Well i'm about to take a step into the world of FC's. Theres two FC verts for sale in my area, ones an S4 88 the other is an S5 89. Both come with brand new tires, aftermarket wheels and are in over all good shape. They both have 135xxx miles on em. Now heres the bad.
S4: Small dent in the front fender, driver side mirro is cracked ( not the mirror but the molding), shifter is loose needs new bushings, minor tear in the top and seat, attena doesnt work, and the dealership doesn't have maintnece records (engine looks really clean, but they could have just steamed cleaned the bay)
S5: No dents, just scratches and very small chips in the paint here n there over all nothing major just wear n tear, the top is cracked in several spots i'd probally replace it or recover it soon, interior looks good overall, havn't had time to test drive this one just found it tonight going tomorrow morning to do that, so we'll see more.

no rust anywhere on both check under the chassis and the wheel wells, brakes look good and susspenion also on both. The S4 is red, the S5 is white ( i'm not really into red, more into white so thats really swaying me). They want 3900 for the S4, and 2900 for the S5 (different dealerships) i offered 3k for the S4, but i found this S5 and have rethought buying the S4. Any advice?

 

Ugh... Ordinarily I would try to persuade you to the S4 (I think they are easier to maintain). But it sounds like the S5 is the better deal here.

 

geuss i'll have to do some more research on the maintence between the two didn't know that thanks. the only thing that has me ??? about the S5 is that there was a small small small drip of oil near the driver side wheel under the engine, since i havn't had a chance to pop the hood or start her up yet i'm not sure what it could be.

 

btw do you know how much it cost to recover a vert or a new top?

 

Id go with the S5... S5's are a upgrade version of the S4 - cosmetics, electrical, interior, and mechinical ) Dont get me wrong i love the S4, but if i had to pick between a S4 or S5 Id go with the S5 most likely.

Also, try to do a compersion check on them both. Ask the owners if its ok, i know i've done it before and they werent rude about it. At least this could help your decision, if it came down to that, and youll be more comfortable knowing what shape the motros in if you do decide to buy either one. thats my 2 cents

 

I really do think i'll end up going with the S5 even if the engine isn't in that great of condtion...i'm gonna offer em 2500 see where we end up from there. i was going to swap the taillights anyways if i got the S4....eh i still cant get to ahead of myself here...damn i wish it was tomorrow.

 

You sure you want to make that claim?

 

I would go with the S5. You the updated the looks and power without adding too much weight. It also sounds like its in better condition. IMHO the 88 and 89 verts are the ones to look for. After that they got too heavy.

 

thanks a bunch guys really! (btw both are at car dealers)
well i test drove the S5 today, and looked at it up close. Interior is worse then the 88, just cracked leather seats, and some of the trim is cracked (really minor). Clutch and shifter seem good tho! Some weather stripping is missing along the door so it was leaking water into the car (its raining today), not sure if it was because of the top also. Fired it up, didn't smoke at all just steam from the rain. Revved it up, and well i'm pretty sure its running on one rotor (havn't owned or been around Rx7's to much pyhsically other the going to local meets, so i'm not sure about this but its not healthy) About 3k+ RPM it begins to make a winning noise, and it gets pretty rough and sputters almost. Theres a coolant leak because the engine started to smoke from where the hose entered the gasket into the engine, pretty sure the rear suspension is going out on it. Other then that, the cars good! Atleast from what i can tell that is lol. Doesn't sound like it was well maintained it was traded in my a girl who drove it for a daily commuter about mmm atleast 100-200 miles back n forth from school to work, so i'm postive she didn't keep good care of the engine. I still think i might get the S5, i've already been aproved for a 3xxx secured private loan for the other car ( dont matter which one i get i still get the money). How much do you guys think i should offer them on the S5, i was thinking 1,500 or less maybe even 1,200. Use the extra to rebuild it and maybe fix it up to, registration yadda yadda. Any other input? Oh ya i forgot it has some type of salvage tittle on it they dont know what it is, i got the vin to run a carfax so i have to do that tonight.
oooo btw i gotta share the story of this deusch bag salesmen to. So were talking about the car, and i had just got driving it and i told him that the car is pretty sick and has a loss of power, and the engine just isn't right. I explained to him what i think it might be (one rotor) but he just kinda looked blankly at me, and his boss comes over and is like ok you put 1,500 down and i'll make it so you can do 10 payments and pay be back the full 2,900. (i got a little agrivated here because he was quit hostile and forceful) I told him, flat you, no chance in hell that engine isn't worth the price for that car, theres way to much wrong with it i refuse to pay that price...and explained why to him...he instantly shut up because he had no idea what i was talking about it was quiet reasonable after that. I told him i'll be by tomorrow to check the car out further, and i'll be by with my "mechanic" AKA DocWankel, good friend know him for quit some time (hes got a FD, knows his **** to) to get his opion. So i'll be back there tomorrow, so some numbers would be great to throw at em, thanks for anyhelp.

 

why are they easier to maintain? i thought the S5 would be.

 

On the S4 there is no VDI or air pump concerns, simpler electronics as far as ECU, CPU.

From the original description I too would have been leaning towards the 89, but after the test drive it sounds like the 88 is in better shape.

A bad engine automaticly rules out any price over $1200 for a vert no matter how sweet the car is otherwise. Add in the salvage title, and it is not worth even $1000

 

Ask the dealers if theyll let you do a compresion test!! This whay you dont have to guess if its 1 rotor or not. And if there not dicks, and confident about the car they should have no problem letting you do it. It take 2 min to do