Well.. I just came back from the mall - and parked right next to me was a REALLY nice S5 Turbo II 1989. Very mint condition, nice and clean. It used to be a show car with the local "wanna play?" guys around town. He didn't add any bodykits and/or stickers. The car is completely stock - besides adding a BOV. He got tired of people calling his car a "wanna-be turbo" because of the hood scoop.

He has done the basic specs up to date.



I want to keep my GXL and get the TurboII, but it'll be hard on money. If I can sell my GXL and then buy the TII that will be great.

I'm going to be calling the guy tomorrow and asking if I could stop by to get more details on the car and everything. He gave me a brief summary about it - and I can't remember all of it

Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know. Now... my part in this is.. either keep my current GXL - take a loan out from the bank and buy it that way OR sell my car and buy the TII. I just don't know yet.

If I buy it, and keep mine... one will be a daily driver and one will be the autox toy.

Ahhh! Decisions......

 

Oh... one last thing... I'm going to call him tomorrow to get additional information and stop by... what should I look for when I'm over there? Because.. I'm not entirely sure.

If I end up getting this, it's gonna eat a whole in my pocket, but I don't mind I'll either be getting a loan off of it, or sell my GXL for it. I just need a little bit of advice... when looking at her tomorrow again.

 

Did you happen to catch the mileage on it?

 

well, first off, miles, check the color of the antifreeze (can usually check the over-flow container) start it up, does it idle good, does it bounce around like crazy, smoke at all? Check for bubbles in the overflow container, indication of bad water seals, test drive, does it spool up nicely, or does it hesitate and kick you around? basic stuff like that, you mean?

 

yes, stuff like that Sonic and Felix.

Well, when he were getting ready to leave, he started up the car - it gave him some trouble.. like most Tii's I've seen around... on cold starts.

I forgot to look at the mileage, but when I go see him tomorrow afternoon I'll be sure to look at it. I'll ask him if I could drive the car and see how well it runs and make a note of it.

It didn't smoke at all when he started it up, so I suppose that is good!

What is the difference of the color of the anti-freeze?

 

Just make sure the antifreeze is a nice green and clean. Not murky brownish with a bunch of crap floating in it.

 

Try to keep both if you can afford it so if one goes you got something to drive I would go for it man an s5 turbo is what im hunting for right now but i got an s4 gtu and im in love with that man what to do what to do

 

yeah, that's what is going through my mind right now. I really don't want to sell my GXL. I love her to death. If I can get the bank to let me loan money... I will be in heaven.. I'm able to pay them back anyway - No doubt about that.

but if that doesn't happen with the bank, all I can say is, I'll probably sell her, unless I can find another tii for less. But damn.. I stopped literally and drooled at his tii... people were staring at me

Is that good or bad? I'll let you guys know tomorrow night after I talk to him more about the car.

 

I guess I should point out that he's asking $4000 OBO - I want to try and get him to let him sell it at $3k-3500. It's red with black interior.

And... how do I check for bad water seals?

 

Take the radiator cap off and have him crank the engine. If coolant shoots out 10 ft in the air, most likely the seals are bad

 

Ahh.. I knew that, Sonic had already told me that, I just didn't think clearly ... thank wan...

Well, I just finished off some cliff notes - Please let me know if I'm missing anything, or I should add anything before I print this out.. and ask him questions.. thanks!




Car cliff notes:

Mileage
color of antifreeze
start it up is there:
good idle? Does it bounce around like crazy? smoke at all?
check for bubbles in overflow container
indication of bad water seals
test drive it
does it spool up nicely or hesitate and kick me around?
high mileage - take off intercooler hose, check for traces of oil (if so, generally means turbo rebuild)

Note: hard start issue could very well be leaky injector

check all elec. switches
What was it about the ECU thing? Why do I need a new one? Part #?

 

there is a red 87 or 88 TII for sale near my home... Red with grey int. spoiler,etc... a little faded and only a small dent in the rear asking 2500... but it is in Illinois

 

I wolud buy it myself; but I already have a TII, a GXL, and a GTU, and an 84... my wife won't let me have anymore

 

Hey, just get rid of the wife, then you'll have room for one more car.

 

lol - that is one reason why the guy here is selling his. His wife said to him "you're too busy with your car all the time, and not spending enough with me.. you gotta sell it" - or that's what it is sounding like

Tomorrow I go out and talk to my bank, and the guy again as well as wednesday - I'll give you guys an update soon

 

I say sell the GXL. RX-7s rock, but you've got to be realistic, credit is a last resort. Paying other people for the privilage of owning things immediately when you want them is crappy. When you've got the money later you could always pick up another GXL. As Aaron will tell you, you can never have too many RX-7s in your driveway.

 

I don't understand. Maybe one of you younger people can explain?

Anyway, back to the issue, I don't think it's a good idea to finance a used sportscar, especially given our current economy. You should sell your GXL if you really want the TII. You can also race the TII in autocross.

 

Christy, get the compression checked. If the #'s come up at or less than 90PSI than consider in an old engine. (low compression due to scarred housings can cause hard starts when warm)

Another way to check the leaky injector thing is to drive it. Figure out just how hard it gets to start, & how long it has to sit off before it does this.

Next while the engine is running pull the main fuel pump relay & let the engine die. Let the car sit for the amount of time that it takes for this problem to occur, then go plug the relay back in & start it.

If it starts right up then the injectors are probably the main cause.

There could be a combination of worn housings/apex seals/apex seal springs and leaky injectors...

But anyhow, that with what you already know is enough to get you in the right direction.

Good luck,
Eric.

 

What these guys said. And $4k is a good deal for a Series V TII if it is in decent shape.

Brad

 

How did you talk the wife into that many?? I'm still trying to talk mine into a second one (TII preferably.) Any tips on that conversation would be appreciated.

 

I'm a bit confused. You said its a T2 and he added a new BOV so how is it a turbo wannabe because of the hood??
Also has he removed that ugly gold Wanna Play Show Division windshield sticker?

 

I talked my wife into a TII, but it wasn't that hard. She was driving a 91 when we met, I was driving the 93. We still have both and when I saw an 89 TII making 230 rwhp already, but needed some paint work and a couple of other minor repairs, I bought it. Her comment was I don't see why we need another one, but it's your money. It might have something to do with the new Protege ES we bought back in 2000 for her Mazda family for sure.

I say get the TII with whatever means you can. If you can safely pay payments without being stressed out by having a loan to pay, then do it and keep both. You can't control the economy or your local job market, but you can always sell a car if need be, but until something bad happens and you do have to sell one, you'd have 2 great cars to play with. Granted that doesn't sound like the economist I am, but damn, you can't account for personal pleasure and how it affects your buying decisions in dollar amounts.

Tim

 

SirRX7 - Before you couldn't *hear* the BOV going off whenever shifting like you would. People would call his car a wanna-be turbo because of the hood scoop. IE: hood scoop also refers to letting cool air hit the IC, if I'm not mistaken.


Yeah, he took off that banner. he quit the wanna play group... just because of all the **** going with it.


Well, I went to my bank today. Inorder for me get a car loan I either:

1. have to be working at my job 6months - since I don't have credit history

2. Have someone co-sign with me that has good credit history.

Now.. I want my parents too - as they said they would, but I don't think they have outstanding credit history.

Although, I asked if there were any other requirements...the lady says .. when you're ready to get the loan, we need to know how many miles are on the car, what year.. 93 94, etc? ....

I stopped her, and said, uh, well it's a 1989. She said what kinda car? My reply was Mazda RX-7 TurboII.

Then.. out of no where she's like "Sorry but we can't put a loan on that old of a car - but I still want to know the mileage of it when you are ready"

WTF? I didn't think because of how old the car was - I can't get a loan on it. I think I'm going to another bank besides mine and checking out their stuff.

If all else fails, I am not going to SS5, and will ask the guy... if I could pay half now, and everytime i get payed (every two weeks) I could give him the money in order to pay it off.

OR

My next thought was to sell my GXL - which I really don't want to - and get the TII. My parent's even suggested that.

 

Really the only kind of loan you can get for a car that old is a signature loan (no collateral), and you need really good credit to get one.

 

Yeah, that's what she said. She goes... since you can't get a regular loan - you might want your parents to do the signature loan that they have to sign.

I do not understand what a signature loan is, as I never heard of one until today.