This is the only place I can use to get a decent idea about this car I looked at today. I'm 17 and without a car, naturally I wan't an rx-7. Here's the deal.
1. Bad Brakes all the way around, needs new rotors and pads
2. Needs new tires all the way around... front's have 20% left.
3. Random body dings and the front bumper with a good bit of damage on front right side.
4. Needs Battery... as is right now needs to be rolled to start.
5. Idles at 2400... This is a main concern
6. And the exhaust isn't complete which puts tons of heat into the cabin... right side from muffler.

All these things however, It's a gray 87' with sunroof with 160k on no rebuild, but it has a new clutch and that's about it. $450 bucks - What do you guys think, and what's it gonna run me to fix what is listed?

 

Rotors and pads ~3-400
Tires depends but some good tires around 3-400
Bumpers are 200 NEW
Battery is around 60-100 dollars
The idle is probably a vaccume leak
Exhaust depends on whats rotted out and what you want.

I wouldn't buy it for that much. Offer 350. :-/

 

well, you will soend about 400-500 DYI to fix everything except body and idle. The idle would condern me as well. I would check compression b4 I bought. Needs alot before the motor is addressed.

 

Are you sure it needs to be roll started cuz of the battery? Does it smoke on start up? If so what colour?
For that matter...how long has the car just been sitting there for?

 

I didn't drive the car cause the brakes are too bad... And the car was running when I got there, smoke was clear and didn't smell, but was running for abit by the time I got there.

 

I saw that one listed for sale...Don't make a move until you see it cold...Check out the coolant, the oil for any deposits...It could be a decent buy if it runs well?

Do you have anyone that can do brakes? Did you check the brake fluid? Does it have pressure? Exhaust could be done fairly cheap too...
It might be in need of a major tuneup?

 

Sound like my first GXL i bought, but if u want the car its gonna be a big learning experience fixing it up. IMO u should get it, but try to get it for cheaper then $450 like 1987RX7guy said.

 

Do the 4K RPM test as well, if it smokes after 20 seconds or so, walk away. 170K is a fair amount of miles, and it all depends on how the owner took care of regular maintenance throughout the life of the car.

 

I wouldn't walk away.. There's alot of variables to it to determine if you should walk away or not. Main one being price. If it was cheap, buy it, part it out!

 

OK, well, I would in his situation. At 17 with no vehicle, the last thing I'd want to do is spend some $$ on a car with a blown motor...hoping to part it out and make some $$. This forum is loaded with S4 NA parts for sale.

 

Yeah, the Idea on this car is one that isn't gonna give me tons of problems and is gonna be halfway decent once time and money is invested, not to make an investment. I beleive it needs a major tune-up. WHat does one of those run from a respectable place?

 

Hmm.. Touche.

 

Do the tune up yourself it is not hard. Spark plugs, new spark plug wires, change all vital fluids and all the belts. That's pretty much basic stuff that most people could do.

 

Check the compression on both sides. You could probably save the break rotors by milling them (If not too F'd up). Check hazards, turn signals, wiper speeds, headlights... All the electrical stuff, cpu, turn signal switch, wiper switch could be expensive also. Make sure gauges work, Turn on A/C not to see if it cools but just to check if the settings work (Defog, vent, bi-level, fan speeds etc). Also make sure the sunroof slides smoothly. If you add this up to the $450.00 you will have enough to buy a nice TII.

 

<--------19 got my first car a year ago. I am no one to tell you what to do but i believe that having something that runs good is better than having a project car as a first car. Plus the money you are going to spend on the car is going get you a much nicer car than the car you are looking at.

 

That's true.

Piston engine cars are much more of a beginners car. An N/A FC (IMHO) is a good beginners car for someone who wants to get into working with rotary engines.

Main reason why piston engine cars are better for beginners: You can ask just about anyone out there something about the engine and they will know.

As where if you ask anybody in a shop about rotary engines they will say "Oh.. the Wankel? They're crazy. They have spark plugs all around the stupid thing."