Splinemodel

If it's in good condition I may buy it. Supposedly it has 75k with 25k on a new engine. Mostly stock, and the touring model, with brand new Dunlop S9000 tires.

This is the current gameplan:
1) check for 3000 rpm sputter
2) check radiator hoses
3) say that the radiator needs to be replaced
4) check radiator overflow tank
5) check for bondo
6) check for rust & wear

Is there anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks.

dzungh

Check other things that you might not think of including the climate controls, wipers, check for a new paint job, uneven seams along doors/trunk/hood in case there was an accident.

Bring a boost guage and look for a 10-8-10 compression. Look for any oil leak around IC piping. pay close attention to the temp guage. Run the car; let it cool; then turn it off. Wait a few minutes and then turn it on again, there should be no problem starting and no higher revving RPM's like when you start it cold. The engine should already be warm.

Go with a friend and try to use peer pressure with the owner to lower a price by pointing out little things. Have your friend agree. (i.e. "yeah, that needs to be replaced; the turbo will be bad in about a year and that will be a $2000 job." Make it seem like you won't do the work yourself and that you have to pay someone to do it.

I got my '93 (silver with red leather , 69K miles) for $10500 from a DEALER.

Good luck.

Splinemodel

Heh. easier said than done. I guess I should have a boost gauge.

Thanks for the recommendations. I'll also try the "you can evade taxes at a price 10k or lower" line if I think it's appropiate. As it is, I'm brining a friend along, and my father decided to check it out when I told him the other day that I was going to look at it. He used to play around with fiats in the 70's, so hopefully he will know exactly what to point out in the price lowering dept.

Cheers

dzungh

Go to any auto store like autozone or trak auto. They will sell guages for about $25. Use it temporarily. Refund it later.

RyanREX

mmm...silver FD

dzungh

mmm... MB FD

vosko

iTrader: (4)

you should also get a compression test if there is a local dealer or rotary repair shop nearby. check for a bad 5th gear syncro also.

Flybye

If the owner of that 95 knows how rare a silver 95 is, you guys are gonna make the owner tell Splinemodel to go stick it :p

Splinemodel

Actually, this is the rarest FD ever made. . . . only one ever produced.

1995. . . Silverstone. . . American. . . Automatic

I am frantically calling PFS and all others to see how much it would be to swap in the 5 speed. Any hints?

Basically, this car is is good shape. Not perfect, but nothing I can't fix. I took it for a spin. Having the auto makes it feel like there a big single turbo. You step on the gas, and around 4000 rpm you better lean your head back or whiplash will surely result. Clearly the owner bought it for looks, because when I took it for the "parking lot test" he was getting edgy at honda speed. The car didn't lose grip for a second. The ride was softer than I expected. Having been in a Morgan, I was expecting a real kidney killer. not so. It was touring, though.

Good God. I know why you folks love these cars so much now.

CantGoStraight

You may be confussed here as I believe the only one off car was a Pearl White model. Good luck with the buy.

CantGoStraight

You may be confussed here as I believe the only one off car was a Pearl White model. Good luck with the buy. Don't give up on the Auto.....they can be just as much fun to drive.

JspecFD

iTrader: (2)

No such thing as '95 tourings, just PEP's. Mazda's production figures list 4 '95 silver PEP/Auto as being made. CantGoStraight is right in noting that there were no 'only one produced' in any category except that Pearly white thats unique in several ways. There are some 'just 2 made' models such as '95 Chaste White/PEP/auto and '95 Silver/Base/Auto.

As for the 5 speed swap, I think Pettit will do it for ~$6k and will do it right.

WANKEL POWER

I thought all FD's were made in Japan...

JspecFD

iTrader: (2)

They were and no one said differently. There's differences between cars built for the US market and elsewhere. Even Canadian FD's had different models and features.

JConn2299

What's the guy's asking price for the car?

I wouldn't let the automatic put you off. There's a place for those too, and you seem satisfied with the speed.

I own a '95 5-speed, so that's obviously my preference, but I can never figure out why someone would buy a 7 then go to the extra time, trouble, and expense to install a manual instead of just buying a different car. And don't tell me you can't find them. There are several FD's in the for sale section right now. And there other places to look.

Splinemodel

I happen to prefer manual transmissions, especially when dealing with cars that are supposed to be automatic. The price of the car is good. That's why I would even think of going through the trouble to convert it. In the end I'd have a car that would list for a lot more than this one is listing.

But yes, I'd rather just buy a 5 speed. And I have a few considerations here:
1) Has to be somewhat close to DC or central Jersey (within 100 miles is fine. Within 200 is okay if the car is worth it)
2) I won't get a 93. too many issues.

Most of the cars for sale ar 93's, and for good reason, but I'd much rather have a 94, or even better a 95, where some of the kinks are worked out.

But I'll check out the forum today.

{edit}
If you're curious about the condition, It probably very similar to this vehicle
http://www.rx7forum.com/showthread.p...threadid=40935
for sale in the forum. The only differences are the miles, the colors, and the transmission. And of course the price, which is much, much, less than $26k.

JConn2299

I've seen several 94's for sale and with a lot lower mileage than the 95 you're looking at. Check out www.kbb.com and you may find that the prices for 95's are pegged lower than you think. I own a 95 and I know what some owners think about them. That they're this super-rare gem.
Which is why you'll see some high asking prices in the over $25k range.
But asking prices and selling prices are two very different things, and the market doesn't view it the same way. If the ad is around a long time, that's a big clue that the high asking price isn't getting any takers.

widebody2

Definitely don't buy the car if you need to convert it to an 5 spd to satisfy yourself. Just buy a 5spd to begin with. You can use that extra 6 grand that you saved to put in a single turbo. If you can live with the auto then go for it if its a good car. You should probably drive a 5spd before you buy an auto just so you have something to compare against. Personally I would never buy an auto rx-7 though.

JspecFD

iTrader: (2)

When you get more experience looking at RX-7's, you'll realize that condition is the most important factor, more so than model year. Its basic math why there's more '93s since Mazda brought far more in than any other year. 93-95 cars are all Series VI cars and Mazda really didn't get the kinks worked out til the Series VIII cars came out.

Splinemodel

I'm sure you're right, but the kinks like the cooling and intake and such I can fix. In 95 new paints or painting techniques were supposedly used, and the 95 just look so much better after 7/8/9 years than do the 94/93. There's also some 3000 rpm glitch that everyone talks about, and some surveys I've seen show that the 93's have it the worst.

It's really just a piece of mind thing. I like to wait for the first revision. Call me neurotic.

{edit}
As for the 6 grand thing, the conversion can be done for around 3 grand, differential, labor and all, so long as you get used parts. As I said I should be able to have the whole thing taken care of with the inclusion of a PFS PMC for less than 15 grand. Of course I'd rather just get a 5 speed to begin with, but these cars just don't often show up in my area unless they're in poor condition or super condition. (IE packed with aftermarket parts.)

But more or less I've found you guys to be correct. I'm not trying to argue here, I'm just torn between waiting and jumping.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

My auto/manual conversion is going to come out to just under $3000, labor and all - and this is because I choose to upgrade to a brand new ACT clutch and light flywheel while I'm at it. It certainly be done for even less if stock parts are fine (and usable) with you. Based on what you described here and the other post, I say go for it!