I have a healthy n/a S5 engine and found a possible donor car for it. It's an 89 base model, no power anything, no sunroof, no air. She is asking a little much, however it has a popped engine, she's the original owner and it only has 78,000 km on it. I am a first gen owner, so to you guys I ask is the base preferred or not. It's gonna take a while for her to see what it is really worth and let it go.

 

Personally, I would much prefer a non-sunroof, no spoilered chassis.

 

unless that car is really clean inside and out i don't see it being worth much more than 1,000.

 

If you are asking about the general opinions on this forum:
- Many people prefer the S5 tail lights and trim, and don't care what model it is.
- Many people prefer the GTUs because it is rare, and don't like the base models.
- Many people scoff at any non-turbo model.
My opinion is that many people are stupid, and you should buy whatever you like.

The only trim-level pitfall to avoid would be the horrible automatic transmission cars which are very difficult to convert to a manual transmission. Other than that, just read the buying links in the 2Gen FAQ and you will be fine.

In good shape it blue books at at about $4,000 USD. Fixing the engine will cost $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the damage, plus about $1,000 for pulling and reinstalling the engine. Therefore, the car is really worth between $1,000 and -$2,000.

 

She is aksing $3500, I am will to pay $1500 or maybe a little more. I have a perfect s5 na pulled from a TII transplant another owner did that only cost me $200. It is a 5 speed car. With the first gens, some find the bare bones gs desirable because of the weight difference and simplicity. I would prefer air cond, but with no PS, power sunroof, power windows, no air and deleting the air pump and installing my gslse header (fabricating some exhaust work of course) this would be a good smooth, fun daily driver. Just gotta get her to see the true value.

 

One thing to consider is that the base model S5's, despite having the 5 bolt hubs, have single piston brake calipers up front (same size rotor as the 4 pistons though) and smaller, non-vented rotors out back. It's not hard to change and it could probably benefit from newly rebuilt parts anyway though. Also, on the S5 engine, the airpump activates the auxiliary ports and the VDI, so don't just remove it, it's useful and you'll loose power without it unless you activate the ports some other way. Just fixing them in the open position will hurt low end power, so that's not a good way to go.

 

good point, factory functional is best in my eyes...

 

Does that include some of the crack that she is smoking? Heck, just let her put the car on the market and see that nobody in their right mind will pay that for an RX-7 with a blown engine. The $1,500 that you are willing to pay is still WAY too much for that car unless every single other part of the car is in pristine condition, which I highly doubt.

 

Looked at it today, her asking price is based on what her import (non-rx7) mechanic told her she could get. Many have told her she'll never get it so she is cluing in. Amazing interior!! Amazing body (little fading which could buff up). Shame the motor popped with such low mileage, a n/a usually goes way further, and she didn't baby it and plug it up with carbon either. None the less, I offered $1000.