I may be picking up an 86 soon. Do you guys have anything to suggest, anything warn me about, downsides of an 86 is particular, what I should be looking out for with maintenance? Anything really would be great, I'm just trying to get some more info on this before I take the plunge.

BTW, it has 112k, single owner, a lot of papers, silver exterior, charcoal interior. Anything I should make sure and ask the owner?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Eric Mills

 

Oh, and they're asking 2500

Eric Mills

 

I own an 86. You can read the 2nd Gen Faq to answer most of your questions. However, for a more human element, I will make some suggestions. Make sure it starts hot, and cold. After you drive it until it is fully warmed up, wait for about 30 minutes before starting again. If it does not start right up, you are flooding. Make sure the usual things like alignment, straight rotors, good brakes, cluth doesn't slip(esp. high rpm), no oil leaks.

Also, pay very close attention to the exhaust while starting up, and driving. If you see white smoke on startup, go to the back of the car and smell it. If it smells of anything other than gas or oil, your coolant seals are on the way out. The smoke may be white regardless because it's so cold out, and condensation will build up in the exhaust. Still, if you even imagine that you smell coolant, do not, do not, do not buy it. Search for the coolant seal test for more information.

Check all fluids. See how well the owner has taken care of the car.

Ask the owner if the car has ever overheated, even slightly. Ask him if any radiator hoses have ever leaked/busted. Ask him if any coolant alarms have ever come on during the life of the car, and ask him how quickly he rectified the problem. These are crucial to the life of the engine. This will help you rule out a fule things, and help you draw your own conclusions. Yet again, search.

Do any gears grind?

Also, while in gear...can you rev higher than 4,000rpm without the engine stumbling? There is the cute thing called 3800 rpm hesistation (search if your curious) that happens when the cats are burned out/taken out and the 5/6 ports don't open. They operate on backpressure.
There is a fix in the archives, if you need to search.

That's about all I can really think of right now. Always be sure to SEARCH, and read the FAQ stickies in the forum. Thumbing the archive is very educational. It can answer alot of your questions, prevent alot of misinformation, and save you alot of flaming.

Welcome to the forums!

~J

 

Thank you! That was very informative.

I've lurked around these forums on and off for awhile. There is just such an immense collection of information, I sometimes find it hard to consolidate everything I need to know.

I haven't driven the car yet so some of your tips I can't relate to. I plan on meeting up with him later today, and will certainly be asking the questions you've listed. I've bought a few cars in my time so I usually know what to look for (fluid levels, fluid line conditions, etc.) and just wasn't sure if there was anything off the beaten path pertaining to these cars.

Thanks again on your help and I hope to join the owner group soon!

Eric Mills

 

Alright, here's the scoop.

Owned by a grandmother since day one, still has the 86 owner's manual in the glovebox. I didn't speak directly with her, but her grandson said she was crazy about getting things fixed, as in day of or next day (when I asked about CELs and coolant warning lights).

Good:
Engine is plenty strong, took 7k shifts like a champ
Manual transmission shift well, a little notchy but I'm assuming that's normal
Interior is amazing, good for a 5 yr old car, let alone 20 yr old car
Comes with two sets of rims and tires. The set on the car was the winter set and the tires looked nearly brand new.
New alternator, new rad to engine hose.

Bad:
Body is a little worse than I first pictured.
Sunroof is done for, there's even a hole through the exterior layer into the interior structure. However, this I was told it doesn't leak and judging by the interior and lack of rain damage smell, I believe it.
The rear quarter panels just before the rear tires are bubbled quite a bit.
The rear hatch only opens with a key, latch doesn't work.

Based on this, what do you guys think I should offer? Reminder, its an 86 silver GXL with <112,000

Eric Mills

 

If its a GXL, does the A.A.S. Still work? (not that it matters Im just curious)

The biggest punch to the cars value would be the rusted sunroof, I'd lower them down using that. prolly 1500-1700, everything else makes up for it.

 

Thats funny how a granny would own a 5-speed rx7 and giving it 7 grand on the tach.

 

you can talk him down based on the rust, but this is really the kind of car that you should be looking for, especially if it has service records.

You might want to get a compression test done though.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't know what A.A.S. is.

I was the one giving it 7k. They told me to take it out and be back in a few minutes . I'm not even sure she's ever heard the buzzer that comes on when you rev that high, lol.

Yea, the service records was a big plus and the rust could definitey be repaired. I may even just weld over the sunroof instead of finding a working replacement. Compression test is definitely a good idea considering it has a little under 112k but the engine bay looked spotless and the engine itself looked really clean.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'll let ya know if I end up buying this and definitely post some pics.

Eric Mills