Hello. Just signed up and need some help.

I'm an MR2 guy but have always loved the RX-7. Today I was car shopping with a buddy at a Nissan dealer and came across this RX-7. 1994 5-speed with about 84,000 miles. They just got it on a trade in and don't know anything about it. They are going to auction it off, but I told them that I'm interested. One problem. They think the clutch or tranny is shot. I started it up and quickly realized the clutch just goes right to the floor...as if there is air in the clutch line. I have a feeling it'd be an easy fix...if not just bleed the clutch. Maybe it needs a new slave, not sure. But anyway, starts right up and seems to run fine once warmed up. It has 3 Defi gauges on the pillar and a turbo timer along with an HKS BOV. I reved it slightly and the turbo's do spool, at least enough to blow the BOV. There were no leaks under the car (they said it's been there for a few days) and seems to be pretty solid.

I told them to throw me a number and they said, $9,000. WHAT A DEAL! WHERE DO I SAIGN! I'm just kidding. I said thank you, I'll call you tomorrow.

So, I've been looking around and saw that RX-7's with blown engines in good shape are going for 6-7K. If I could get this car for, say $3000, I am confident I could Ebay it or sell it here and make some sort of profit.

BTW, this would be a purchase to make a profit off of. I would not keep this car as I already have an MR2 turbo and Jeep Cherokee.

I could get the car home no problem and using a vacuum bleeder, try to get the clutch blead. If not, figure out what's wrong and why the clutch won't hold pressure and fix it. I bet the actual clutch is fine.

Anyway, what does everyone think? The dealer knows nothing about this car what so ever. I think the $9,900 was just something to throw out there. The paint is in pretty bad shape, but the metal looks pretty good.

Any and all comments are welcome!

Thanks,
Steve

 

My advice, never buy an RX-7 to make a profit

 

i would offer 7-8k to them on the grounds that the motor is about at its end, also that the tranny is shot , i mean you can buy one on this form for around $500 but you can tell them that its $2100 from mazda (which it is) b/c if they want $9000 from retail customer they prolly only paid 3-4k for it . and they know they would make more off you then at auction. i definily go for the deal for 7-8k based on what i said but just get ready to replce some major components soon, but i must add theres nothing like driving a rotor powered car... nothing, the sound of the motor, the look of the 7, everything . unbeatable!!!

 

i second that.

 

If you can do the work yourself I imagine you can make a few grand as long as the interior and exterior are mint. I assume no smoke upon startup when completely cold?

-Mark

 

There was smoke on start up....from what my friends said, when I started it.

So why not try to make a profit? Lets just say $4,000. That right there is more than I'd like to spend.

Based on what I said. Engine is probably going to need to be replaced soon along with the clutch....well maybe on the clutch. The rest of it is in decent shape. No body damage, needs a repaint.

What would you guys, being knowledgable RX-7 people be willing to spend on a car like this? You can make a profit on anything, as long as you get it for the right price. I just have to figure out what that price is.

Again, I would only be willing to fix the lack of a firm clutch pedel....to get this car running, then I'd sell it as is.

Thanks guys,
Steve

 

why dont you buy it and find out. See if the secondary will come on after you fix the tranny. And then you can continue on checking for the suspension noises and 5th gr. grind and rest of the commom problems... you just might get lucky, enjoy*

 

It works for some of us.

 

transmission can be replaced if your a doityourselfer for 600ish. The paint will run you about 2k for a fair paint job. thats fairly low mileage for a car this old, and it being a 94 makes it a bit more desireable.

a little smoke on startup is normal for a rotary, just so long as it dosent keep blowing smoke after warm up.

as far as the engine goes, if its got 80k chances are it is not the origonal engine, but if it is its a time bomb.

If you planned on buying it strictly for profit take the car out and make sure it boost to 10psi, no more, no less.

9k for the car + 2k for new paint + 600 for tranny (considering worst case)

and if the car is in good shape (assuming you have the new paint and tranny) you can probably get 14-15 for it.

but you paid 11600 + taxes and registration and insurance(to get it home)

So you stand to make about 2k if your lucky and everything goes well. If you were planning to keep this car for yourself i would say go for it thats a fine price, but you dont stand to make much for your investment considering all the work you are gonna have to endure for the tranny and paint.

edit: whoops didnt think about how hes gonna check if it boosts to 10psi without a working tranny

 

Even a dealer that knows nothing about the car needs to make a profit. I seriously doubt you'll get the car from them for less than $8800.

A decent RX-7 with a blown motor can go for around $7-9k depending on it's condition.

That could one of many problems:

Bad clutch slave
Bad clutch master
Broken/damaged clutch fork
Damaged clutch line
Just need a good bleed
etc...

 

....I knew you'd chime in

I should add that my advice was for someone who doesn't know the car very well (or at all).

 

Thanks for all the help. As for the smoke, no smoke once it warmed up. Reved nicely and sounded/felt smooth.

So here's my question. If I could get this car for under $5000, do you think I could sell it as is and make a profit? Because from what I'm reading, it seems like it.

Steve

 

If you pass on it let me know what lot it's at. BTW If you do pick it up I got a tranny in my garage in va beach. Mike

 

Thanks man, I think the tranny is fine. I might just need a clutch. I'll check it out tomorrow.

Steve

 

In most cases you are right. It is usually pretty hard to buy a car from a dealership and make $$ but it is possible.

I offered $11K for a dealership (Toyota) owned FD back in 1999. It had a leaky radiator but otherwise seemed OK. They said the bottom dollar was $11.6K. 1 month later the Mazda dealer sold it for $21K(!) with a new radiator but missing the belly pan, lip spoiler and bent sway bar mount. I'd guess the mechanic ran it up on a curb and never told a sole.

I could have never gotten $21K for it. Dealerships can pull more $$ because the purchase is more of an impulse purchase along with trade-in and financing.

 

Its not worth the effort for $9k, nor for $7k IMO

 

its a risk but if you can sneak it to a compression test during a test drive and it checks out its cash in your pocjet. ps sell it before it breaks

 

If I get this car, I'd own it for no more than a couple of weeks. It would go up on Ebay as a last resort.

Here's what I'm going to do. Hand the dude $4000 cash and tell him that's my offer. I'm sure he'll say no deal. He'll call me if he changes his mind.

Who knows what will happen. I feel if I pay much more, I'd be at a serious risk. Potentially.

Steve

 

A beat-*** non-running FD would go for 8k at auction.


good luck offering $4k

 

4k? You're dreaming. But if you could buy it for $4k, yes you could turn around an instant profit. You could sell an FD with no engine or tranny whatsoever for more than $4k. I expect the absolute best you can get it for is $8k. The dealer probably bought it for $7-8k. At that point if you can fix it up for cheap then maybe you could still make some kind of profit but I doubt its worth your time. I would just assume the engine and tranny need rebuilding, so that's about $5k right there if you don't do it yourself. Drop in another $2k in random fixes and for $15k you'll have yourself a very nice running car...