So it was dark and I really couldn't see much, but on my way home I decided to stop and check out a fd. Low and behold it was for sale, with just a number in the window, no price or anything. I looked at it (the best I could in the dark) and took down the number. It was actually suprisingly clean.

Now, I want to give the guy a call in maybe half an hour or tomorrow, and I just want to make sure I have all the questions I want to ask ready for him and I'm not missing anything..

Price?
Miles?
Rebuilds?
How the turbos are holding up (boost pattern)?
Compression test?
Known problems?
Modifications (both reliablity and performance)?

I am not an fd owner, nor have I ever owned one, however I have been reading about them for over a year or so. With that in mind, am I missing anything? Thanks guys

ps- I have been told that the car has been out there for possibly 1-2 weeks if that helps.

 

Read the FAQ's, then read them again. Lots of really good info there.

An FD can be a very expensive car to own. If you don't have some extra money put away for repairs, don't even think about buying it.

 

All of this is true, and I have given the same information to others, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving anything out when I called the gentleman tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for your input.

 

Where are you in south jersey? I'm gonna be back in south jersey (Stratford) on Friday for a week or so for xmas, so I could come take a look with you if you like.

Best resource for me when I bought mine last Feb was:

http://www.rx7.org/Robinette/buyaused.htm

 

Thanks for the link! I'm actually in Marlton, NJ not too far from Stratford. I'm going to give this guy a ring now and find out some more details about the car. If I decide to seriously look into the car I'll drop you a pm and see what's up. Thank you very much.

-Nick

 

Hey CR, there are a couple of us in the tri-state area that can probably check it out with you, but if you are going to take a look, best advice I can give you is:

Ask what mods have been done to the car
Ask how many miles on the car and how many miles on the current engine
If it is a new engine, is it the original engine parts or new parts? what parts have been replaced?
Is the car still running the pre-cat, the main cat, and the cat-back? Are these original and if not, when were they replaced (if the car doesn't have a pre-cat, it's fine, don't worry about it, but you need the main cat and catback if you want to pass emissions sniff test).
Is it the original transmission? syncros ever replaced, and if so, when?
Any upgrades on the suspension? have the suspension bushings been changed and when?
Start up the car, does the engine sound rough at startup (it should only take 4-5 cranks at most for the car to start up, if not, it might need some TLC, $$$).
Let the engine warm up (rpms will drop to about 700-800 rpm). Is the RPM needle sitting steadily or does it keep bobbing up and down a bit (if it is, you need to start looking for another car, this is the first sign something is seriously wrong).
Ask the owner to take you around the block to see how the car feels, you don;t necessarily have to drive it, but while in the car, get a sense for if the car is bucking/hesitating or if the owner looks like he's trying to take it extrodinarily easy on the car, it's usually a sign he's trying to hide something.

Aside from that, take a look at the paint, the body, the interior, make sure you're happy with all that stuff.

Something to keep in mind, these cars are an addiction, the people that get them never really get over these cars (myself included), and even the guys that sell them for one reason or another usually swear that they will get another one day, unless they are severly burnt by the RX7 curse, where something is always going to be broken (it's inevitable, you have to just learn to accept it - like, I just recently got a brand new engine and complete overhaul on my transmission, repainted my interior, and really only had the suspension left to do on the car, now my paint is flaking off in chips - something will always need fixing). With this in mind, if someone is selling this car, it is usually for a good reason, either they have abused the car to the point where it is not worth it for them to repair it (and choose to sell it to the first sucker that is willing to take on the headache), or they are getting rid of it because a family is on the way or life just doesn't allow them to have this car for now.

Be careful in your choice, and make sure you have a couple grand extra for engine work, because you may very well have to get some major work done within the first few months after purchase.

 

recentlyconverted..Thanks for taking the time to write that out. I tried calling the guy tonight, but there was no answer so I am going to give him another shout tomorrow afternoon. BTW, the car is parked at a lukoil gas station on like the side/back. There are also no tags on the car so the owner must be driving something else. Also I have a daily driver currently that I don't plan on selling so if the car does have some mech. problems I won't be too concerned (except for the $$ of course hah). I copied down some of your questions that I can ask over the phone, and if it sounds like something that I should pursue I'll definently be back here talking to you tri-state guys as I didn't realize how many there were, nor how generous you guys are with helping people out. I really appreciate it and would much rather have someone that drives the car and knows what to look for with me, rather than just myself. Thanks.

ps- I had the digital camera with me and I snapped a couple pics, I'll see if I can figure out how to get them on my computer tonight and I'll post them so you guys cn take a look. Once again thanks for the help.

 

yeah, don't worry about it. to be honest, most of the guys on here like giving each other crap, but they are usually willing to help each other out if there's any problems, you just gotta ask. the tri-state guys are also usually willing to help out, and if it's too much, we can at least direct you to a good mech (i use KDR personally, I stand by Dave's work, it's top notch).

if you got any questions, let us know, someone will chime in.

 

JPR Imports should be able to help you if you have any questions also, I live 10min outside of atlantic city. Could try contacting Bacon on here, he might be in your area.

 

Yeah I have heard of both KDR and JPR, and I also know goodfellas on the forum is in clifton NJ and does a lot of rx7 jobs right out of his garage (also very respected). Anyway I have plently of options there. Unfortunately I couldn't get a hold of the seller tonight so tomorrow afternoon I def will. I'm so axious to see if this is finally it!

-Nick

 

Me and Goodfella would be happy to look over the car and inspect it if you plan to purchase it. If he has nothing to hide he should have no problem having it checked out by a specialty shop. Pm me for my #

 

Thanks Rotary Experiment Seven.

Here are some pics of the car.. (It looks dirty because it was raining, but it is clean)

I'll be calling the guy again later this afternoon.

-Nick

 

Nice looking VR. I can't tell the year from the pics (maybe some of the gurus can), not an R1/R2 (looks like only 1 oil cooler), manual, 99 lip, 99 taillights, catback (tanabe?), boost gauge (and is that a volt gauge?), momo wheel. What's up with what looks like particle board in the back? Looks pretty nice. Who just parks a car like this in a Lukoil parking lot to sell it?

 

looks like a 93 to me i think judging by the airbag on the passenger side but its hard to see. red with a black interior is nothing but good. the car looks nice good luck with everything.

 

Looks like the R1 lip. But rear wiper and what looks like leather seat, I say this is a touring~.

The car looks clean, but I would never leave my car behind a gas station... Not a FD at least...

 

The car does have a sun roof, if that helps you guys. And the board being referred too in the back seat is actually a box..not quite sure why it's there or what's in it though..

I called this morning, no answer again. I'm about to give another try in an hour, just don't want to sound too axious..

 

Sunroof suggests its a touring model. I wonder if its still rockin' the huge bose wave setup in the back. Maybe the box back there is an unfinished sub box. Or something to carry parts from the original engine

 

I'm still rocking the huge bose wave setup

 

If it starts & drives ok, I'd definitely buy that car. Looks like a nice clean base to start with. Interior's been modified, but otherwise looks original. Looks to be the touring model, I agree.

 

UPDATE: Finally got in touch with the gentleman this evening, he seems like a pretty nice guy. Here's the details I got...

Miles- 43,000 on body, 5,000 on reman engine from mazda (says he barely drives it as he has owned it 7 or so years now)
Repainted 5 years ago
Clean title-No accidents
Engine is stock
Some mods including exhaust, computer, etc, all peter ferrell (think I've heard of him before around RX7's)
Touring model (cudos to the guys that got that one right )
Price- 14,000 negoiatable

I'm going to think about it tonight, but most likely this is something that I am going to pursue. He said I can call him back and he will start the car and even allow me to drive it if I want. Thanks for all your help guys.

-Nick

 

That appears to be a good deal. I would definitely look into it.

 

opinions?

 

That is a pretty low mile FD, and at 14k that is a very decent price. Id still try to get him down just for the fact of saving as much money as possible, but realistically 14k is a good selling price.

I paid 12k for a 118k mile FD in very good condition if that helps.

 

Take it to a rotary shop, and have it checked out by someone that knows these cars. Have a compression check done.

 

+1
With what's been done looks to be a decent deal. Motor, paint, etc....
get your ducks all ina row and make an offer of $12000.
Good luck.