1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Opinions please, Which car to buy?

Old Dec 30, 2002 | 07:15 PM
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Opinions please, Which car to buy?

Ok, here's where I need and appreciate all your unbiased opinions. I will likely buy an SE in the next few days. Which would you buy if you were me?

1. Black (I posted on this one recently) 190 K miles, shiny, garage kept body. Some rust in the bins.
They want $2500 firm.

2. Cream color, mariah mode one body kit, needs paint ans some surface rust fixed, nothing major I can see. New brakes, injectors, oil cooler. $1200.00

Both cars run well, both apparently well mechanically maintained.

Pics of both (I hope).

What do y'all think?
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 07:16 PM
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Another of the cream color
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 07:19 PM
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I goofed..a better one of the cream:
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 07:22 PM
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Now the black. Wish Inew how to put these all on one reply..Oh well
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 07:29 PM
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More photos of the black one are on:

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=141302
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 08:24 PM
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Wow! Tough choice. The cream car looks nice and for 1200 it's a steal. I'd grab it...... quick!
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 08:29 PM
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I see that rust as a MAJOR repair. Look at the way it has formed, you see a line under where the spoiler was molded in. So, you'll most likely have to remove the spoiler (alot of work) properly, remove the rust, then remold the spoiler. If the owner let that rust get that bad you'll have problems elsewhere.

On the SE, it looks like the car was taken car of. It's kinda easy to let that rust sneak up on you. You'll be starting with a stock car, so you know that what ever mods you want will be done right. You'll have the modern 114.3 bolt pattern, better brakes, better trans, and a taller gear in the rear. Just take off the targa band.
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Old Dec 30, 2002 | 08:32 PM
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They are both SE's, thus my tough decision..

Keep those opinions comin' fellas!

*UPDATE- The cream SE has rust in the bins, too DAMMIT!

Last edited by mwpayne; Dec 30, 2002 at 08:46 PM.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 07:24 AM
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C'mon guys, I need you to weigh in on this.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 08:26 AM
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ah heck! buy 'em both

How many miles are on the Mariah car?
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 08:33 AM
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Get the Mariah one. A lot of work is already done for you. The price is a steal.

Cream exterior usually means brown/tan interior.

Paint it RED, and have an exotic "Ferrari" style Red exterior with tan interior.

Would look awesome.

...Ooooh, and get some Tan leather FD seats to boot...

yeah!!..


*Ahem*. [redeeming my composure]

Yes, the Cream one is the better deal.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 12:33 PM
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take the WIDE BODY!!! WIDE BODY!! and throw in a turbo later!!!
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 03:42 PM
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Cream SE has a few rust issues, but only 130K miles, and it's a mariah.

So, the consensus is to 'GO FER IT?'
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 03:43 PM
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I was thinking about painting outside red & redo inside either gray or black....
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 04:51 PM
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cream, uh huh huh.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 06:05 PM
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That can be fixed pretty easily.

Definitely buy that car!

That rust will probably cause some trouble if left untreated. Try pressing on it gently. If it feels soft, you'd better be prepared to fix it.

Last edited by 85RX7GS; Dec 31, 2002 at 06:07 PM.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 06:26 PM
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Looks like the cream color, rust & all, is winning by a landslide so far..
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 06:39 PM
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Originally posted by mwpayne
Looks like the cream color, rust & all, is winning by a landslide so far..
Yeah, but you have better pictures of the cream colored one than the black one, in my opinion.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 08:31 PM
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I'd put more black pics up, but I've already posted them on another thread, won't let me do it.
Is there a workaround for this?
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 10:06 PM
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Just an idea, but you could try looking inside under the interior at the back area under the spoiler to see how bad that rust really is...Thats the only thing that would scare me away, but Id probably buy it anyway and fix it.

~T.J.
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Old Dec 31, 2002 | 11:04 PM
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The cream car is in Pennsylvania, I'm in east tennessee. No way to poke, prod or look, I'm counting on the honesty of the seller (he's been very upfront) and the educated advise of all of you.
Keep it comin'! and Thanks!
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Old Jan 1, 2003 | 01:22 AM
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I would keep looking unless you have experience refurbishing these cars. I believe you can find a cleaner rx for $2,000.00 but it does take time.

Pennsylvania has bad weather and the salt eats up these cars; also, has the cream car passed emissions?

Remember sellers will generally say anything to sell their goods; ie. used car dealers!!!

good luck
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Old Jan 1, 2003 | 02:53 AM
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if you can get a cuople hundred bucks knocked off the black one I personally feel you got a great deal. I for one would buy the black one, and try to sell it for more what its actually worth. Get a nice count for no work, depending on how much u lowered the guy, keeping the car would be nice too, but for the 2500 (which is roughly 3500 Canadian) thats a little bit much for first gen
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Old Jan 1, 2003 | 09:40 AM
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I'm told the cream one passed emissions with flying colors.
Both owners have been very upfront. The pulled the bins when I asked them to and described the rust in detail, I have more pics coming of the cream today, supposed to be close-ups of rust damage.
Thanks for all the opinions, I'm leaning towards the cream one, mainly because of price, and also because the black one has 190K on it. Either I spend eventual $$ on body repairs or an engine rebuild. I think I'd rather have the body repairs to do.
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Old Jan 1, 2003 | 12:26 PM
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I would go for the Cream one, but if you dont know how to deal with the rust, I would keep looking.
I got my 85 Gs for $2500, and it was completly cherry with only 96,000 miles on it...
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