scrubolio

iTrader: (8)

I've been looking to buy an FD for awhile now and have been lurking aroud this forum trying to get the low down on FDs. I found a car near me in Burlington for sale. I was wondering if someone in the area has seen the car first hand or knows the owner, or if the owner is on the board. Here is the autotrader link

I wanted to go check out the car this weekend, to see its condition. I've read most of the FAQs for buying an FD, but does anyone have any other tips?

Thanks.

WolfpackFD3S

If you read the FAQs then you are probably good to go. Get a compression test done and although it doesn't look like it has a boost gauge, see if the turbos are boosting correctly. There are several local clubs that you can join if you purchase the car, such as the Mazda Sports Car Club of NC (www.msccnc.org) who meet in Durham or the Raleigh Rotary Drive-Ins (thread in this section). Don't rush into buying the car, it is better to search for the perfect one. The price seems slightly high for a stock car with 60k miles on the original engine but if its in good shape it would be worth it.

-Rob

scrubolio

iTrader: (8)

sounds good, after i get an FD i'll probably check out the local clubs. I'm trying not to rush into anything, but its just so damn hard not to haha. Thanks for the info

technonovice

I agree the price is high. The motor is always a question mark.

If you can check on the car when its dead cold. Check the coolant level in the filler neck (non pressure metal cap with the yellow sticker). If its low be suspicious. It could be a coolant seal thats is going out pushing coolant into the overflow. Take a buddy if you can. Have him start the car while you look and smell the exhaust. A little white steam from condensation is normal. Big plumes of sweet smelling steam is bad. If the car coughs like its not firing on all "cylinders" along with the steam then walk away. The motor would need a rebuild.

The fifth gear synchro commonly fails causinga grind when shifting into 5th.

You can buy a cheap $10 vac/pressure gauge from Sears, Auto Zone, etc. and some cheap vac.windshield washer line to test the turbo operation. There is an easily accesible nipple on the upper intake manifold you can slip one side of the vac line on and run it through the hood into the cabin via a window. The nipple is obvious. Its on the passenger side in the vicinity of those shiny acorn nuts below where the throttle cable curves from the firewall to the throttle body.

Do the 3rd gear 10-8-10 psi boost test. I would not let a bad boost test prevent you from buying it, but you should know whats up before you buy it.

Make sure it still has the plastic undertray in the front of the car. The car runs cooler with it because it forces air through the radiator.

Good luck and be patient.

The brake fluid looks murky, but that should be no big deal.

And we do have knowledgable FD folks at
http://www.msccnc.org/forum/index.php

NVMYRX-7

iTrader: (24)

I'm from Burlington and will be in town tomorrow if you want someone to go look at the car with you. Give me a pm with your number and I will give you a call tonight or in the morning. I will be driving the "7" tomorrow, but we have plans on going to Piedmont Drag way for the Original Big Dog Shoot Out. This is my second RX-7 so I pretty much know a good clean Rx-7 when I see one. Most of the time when you go see one it's all trashed on the inside, dents on the exterior and the under hood looks BAD. This one looks REALLY NICE!!! I could have sold mine for $18,000.00 in Burlington, (I guess since they are so rare there that you can get a good price for them) but decided to keep it (Dumb Move) and right after that the radiator busted. Right now with the miles on the car you are going to have to do some reliability mods but it's better to start with something as nice as this one because there are a lot of parts that Mazda just doesn't make anymore. Call me and I will give you the WHOLE scoop on buying one and I will lay out the TRUTH, so be ready to hear something you might not have heard on the forum. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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scrubolio

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for all the replies/help, glad to know theres a pretty big mazda/rotary base in NC!