finneymc

Hi,

I am stationed in Japan and i have always wanted an RX7 and figured this is the time to get one. well i found a decent one for 2500$ here is the lay out (sorry no pics)

It has a nice body kit on it but the front skirt has curb rash pretty bad and i will need to replace it.

Carbon fiber hood, mirrors,door handle molding, and windshield wipers

Ipod ready radio

aftermarket intakes

It has a decent sounding exhaust (sorry dont know what kind)

It also has a max boost computer in it and the stock computer is with the car.

It has some really nice rims with good tires on them

Now for the bad

The A/C fan works but no cold air (may just need a charge)

It back fires 1 or so out of 10 times when it is started (may just need to be tuned or a bad fuel pump or something of that nature)

the back window defrost and wiper don't work.

So that is about it, it is a 1992 3rd gen japanese model twin turbo. it has about 58k miles on it. What do you guys think? should i go for it for 2500$

sbnrx7

iTrader: (4)

You definitely need to read the FAQ section. Things like "good rims and tires" and "has a nice radio" are not what you should be looking at when considering buying a 3rd gen. Get familiar with these cars by reading and searching this site. I would never discourage anyone from buying one but its not like buying an old Ford. Good luck.

caredden

iTrader: (148)

How long are you going to be in Iwakuni? Are you there for one year, or longer?

How much Japanese Compulsory Inspection (JCI) is left on the car? If there is more JCI on the car than the length of your tour (2 years JCI and your tour is 1 year), then that is a good thing. That way you won't have to pay JCI while you have the car. Just don't expect to try and sell your car for the same price you bought if it needs JCI. (Everyone pays for JCI in one way, shape, or form). Cars that have JCI left on them will be more expensive than cars needing JCI soon. Sellers knock down prices and basically are passing of the JCI cost to prospective buyers. JCI can be very expensive for older cars, as they will fix anything required and you will pay all charges. If the car is cheap because it needs JCI soon, then be prepared to pay some money for the inspection (I paid about $550 or so) and repairs (if necessary).

Road tax is more expensive (I remember it being close to $175 vice $55 for a beater).

Make sure you can afford the insurance.

Check out Makers RX-7 in Hiroshima (actually it is between Iwakuni and Hiroshima on Route 2). www.makers-7.co.jp (sorry I couldn't link it with my current computer setup). I am sure that they could give the car a good look over to see what is wrong, etc.

good luck

sbnrx7

iTrader: (4)

Japanese Compulsory Inspection?
Damn! Learn something new every day.

Florida...no inspections...no motorcycle helmets...I guess we're more laid back than I thought.

rx7doorhandles

finneymc welcome to the forums!
There is a wealth of knowledge here, so definatly take advantage of that.
Like sbnrx7 said do not focus on the glitter, you should be looking at Fuel filter replacement(how recent) compression test, downpipes, ecu's, not ipod radios.
Caredden is right about the JCI (check into it) $2500 sounds a little cheap or (to good to be true) even for Japan. You will probably have to spend between $6500-$10000 for a decent FD (with the reliability mods you want on a future FD)!!

Good Luck looking, don't rush into anything, and enjoy the scene!!

gslse-driver

Interesting info about the JCI. I find myself more curious the more I read about the japanese car culture and regulations.

We here in the states are usually jealous of the JDM counterparts of our cars, because they usually have more desireable and higher power engines. IN the case of the FC rx-7, they have one less cat than the US cars, no accelerated warmup for that cat, and no EGR on series 4 engines. Their engines made about 5-10 more hp than ours for those reasons.

So, it would be fair to say that japanese emissions requirements are LESS strict than those in the US.

But then we hear about these jspec engines coming over with low miles. The reason given is this JCI inspection process (also referred to as shaken?) that is very strict about the running condition and emissions output of the cars in question. And so because this is expensive for cars older than a few years, most people in japan just sell them and get newer ones...thus the engines that show up here with fairly low miles.

So, which is it...are they more strict or less strict than the US? IT can't be both.

finneymc

Well i bought it and i love it!!! there are a few cosmetic things wrong but for the most part seems to run real nice. thanks for everyones input...o by the way the JCI still has a year on it, and already having one car out here i did already know about JCI and took that into consideration.

For people like sbnrx7 that have never been outside the US, it is a little different out here, all cars that aren't new have had at least 5+ owners and it is impossible to know the complete history on a vehicle. It is pretty much a hope and pray type thing out here. You can buy a twin turbo supra for like 4grand out here......what does that tell you....?

YOUWSH

Stay away from the 92 builds, they were the worst of the lot. I had one and it was nothing but one problem after another. You'll spend easily twice as much fixing it up let alone a rebuild which I would say is due soon.

finneymc

not to jinx myself but so far it seems alright except minor cosmetics. Thanks for the post

BigWillieStyles

I notice that your in Yamaguchi, im in Okayama prefecture which is really close to you...hehe. Cruzzze

I personally think that for 2500, its not going to be pretty. Save a bit more, i think closer to 10K should fetch you a nice car, but something in the 500,000yen could be possible. The car you are probably looking at has over 90,000kms and probably wont pass shakken. Also remember that car dealers in Japan often add an extra 3000dollars to the price of the car for paperwork fees. High kms are extremely unpopular over here in Japan.

yeah Shakken, every 2 years and gets more expensive as the car gets older. In some cases the shakken is more cost than the car itself. Thats on top of car tax and rego and carpark fees. I pay 150dollars a month to park my car.

Post up some pics or the advertisement. I could help you look for one.

rx7doorhandles

I visited Okinowa Japan a few years ago and as a car nut I went to the used car lots(on my vacation) in Naha, and tryed to test drive cars and near Kadena Air base(they would not let me). It was crazy seeing mint condition rx7's starting at 650,000 yen ($6,000) which is as many know is dirt cheap for America! On these same lots were Toyota Supra's, Chaser's, and R32 GTR's for a song. I mean cheap!! Also 99 spec rx7's, R32's in junk yards! It was crazy, being in a junk yard was like going to a car show

Well good luck finneymc! Change out the fuel filter immediatly or pop goes your engine. It is located above the rear differential and should be your first mod (reliability mod).

Also if your door handle breaks look me up! I ship my Aluminum door handle to all military personal around the world for free!
Thank you for serving our country!!!

Tom
ex Army and ex 13F, and 31B

BigWillieStyles

Ive been in Japan 3 years and regularly browse the caryards, and auctions and have never see a clean FD, or a FD that i would even consider for 650,000yen. The thing about dealers in Japan, is the price on the car is not the drive away price, you need to add roughly 3000 or more to a car for fees to the dealer then they also add tax and shakken costs. You show me a mint rx7 for 650,000yen and i will purchase it on the spot. Have a look on goo of the 400 FDs advertised, there is only a small handfull below the 10K mark.

Same with an R32 GTR, i wouldnt touch anything below 10K, as the kilometres on cheaper examples are an indicator of the 15,000dollars in engine rebuilds and turbos and 4wd.

Plus you have to consider that older performance cars can sometimes cost as much as 4000dollars just to pass shakken every 2 years plus add another 800 a year for car tax and then there is really expensive insurance and rego.

finneymc

thanks for all the info guys, rx7doorhandles is right thought there are a lot of good deals out here (usually passmedowns from military guys) The trick is for performance cars stay away from the dealerships, buy outright from someone in the military. that is how i got my rx7.

thanks for the info and comments doorhandles!

BigWillieStyles

did you buy the rx7?

sbnrx7

iTrader: (4)

Yes he did. He is one of us now.

gutrehab

cool

gutrehab

yes

finneymc

I love it more every time i drive it :-P I washed the outside and slaved myself on cleaning the inside, looks real nice now, i just gotta get a tune up so that some of the gas smell goes away lol. The SSgt i bought it from provided paperwork from Makers (jap RX7 fixer upper shop) showing that it was machanically sound and that everything is running as it should but he did not get it tuned after he put in the max boost chip so i need to do so.

I loved my mint 2001 Prelude SH but this car makes that car look like a go-kart except on cornering.

Pics coming in about 3 hours after i get off work!

DriftN7

awesome, welcome!

finneymc

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...lbumId=1487292

not sure how to post pics so there is a link

BigWillieStyles

we cant see the pictures, send them to WarriorWilliam2000@yahoo.com.au and i will post them up.

PS. I used to have a prelude too

finneymc

sorry will i didnt see your post till i came into work this morning, i will email them but could you let me know how to post them? I linked the photobucket link to them under the FD pics thread if you wanna look there (if that works, let me know) it is on the last page (as of now)

RX7LINK

iTrader: (3)

that's a really good buy. looks great. congrats and welcome

splitzo

Yeah thats a damn good deal. Looks real nice.

MADDSLOW

iTrader: (11)

Can you pull parts from the junkyard that were 99 spec specific(y-pipe, turbos, etc) and just bring them with you back to the states on a plane? What would a used set of 99 spec twins go for? A few hundred?