My truck goes back on lease this month, and I'm tired of making car payments.

I found a 1991 RX-7 N/A Coupe with 119K miles that is priced at about $3900. It's a five-speed, cloth interior, decent condition. It has some normal issues, like a non-functional stock radio, a quirky windshield wiper switch, and a sticky sunroof.

I had a 1990 GXL four years ago that had similar issues, so they don't concern me.

Engine and transmission pass muster, though it could probably use new brake pads.

I was going to try and buy it for $3500, which seems a little high compared with similar cars I have seen advertised. However, I can feel, smell, touch and drive this car--buying one on the internet seems like a roll of the dice.

Is this a decent deal? This is going to be my primary mode of transportation. Buh-bye, 3/4 ton crew cab 4X4 Silverado! You can take your 12 mpg and stuff it!

 

that's pretty expensive for a stock n/a in decent condition. Is it modified at all? Is that the original engine?

 

Bye Bye 12 mpg and welcome 17 mpg!

 

that is a little pricey. i got my 88 GXL for 3200, and my GTU for 2500. print out some pages from autotrader or whatnot, showing lower prices for comparable FC's, maybe use that to talk him down.

 

u could find an ok shape Turbo2 for that price

 

I bought my vert for $300...of course the engine caught on fire, but everything else is good!

 

For in S5 in good condition I wouldnt give him more than $3500. Also, take into consideration that you dont know how this car has been driven or maintained, so it may require some maintenance in the near future. I'd have some extra money set aside for these problems if this is going to be your primary driver.

 

My friend bought an 86 base, 5 speed for 1200 bucks. Thats a deal, but 3900 is way too high.

 

+1 my GTU is my daily driver, and i have done more than a few reliability mods. not that the car is unreliable, but i like to cover all the bases and upgrade. i dooo love my new koyo

 

the most i ever paid for a 7 was $3000, and that was for a 1990 GXL in almost pristine condition. the only thing wrong with it was a nonworking rear wiper, and a tear in the drivers side seat

 

I gave $1750 for my 87 base n/a. I think you're probably going to pay too much for this car. Talk him down. Miles and items that you'll need to repair over the next few years and you'll probably regret $3500. I'd probably start him at $2000 and go from there. You can expect about $75 for the wiper switch from mazdamark, price your own radio headunit, if the sunroof seals you're fine on that. Just plan ahead for a rebuild on that engine over the next few years... transmission probably too. I'd pay no more than $2500 and that's probably the blue book value on it (I didn't look it up). Hope this helps.

 

this may shed some light on the subject....
http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/kw.kc.u...-7&15;MA;B8&&&

 

I came up with about $1875 on the Kelley Blue Book. I over estimated. The seller would appreciate that. So, basically, less than half of what he's asking.

 

i always thought kbb was a little unfair on the value of our cars...but i guess i place a higher value on them than most

 

I think part of the problem is that kbb takes all the 7 sales for that year (including parts cars, crappy cars, and excellent cars) and makes an average. I think there has been lots of parts cars sold, and plenty broke down cars sold away.

 

thats a good point. the annoying part is that insurance companies often go off things like kbb to establish the value of the car. im in the middle of sending my insurance company HUGE amounts of paperwork, receipts, etc, to have them increase the stated value of my car.

 

i got my FC TII for $500; body is in great shape runs good (?) only thing broked was radiator...

 

Everyone wants to sell a car for kbb or more but will only pay less than kbb for one.
:smiley_12