fishbulb95

I'm slowly working to make some money to buy a 1st gen, so i wanted to make sure i would like them. One of my old friends i knew, his wife owned one, and she said i could take it for a spin... it was an 81 but the S model, so it was at the bottom of the scale, the engine was messed up, and the clutch kept slipping and was a mess, yet the suspension was perfect, interior was utter crap... that was basically my introduction to the RX-7 about 1 year ago...

Although it was crap, it still had a **** load of power... Compared to an 82 Cougar Station Wagon

Tonight i took another one for a spin, it was my cousin's friend. His was an 82 GS, the engine was in near perfect condition, and so was the clutch... but the suspension was next to crap. This time i got a taste for the real engine...

DAMN IT WAS SWEET

I really want one now...

So my neighbor is selling an 85 GSL 5-speed, garage stored, exterior perfect, with only 2 small dents, the body has 187,000 miles, but he rebuilt the engine has only 67,000 Miles, with no oil leaks. The interior is spotless, and the radio still works.

He was originally offering $2,900 for it because he replaced 1 cat, and the tranny... but he took the forsale sign off... so i inquired again, and he says i can have it for $1,950... he has all the reciepts to back everything up, and it passes cali smog.

Is this a good deal or what?

bkm_rx7

sounds like a pretty good deal to me...but idk about 67k miles on a rebuild...that can be a lot for a rebuilt engine if it was ported...but from what you mentioned...i dont think it is ported...but it should still have a good 20k miles left in her...give us more details and PICS!

fishbulb95

1st off. sorry i didn't mean rebuild, the engine was actually a replacement, which the mazda dealer did awhile back.

2nd, it's not ported

i wish i could give pics, but i don't think the dude would be too thrilled with me taking pictures of it.

The car is that Off white Cream color, with a brown interior, he's also including a full spare tire (exactly the same as the other 4).

The only problem is that i can't test drive it till have have the money.

Rogue_Wulff

$1950 for a running car, that is clean, and will pass cali smog sounds like a decent deal to me. My '83 12a has over 191K on it, still running strong.

fishbulb95

1985 Mazda RX-7 GSL (with all the bells and wistles)
Details:
Working------
Engine 12/A no problems
Idles maintains a steady idle
Power windows/doorlocks/mirrors
windshield wipers (front and rear)
stereo system, no static
Clutch (replaced about 3 years ago)
Tranny (Replaced about 10 months ago)
Muffler (replaced 1 year ago)
2 of the 3 cats have been replaced (10 months, and 3 years ago)
Cruise Control
No leaks in the Sun Roof
The engine Thermometer was replaced 2 years ago


NO RUST!!! I checked the important spots that the forum said.

Not Working---
A/C
Power attenna, (he said he'll have the replacement one in when i buy it)
The center consol where the speaker adjuster stick is located is alittle loose (but works)


Other stuff----
This guy is old basically on the verge of retiring, and he has many nice cars and he treats them well
He drilled it into my head to change the Oil every 3,000 miles. and he said if something breaks.. fix it immediatly, so other crap doesn't break

Lacking power steering (which i like)

If there are any other detail you want just let me know.

jays83gsl

Correction: Change the oil every TWO thousand. Check it EVERY TIME YOU PUT GAS. It should eat oil.

Sounds like a really good deal.

Does the cruise control actually work? I thought these cars came from the factory with a non-functional Cruise!

Rogue_Wulff

My cruise control still works. On flat level ground, after a few minutes, and about 5-15 MPH less than I set Must fix.

This sounds like a very well maintained car. If you have the money, it would be a good deal. The downside to a car this nice, is it sounds too nice to do any mods to it. Not that this would be a problem for many people, such as myself.

fishbulb95

yea right now i don't really want to do any mods... because of california's ghetto smog rules, i may do a few things like get a strut brace from Rotorhead.ca and the radio and cup holder thingy.

this car would basically turn into a daily driver, for commute to school/work, and for day's when Matt (me) really wants to have fun.


my only problem is a lack of job and money

fishbulb95

Got another question.... how well do these cars preform on long trips? Because if/when i get it i want to visit my cousins in Durango, Colorado, and it's somewhat high altitude 5400 Ft.

-Matt

jays83gsl

Well, there's a yearly voyage that a lot of people make from the East Coast to go to what we call 'Seven Stock.' Since a bunch of them drive all that way (to Irvine CA, btw), they must be rather relyable (SP?!)

I took mine across the entire state of NM before it was even running properly.

San Jose to Durango? Very doable.

Rogue_Wulff

I can relate to the money thing. I skipped a couple bills to afford the extra $500 for my car when it was offered to me. I simply could not pass it up, even though I really didn't have the money to spare. Made things a little tight the following month, but the enjoyment of driving the 7 every day made up for it. I always have a couple trucks that I could sell, if I really need the extra funds, since neither one gets any of my attention at this time. Just gotta remember to hang on to at least one of them, for the winter.
Looks like you have found the perfect incentive to find a couple extra jobs, and skrimp for a while, so you can reward yourself with a very nice 7. Sounds like the owner is not in a major rush to sell it, so you still have time.
As for reliability, I had mine tagged for 2 days, and took it on a road trip of about 200 miles, just for grins.

fishbulb95

SWEET

Is this psycho obsession i have with RX-7's, and rotary engines in general....... normal?

jays83gsl

BTW, when you get the money, www.racingbeat.com sells a CA smog legal performance exhaust. At least, I hope it's CA legal, as they're based there

jays83gsl

No, your obsession is NOT normal.

Most of us are MUCH MUCH more obsessed than you are.

fishbulb95

yea but tell that to my friends, i'm banned from saying the word mazda, rotary, rx-7.... lol i drive them insane

Rogue_Wulff

Time to get new freinds

jays83gsl

Keep driving them insane. Then, have people from this website that live five states over come visit you 'for the hell of it' for a couple of days. That'll REALLY **** them off (true story, happened to me!)

They'll soon become numb to it. Until you beat whatever rice/muslce/suv/current vehicle trend car that they are driving with your damn near bone stock FB

fishbulb95

^^hahah nice!

viper1_20012004

Oh yah nothing is better than beating your friend with a 325HP Chevy Silverodo with you stock 7 with a 12a, a him saying "Wait til I Put the Big Block in it, We'll race again"

rbf41182gt

lol- same exact thing with me!! Every time i bring up those words, they're just like, "yeah, thats great, whatever" The only person that I can have conversation with about rx7's is my cousin, who just got a 240z. (he saw my 7 and wanted something like it, so he picked up a z)

and, yes, the phsycotic obsession with them is normal, it happened to me when i first saw a first gen

tjgosurf

Z cars dont compare nor are they a replacement for a 7. trust me i know.

calvinpaul

iTrader: (2)

Wow, you bunch of freaks...damnit I don't know how I became one of you...

kenn_chan

No but they make a damn fine parts chaser, pull the rear hatch (throw away) and you can easily load engines, transmissions and other bulky items in the back, snow chains make them driaveable in the winter when you SHOULD have your seven resting in the garage, and when a nissan/datsun owner walks up and says when are you going to restore the Z you can tell them, thats its only your parts chasing car and watch them cringe

kenn

fishbulb95

^^ haha

yea originally the first car i saw was the Dautsun 240Z.. because i liked the body style... then i heard about mazda and their "Rotary Engine".... i thought that was awesome, completely different from piston engines. But then i saw the 1st Gens and how much they look alike.....

i was like.. THAT"S THE CAR I WANT!!!!!!

RacerX7fb

Yes Racing Beat's cat-back exhaust/ mufflers are CA legal.

Be ready to make that pilgrimage again