dolemite85

Well guys I'm just saying hi for now but I hope to one day be a proud FB owner. I'm pretty much a 1st gen Noob but I own 2 FC's and have gotten to know and love them very much. Ive decided its time for me to change generations. Ive been looking in the archives brushing up my knowledge on the cars.

I have recently in the past couple of months taken much, much interest in very clean good condition FB's and especially The GSL-SE. I was going to get a nice clean S5 na fc but the GSL-SE has stolen my heart. After I sat in one I was in shock on how nice and roomy it is (especially for a big guy like me 6'4). Its actually got more room for me then my fc's! I love that! However I havent gotten to drive one yet.

Now about the GSL-SE's do they have the same flooding problems that the FC's do? I have heard that they are the most reliable of all Rx-7s.

How much I should I expect to pay for a very good to exellent condition GSL-SE theres one I found on Autotrader that looks damn clean with 95k miles for $3650 which seems really high for a 1st gen to me but then again it is really clean.

ZachstylezRX7

Meh... that seems really steep. I got a helluva deal on my 85 GSL-SE... perfectly clean, 81k miles, leather interior... all for 1500 bucks. Now i got a really cheap deal, but still 3650 is a LOT for a car taht is 20ish years old.

Zachstylez

thorin

for that price it ought to be MINT and hav leather seats! either that or some performance work.

Aviator 902S

Being fuel-injected, they do have some of the same flooding problems found in the FC. But other than that they're every bit as reliable as other 1st gens. Also, the heater logicon problems common in the FC are rare in the '84-'85 FB's. Also, all 1st gens use a recirculating ball-type steering box rather than the much-quicker-responding rack & pinion unit found in FC's. But some guys on the forum are having good success with a VW Golf R&P conversion, which should be available as a kit and reasonably-priced very soon.
As for price, in the states you should be able to pick up one that's absolutely MINT (ie: showroom condition. If there's even a hint of rust anywhere, especially out of sight under the rear floor it's not mint. Same goes for any accident history. Any mods, even if they improve performance and/ or looks decrease the value) for under $3000. If it's from an original owner who has kept all receipts it could be worth even more than that.
You guys are lucky. Here in Canada, truly mint examples are few and far between due to rust and a smaller market to begin with. While you can certainly find a nice one here for around $3000, it won't be perfect. I've seen pristine examples go for over $7000, and one guy on this forum (Manntis) had one that was appraised at almost $20,000 Cdn. Showroom condition, all mods reversible, and it even had the original battery from the factory.
Such a shame that it was recently totalled. We'll soon find out what the insurance company shells out for it. Rule of thumb: Take the insurance settlement and add 30% to get the actual value. They always low-ball.
This car can be viewed (before the accident) at www.rotorhead.ca

RacerX7fb

Get it! Bargain with the person..bring it down to at least $3000. They are but not as prone to flooding as the 2nd gen.
IMO the 1st gen gives you much better road feel as opposed to the 2nd, which is a more powerful and smoother car stock. The FB is sportier in looks and feel..then again, Im biased..Ive owned 4 Get in that car and drive it...if it feels right, is mechanically sound and is the right color to you, buy it!

ioTus

iTrader: (5)

I paid $3 grand for mine, and i still feel like i got a screaming deal!