blueraven

I'm looking at an 83 RX-7 GSL for my 16 year old son. The following all have less than 5K miles, front suspension, complete exhaust, performance header, and tires. It's got a 4 speed automatic, and the car has 95K miles on it. It's pretty much rust free, maybe some minor surface rust here and there. The body is an 8 out of 10. I saw nothing wrong with the interior, and beside the AC needing charge, everything works. I did test drive it and it ran down the road great at 65 mph, however I can tell you my Son's going to want to do something to increase the low end, it's pretty gutless, but for a new 16 year old driver, maybe that's not to bad. The price is $1000. Does this seem like a decent deal?

blueraven

Fuel524

that is low miles for the year do the math its about 5000 miles a year not driven cery much good, also a gsl is the better 7 for it has a LSD rear end and disc breaks in the back and if the interior is good then it is a good price, but you should check for oil leaks on the motor, there are a few common ones i am awar of that are cheap and easy to fix, oil pan, and oil cooler O-rings cheap and easy. any more than that and you will need to rebuild or find the thread about the coolant leak fix. but if all checks out good then id buy it, i just bought mine and i love it and feel free to inquire about everything you ? as far as maintenance on the 7 in concearned youll save monet by not buying parts etc. that are no good for the wankel. good luck hope this helped.

RotaryRyan

Yeah its an alright deal. I got mine for $450. But it was fully stock and not that good of shape. It had been sitting for a while and has a dent up under the airdam. If you do get it for him he can find any help he wants on this forum. I know i have.

hotty

good deal, however the automatics suck ****. The "slushbox" is slow, and doesnt let you really use the power the rotary has. Its a great car, and mebbe a good project to find a 5spd, and swap it into there, if you are at all mechanically inclined, as well as your son. All the parts you need should be accessible in your nearest junkyard/wrecker.

edit : wow you guys snuck posts in there before me fast.

blueraven

man you guys are fast here. The way I see it, my son likes the look of the car, and it appears to be in great shape. The guy I'm buying it from has three 1st gen 7s and is down sizing. As far as going to a 5 speed, I'm am mech. incline but my experience is on American metal. I figure I'll let my son drive it for a year and if he wants to spring for the $$ and if it's not a nightmare I wouldn't mind putting in a 5 speed.

Thanks for the responses, and I welcome more

Blueraven

hotty

sure, np, it shouldnt be hard at all to find a decent 5pd tranny, and the parts needed for the swap. It will just take time, and patience mostly

1984special

Yeah, I think a lower hp car is actually better because it teachs the driver to be a better driver. Some kids get 280hp+ sports cars after they get a license, and you wonder why they fly it off the mountain a week later.

As for this actual GSL, it sounds pretty good except the auto tranny really kills it, unless you/your son wants to swap it. It should be relatively straightforward ...

And be sure to ask that seller to throw in a tranny!

Hadoken

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but does anyone know how much it costs to get a RX7 AC recharged? Mine blows air, but it isn't very cool..I think I'm gonna need air conditioning in the NC humidity with my leather seats...

blueraven

Thanks for all of the advice from all of you and I certainly retain the right to ask dumb future questions. I purchased the car for $1000, the seller was asking $1300. Wish my Son and I luck on this new adventure!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I'm sure I'll be in touch

LongDuck

You should get your son to register on these boards so that he can learn to work on it himself. At 16, I was driving an 80LS (black) with leather, and had to learn by doing. We didn't have forums like this back then.

I've since moved up to the 84SE that you see in my signature line (I took my driving test in this car, way back when - my dad owned it then), and this was only done through prior knowledge gained through working on the 80LS.

If your son is mechanically inclined (likes plastic models, etc), and can put 2+2 together, then he should be able to post and learn on here. You can help him with the rest. The biggest thing at this point is to teach him that driving isn't a RIGHT, it's a PRIVILEDGE. If he drives like an idiot and wrecks the car or kills someone (or himself), then he's not going to be able to exercise the priviledge in the future.

The RX-7 can get a young and inexperienced driver into trouble, especially if he is overconfident in his driving skills. The insurance on a 2-seater is still going to be pretty high even though it's an older car. Good luck, and have fun,

Hadoken

I don't know about your area and your insurance companies policy, but my 84 RX7, since it is 20 years old, is only about $90 every six months, thats just liability or whatever. My parents checked when they bought mine and found it wouldn't be much (if any) cheaper to put me on our 1982 Chevy work truck..so I got lucky, sports car,for the price of old truck insurance..

kewpie79

My son has an 82 gsl that I got for him, he wil turn 16 in a week. Auto, same as yours, keep it that way for awhile. Kids don't need that much power at 16.

Rotofire

$90 every six months I pay 1800 a year for liability!

Hadoken

I don't think my insurance company knows the difference between a 13b and a 12a...I don't think they even know what a RX7 is either..
I have Farm Bureau Insurance..don't know if it's just a regional thing or not...

blueraven

The key is to not put the 16 year old as a primary driver on any vehicle. That may be dishonest but it keeps the cost down, just don't let them get into a wreck or the primary policy holder will be liable for big $$$$. The 84 Gsl I bought today is $102 every six months. Since my Son currently only has his learner's permit he can not be a primary driver on anything. After he gets his full license, the six month cost of the Gsl goes to around $500 every six months which he will gladly pay!!! I might add his insurance on my 89 Dodge Ramcharger 4X4 was going to be $800 every six months.

Siraniko

iTrader: (13)

blueraven,
I guess we're in floating in the same river. I've got a 15 year old too. I gave him a FB to avoid monthly car pmt and high costs of full coverage for a teenage driver. Well, Im still the primary driver and he is just the secondary for school and hopefully, he will be going heads up with me at the track on weekend. Kids will be kids but I figure, raise him right and hope it will get in his head.

mel

SIRFLAN

Hope you or your son have very deep pockets, for I forsee a large number of yellow slips forthcoming. I am 64, and my grandson wants one of my 7's, but he will be twenty five before he gets it,, I can not affort to support the local fuss, and neither can he.

Mr BiG G

i think it's a good deal my dad bought me my 83 gsl when i turned 17 it cost 1000 canadian and had 158k miles with a rebuilt motor at 108k miles....the car is still running strong and im gonna be keepin it for a long time!

Mr BiG G

oh and when i insure it i will haave my dad as the primary driver too and me as the secondary....makes insurance much easier to live with.

YapaKanichi

I pay 150 a month for insurance. But that sounds great for your kid for a first car. Good choice.

bigb3433

yah sounds like a great deal im 18 and i just bought my 83 gsl in aug. for 650$ best thing i ever bought!

zbo456

hey, im blueravens son... keep an eye out 4 my posts b/c ill b sure ill have alot of em'