I have an MR2 but I always wanted a 1st gen RX7. I saw this on Ebay, what do you guys think? I'm totally a stranger to these cars, how much should I pay? Is this a GS or base model?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...e=STRK:MEWA:IT

Thanks a lot for the input!

 

looks real clean, very nice shape...but depends on what you want to spend..you could definately get one cheaper than the buy it now price.

i'd be careful buying off a dealer..you can find some amazing deals here in the classified section.

i'd say its probably worth $1500 but no more

nick

 

Very Clean!! I agree $1500!!

 

That engine bay looks very clean. Interior not trashed either. I'd say it's been taken care of. I'd go 2 g's if I was in the market.

 

damm thats a clean one, thats a fair price.

 

Damn nice car! I'd buy it.

 

Thank you. I'm still hesitating to buy from ebay, I can't get used to the idea of buying a car w/o checking it out fiirst. And I have to drive it 240 miles back home, too.

 

It's nice, real nice, but it's not an '81. That's an FB so it has to be '84 or '85. Right?

 

^^^^ Wrong!!!!!!

 

It is an 81. 84 and 85 had a different center console trim. More of a contemporary look in the 84 and 85's. Deffinately a nice, clean car. That engine bay looks spotless.

 

Ya couldn't be more wrong. FB = 79-85.

 

Moonchopper you're wrong as well.

79-80 SA
81-85 FB

And the reason for this is the VIN was changed in 81 to reflect new US and Canadian laws about how VINs were supposed to be written. In Japan and Australia they stayed SA22C... for the entire run of the 1st generation.

The '84 and '85 did get the different dash and centre console though... and I prefer it

Jon

 

ARGH! You bastage. I guess I shot myself in the foot on that one, eh?

Do all SA22C's have the savannah mirrors? Or only certain ones?

[I am assuming that the 'Savannah mirrors' are the ones that are mounted on the fenders, away from the doors.]

 

Not all SA22Cs had savanna mirrors.

 

Thank God !

 

Hmm. i thought the 81's still had the original body styling, with the odd bumper and thin side mouldings.. i guess i was wrong eh?

 

It's definitely an '81 or '82--- they're identical. Looks to be in very good shape, albiet a base model-- no options to speak of. Therefore, not worth over 2 grand. This of course assumes that the odometer is accurate--- highly unlikely, especially considering it's being sold by a dealer. Any indication of either serious accident repairs or odometer tampering automatically decreases this car's value to under $1500.

If you want this car look up any info and accident history available through Carfax and any service receipts. If the dealer isn't willing to provide the previous owners contact info, hang up.

BTW, the dealer is asking over $2600 for this car. For $2600 you could get an awfully nice '85 GSL or even a GSL-SE. Both of these cars have full option packages, with the SE offering a 30% more powerful engine, fuel injection, better brakes and better suspension.

Just keep an eye on the 1st gen "For Sale" section of this forum.

 

Yup. The thin side mouldings, between-tail-lights-mounted rear licence and steel bumpers were only used on the "79 and '80 models. 1981 was the first year for the upgraded bumpers and orange-lit instrument panel. At firat glance it looks identical to the '84 and '85 models. The exterior difference is that the '84 and '85 models had vertical slots in the chin spoiler on either side to allow air flow to cool the front brakes. The '81 to '83 models did not have these slots.

Inside the car, Mazda changed the instrument panel and console layout to a more streamlined and efficient configuration.

If you open the hood you can see the difference between the '81 -'82 cars vs. the '83: In '83 Mazda introduced the hated "beehive" coolant-style oil cooler, located under the oil filter mounting pad. All prior RX7s had the oil cooler mounted under the radiator. Mazda only used the beehive on 12A engines produced from '83 to '85 before getting true religion and returning to the much more efficient under-rad air type cooler for all subsequent rotaries.

 

I never knew that about the '83 oil cooler. I kinda like the finned oil filter deals and thought that was IN ADDITION to the under radiator oil cooler. Of course I've only ever had or worked on the '85 GS and the '81 I have now.

Nice post.