OK so i found this beautiful looking FD on craigslist. everything looks gorgeous and im planning on purchasing the car. talk to the owner on the phone and come to find out the car has a salvaged title. Taking that into account i managed to get him down to 14k on price but thats his rock bottom. is it worth it from what you can see?
1993 Mazda Rx7 r1 - enkei rpf1- built motor - suspension - $18000 (Arizona )

 

For 14K you can get something with clear title may be with better mileage.

 

Looks like a nice car. Salvaged title makes it worth a lot less. Too much money I think!!!

 

Depends on what you're going to do with the car...... kinda sucks that the current owner sunk that much cash into a Salvage title car. Why was it salvaged? I've seen FDs with clean titles that were in some major accidents, so you never really know what's happened with these cars now that they're 20ish years old.

 

He says it was stolen in California so it might have been stripped. But the car from every picture I have seen is super clean. I plan on eventually doing an ls1 or ls2 swap into it

 

You have to see the car in person to really make a determination, pictures aren't enough.

If you're planning to stick a v8 in the car, I say pick it up

 

I've seen that car on here, clean car but too much for being salvaged.

 

$12k with reconstructed title....

If you are planning an LS swap, I assume you will be parting out the engine bay. Why not start with a low mileage roller? Car does look clean, but any type of resale no matter how many mods will always be degraded in the future.

 

Well I already have somebody that is interested in the engine and tranny for 3.5k

 

And the only thing with finding a roller is it's so hard to find one! At least within the state of arizona that is

 

I currently own a 1998 Mitsubishi 3000gt with a salvage title and its been a great car. That being said I have been trying to sell or trade it so I can get a four door car. It has been almost impossible to trade or sell for a respectable price. Most people wont even go near a salvage car, so the pool of possible buyers on a car is low if you ever try to sell it or trade it. I wont buy or trade for another salvage car unless the price in very low. Just for reference my car books for $6000 and I have had offers mostly below $3000.

 

Honestly, 14k for that car is "fair" for both party. I'd probably buy it for ~12k, myself.

If you're dropping an lsx in it then I don't think that the salvage title matters all that much later in terms of resale as they seem to have their own pricing.

That said, if you do get it and decide to part it, I'm interested in a few parts!

 

I hear ya. It can be tough to find a clean bodied roller. If you did spend $14k on this thing, you would be spending around $10k for a salvage roller....ouch.

 

I guess 10k for the roller plus all the parts it comes with is OK.

 

You'll end up money ahead if you only pay $14000. Once you sell the rest of the stuff you are not going to use and drop in your v8, you'll have a good condition car to start with. Heck, half the issue with many FD's is just the general condition of the interior and body. I would see if he would take a little less due to the salvage title, and definitely don't tell him you plan on tearing apart his project car as part of the deal.

I would aim for $12k, but settle at $13 if I had your goals in mind. However, there are plenty of rollers for sale at the moment.

 

I think member 'D.Adams' on this forum owns the car. Tastefully modded.

 

14K for salvage, and youre going to put an LS in it? I'd look for something a bit cheaper without a salvage if that's the route youre going.

 

see im getting mixed signals.. some are saying its a good deal some are saying its not

 

^^ which tells you that it is a fair deal for both parties

 

I drove it to school

 

That is a beautiful car. depends on how the paint and body looks in person. but it has ALL the right stuff.

big fuel kit
PFC
coilovers
FMIC
BNR turbos
18x10.5 rpf1s
recently rebuild & street port.

your looking at 10k retail right there.

i say its a good buy at 14k. any less is money in the bank. I paid 10 for a stock 55k mile car with mint interior.

 

if your going to do a swap find one with a blown motor. they come up quite frequnetly you just need to be ready and always keep looking. Otherwise it sucks he put that muh money in the car with a salvaged title. its hit or miss on saying i would buy it or not. personally i wouldnt

 

you can find blown FD's with a clean title for aroudn $5000-$7000 depending on mods

 

Corner piece wear, coolant seals, and not premixing will shorten the original engine life. Most 50K plus engines I've torn apart have moderate to severe IMO corner piece wear aka chrome flaking.

 

but the coil overs and wheels will be kept (i assume)

correct me if im wrong, but:
fuel kit: $500
pfc: $500
front mount: $2-300
turbos: $1000 ??
engine/trans: $2000 ??

correct my prices, but i only get $4200-$4300.

coming from someone that has already done this swap, your better off starting with a good roller (no engine no trans)

i know these are not near you but they can always be shipped or find other ones for a similar price:

1993 Mazda RX7 Touring - $6000 (edison)

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...paint-1022969/

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...oller-1023168/

you can also go to http://www.norotors.com and find someones project with a v8 already that they never finished for the same or less...