adam c

iTrader: (2)

Rick's Rotary in the bay area is a highly recommended shop.

http://www.ricksrotary.com/

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

Oh yeah, it's originally from Tennessee. Then when the second owner took ownership, he registered it to Connecticut.

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

But at what cost? I'll give them a call. I know they're not too far... 45-60min away I think.

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

As far as labor goes...

Under 1 hour for a "thorough check" (I used quotes cuz I'm not sure whats included)
And if I wanted, 1 hour for a compression test.

Pricing has been intentionally omitted.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

If you are already worried about cost, I would pick another car. Unless you have a large amount of disposable income, you do not want to pay someone to work on these cars - particularly in the Bay Area, where there are only a small number of specialists, who charge a lot (and generally have a long waiting list). Labour at quality Bay Area shops will be ~$120+ per hour.

Japan2LA

iTrader: (256)

Mine has 8000 miles

$22500.00 and its yours...

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Given that in today's market, there are fewer low mileage cars, I agree that a motivated buyer might have to pay more to get these more desirable examples. But on the other hand I suspect today's market has many fewer buyers of these examples. So there are many fewer sales of low mileage cars and that just makes trending the prices that much less certain.

David

Narfle

iTrader: (16)

A mint bone stock R2 might fetch $27k

That white car ain't it.

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

Pictures/info/details would be great. Please PM me


I totally agree. One thing for sure though, I'm not looking to pay MSRP for a 15+ year old car with some miles on it (unless it was a classic and that the market ABSOLUTELY agrees without the pricing).

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

I'd do the test myself if I had experience on rotaries AND if the dealer would even let me. I don't think they'd feel comfortable with me removing parts to access the sparks plugs. I do almost all my work except complete engine rebuilds.... and tranny rebuilds

I'm still new to rx7's so I'm not sure what to really look for as of yet. Show me a supra and we can talk. That's the other thing too, I had plans on buy another supra but now I'd like try to something different.

Ryan95

iTrader: (10)

I'd love another Supra, I had a 94 TT that I bought for $15,500 in 2001 because the owner said it had bad turbos. Something with the MAF was bad and it was like a $400 fix. I though the $19k I sold it for was robbery. Now that car would be worth almost $30

Japan2LA

iTrader: (256)

pm over your email address

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Actually you don't need to remove anything to get to the spark plugs. From above it's a little tight but I prefer to do it that way (I have large hands but my arms are long and not thick). From below you can much more easily reach them without removing a thing.

David

rotaryinspired

iTrader: (3)

Closest one was the red R model didn't look at the year as I am in the middle of things but it had 34K and was 17500. That is a good price on that car IMO. The others were at 40K and one was montego. While I like the color it does not command the same price. They are starting to up in price again I have watched it. There is always someone hurting and needing to free up cash.

twinturborx7pete

iTrader: (3)

I agree that finding low mileage examples are getting even harder. However, these cars have held their value pretty well, considering most are getting close to 20 years old. I also think that most buyers forget that even a car with 100,000 miles at 20 years old, still equates to only 5,000 miles a year. There aren't many FDs left out there to begin with. I think the cleaner cars will continue to go up in value, regardless of their mileage.

The problem with FD pricing has been the influx of people who bought the cars who: a) couldn't afford to maintain them, b) couldn't work on them properly, c) bought them for teenagers, or d) all of the above. This segment of the FD population sold their cars, ragged, ruined, and usually not running for cheap, thus creating a market of cheap FDs.

I've had my FD for sale for a couple months now and have received ridiculous emails regarding offers of $9k, $10k, etc, while my list price is $18k. I think our cars are worth what we truly want to sell them for. Too many sellers are hard up for cash, lowering the value of our cars.

The "cash" purchase of these cars isn't really needed, as I've found most banks now are starting to consider the Supra, RX-7, and NSX as "Japanese Collector Cars." I was able to get a loan for a 94 Twinturbo Supra w/ 32k miles on it for the full amount of the purchase.

Its really up to the owners to increase the price. That's the ONLY reason Supras demand a premium over our cars... most of them weren't bought up by people who couldn't afford to maintain them. It's a whole different ownership club.

RXPRESS

Sounds high to me. I can't believe there are many garage queens left out there unmodded. Most have had mods done and driven hard.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

No - they are worth what the market will pay. Perhaps in North Korea your statement is true, but it is hard to think of anywhere else in the word where it would be. (And $9-$10k for a 123k mile FD repainted an non-original colour with a non repainted engine bay is about market-correct.)

Again, outside of North Korea this is not how a market works. Supras sell for more because the market perceives them as bullet proof. If FDs where not the finicky beasts that they are then they would probably sell in the same price range.

djseven's web site is perhaps the best place to judge what these cars actually sell for. Too many people look at inflated Autotrader asking prices when trying to determine market value.

http://www.speedforsale.com/index.ph...20Twin%20Turbo

twinturborx7pete

iTrader: (3)

Again, the disparity in pricing is overwhelming. I'm sad you feel that way about the car. As for my car, any N. Florida rotary person would agree that my price is fair.

However price is always determined by:

Supply - How many are left
Demand - How many people want them

But when it comes to automobiles, boats, houses, etc., prices vary based on condition. Some sellers let their pristine cars go for pennies on the dollar because they are hard up for cash. Others sell beat up versions for the same. In any event, there are those out there that will demand the fair price for their automobile because: 1. they aren't hard up for cash and 2. their car isn't beaten to hell.

As for Supras, the same problems above apply. You can buy a beaten down Supra twinturbo for cheap, or find a guy with a nice one who needs cash fast for a steal.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

Yes, there in obviously variance in the market price of anything. That variance is going to be small for FDs however because these cars are still relatively plentiful and there are many online sources to find them and compare prices.

Unless North Florida rotary owners are cut off from the internet, the chances of one of them paying $18k for a 125k mile partially repainted car is close to zero because they will clearly be able to see that peachy 20-30k mile cars are to be found for that price. And a KBB check will suggest $9k.

Even though there is a significant amount of denial about it, blue book value is about what these cars sell for and always has been. And, with the exception of LSx or 3-rotor conversions, modifications do not change this value. Anyone who has ever tried to sell cars privately (and I have sold about 10 this way) will tell you that 99%+ of prospective buyers will know the exact blue book of the car you are selling. I have yet to meet one willing to pay more. You can spin them stories about how rare your car is and how that for some reason blue book values do not apply but you will just annoy them.

rotarymaz

iTrader: (1)

I disagree that KBB applies to clean FDs or modified cars in general. Yes, most people will use KBB for everyday commuter vehicles. Hell, I would never pay more than that for a used sedan, but if you try to use that kind of reasoning on a seller with a nicely mod FD or even Honda, they’re just tell you to take a hike. These cars have drop in value in recent years due to the economy, but good luck trying to find a knowledge owner to sell you their pride and joy for KBB. Sure you can pickup a FD for cheap, even below book value, but you get what you pay for. Most owners with a clean modified car knows exactly what their vehicle is worth and will not sell at KBB value. They’re better off parting the car than to sell at that low of a price. I’m sure there are rare instances, but it is not the norm.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

Exactly, huh? Can you please explain precisely how an owner arrives that this value? Is there some secret blue book that only FD owners have access to? Is there some parallel market place where buyers will agree with these values? And where finance companies will underwrite loans at these values? Why do blue books not reflect the prices in this market?

Seriously, the open market determines the price of an item - the owner's opinion as to the worth of their car is essentially irrelevant. Blue book values reflect what cars actually sell for in that market (are are not based on Autotrader asking prices, for example).

I have a very clean black on black 1993 R1 with 55k miles. KBB is $15k. I have enough experience with the local Bay Area market to see that number as close to reality. (In fact, I think $13k-$14k would probably be better for a sale in a short time frame.)

Are you telling me that I should ignore blue book and price at, say, $18k or $20k? (Which, incidentally, would be more than I paid for the car 7 years ago with fewer miles.) How long do you think it would take to sell at that price?

Where is the evidence that clean FDs sell for more than blue book? I have never seen it.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

pm'ing you ivan's number.

pm me if you need another set of eyes on the car.

twinturborx7pete

iTrader: (3)

I think you forget that kbb is an average. NADA will have a different average price. Personally I don't know of any RX7 owners that sell there car at or below blue book. Additionally, in the insurance world, you are not required to accept the blue book value of your car if it is totaled. You can demand replacement value. As a personal anicdote, my FC T2 was totaled 10 years ago when a civic t-boned me. The insurance company offered $3k, the kbb value. I told them to find one for 3k with 78k miles on it and get back with me. They ended up settling with me for $7.5k.

Value is not always determined by kbb. I totally disagree with you moconner. I agree with gmonsen and rotarymaz. 2/3rds of the FDs left probably are worth 9k, but the ones left that are well taken care of will fetch the true market price for a clean example.

BTW, I don't appreciate you knocking the paint on my car. Unless you've seen it, I think you should reserve judgment. Most cars on this forum have been repainted different colors than factory.

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

I do know this about KBB.... about 10 years ago, the KBB value for supras was MUCH lower. It seems as if KBB has now followed what the market for supras are, rather than dictating it. The case may be so with rx7's in today's market.

Thanks buddy. Got it. Want to check out the car with me? Its pretty damn nice.

perf0rmance

iTrader: (49)

So... It's mine now.
LOL