I found a touring FD near me for $11k. Silver/black leather, 98k miles, auto, all the extras. I would plan to change over to 5spd sometime next winter. Car seems to run well. It's at a dealership that includes a 3 mo/3000 mile warranty. Smokes a little when started when it hasn't been for a while. Unfortunately this guy doesn't know much about a rotary so he couldn't answer much about it's past or current condition. Turbos seem to pull pretty good but I didn't have a boost gauge to hook up to check psi. Engine bay was clean and totally virgin. Body is straight with all smooth seams and no major scratches or dings. They're getting a carfax report for me today. As long as that comes back clean, does this sound like a worthwhile deal? Any experienced advice would be appreciated.

 

98K miles means you won't have much motor life left OR it has been replaced.

$11K is a retail type price, automatics REALLY kill resale value. Silver/black is a good color combo. You don't need a boost guage IMHO, it should be fast everywhere except right from a dead stop. The top end should pull very nicely.

Swapping over to a 5spd will probably run you over $1500 if you do it the right way. Parts are hard to find from one source.

I'd buy a 5spd car and be done with it. Check the for sale section. It is better to buy a nice car up front than to try and fix one up most of the time.

If it were $8K I'd say it would be a good deal. $9k it still might be worth it if the engine has been replaced. If not your looking at a $3K (parts only) engine replacement and a ~$2k 5spd swap on top of the $11K, your at $16K which will buy a very nice FD.

 

Well, I'm on a budget that can't afford anything higher than $12k out the door. And regardless of the condition of the motor in one I find I was planning to dump a new street ported one in.

 

Then you are better off finding a blown 5-speed.

 

Chew him down a bit or try other options suggested. That's almost the same deal as I got except I chewed down to 10K

 

Honestly, if you're on a budget now isn't the time to own an RX-7. They're money pits, plain and simple. The only reason I have mine is because I'm fortunate enough to have a well-enough paying job to keep my hobby going.

When I bought my FD it was an auto, and I got an AWESOME price on it. I did the auto - manual swap for a little over $2,000, and that was using almost exclusivly used parts (with the exception of the clutch and lightweight flywheel). The work itself really isn't that bad, but be prepaired to spend a ton of time and money on it. Very seriously, if you don't have the money to put into it right now its just not worth the problems it can and will cause.

 

Why do people say they can't afford X dollars then in the same comment mention that they can just "dump" in a $2500-3000 motor (block only)? After you get done just "dumping" a new street ported motor in you will have spent at least $3500 and more like $4500 if you do it right to take advantage of any street porting.

$2500 street ported motor
$125 cleaned and flowed injectors
$200 hoses
$450 ACT or stock clutch, don't go stock with a ported motor...
$200 gaskets
$150 DP
$50 plugs and wires
$50 fluids


$$$ etc...
Used IC, cat-back, intake, ECU, etc..


Either you've got the $$ or you don't. Sounds like you don't have it.

 

I agree with Jeff.

You stated your on a budget but then say you are going to switch it over to manual and "dump a street ported" motor in? What are you thinking! Wait until you can afford the whole package. That train of logic is extremely ill-fated. You will find yourself in debt wishing you never owned a 7.

Garrett

 

I recently DUMPED a street-ported motor in my car. It cost me close to 8000-9000 dollars! after you add all this ****(that was not mentioned above):
PFC & Commander - $1000
Ddatalogit - $300
Wideband - $400
1300cc injectors -$380
Koyo radiator - $350 (Since my stocker got clogged up with gasket goo used during the rebuild, I'm guessing here)

And I ready HAD the following:
Lrg SMIC - $1000-1500
DP - $150
HF CAT - $375
Cat-Back - $300
Ignition Amp $350
Supra Fuel Pump $150
Intake - $300

Yeah, I'd wait if I were you. The FD will be nothing but headaches for you unless it's purely a hobby or project car.

 

if your on a tight budget you should do all the work yourself...

 

If you don't want an automatic, don't buy one.

Go to your local parts store and buy a cheap boost gauge. Run a hose from the gauge thru the passenger window to the nipple on the manifold. Check the boost.

 

Me just did 5speed conversion, single turbo, and many more blahblahblah, did the work myself, spent about 25 grand, and I still can't drive it yet(winter int pUtah), thank God I got good pay and a loving wife.
My advice is to find 5speed and be patient, and save money. lol, not if u own an rx7 also known as my house, the 2nd mortgage. Hehe

 

I am on a budget because that's all the $$ I have left. It's free $$ I got as a sort of gift. I've paid for school, paid off my daily driver, bills, and now looking for an FD to hobby with. The "dumping" of a new motor, and switching to 5spd would be more than a year away. This isn't a car I'd drive in the winter, just weekends when warmer. So I'd be looking at weekends from about March to Sept. Next spring I'd look into the conversion and motor. I'm in no hurry to get the work done. The main reason I got interested in this specific one is due to it's close proximity, great shape of the body, and that it's within the budget of what $$ I have left. Considering I have another car to drive everyday, it's reliability to get me to work on time isn't a concern. Everyone still think it's a bad idea?

 

Yes.

Find a 5spd one and preferrably with a lower mileage OR already rebuilt engine. It will save you (some) trouble in the future...

 

My advice is to wait for something you really want. Put your money away or invest until that time.

If you don't have the money now, save up and wait until you do.

 

Ya know, if he's looking for something to just hobby with, I mean, if he's looking for a hobby car, and he's got a daily driver, then I'd say why not.

Actually, some guys take the complicated route just because they want to have fun tinkering with their toy.

Look at Jimlab. He could have easily dropped in a 800hp monster in his Z06, but instead, he decided to tinker with his FD

 

Yep, I agree.

However, he said the reason he was interested in this particular car was that it fit his price range and was close to him. IMO, not a good reason to purchase a particular FD.

Then again, there are very few people here would want to buy an FD to put it up on jackstands forever. When taking the average, we throw the high and low out, so in this case, we don't count Jim.

 

Pool,

I have been doing lots of searching/reading, for the past couple of months. The RX7 is not something to toy with. Once you replace the motor and tranny, the reall spending starts(more mods and break/fix).

Now is not the time to buy an RX7...you're in School now... Take the money, and invest it into something that is safe and gives good returns... That way you could plan with a highier buget.