I'm gonna be taking a look at a second gen vert I saw at one of those small car dealers near where I live. I took a real quick glace at it in passing and it looked like it was in decent condition. Now, I'm fairly new to car buying, convertibles and the RX-7 in general so I was hoping to get some tips from the experts. I've read up in the FAQ on buying non-turbos and I'm currently worshiping the info I found there but I didn't see anything with regard to the drop top.

Are there any problems areas I should be wary of when I go for closer look? Drainage problems or leaky areas? Seals or latches that go bad? I'm expecting a bit of sun and water damage to the interior....how much, if any, is common or normal? If I did end up having to do some repairs or replace some parts what would the cost be for that?

Sorry for the newbie questions but I'm pretty excited to have even found an FC for sale in this area and I'm trying not to jump into something that's going to end up as a garage fixture right from the start.

 

Most evident place for damage to the top is right above the rear 1/4 panel... If the top appears to be in good shape, then it probably is... May wanna check the seals for the targa section though... Other than that, the Vert isn't a whole lot different from any other N/A FC...

 

i own an 88 convertible, and I'm rooming with a guy who has a 91 convertible.

I will just tell you now, they leak. There's no stopping it. My top was JUST replaced, and it still leaks. Now don't go freeking out, they just have a tendancy to leak at the top front corner of the windows. My roomate's car will have wet carpet after a rainy day. Mine tends to just drain down the window. So yeah, keep it garaged in the rainy season if you can. But honestly, if you get a convertible of any kind, you're going to have to cope with the fact that the top will wear out and degrade over time, and might fall victim to theives or idiots trying to cut thru the top.

Aside from that, I can't imagine anything to worry about other than what you'd want to worry about with ANY n/a FC.

 

Syk, you are right... My new vert leaks in the exact same spot... It is ok during most rain applications, but when it rains heavy or when I go through the auto-car wash (that's how I found out it was leaking) it leaks in the corners where the window meets the targa on both sides... I feel that its just the seals and the windows not meeting properly so I will check it out later when it becomes a concern. But I can tell you its still worth it.... One of my old coupes leaked through and it wasnt even a vert. lol...

 

I've had my vert for over 10 years.

The original top was great until some psycho chick cut it up. Its okay, I just found another psycho chick to beat her *** down.

Anyway, I'm on my 3rd top and I just got a cloth one. It leaks in the same spot mentioned above. Carry a spare paper towel to wad up and jam in the corner when it rains. No biggie.

Other than the top condition - no real difference from any other FC except that some body parts will be harder to source.

You are looking at around $700 if you shop around to replace the top so make sure you have a good one.

 

You'll also want to check that any water collecting in the drainage pockets is making it out the clear tubes, and that both of them are strung thru the holes in the floor for them. When I first got mine (with a bad top), they were not connected correctly, and id get a huge puddle behind both rear seats everytime it rained. A real PITA, but when i replaced the top, the guys did it right and all ive had is the leaking-from-the-front-corner problem (especially when braking). To check the tubes, all you need to do is remove the big panel behind the seats (6 thumb screws), and then maybe a couple pieces of loose sound insulation. Thats how it was on my 88 'vert.

 

...so there must be away to stop it.

My old top leaked at the upper corners of the A-pillar. It leaked same place after the replacement. I fixed it and now it doesn't leak at all.

Here is how: The top is expected to leak at this point. The little drain cups are designed to catch that drip and channel the water down the inside of the A-pillar weather stripping, draining around to the bottom of the door jamb.

The key is getting all the weatherstrippiing attatched in the right order. The little cup must not be loose and flopping around. It must be tucked up inder the weather strip that wraps arouind the corner of the windshield and A-pillar. Notice in the picture there is a molding clip that fastens through the windshield molding and then though an edge trim molding . The cup must be between these two moldings. It must be on top of the edge molding and below the windshield molding. It has to stay permanantly in place, or it will leak. Every other part must stay in place too, or it will leak. I used 3M Super Weatherstrip Adhesive-Black part number 08008 to stick it in place and keep it there. This stuff is much stronger than spray on type adhesives. BTW, you might want to be careful with the stuff if your vert is another color besides Black. The slightly sloppy look of the adhesive looks much worse in the pics with flash than in person. If the car was red or white or blue, it would look like crap but on black car it just fades in. The only other color this stuff comes in is in yellow.

Mine doesn't leak anymore. Not at all. It doesn't leak parked in heavy rain or while driving in same. I don't use automatic carwashes, so I can't speak to this.

Try this, it may work for you.*


Good luck.

*Results may vary with the accuracy of the work.

 

Good post Jack... ^^^

This should be added to the archive...

 

Damn... I should've checked back in on this thread a while ago... I am gonna try that this weekend on the vert because my little cup thing is all flapping around and stufff... and when it rains it directs the water to me instead of out of the car.. lol...

 

u guys use your top!?!?!?!? mine stays down all the time, put a car cover on it if it rains or drive fast enuff so the rain doesn't get in! hahah

 

lol... I left my top down today for the first time (I always put the top back up when I go inside b/c of theives...) I locked everything that I wanted to keep inside of the glove box and went into the gym to workout... Anyway, I came back out 2 hours l8ter to realize that I left my freakin wallet right there on the passengar seat.... The funny thing is that nothing was taken out of it and my $200 cash was still inside of it.... Oh, yea... I'm never leaving the top down again because I suck at leaving important stuff in the car... If the bastards wanna risk vandalizing the car to get in, then my alarm will go off and I will be right there, glock in hand, to meet them when they are done.