Michael Williams

Ok so as of right now I own a 1995 Sc400 with 97k Miles, and I got an offer for trade.
He wants to trade me for his 1988 Mazda Rx-7.
Here's what he says

Clean Title
182k Miles (But I did a quick car fax and apparently it passed smog in 2015 with 200k Miles)
5speed
Has Tein Drift HE coilovers
Front strut bar
NRG quick release
Drift button hand brake
Diff off a GXL rx7
straight piped with silencer

He recently bought off a owner who says he bought it at an auction.

I've asked him if he's overheated the engine cause I know rotaries get FUCKED when they get overheated once, and he says that he's only had it for a month and hasn't pushed it only drives it as a daily but just wants something more comfortable and practical to daily and well I want an FC.

One other question, can a rotary engine really last up to 200k miles? from what I've done research on they usually don't pass 150k.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

Sure they can.
Given a sympathetic owner, regular use and maintenance, they can last well past 200k.
A FC also makes a very comfy daily if not saddled with crappy "drift" suspension.

WondrousBread

Don't trust e-test records for anything other than the year of the test and it's results, my Rx7 passed emissions in 2001 and the number of cylinders is listed as "17". Unless someone changed the instrument cluster on the car you're looking at, it's likely that e-test mileage just isn't accurate.

I'm not sure we can answer your "Should I go for it?" question, that answer changes depending on too many factors for us to give you an accurate answer. You have already indicated you definitely want an FC, so a more important question to ask is whether you could sell your current car for enough to buy an equal or better Rx7 than the one you are looking at. Sure, you could trade it today and get AN Rx7, but could you sell it tomorrow and buy THE Rx7?

littlebit421

From your description it looks like this was going towards a purpose built fc, If you current car is in good running condition I would not trade if it were me, from my experience you should own a rx no matter what series as a secondary car, yes they can be a daily but it is good to have something to fall back on. I own a 87 base that I would take anywhere but I also own a 2010 mitsubishi lancer (not a evo) that I truly use as a daily driver. Basically I would save my money and buy one and keep your current car. Especially with the mileage on this one it is only a matter of time before you are rebuilding or replacing the engine.
Just my Opinion.

Molotovman

iTrader: (49)

Bad Trade. Sell yours for cash and buy an FC that isn't haggard like this one. That "hoonigan" sticker ruins the dash.

KNONFS

iTrader: (14)

Agree with Ian!

Unless your SC400 is in bad shape (or has a crappy exhaust, different color fender, messed up top, and no radio); you could probably get more money out of it than the value of this FC. Sell SC, buy FC, keep change; or trade in plus cash.

Red95FD

iTrader: (3)

If you want to enjoy an Rx7, don't buy this one. Save your money like mentioned before and find a low mileage clean Rx7 built by the factory. If you get a higher mileage car, find one that has been sitting in a garage that has been kept up properly by a good owner and has good compression. And keep the car you have now.

SloVertLifestyle

It's already been said but I definitely wouldn't take this one. Unless you value your SC400 at about 2.5k, then this wouldn't be a solid trade. S4 vert's aren't the highest tier FC just because they don't have the cool body styling of the s5 and is basically guaranteed to be an NA. If you want a clean vert after selling your SC400, I'd check cargurus. It seems like the only FC's being sold in the country are s4 verts

brian_skotch

iTrader: (6)

That vert looks abused and neglected. Look at the top! And whoever had it probably beat the hell out of it clutch kicking and trying to slide it. You could definitely get a nicer FC if you were to sell your sc400 first. Unless that's equally neglected.

And don't listen to the people that say "don't daily a rotary".. I find they actually treat you best if they're daily'd. Especially N/A ones! I daily'd a N/A fc for 5 years until I started dailying my turbo2. And I did that for 2-3 years until I got an audi s4 for a daily. Now my daily is a 1974 mazda REPU. Guess which one was the least reliable? I'll give you a hint.. It has a piston engine.

insightful

that is true, daily driving a car is best for it, but the main issue with RX7's is most have been lacking in maintenance or have been worked on at least once by inexperienced people which leads to potentially big problems.

clokker

iTrader: (2)

The same could be said of any car that old, it's hardly specific to RX7's.