apneablue

Hey All,
Need a little help here...I found this 94 Silver R2 and the guy wants 17.5k for it...so I got him down to 16.8k...I had this rotary shop do the compression check on the engine and also the turbos...

the car has 80k miles and is the original engine..here are the numbers from the compression test...
8.2, 8.1, 8.0 - 8.2, 8.3, 8.2

I have no idea what that means can someone explain?

Also the turbos were a bad deal...the first turbo is only pushing 7lbs of boost and the second one isn't working at all...the guy who tested it said that he hasn't diagnosed it as yet and it may just be something simple like a boost hose or somthing...

So that's the deal...the dealer is going to see how much it is to fix it on monday and then we will make a decision from there...

what do you think is the best thing to do about this one...how much would it be to replace the stock turbos..****! i'm just lost...I have been shopping on the internet for about 6months and this is the first on that I liked...everytime I pull up autotrader.com I feel like I want to throwup!

WWUD?

David

Mister7

The '94 Silver R2s are pretty rare. That compression is extremely good. Anything above 7.5 is excellent (I believe 9 is the highest). I'm not sure about how much new turbos would cost. My guess would be a few grand.

Bucrx7

94 silver r2!! GRAB IT!! I would talk the guy down some more since it's having turbo issues. It sounds more leak a boost leak somewhere then bad turbos. The secondary turbo will not come online unless the primary reaches at least 8psi. The compression test looks good for 80k mileage so talk him down some more and then grab it. Also ask the seller if he has ever overheated the car before.

djantlive

A rebuilt or used turbo in good conidition range from $600 (used) - 1500 (rebuilt). If you can find someone trustworthy on this forum to buy a used turbo in good condition, you'll save a bundle. Add $500 or so for labor, new gaskets, hoses. M2 sells new turbos for about $3k. So, if the turbos are fried, $14k would be where the car is worth, assuming everything else is good with the car.

Don't get the dealer to do the turbo replacement. Go to a rotary specialist as other things such as fuel pulsation damper, turbo hoses, radiator hose, injector cleaning and injector o ring (not coolant o ring), lower intake manifold gasket should also be looked at while you have the turbos off. Dealer doesn't know these typical failure items and may overlook these important things. Also, do the downpipe while you have it off. M2 sells the DP for $300. HKS's cheaper mildsteel one is $200.

rynberg

With 80k miles on the original engine, those high compression numbers are nice but don't guarantee anything. Most stock engines suffer coolant seal failure before the apex seals go. Bucrx7 is right in asking the seller whether it has ever overheated or not. All in all though, sounds like a good potential purchase.

BTW, leave the dealer immediately! Spend the time and effort to get it to a reputable rx7 shop for the turbo work, as djantlive stated. Ask in the regional forums section for a shop near you. Worst case, you'll have to drive it all the way down to Rotary Performance near Dallas.

apneablue

Guys,
This SS I really like...shopping for a good FD is a freaking nightmare...I will talk to the dealer in the morning for a compromise on the price if I were to have the Turbos replaced...

Also, the car is now at a rotary shop that mostly deals with 1st and 2nd gens...these were the guys to kick out those numbers for me...Also another thing that needs replacing is the rear bushings is that a major fix or not too bad?

I really want this one because I haven't seen one like it for sale the whole time I have been shopping...at least in my price range anyway...

So next order of business is to talk to the dealer and see if he is willing to cover the cost of the Turbo fix/replacement...if yes then I am all over it...The car is still at rotary shop and they are going to diagnose the problem on monday...

BTW, thanks much...this means alot to me that you guys help...I have been searching the posts and absorbing as much knowledge about these beasts that I can...I really can't wait to get it...

I will post again tomorrow to keep you guys updated on the purchase...

David

apneablue

One more thing...I am in Tulsa, Ok and the car is in Virginia...I know PFS is near there but everysone says Peter is a dick head so I'd rather not...there shop that it's at is called Rotary Performance...although they deal with 1st and 2nd Gs they see a few 3G everyonce in a while...

I have had my cousin (female) visually inspect it for me while I was on the phone with her telling her what to look at..of course a girls first reaction is "Ohhh, nice colour!" But the car is clean inside and out with no signs of ware...

Monday can't come soon enough...

apneablue

Soooo called the dealer this morning and he wasn't willing to let the mech look at the turbos becuse he said some woman was willing to purchase it as is for 16.8k

He said he would sell it as is and I would be first over the lady since I called first...I told him I would pass since it could potentiall be a 20-21k car after replacing the turbos and engine...wow....20-21k for a stock 94SSR2...Naahhhhhhhhh....it was clean...but it aint that clean...

He was pretty surprised that I passed on the car since I show such interest...he then timidly said..."Soooo if I fix the turbos you still want the car?" I said "yeah" he said "Ok, I have your number!" So I left it at that...think I will find somthing by the end of the week anyway....

Thanks guys for your input

David

RyanREX

Mmmm...silver! Sounds like a great idea. Any pics?

DRAG0NEER

Is it going to be a street car? If it is, then I'd rather have a white touring ... like mine : ). It seems to me white FDs are more rare...maybe it's just me. Also, $16.5k w/ 80k miles just seems a little too high. One last thing, the guy seems like he doesn't know **** about his Rx7, that leads me to think the car didn't receive the appropriate treatments during his ownership. Be careful.

DELTA_Rotary

I wouldnt buy it. Sure the Silver R2's are rare but what do you think it is a collectors item? There is a high chance the car will need a new engine before long. I dont see the big deal. My friend just bought a black 94 with 68k on the clock with only 8k on a new engine for 16,700. The R2 isnt going to be a collectors item and the insurance company wont say its worth any more than a silver touring 94 if something happens. The only people that might care that its a silver R2 are a handful on this forum. To me it isnt even close to a deal.

silvr94r2

iTrader: (3)

I'll just pipe in my bias opinion.....go for the SS R2! It's the cream of the crop! The only people who don't think so are the one's who can't find one or can't afford one because they do pull a premium. Not too many people can honestly say that the SS R2's aren't the most highly sought after model.

You can believe me on this one because I've had quite a few offers on mine over the last couple of years on this forum and I wasn't even selling it.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for my opinion but that's OK....I know the difference in the cars because i have 3.

DELTA_Rotary

Your right those that dont think so cant afford the huge price tag of 20k(average). If you cant afford an R2 you cant afford to own ANY FD because of their upkeep. And as far as being the pestigious owner and authority of 3! FDs *gasp*........please could you be any more full of yourself?

apneablue

Damn, 3FDs, I guess you guys must really like the car...So is one for the daily driver, the next your date car, and then the other your 500hp beast?

Well, I would love to get the 94SSR2 but I don't want to spend any more than 18k (must have at least 5k left over for mods!)...and if I do spend that kind of money I want everything to be working properly...I figure if I do get it I would replace the engine next spring or summer...I guess I will keep shopping...the longer I shop the more money I will be able to spend on one...

I really think you guys are right about the upkeep of the 7...I have never owned one but have wanted one since I was 18...27 now and can finally afford one...sure it's unreliable but the performance trade off is worth the money...plus those sleeeeeek lines....ahhhhhhhhhhh...

NeWay, will post here as soon as I purchase...Think I wont purchas until I get back from Jamamica...headed home for a week...Alrighty then......ohhh here's a pic of the 94SSR2

neo_omega

The car seems great on the outside. Take it to a compression test. Take it, if it's good. Don't buy it coz it's Silver.

Goober

Holy crap that thing looks nice... MMm if the guy fixed the turbos I would go for it...

apneablue

Compression checked out good...(but turbos still questionable

Compression: 8.2, 8.1, 8.0 - 8.2, 8.3, 8.2

I will offer him something...what do you think? Or should I tell him I will pay to have it cehcked out...I think I will do that...The if it's a big fix i only loose the money I spent to have it checked....this is hard...my head hurts!

Dunno what to do...

apneablue

Hey Guys,
Do any of you know what it would cost to replace the turbos...

rynberg

edit: never mind

7-sins

car looks great. Rotary Performance is not too far from where I live. Never been up there though. I called and they didn't seem to want to look at my 3rd gen.

One out of 83 cars, I would jump on it. Turbo issues can be small. It is probably just control lines. I have heard the secondarys outlast the primarys usually. If the primary still works, who knows. In the worse case you might have to get a new pair... Stock, J-spec, High-flow, or even single. Sounds like some nice choices with a nice car.

BTW - With those compression #'s you should be good for a few years unless you drive/mod the crap out of it.

silvr94r2

iTrader: (3)

I don't know...... could i be?? I doubt it!

I think you took it the wrong way Delta....i was saying that because I have 3 that i know the different prices. I have a 93 VR R1....93 BB Touring.....94 SS R2.....and a 93 BB Touring Auto parts car. I'm not trying to say i'm better than anyone or degrade anyone....just stating a fact......that the SS R2's can pull higher prices than most other RX7's. I'm a little partial yes.....but the facts are the facts.

silvr94r2

iTrader: (3)

BTW.....that car looks like it's in really good shape on the outside....get some prices on the other parts and jump on it!

Lucky you! If you don't then i bet someone else will in a second.

Talek

What's the difference between the models? Like touring vs R2 etc.

Reason I ask is that's quite a premium to pay, especially if there isn't much benefit besides having a car that's a little more rare.

ttpowerd

do a search and you will find what you are asking here.

Coulthard Fan

Apneablue: Listen to 7-sins. I can tell you from the history of my car that it is likely just a turbo control issue, not a case of bad turbos. My 93 FD was traded back in to the Mazda dealer (in Ft. Lauderdale) when the original owner got frustrated by the dealer's inability to fix boost problems which were almost exactly what you are describing. The second owner bought it as-is and took it to Pettit Racing for diagnosis - they changed out the turbo control hoses (a $4-500 job) and the car has boosted perfectly since that day. He sold it to me later for a good price because he needed the money, he even took me over to Pettit to introduce me to the owner Cam Worth who personally checked it out . (And I'll NEVER forget the test drive we took!!!)

Ask any of the big RX-7 tuners and they will tell you that a large number of GOOD turbos were replaced by dealers because they couldn't/wouldn't diagnose a simple problem in the FD's complicated sequential turbo system. I've further heard that this has something to do with how the dealers were paid for warranty work - they just have no financial incentive to correctly diagnose a tricky problem, so they just start replacing things: the bigger the part the better the compensation for them.

I'll bet you a thousand dollars that the turbos are fine, just as mine were (they lasted until 108,000 miles before I replaced them with the 99 turbos). However, I'll admit that it is a ballsy move to buy a car sight unseen that isn't working properly. That particular R2 just appears to be a pristine example and may be worth the risk. Go for it! Then have somebody knowlegable do the turbo hose job for you. (Search for more details on this job.)

Scott