I'm picking up a first gen this weekend. I had a 2nd gen for 9yrs.. The 1st gen is a 1979 unmalested. Is there any thing that i should look for before purchasing. it has 90,000 miles on it.
The owner says, "It has a problem at start up and when stopped at a light you need to hold the gas down a bit so it wont shut off.
Please advise as this will be my first 1st gen.

 

Sounds normal. If I just let off the gas and push in the clutch mine will die at stop lights. Its faily common, no big deal.

I can't really think of anything you should know, there aren't many trouble spots on first gens. The basic stuff-running good, everything works, no rust generally covers it.

 

I had a buddy with an '83 that would do that. He kept a penny long ways between the choke and the dash and it ran fine and never died.


EDIT: I'm not recommending you do that, but it worked for him well enough

 

Unless the guy can give you a fist full of service receipts, there is a useful laundry list of "new-owner" checklist stuff you can/should do when you first get the car. Should be archived. Since you already own a rotary, you know the first big "gotcha" is a neglected cooling system (change fluids, hoses, flush rad and engine, for eg).
Welcome to SA-world-
-post a pic or 3 of the new wheels for us to all oogle
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska