Need advice on buying 91 convertible
 

Hello

I just registered with this forum today.

I am thinking about buying a '91 convertible with 57K
original miles on the car. It belongs to a friend of mine and I know the car since he bought it new.

My questions are:

Is $5000 a reasonable price for the car?

The car is very clean and supposed to be in good mechanical condition except for a starting problem.
If the car is shut off when it's cold, it won't restart for a while. Is this the flooding problem I read about on cold engines?

Not knowing much about RX7's except what I have read on the forum and Dave Disney's ? home page is this car a screemer? It seems to lend itself to racing modifications and speed enhancments.

What about auto insurance for the car? Is it expensive because it is classified as a Fast sports car?

What should I look at on the car to make sure it is not going to be a problem?

Thanks for any input you may have

Ralph

Re: Need advice on buying 91 convertible
 

Yes

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The car is very clean and supposed to be in good mechanical condition except for a starting problem.
If the car is shut off when it's cold, it won't restart for a while. Is this the flooding problem I read about on cold engines?

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may need the injectors cleaned and blueprinted

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Not knowing much about RX7's except what I have read on the forum and Dave Disney's ? home page is this car a screemer?

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It is the slowest and heaviest FC ever built.

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It seems to lend itself to racing modifications and speed enhancments.

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Yes... the 'vert is a great autocross car.

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What about auto insurance for the car? Is it expensive because it is classified as a Fast sports car?

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they are not terribly fast, around a 9 second 0-60 and a 16+ second 1/4 mile, they also top out around 125 MPH. You will need to shop around for insurance... some companies like Mercury base the rate on engine size, so at 1.3 liters they consider it an ecomony car. Others will rate it higher because it onl has two seats.

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What should I look at on the car to make sure it is not going to be a problem?

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Compression check, roof leaks (look for signs of water under the carpets and in the truck), and any signs of body work. With 'verts a damaged sub frame or other body work can often result in damage that the car will never drive right from and will always leak and not seal correctly.

The convertoble is a TERRIBLE autocross/racing car.

Its heavy and if you get it offroad it will BEND IN THE MIDDLE.

Your not seriously thinking of racing this vert are you?
Thats NOT what the point of the Vert is.

Its to enjoy on the road and for cruising.
(Yes you can make them fast), but only if you put a turbo in it or somthing.

Thats still going to make it so that you only have a fast road/cruising car.

no racing though.
definately not autocross!

I have a 91 Vert. All i can say is its a really slow car. But it gets the looks though. My car now has about 38xxx miles on it. I bought it with 36,xxx for $6,000. One of the things I did was changed the oil, oif filter, fuel filter, spark plugs and wires. Just the basic maintenance will help it.

Ah man, you rip the heavy power roof and assorted crap that comes with it off and you have a body lighter than a coupe. I know a couple of people that autocross them and do great. Granted they have stripped them down and run in modifed classes, but still...

Thanks everyone for the input. I'll have to investigate it further. I don't intend to modify it for speed at this time.

I will be moving to Florida next year and thought it would be a fun car to toy around with in the warm weather.

I am going to have it checked out as per the advice given in the replies.

Thanks

Ralph

Give Autocross a go, it is a gas.
91 Vert.

Make sure the AC works ;)

Thats what it is. A fun car to toy around with. Buy it!!!!! and ENJOY!!!!!

$5000 seems like a steal if never in an accident and if car was maintained. Low mileage cars cost money.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1845180694
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1844153599
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1843293220

Definately go for it, you'll love it! :)

For aroundtown fun, the convertible is a blast to drive. It makes a great daily driver especially with the top down. The 8000rpm redline really helps and it pulls great in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

The vert shines in highspeed cornering, 2nd/3rd gear passing, and massaging the hairs on my head :)

Yes the TII has raw torque & HP, but the convertible is better planted on the road, it's handles perfectly & predictably, the ride is smooth, firm, and tight, and it's a blast to drive with the top down. I'd take it over the miata anyday.

I've gotten up to 135MPH before - the convertible does have the areo package you know, so it can go faster than you think.

Hope that helps :)