eipts

Hi all, I'm 16 years old and I am looking to buy my first car. I saw an old 1985 RX-7 for sale by where I live for $1300, a perfect price for me. I know absolutely nothing about RX-7s and only understand the basics of what a rotary engine is and how they work. I am going to go test drive it and see if I want to buy this or another $1000 Civic also for sale.

If someone could give me a few tips on what to look out for like weird engine noises or tell tale signs or suspension problems, etc. I would gladly appreciate it because I have to pay maintenance as well as everything else with my own money to keep the car and I'd rather not invest in a money sinker. Once again, thank you.

redbstd

check for rust on the frame rails if severe enogh pass. Its not fixable. Also if the guy will do it have him or you pull the leading plug and listen for three consistant swooshes wile baring the engine over to check if its in good condition also look in the plug whole to inspect the apex seals. Also smoke at startup isnt uncommon especially if its sat a while.

redbstd

also if you dont mind me asking what model is it?

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/other-what-look-when-buying-just-after-you-purchased-your-rx-7-a-601804/

wanklenoob

ok guy, it's your first car I wouldn't recommend an 1st gen Rx-7. I work full time and I still poor money into my car, but that's cause I love her, and my first car was a crappy little four banger that was heavily used and abused in her early years. This pos car gave me a respect for finer cars, and let me get my inexperience out of the way before driving nicer cars. People who start out with nicer cars tend to be less knowledgeable, because little goes wrong with the newer cars, and if you have the money, to buy a newer car you probably have the money to get it repaired, when I was your age, I bought my first car for $1000 a 94 mazda protege, ran pretty well, but had it's little problems, getting under the hood was an adventure and if I seriously messed something up, it wasn't the end of a fantastic car, it was a learning experience! Of Course I would recommend an Rx, but not for your first car , (I hate Honda's with a passion though, just personal experience) Oh when I got my first car I had to pay gas, insurance, and maintain it with my own cash as well, I feel your pain!

dbragg

iTrader: (7)

i bought a 84 S for $1500 for my first car. i got ripped a new one. it was in HORRIBLE shape. i drove that thing into the gund though. it spawned my addiction. due to my ability to be good with money it didnt really hurt me. i got more cars later and it just started my addiction for cars and the rotary.

if you arent mechanically enclined and dont have tools, dont do it. if you arent good with money, dont do it. if you want a car thats cheap on gas, dont do it. although i got good gas mileage out of my old GSL with some tuning.

with a car this old you have to expect to put money into it to keep it safe. itll probably need bushings, steering components, and you never know what else.

OnlyOnThurs

if its in very good shape 1st gen RX7's are great Daily Drivers!

Rx7carl

A piece of advice. Where are you located? You might get lucky and find someone on here local to you who might take a look at it with you.


Look for smoke right after startup (engine cold). black is fuel probably no biggie, bluish is oil again probably no biggie (these engines inject and burn oil), white steam/smoke is coolant and is not a good sign.

redbstd

i bought my se from a restorer/parts seller who fixed the body damage. The car ran when i bought it but it needed a new slave and master cylinders(bad line were corroded) for $500 i had to reinstall the interior but it was rust free and runs great so it was a steal. As for being a daily driver its great. They just have to be taken care of.

Ricky74

is your first car and you dont know much about rotaries.....do NOT buy it. go get a civic or a Corolla...

eipts

Thank you for all the replies and also for RX7 Doctor for the thread link. I unfortunately can't drive it as the guy who owns it isn't back until next Saturday and for some reason he took the car with him (who the hell does this? I mean it's not going to sell if it isn't even there....). To answer some other question, I live in the midwest so snow is another concern because sometimes snow can get up to 20 inches. But if that happens, I can just hitch a ride from a friend.

It is a GSL and has 105k miles. I don't really know much else as it was his wife who picked up the phone and she couldn't tell me much about the car.

I plan for this Mazda to learn about cars as I've never worked on a one but I love reading about them. On second thought, though, I don't really think learning about cars with a rotary equipped is very smart. There are two reasons why I like this car: 1, I think the price is pretty fair and I already have about $1500 from jobs so I don't mind fixing a few things here and there that are inexpensive. 2, my god this car looks so damn sweet, I can just stare at it all day. I wish I could say more on why I want this but once again, I am woefully unexperienced in cars in general, let alone rotaries.

So from the general consensus, should I proceed with the car if, when I finally get around to driving it, turns out to be a good car? Or is reliability somewhat of an issue in these cars? I love the way the car looks and the rotary engines are fascinating (triangles!) so I would not mind at all to work on it myself with a few Haynes manuals. Appreciate the replies, seems the Mazda community is a lot more friendlier than the Honda board .

gsl-se addict

iTrader: (3)

I say to go for it. If not that particular car, then another 1st gen. Sure, other cars are more practical (more reliable, better mpg, etc.), but the 1st gens are sexy and so much fun. Once you drive one, you'll be hooked like the rest of us. My 1st car was an '80 RX-7. My second car was/is an '84 GSL-SE. I still have the GSL-SE (about 13 years later). You do have to do your own work on these. Most mechanics don't know these cars well and tend to cause more problems then they fix. However, this board is a great resource. There is a lot of collective experience here not to mention that pretty much everyone on here is extremely helpful as well. If you do have any problems, I am sure we can guide you through fixing the problem.

Welcome to the board.

Kent

redbstd

My first car(not truck) is my rx7 its my third car and its not complicated at all. So im all for it as first car, any jerkoff can learn to work on a piston car but how many actually get to learn how a rotary? If you understand a rotary a piston car will be easy to work on.

So screw the pesimists they just dont appreciate there cars enogh.

dbragg

iTrader: (7)

like i said, my first car was a ragged first gen.

if you know what youre getting into, do it.

i say do it, as long as it doesnt have any rust or mechanical issues.

waysrx7

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one way to get into rx7's, and that is to JUST GET ONE.
Sure you won't know everything but who does? You learn one step at a time.

I bought my first 7 for $440 and had it towed home as it was parked for a while and the owners couldn't get it started. I cleaned the plugs, a little new gas, new battery and after a few mins of cranking (only 10-15 seconds at a time) she started up. Been driving it hard for the past 6 months and still going strong.

If you want the car don't listen to people who tell you not to get it because you don't know anything about them.

I got mine not knowing anything but have since changed the front cover gasket and rebuilt a junk 12a just cause I could.

That's my rant, GET IT. You wont be disappointed.

p.s. Buy a haynes manual and search your questions before posting and you will find 80% or more of your questions have already been answered.

Ricky74

Dont get it. I hate saying i told you so. you are 16 and need a car that will require little maintenance.. get a COROLLA. I'm old enough to be your father kid.
get the rx7 at a later time... not now. trust me. I own a 1985 GSL-SE RX-7, a 2004 roadster 350Z, a 2003 hatchback 350Z, a Celica GT convertible 1999 and a Corolla 1994... you do not need a car that will take the littl money you can get... Corolla is the way to go...

openshot

well i would test drive it first so you can know how it feels and handle but i will never know that because its been 2 years and no running and its my first car but you pick what you like. if you want to go with the crowed go with the civic want to be diffrent go with the rx7. i am really diffrent just look at my body kit

jshiz

iTrader: (4)

my first car was a first gen but then again i lucked out and the only things that need major attention was the brakes and the fact that i had no sort of windshield wipers (assembly bad, blown wiper motor etc..) and i know a couple of locals that i can call if something goes wrong. but just check for rust and the shape of the engine.