 90's. If those places are rusting I'd probably start my offer at $150 and max out at 300ish just to play with it and turn it into a beater, just be prepared to do a lot of work!

 

if the car is a basket case, you could part it out. check the prices of door handles, left rear tail light assemblies, combi turn signal head light switch , and wind shield wiper assemblies.

These cars get rear ended a lot for some reason.

 

Yes, if you're looking for yard art.

 

Buy it as a parts car. With all of the water damage inside, its likely that much of the wiring is corroded and it could be a potential basket case, not only with wiring issues but with rust as well. I'm sure there are a ton of great parts left on the car but as a restorable car, there are better candidates out there. The louvers will be worth what you buy the car for. Selling those should break you even.

 

Yeah, that is a parts car for sure. Chances are the mice have made their way into the interior and if so, the seats will be super stinky. Even if the interior is pristine, and it turns over, you should assume that you will need to replace every hose, belt, sensor, fluid, and other neglected maintenance part including the radiator, thermostat housing, and thermostat. I'd bet a minimum of $1000 in parts just to get it running well enough to consider tires, steering, and maybe suspension which will be worn or maybe set up at this point. After all that is done you'd want to start on the body. If there were no rust or dents you would need to budget at least $1500 for the best Maaco paint job (which is actually very nice and how I did mine) plus all new weatherstripping. At that point, you'd be looking at the interior and sound. Expensive project which can take years to realize.

 

As the guys have said, that project would take a father's love to make it right. It gives me a serious saddy-face to see it sitting in that field like that, though. I can't help but wonder if you grabbed the steering wheel, how much play there'd be in that steering box, but it would probably have the entire link system stuck in the dirt,...