I have owned 2 FC's in the past ('86 automatic and '87 TII) and greatly enjoyed both. I modified my TII a good amount, and enjoyed playing with it, but sold it when I graduated from A&M and got my truck.

Yes, I reget that move. I should have bought a 2nd cheap car and had my TII fixed (AC & power steering).

So, now I'm tired of my large monthly payments for my truck, so I plan on selling it and getting an older used car. My two main choices include:

'98-'01 Subaru 2.5 RS

RX-7

I am open to FB, FC, and FD's. It's a matter of stock, good looking, and in good running condition, and relatively cheap. Possible? Good question.

I have been looking at the convertables, of which there are a few for sale here in the Houston area. I have no idea what these cars are like, how they hold up after 15+ years (leaks, power top motors, etc), how they handle, what kind of aftermarket parts support there is (same suspension parts for the rear?)

I think it would be fun to have a convertable car, and get back to my roots with an RX-7. Just wondering what yall have to say about them.

Here are some pics of my FC TII, which I sold for $5000.

http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/member...iew&car_id=445

 

Also, are there any good rotary or RX-7 mechanics here in the area?

I can do lots of maintenance and repairs myself, but I live at an apartment, which isn't the best place to do major work on a car.

 

General problems I found with my vert was the top ripped around the rear window (expected considering the car is 16 yrs old), and my driverside window motor went. ($50 used thru rx7 club ) Other than that they are great. I really love mine and with only an intake and full exhaust I can easily beat my friends GXL coupe. Definitely worth the money in my book.

 

Yep top rips. Also white cars tend to have paint peeling off. I can show you mine. Its all original from Cali. The moment I brought it over here, the paint started top come off.

 

I have owned 15 Rx-7's and always wanted a vert.. They are just as good as any other model FC except for the road noise... But who hears the road over the exhaust anyways? Also If you go modified the top down and running rich will be fun..

But I just got another vert after regretably selling my first one...

Here is my new one, needs top work and I am installing a 6port turbo motor... but other then that it is straight!

In all honesty according to mazda the verts were a lot tighter on specs then the coupes, to avoid creaks and rattles... the tolerances were much closer...

Cheers!

 

Try this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4583363182

Here is his post in the for sale section
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=472984

Looks like he is in Houston too!!

 

This is also in your area, but it's an auto. Dont know what your interested in.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=en&cardist=11

 

Ive never seen that... It must not be original paint. Here is my story. I have a convertable 88. I just replaced the top. I got the car back today. The only reason it was being replaced is because of some freaken cats.... the rubber is old but the top in good shape. The shop gave me in writting that they removed the original top. It unheard of to have them so old and in good shape I realize many of these cars have trashed tops. robbins makes a good top at a reasonalble price. Hear what the upolstry guy said about mazda tops. My top was original (17 years) he says Mazda does a nice job in engineering these convertable tops... he gave me compairisons of ford and bmw. He was actually impressed with the top of an rx7. the only trouble he ran into replacing is the bolts on the rear hood of the top
2nd generations have electrical problems with cold solder points and switches... My mechanic loves roteries but he did not recomend the 2nd generation particularly the convertable. I bought the car against his advice The parts can be expensive. fortunatly you are on this site for good guy deals.
Basicly I have been lucky with my car. I call it a time bomb ready cost me big bucks. Ive seen many convertables in bad shape. If you want a fixerupper you can find one and Im sure and just the same you can find a mint conditon one as well. Dont over pay.

 

I test drove a convert that had a non stock rag top. It was noisy compaired to what I drive now(88 vert). I think the top was missing something or it was thin material..
I like to tell you what I did about the noise issue. I laid down some floor pad around the area the spare tire lays. I dont know if it made alot of difference. I also sprayed the inside of the doors with truck bed linner spray to make it quiet. You will not beleive what that will do for the sound of your stereo.... Its like putting a 1000 bucks into your stereo system. over all the car is not too noisy. take a sound meter with you if you want to kno the facts durring a test ride. Go on the freeway or busy down town area. good luck oh yeah if you spray the doors disconect the battery and use aluminum foil to cover all the importand stuff so your door still works.... the drain holes at the bottem of the doors will need attention also. so paint does not run out... Its fun to do this job. I did this when truck liner spray first came out.... I was going to spray undercoating and I seen a freind at the parts store and he stopped me and insisted on using bed linner spray. It works real good.

 

get the subaru

 

1noblerider, nice input, just stay away from the crack pipe. I have 90 FC3C, n/a, six months new to me. Noise, its a convertable. Want to hear something sweet while driving your vert? I took off the hood to change out my water pump, for convenience, and if it wasn't for the ?, now that sound of a rotary engine is better than BEETHOVEN's 5th, 6th, or 1000th symphony. Buy a vert, and remember the reason you are questioning yourself now.

PEACE THE DOG

 

vert or coupe? hmmm tough decision how about neither?>>>
i choose targa

verts are really cool, but im just not fond of how they look with the roof up they did a pretty good job of siffening them up though.

 

Get the 'vert. It is my favorite RX-7, I like it even more then my TII.

It's just so much fun to drive with the top down

 

get one of each, use the subie for dd, play with the vert. You will stil be ahead money wise from the titan! The vert will be slow compared to your tII, so take that into consideration. Ive got an 88 vert that i bought 7 years ago with 38K miles, it is just turning 55K now, and I have not had 1 problem with it (except it needed a new top when I bought it, and still does).

 

I have both a vert and a coupe. The road noise-with the top up-isn't that much different than the coupe. I am 6' and the only objection I have with the vert is the head room and the seat doesn't recline as far as the coupe. Too me it is a little cramped. If I had the vert first I am not sure that I would feel that way. Vert is a tighter build than the coupe IMO.

 

My white 90 vert did have paint that was peeling and chalky. I've seen many white, or light colored vehicles, not just Mazda, from the same year with similar problems. I've even owned a couple of Chevy work trucks like that.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe in 90 the EPA changed their requirements for industrial air pollution, and mandated that all the auto-makers re-formulate their paints. Some colors and/or brands didn't hold up as well as others, and sometimes the clear didn't stick to the base coat in the long term.

It sucked to have to shell out the cash to paint a car that otherwise was in great shape, but that was my excuse to go to pearl white.

Other than paint, mine has been extremely good to me! IF you find a nice one, grab it up.