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A short history of my 91 Vert and a request for feedback on selling it.
Back in 1991/92 I was going through my mid-life crisis - approaching 50. I decided that I needed a red convertible to ease the crisis. I spend most of my youth car poor - bought too many cars too fast and was always in debt. By 1992 I had grown up and was keeping cars for more than 4 years (and paying them off). My poor 1986 Thunderbird Turbo coupe was riddled with hail damage and it was time for a change. I decided on a car I'd been looking at for years, a red 1991 RX7 Vert. I bought in new in 1992 in Montgomery Al.
This is just a brief history of the last 31 years.
Drove RX7 as primary car for about 9 years.
The roof was leaking
I was working my *** off and didn't have time to fix stuff
Approaching 60 it was getting harder to "crawl" in and out of the RX7
Decided I needed a change, but would keep the car for my grandson, who was only about 4 at the time.
I parked the car and drove it occasionally, but the battery would go dead, the roof was still a problem, etc. Then 6 years went by with it parked on the side of the house with a cover on it. I spend a little cash and got it running, but there were problems and I still didn't have time to deal with them - covered and parked it again. Then another 6 years went by and the car was getting worse - I couldn't get it to start. I towed it to Gadsden Al when we moved in 2010. Tried to work on I but seemed to be over my head. I knew I needed a new gas tank and on June 9th, 2012 it arrived and I started working on it. Took a couple days to get it running. Took about a month to fix some of the problems.
This is just a couple pictures from June 2012 in the 'My rx7 is alive!' moment.
The back:
The side:
The front:
After getting it working in June, I had several problems I had to fix that I just I've just touched on.
Several computers had corrosion, bad solder joint problems.
The body CPU ended up what gave me problems years ago. It came down to the anti-theft system indicated a break-in and it would not start (for some unknown time period). Took a little while but I bypassed the circuit and stepped around it.
The power steering CPU indicated problems, but it stopped after a few days.
The rear brake calipers were shot, replaced them.
The clutch hydraulic system had problems. Replaced the master cylinder.
I had the body CPU bad solder joints repaired by a TV repairman (who else knows how to solder anymore?). That fixed a few thing, but not the theft cutout. Bought a new CPU an fixed all the minor problems.
After those problems were fixed, I got a new set of tires and started driving it a couple times a week with no problem. It still had the getup and go I remembered. I was ready to get a new top and have it painted and enjoy it while I could. With the problems and the age, let alone insurance costs, it was not a good choice for my grandson.
My son came down for a visit and we took it for a spin - time to show it off. About a mile down the road the power steering computer started giving off warning beeps. We went a few miles down the road then came back, still beeping. Said I have to look up the problem later. Parked it for a few days and was going to take it some where, but the beeps started as soon as I put the key in. About a week later I tried it again and no beeps - but it would not start. Cranked and cranked, but would not start.
Spent about a week trying to figure out what could have gone wrong, bad engine CPU, relay etc. Changed plugs, no joy. I did a compression check and it was not good. I know that I can't park on a hill and not put the handbrake on - I seem to remember I rarely used handbrake. For the life of me I can't remember what I did. I was facing an engine rebuild and beyond my ability. But I somehow found the problem was and got in running again.
Over the next 10 years it just sat again. I would go out every couple months start it up and take it for a short spin. I remember having a cooling problem. Had to bleed the coolant system and fixed that.
About three our four years ago, a squirrel decided it wanted to live between the battery and engine/fender. Apparently the wires were in its way and it decided to chew off some of the front wiring harness. Probably waited another year before I tackled the soldering of the pieces back together.
Since then, it was back to taking it for a spin every couple months. A couple delivery or repairman who visited the house would ask about my Vert, was it for sale, etc. I've often though about selling it but had no idea of it's 'reasonable' value.
I received a proposal the other day for under $2k and said I'd think about it. I went out and started it up, gave it a bath and took it around the block. It started to chug and misfire if I tried to punch it. Maybe the offer was not that bad! Now the gas in the tank was probably a few years old. Drained the tank and added new gas and it came alive again. The reason for this post is: I can't continue to do this, it needs a new home and I would like some feedback on what a 'reasonable' value is?
Some pictures from today - I couldn't get the attachment upload to work, so just links, but not much has changed.
Even though the car has sat for most of the last 20 years, it's been under a car cover/tarp or in a carport for the last 12 years. It has a little under 79,000 miles on it. It has never been wrecked. I has only been up to 130mph once, and I won't to that again!
That's a nice clean one owner car that's got all it's records and under 100K miles on it. Tell that guy to add at least 6 grand to his offer.
True, the 'verts aren't gaining value as fast as some other RX-7's, but they WILL catch up. Unless you're in a hurry to get rid of it, I'd put it either here or BAT for at least three times what he offered.
For reference. Sure it's got less miles, but yours is a '91.
All the S5's are getting scarce in original condition and getting more desirable. That being said, those cars are getting old now. Parts are hard to find at times. Gas mileage is low. SO many newer cars with more power. The only thing a RX has going for it is low insurance costs and that's because any body damage to it and it will be totaled. I admit, I like the targa top option. Always have.
The 2nd gens are a hobbyist car in my opinion. Unless somebody has the ability to store it like you did, and maintains it themselves because not many people work on them, then they are not the right person for the car. 20 years ago my S4 was my daily driver for 10 years. I wouldn't have it as my daily driver now.
In California, a running, smogged, registered RX would run you $3 to 5k even in poor shape because getting a running engine with all the original parts is the hard part. . . I just picked the center console out of a blue 90 vert at pick and pull 6 months ago. . . $27 bucks with a lid that is not cracked, what a deal!!!! . ... .I should of grabbed a ton more stuff but I blew it. Plastic parts are just hard to get.
07-10-22, 11:37 AM
