Rx7~Rx8

It has just been a long time dream to pick one up and drive it down the west coast of the United States. Pacific 1. The car is in Seattle. I would drive it to La Jolla, and then to Utah.

Rx7~Rx8

I wish someone would post something along the lines of "Get it. You wont regret it." I feel like right now is it. If I pass up the one im looking at, Ill never get one. Its getting harder and harder to find low mileage stock fds, and this one seems to be (so far) as nice as any Ive seen listed for sale (but what do I know?, This is the problem.)

Mister Destiny

iTrader: (1)

If it's a dream of yours, then make the drive. If something goes wrong, you can always fix it. If you get stuck in the middle of nowhere and you feel like you made a mistake, you didn't. Those memories are worth more than the cost of fixing it. You only live once.

Monkman33

iTrader: (28)

If you are looking to buy an FD as a pristine collectors car.. then do it.

I have nothing but props to those that can resist the mod bug. I sure as hell dont have that will-power.

Buy the FD. You will never regret it permanently.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

If you want it as a garage queen, then buy it. Your risk is low since you won't depend on it for daily driving. Just make sure your AAA premium membership is paid up - I would do that no matter what kind of car I was planning to pick up and drive all over.

dave

FDTT19

Buy it if you want it, it seems like its the car you've always craved. Unlike many of the people who post threads like this one you appear to have money/be financially stable. This won't be the best or worst purchase of your life because you're doing the research and planning to buy a pristine FD. The people that get screwed buy these cars are the ones that can barely afford the beaten up cars but buy them anyways and then have no money for repairs or maintanence. Once you get the car, just do the "reliability" mods and you'll be set. Also, have no fear in driving the car, the west coast trip sounded like it would be a blast, especially in the FD.

Rx7~Rx8

I appreciate the positive input. I am getting excited again. Yes I can afford the car. No there is no one in Utah that can work on it as far as I know... so I will be screwed as far as that goes. I purchased a Twinturbo stealth when I was 17 and the tranny went out immediately. It sat for 2 years until I sold it for half what I paid. I could not afford that car. I think I made 15k a year then. Now I make 150k.

Here is the link to the car, tell me what you guys think. Dont go tryin to buy it before me...

http://www.vipimports.com/93RX7/93RX7.ht m

DaveW

Beautiful. Takes my breath away. Seriously!

MrNizzles

iTrader: (5)

but not for $27K .. and tan interior, who cares if it is brand new. Only Porsches look good with tan interior, don't ask me why.

You mentioned La Jolla, so why not check out some cars at Sahara Auto Group in San Diego... they are overpriced too, but I've seen a few nice (exterior/interior, don't know condition of engines since they won't give any compression results..) FD's (not as low as 15K mileage) that are black or red and priced under $20K (just barely).

I think the only FD that will truly be worth anything special in terms of value and $$$ for places like those Barret-Jackson auctions is the Spirit R and even then, probably only one of the last few ever produced in 2002.

All other FDs are only scrutinized by the few fans here in the US. If the RX7 was still produced here in the U.S. up to 2002, for $27K, you would be considering to pay a little more for one of those Spirit R's and truly have an FD worth babying for the future.

Even with a car that has low mileage, still, things will need to be replaced like the pre-cat and radiator so that any NEW miles, are safe miles And what about the plastic and rubber components? FPD, fuel pump, injectors, wiring ... all that stuff regardless of low mileage is still susceptible to failure due to age.

So, for $27K for a standard and "older than the rest of the world" FD to save for the future just doesn't make sense, even if you have the $$$. If we, in the U.S. had access to 2002 Spirit R's I would say pay the extra $$$ to get one of those.

FDTT19

The car is coming from VIPimports you should be set, they've got a great reputation and really only take and sell cars that are in the best condition. Car appears to be exceptional, check out the regional section and see if you can find someone in utah who could potentially help you if there are problems.

Rx7~Rx8

MrNizzles, you just confused the **** out of me.

Mr. Stock

That is a nice car but not worth the asking price.

The car appears to be a base model, possibly a touring. In 93, it could have been purchased for several thousand dollars less than what the asking price is.
On the other hand , it is 2008 and there are not many low mileage ones for sale.

In my opinion, since it does have low mileage, a fair asking price would be in the low $20 grand range.

It seems like you have always coveted the 3rd gen RX7 - I say go for it and get a good deal if this is exactly the RX7 that you want.

Rx7~Rx8

I would really like to know what all of you folks that say its too expensive for a 15 year old car think I should do... buy a more current car maybe? What car is a current production car that doesnt reek of horrible styling and power? There are no cars that I like anymore. Ive driven an evo that got me excited with its handling.... 4 door grocery car though...

I should just buy the rx7. What were the sticker prices on the rx7 when it was new? About $30k wasnt it?

DaveW

I'll tell you, if I didn't have one already, I'd be drooling over the one you are thinking about, just like I was when I first saw the advance press about the FD in late 1991.

I paid over $32K (1992 dollars, with tax & delivery charges) for mine, and I don't regret it one little bit!

Go for it!

Zero R

iTrader: (1)

PM sent, please check.

Mr. Stock

Yes.

But the cars were difficult to move due to the small market segment that it catered to even though all the car magazines raved about the model. Therefore, heavy discounts were made in the purchase price.

Phread

That link makes me want to go detail mine right now!...... Drool.....

It doesn't hurt to offer less than what they're asking..... give them a low ball price,
and see what happens.
if you do any mods keep all the parts.

good luck

fdpocketrocket

I'm actually amazed when I come across a post like this, because the irony of how similar it is to me.

When I was in college, I too fell in love with the FD after driving a friend's of mine. It was a great car, it fit like a glove and was perfect in every way. Having driven a 3000GT (VR4) as well in my college days, that was a boat compared to what the FD felt. I decided then that when the time was right, I would get one for my own.

That was 1998, fast forward to 2006 which is exactly 8 years later and I bought my first FD. When I first started looking, I expected that a car with 60-100k on the chassis with a fresh rebuild for ~$15k would make me happy. Truth of the matter, the cars I test drove felt nothing like the one I drove back in 1998 due to age, condition, etc. It was like driving an old car but expecting it to look, act and smell like a new car. It's not to say that you might luck out and find one in great condition but it definitely would not be easy.

I thought about it and realized that money can be earned, but satisfaction cannot be substituted. After almost giving up, I came across a mint one for sale by a collector and now own a 1994 touring silver/red in mint condition with currently ~ 6200 miles. The car is immaculate and is everything I remembered although it did cost me more than I had originally planned.

As for the mod bug, the only thing I've done is replace the downpipe and have no plans to do anything to this particular FD. The mod bug will bite most people but when you have a car that is in true "collector" condition, the only thing you can think of is to preserve it.

Good luck with your search and your purchase. If I were interested to sell it right now, I'm sure this would be perfect but I'm still in love with the car and will remain so for at least a few more years. I hope that when I do decide to sell it, I will come across a buyer like you who has the finances to back up what they're asking for. The phrase "you get what you pay for" sometimes means just that.

Here's some pics of my 1994 RX7 touring for your viewing pleasure.

crcleofdst

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=2316

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1231

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e=&cardist=420

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1232

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=2302

(Both manual, and auto trans cars were included because I wasn't sure which you were looking for)




Now, I didn't contact any of these sellers, so I don't know if the cars are still around, but I found these in about 5 minutes of searching. Now, if you want to spend 25-30k on that "perfect" car, go ahead. I'm just saying that you don't have to to get a very nice, well taken care of FD. Besides, if you bought one of the cars in the link above, you would feel better about driving it. Which is what they are all about.

enkeirp02

I just decided to put mine up for sale. Very clean and well maintained.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=715839

Rx7~Rx8

I am soooo glad to hear what you have to say fdpocketrocket!

I would love any more info you could give me. I am so ready to purchase an rx-7, but am terrified because I feel like everyone is saying that I will still need to put a ton of money into it as soon as I buy it! Like all of the rubber, wiring harness etc. Did you have to worry about this, or was everything preserved well. If the whole car is as preserved as the interior/exterior look.... then Im set with the one Im looking at. But the experience could turn sour very quickly if what everyone is freaking me out about actually transpires and the car requires a new "everything" right off the bat and no one that I know of yet can work on it in utah.

I ask myself through all of this pondering... what else could I buy that would satisfy what I want?? Nothing! the only other car that is appealing at all to me is an evo. But Im affraid that I will feel like a horrible loser choosing an evo over an FD. Especially since I will spend the same, if not more, for the evo.

Bottom line is this. The price of the car is almost entirely not the issue. $25k for the car of my dreams is nothing. I dont care that all of the others are going for $15k. They suck. Again, I could buy a current production car for the same price... and not like it as much, so whats the point in worrying about the "values." I would have shelled out the $30k in a heart-beat for a new one in '93, but I was 11. So why shouldnt I shell out $30k for one now? I think there is only one factor that could and will spoil that reasoning for me; If even though the car looks and smells PERFECT and new.... the "the behind the scenes" parts are still 15 years old and will fail if they are not replaced, then my dream of owning an rx-7 is dead and over. I will slap a turbo in the 8.
I have not been on this planet long enough to have the life experience that would answer this question on my own. Im 26 and have never looked at buying a 15 year old "garage queen" prized gem that I never drive and leave anywhere. So here is the all important question again. IS IT NOT POSSIBLE FOR A 15 YEAR OLD FD TO BE CLOSE TO AS GOOD AS A NEW ONE IN 1993, EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AS WELL AS ANY CAR COULD BE AND HAS ONLY 15k MILES??? Again, PLEASE forgive my ignorance and realize that I appreciate the input more than you could ever know.

Rx7~Rx8

damn crcleofdst, I was just about to say I wouldnt even consider an automatic right as I was looking at that last link. DAMN! I still dont think I could do it though. I would daily drive the **** out of that one since I purchased it within its "value" and its an automatic. I should get 2! That one, and the "garage queen!"

I thought of a different way of putting it that might be clearer...
If I can spend $30k and have an FD in my garage that is basically good as new, I'm buying one tomorrow. But if no matter what I spend, or how low the mileage is, the bottom line is that I still have a 15 year old, dried up and brittle timebomb... then my dream dies. Forever.
So, Im getting one right now or never. Because my concern only worsens every day.

Thanks ALOT for help through this.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

Cosmetically a 15-year-old car can look pretty much new. The key here is that it has been garaged its entire life and has never sat in the sun for extended periods. A good way to determine sun exposure is to look at the external rubber trim. If it looks like new, then the car has probably had little sun exposure.

The suspension bushings should also be essentially like new on a 15k mile car.

Engine bay rubber components such as coolant and fuel hoses should probably be replaced after this amount of time but these are not expensive (an entire coolant hose kit for an FD is $150; an engine bay fuel hose kit is $80). If you are earning $150k per year you have no reason the be afraid of FD maintenance costs.

Objectively, this car is very slightly overpriced because in this price range it probably should be an R1, a 1994 or preferably 1995, and definitely not have a tan interior. However, if it looks as good as the photos I really don't think you will regret buying it.

It's a fricken car, not a wife. All cars are time bombs. If want one with the longest fuse possible, buy a Camry.

Rx7~Rx8

Im lovin the info. Thanks.

In your opinion then, what should I offer?

I dont need it to last nearly as long as a camry would. Mark my words I will only put 150 miles on it a month... Tops.

rice-rocketeer

Theoretically yes, you can have a 15 year old car be just as good as brand new IF it was almost never used, always garaged and the maintanence schedules were followed by the book. But how often do you find something like that? You would need to buy the car off of someone you personally knew did EVERYTHING the car needed down to the last sensor and vacuum hose from day one.

The reality of the situation is your going to find one that was used, maybe garaged and the maintenance schedule was followed up to the point to keep the car running without any warning lights coming up in the dashboard. You're most likely not going to find something perfect. My best friend went out of his way to find something low-mileage, documented and mint, paid through the nose for it and the coolant seals went out a couple months later. I paid the same thing he did for someone's old project car, now he's got almost 20g's in a stock rx-7 with a rebuild while I'm sittin on 19's and pumpin 400 horses on a single turbo.

The reality is that the rx7 in america has become a "build-to-your-specifications dream car" They're all old and they all suffered from the same factory shortcomings. I would stop obsessing with getting something "pristine" and just get something with a good interior (very expensive to buy those little plastic pieces) and something with good compression and turbos. Then build it to what you want. If you want a collector then fix everything to stock specifications. You could pick up a good-condition 7 with a blown motor, buy and pay to drop in the new motor and still have half the amount of money in the car than if you were to pay someone almost 30g's for something "mint" (it'll last a whole lot longer too).

But what everyone here is trying to tell you is don't buy the car if you can't handle the fact that you might spend all this money to buy it just to have it chuck an apex seal due to previous neglect or misuse. IT CAN HAPPEN. Don't fear it, prepare for it.