Well, I checked out the 86 FC I am looking at buying. Its a GXL model, with 188K on it. The engine was replaced or rebuilt by Mazda in 2002. Guy I am buyin it from has put 12K on in in 2 years, so there cant be that many miles on the new engine. Car is $1000 firm.

The GOOD: Engine fired up easily enough for sitting for 3 months, and made no weird noises while running. I went back and smelled the exhaust, no smoke, just smelled a little rich normal for a cold engine.

Body is in decent shape, just a small rust hole, on the right quarter at the bottom.

Engine and trans mounts were replaced recently, driveshaft was also changed.

Seller says the active suspension still works.

A/C works.

Headlights pop up correctly.
==========================

The BAD:
The differential makes a clunk when starting off, there is a rubber mount that has failed, If driving carefully I could take off without it making the noise. There is NO noise while driving.

Cruise control does not work,

The HVAC controls do not switch from position, air comes out all vents.

Wipers only work on slow speed.

There is a fuel leak, But not the Fuel Pulsation Damp. Just the rubber hose that comes up the back of the engine, and clamps to the fuel rail, could be the banjo bold on the rail too.

Power steering line has leak on the rubber hose, leaks about a quart a month.


So what do you guys think.. Decent deal for $1K.

Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ken

 

I'd try and get the guy to knock off a couple hundred so you have a bit of capital to fix the broken diff mount it likely has.

 

if the guy know nothing of these kind of cars then flood it real bad and tell him you'll give him 600 since it won turn on anymore

 

For 1000 bones it sounds like a good deal. Did you start it warm... mildly blown rotarys have trouble starting warm.

The clunk when you start would be a dif mount, but other than it being annoying i don't think it will cause a mechanical failure so it isn't all bad. They are a pain in the *** to replace though.

You cruise control and HVAC are more than likely cold solders. If you take both items apart and re-solder the boards and make sure there are not corroded traces on the board you'll be set.

Icemark has a good writeup in the FAQ about how to do the wiper switch fix, costs about $20 and an hour or so of time.

FIX THE FUEL LEAK BEFORE YOU DRIVE IT!!!! Need I give reasons??

Power steering line is nothing big... replace the line or ditch the power steering.

I'd say go for it.