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This is my first post on this forum as I'm not yet an RX-7 owner but hopefully that will soon change.
I've been looking for a new car to add to the collection and I've decided on trying my luck on a 3rd gen RX-7 that I've seen sitting in a parking spot infront of some townhouses nearly every day since highschool. It's been sitting there for at least 4 years. I've never seen the owner and for every day I've passed by it, I can't recall a single day that I haven't seen it sitting in its parking spot. For this reason, I'm wondering if it's got engine problems or some other issue that's rendered it immobile; That, or the owner doesn't care for it. The exterior of the car seems to be in decent condition aside from missing the gas door. The car seems to be bone stock too. I've got no idea on the mileage or the condition on the rest of the car since I've mainly just driven by it most days. Obviously, a running RX7 in good condition goes for a pretty penny, but I'm unsure of what the general price is for a 3rd gen RX-7 that doesn't run. Assuming it's an engine issue that'll require a rebuild with an owner who seems to not care for the car, I feel like the $4,000-$8,000 range is appropriate but I'm not well-versed in older Japanese cars so this may be way off. What do you guys think? I also understand that's there's not a ton of information here but I'm more just looking for general pricing as I really wouldn't want to overpay. Thanks.
Shells with no drivetrain are getting 6k-10k. This of course, depends on condition and missing parts etc.. If they know anything about where the market is you are probably out of luck. Worth a shot! Good luck!
I sold a shell with a hodge podge of interior parts and practically 0 items in the engine bay for 6k 2 years ago. The market has been hot hot.
Last edited by ToxicMongoose; 05-18-21 at 09:53 PM.
This is my first post on this forum as I'm not yet an RX-7 owner but hopefully that will soon change.
I've been looking for a new car to add to the collection and I've decided on trying my luck on a 3rd gen RX-7 that I've seen sitting in a parking spot infront of some townhouses nearly every day since highschool. It's been sitting there for at least 4 years. I've never seen the owner and for every day I've passed by it, I can't recall a single day that I haven't seen it sitting in its parking spot. For this reason, I'm wondering if it's got engine problems or some other issue that's rendered it immobile; That, or the owner doesn't care for it. The exterior of the car seems to be in decent condition aside from missing the gas door. The car seems to be bone stock too. I've got no idea on the mileage or the condition on the rest of the car since I've mainly just driven by it most days. Obviously, a running RX7 in good condition goes for a pretty penny, but I'm unsure of what the general price is for a 3rd gen RX-7 that doesn't run. Assuming it's an engine issue that'll require a rebuild with an owner who seems to not care for the car, I feel like the $4,000-$8,000 range is appropriate but I'm not well-versed in older Japanese cars so this may be way off. What do you guys think? I also understand that's there's not a ton of information here but I'm more just looking for general pricing as I really wouldn't want to overpay. Thanks.
Here's a pic of the car.
I also apologize for the horrible grammar.
Poor FD.. looks very neglected...
However, if it still runs, expect to pay at least double digits for it...
what's your budget and what would be your plan for the car? Just get it running again and keep it mostly stock? The owner may be an I Know What I Have Guy who has turned down fair offers in the past for the car.
If you don't have a solid $20k overall budget, don't expect to have a running car anytime soon. If you get the car and you don't have the money for all the parts (or you have the parts but don't have the time or expertise to DIY a rebuild/engine install/partial restoration), it's now going to sit in you possession and be hanging over your head for years as a dead end project. An FD is not a good first project car. There's a reason why people do simpler cars like Mustangs or Miatas that have a ton of parts available and are relatively easy to work on.
12k is my absolute limit for buying it. I pray that it doesn't get to that but like you say the owner may be stubborn on his price. If he doesn't accept anything under 12k then he can keep his car.
At the moment, my total budget for the car is around 15k but the first month or two will mainly just be tearing down the car and looking at what needs to be repaired/replaced so I'll have time to acquire some more funding over the next few months.
I'm going to be looking to talk to the owner sometime over the weekend when we both most likely have more time.
Feel him out and see around what he is looking to get for the car. Any rx-7 anywhere near market value should get a pre-purchase inspection by a rotary specialist before purchase. $20,000 is a good number to keep in mind if you are actually able to scoop it up for under $10,000. You have to assume it will need a motor and other work. Its 27+ year old semi exotic car with a unique motor. Parts are not cheap and many are no longer available. Good luck.
Big thing is whether or not the owner is savvy enough to know the value. Also whether or not the owner will actually want to SELL it - sometimes people are emotionally attached to a car but stuck with actually doing anything. Or it could be a relative's car that they are storing while they are out of the country or something.
Regardless, the owner may be "you want to haul that junker off? Awesome, how does $500 sound?" or it could be "These are rare cars, I won't take less than $80,000 for it!" You really don't know until you ask and feel out the owner.
If it has sat for that long, expect to do a LOT of work. Most likely when an FD is sitting it's due to a blown engine of some sort. The more it sits, the more parts rust - rusty gas tanks, rusty brakes, on and on.
If you need help with it IRP isn't far from you relatively speaking and they are a top notch shop. And you have us on the forum
12k is my absolute limit for buying it. I pray that it doesn't get to that but like you say the owner may be stubborn on his price. If he doesn't accept anything under 12k then he can keep his car.
At the moment, my total budget for the car is around 15k but the first month or two will mainly just be tearing down the car and looking at what needs to be repaired/replaced so I'll have time to acquire some more funding over the next few months.
I'm going to be looking to talk to the owner sometime over the weekend when we both most likely have more time.
But what is the goal? your "while I'm in there" costs can easily blow through your budget. It's not like buying a 5 year old Mustang that's got 60k miles on it and is stock. In that case you can kind of do whatever you want, figure it out as you go along. If you buy this FD and the motor and turbos are dead, now you have to think long and hard about what you want out of the car. Are you going to single turbo it? Add $10k of miscellaneous stuff, and a long uphill build. A lot of these "just sitting" cars end up being V8 swapped because so much is already trashed on them.
As much as I love the rotary... if you buy it cheap and make a GM V8 (whether an actual LS1 or some other Gen 3 or Gen 4 small block) that's a clearly defined project. If you're keeping the rotary you gotta think how stock you want it to be and what you're planning to do with it. Otherwise you will keep burning money building it to be something that you never intended; often you get the "over modded" single turbo cars that have too big of a turbo, too loud of exhaust, and get sold after driving 2000 miles.
FDs are a really going up thedr days, and rotary specialists are becoming fewer. Some parts are just impossible to find for LHD cars. Bigger $$ for old, used, worked-out parts.
Sounds like the OP wants an FD on a Miata budget. That dog ain't gonna hunt
But what is the goal? your "while I'm in there" costs can easily blow through your budget. It's not like buying a 5 year old Mustang that's got 60k miles on it and is stock. In that case you can kind of do whatever you want, figure it out as you go along. If you buy this FD and the motor and turbos are dead, now you have to think long and hard about what you want out of the car. Are you going to single turbo it? Add $10k of miscellaneous stuff, and a long uphill build. A lot of these "just sitting" cars end up being V8 swapped because so much is already trashed on them.
As much as I love the rotary... if you buy it cheap and make a GM V8 (whether an actual LS1 or some other Gen 3 or Gen 4 small block) that's a clearly defined project. If you're keeping the rotary you gotta think how stock you want it to be and what you're planning to do with it. Otherwise you will keep burning money building it to be something that you never intended; often you get the "over modded" single turbo cars that have too big of a turbo, too loud of exhaust, and get sold after driving 2000 miles.
I completely agree that I need a goal or some direction with what I want to do with the car assuming the sale goes smoothly. If the engine really is trashed then it sounds like a V8 swap would probably be the most viable option. Ideally, the car would be built to have fun on the weekends while also being capable of being daily driven if absolutely necessary. I wouldn't want anything more than ~400whp and good reliability would be a big plus; Basically all the more reason for an LS engine.
It’s hard to put a number on a car you don’t know much about. Especially if you’re not familiar with what you’re looking at. To echo what other have said, FD’s are gaining value every year. To put it in perspective, a couple months ago I picked up a super nice roller for close to the twenty mark. Granted it’s a clean example that only needs some odds and ends but the days of the ten thou mark are few and far between. Having said that, as Dale has mentioned you just never know till you ask. FD’s have A tendency to nickel and dime you, that nickel dime being five hundred and a thousand. A lot of individuals get into a project like that not realizing the depth it can take you. I don’t say that to discourage you by any means, it’s hard not to lust over an FD. They’re two shops that I’d recommend, Ihor @ IRP who posted earlier in this thread, and Mike @RPM both close for a Maryland residence. I am local to you in Maryland, I’d be happy to help you check the car out and go over it so you know what you’re getting yourself into. Feel free to PM me if you do. Good luck either way!
Even if you go V8, that doesn’t make interior parts more available, or make the commonly failing chassis parts like pillow ball bushings cheaper.
your budget is too low, unless you can dump all your cash into it as you build. Unless you are very lucky, you need at least 20k. Everybody is dumping stimulus checks into cars, buying up parts and vehicles. So the Ls1 Will cost more etc.
V8 swap isn’t cheap, it’s just a more straightforward build in some ways as long as you get the right kit.
OP...Go back and re-read what arghx posted in this thread.
And, maybe I missed it but what kind of space, experience and tools do you have to take on a non-running 30 year old sports car that’s been left sitting outside for years and was a little finicky even when new?
05-18-21, 09:42 PM
