RX-7 For $900? Gah?!

[Lythinca]

Hey guys. I was browsing craigslist, and I saw a 1988 Mazda RX-7 for $900. I know thats incredibly cheap, but hella worth it. But I just have to know a few things.

In the post for the mazda (Man its in great condition. New baby blue paintjob, and such.

In the post, the seller mentions thats "sometimes it shuts off when you press the brake, and there is a vacuum leak somewhere, was told can be easily fixed for around 50-80 from a mechanic. It also may need a tune up."

He also mentions that it runs and you could drive it home, but it doesnt have license plates. (Needs a trip permit or plates. Not a big problem.) So, I think its driveable. If I go there to check it out, I'll definatly bring it for a small testdrive on a backroad.

Heres my questions.

1)Is a vacuum leak really that cheap to fix? (Like, Is it as cheap as he says?)

2)Why would the car sometimes shut off when you press the break? That really seems uncommon, and somewhat weird.

Thanks.

[Tik-Tok]

lol Have fun with that

[schocker]

i am going to have to say it is a shit heap, but i did lol at baby blue :rofl:

[The Cosworth]

needs tune up = bomb

[mekeni]

i'd stay away from it....

[Crymson]

NEVER!! EVER!!! Believe what a seller says about how much it will take to fix a car, or what he thinks is wrong, unless he's got a pretty legitmate quote.

[jsn]

sounds sketchy... theres a reason its $900 dollars. I bet theres more problems than he's mentioning. for the most part, you can't expect a cheap fix for a $900 dollar car and expect it to be reliable. If you're mechanically inclined then go right ahead lol

[Casa]

its a bomb that will actually explode

[Crymson]

And rx-7's never need "tune-up" they need "rebuilds"

[Lythinca]

Yea, I know that. Looks wise, the car looks BEAUTIFUL. Like the paint job is amazing. But, never judge a book by its cover.

Does anyone have an awnser for my questions yet?

[Crymson]

I don't know alot about FC's, but i know that there was a semi-common problem on the FD's with the clutch switch, that would cause the car to turn off when the clutch was pressed at certain times. I think during idle or while stopped, something like that.

Hit up www.teamfc3s.org the candian section may be a good place to find someone who would take an evening and come looka the car with you.

[jsn]

Even if the vacuum leak is that cheap to fix, I'm sure theres other problems with this car. He said his car needs a tune up... probably more like an engine rebuild, which'll cost you more than the car costs probably.

[bituerbo]

Just assume you're buying a shell. Good brakes, tranny, clean interior etc are just bonuses.

[Lythinca]

Excuse me, but what does FC stand for? and FD?

Im not down with the lingo, yet.

And yea, heres a link.

http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/car/776990984.html

Upon searching the user has another listing and he says it needs a: Throttle Position Sensor.

Give me the link to URL you saw. I'm interested.

[Tik-Tok]

"paint has 1-3 runs in a few areas"

link (http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/car/776990984.html)


Don't touch it. Home jobber paint, covering god knows how much cheap bondo, with a fried engine.

[Lythinca]

:P Dont ya like the color, though?

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by Lythinca
Excuse me, but what does FC stand for? and FD?

give me the link to URL you saw. I'm interested.


In london

link (http://londonon.en.craigslist.ca/car/733358187.html)

[xLostx]

*insert do not want pic*

[HendrixJr1987]

2)Why would the car sometimes shut off when you press the break? That really seems uncommon, and somewhat weird.

With my 87 rx7 i had this issue, i was in the middle of an intersection pressed my brakes then... Car shut completely off... Was having wierd electrical problems so I checked all the grounds etc... We replaced the battery with 4 other ones (all used) and car did the same thing. So i went out and bought a brand new battery, all my electrical problems went away since the purchase. Could be just needing a new battery, thats all that i needed.

As for the vacum leak im not sure how much that will run you.

Fun car to drive, definately check it out.

[Lythinca]

What does a vacuum leak cause/do to your car?

[schocker]

Originally posted by xLostx
*insert do not want pic*
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8410/imagesdonotwant741689nm7.jpg

[Lythinca]

:P:P

[Casa]

its an auto too
that makes it that much worse

[Kennyredline]

dude, this thing sounds like a right heap. I've got a 1990 Probe LX (3.0L V-6 5spd man.) that I've had for sale for a while, and nobody's even looked at it. It's in great shape, no stalling, starts great, good power, body is in ok shape...I'm asking $1000.00

[ShermanEF9]

Yeah but rotary is a lot different.

[Weapon_R]

Buy a lada if you want something more reliable

[Kona9]

Seriously man. Give your head a shake. You will be so pissed at yourself if you purchased it solely on color alone. It wouldn't take long either.

Get an old civic over that if anything!

[Lythinca]

Haha. Civcs are sexy.

[n1zm0]

get over it, FC's are a dime a dozen.. and you can buy Krylon almost anywhere if you're bent on that colour.

[Lythinca]

Whats FC mean? :3

[n1zm0]

Originally posted by Lythinca
Whats FC mean? :3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7

[420Ninja]

Your going to get what you paid for, thats a very valuable thing to keep in mind, sometimes you get a good deal, but more more likely your going to get a pos thats completely fucked.

[revelations]

If you know nothing about rotary engines..... forget it.

[SilverBoost]

Originally posted by revelations
If you know nothing about complete rebuilds from the frame up as well as complete engine rebuilding..... forget it.

Fixed that for you.

[kvanderlaag]

FB = 82-85 RX7
FC = 86-92 RX7
FC = 93-whatever RX7
RX8 = Junk

You basically came on here and told us that you want to buy this car. I don't see how we're going to talk you out of it with that mentality, but let me try anyways:

Do not buy that car.

It will not be worth it. RX-7s (at least the FCs) are not fun to work on. The engine is probably a pile of garbage. God knows those things explode hard. If it's a non-turbo, expect that someone's driven the piss out of it because they wanted it to be faster than it is. Rotaries don't like that. Come to think of it, rotaries don't like much of anything. Look at them funny and the Apex seals are like "fuck this, we're out of here."

That second one posted looks like a much better deal, if you really desperately need an FC.

[Kennyredline]

Originally posted by kvanderlaag
FB = 82-85 RX7
FC = 86-92 RX7
FC = 93-whatever RX7
RX8 = Junk

You basically came on here and told us that you want to buy this car. I don't see how we're going to talk you out of it with that mentality, but let me try anyways:

Do not buy that car.

It will not be worth it. RX-7s (at least the FCs) are not fun to work on. The engine is probably a pile of garbage. God knows those things explode hard. If it's a non-turbo, expect that someone's driven the piss out of it because they wanted it to be faster than it is. Rotaries don't like that. Come to think of it, rotaries don't like much of anything. Look at them funny and the Apex seals are like "fuck this, we're out of here."

That second one posted looks like a much better deal, if you really desperately need an FC.
YA, LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!! BUY MY PROBE!!!!

[funkedelic]

Originally posted by Lythinca
Yea, I know that. Looks wise, the car looks BEAUTIFUL. Like the paint job is amazing. But, never judge a book by its cover.

Listen to these guys! Its that cheap for a reason. Also You can tell its not a pro paint job, and it sure as hell isn't Laguna seca blue.

Compare:

http://images.craigslist.org/0115040102060104012008073058d0cb77f422b5afdd00ae32.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m248/j_junior/love3.jpg

[Scope951]

Cheap Price + Rx7 = :thumbsdow

aesthetically he is tricking you, mechanically it is most likely dead.

[A790]

Originally posted by Kennyredline
dude, this thing sounds like a right heap. I've got a 1990 Probe LX (3.0L V-6 5spd man.) that I've had for sale for a while, and nobody's even looked at it. It's in great shape, no stalling, starts great, good power, body is in ok shape...I'm asking $1000.00
That gen of probe didn't come with a V-6. Did you swap one in, and what is it out of?

Edit: Nevermind, apparantly I didn't know as much about Probe's as I thought I did.

[jay42w8]

$900 isn't that bad considering you get what you pay for...if this kid wants to get it and he was my son or little brother, I would let him, let him learn a lesson about buying junk cars lol...I mean, he would only be out 900 bucks if it didn't work at all...not that big a deal....now if it was a few thousand then I'd smack him.

Besides, even if you manage to drive it say 3 months, look cool with your friends, get laid....it's still worth it, imo...cuz that's cheaper than what most of us here pay monthly for our brand new cars lol.

[Kennyredline]

Originally posted by A790

That gen of probe didn't come with a V-6. Did you swap one in, and what is it out of?

Edit: Nevermind, apparantly I didn't know as much about Probe's as I thought I did.
:thumbsup:

[theken]

Brake

[Darkstar13]

Man, Do some research FIRST. I made the mistake of buying an RX7 too for around that much and now it's just sitting in my backyard. I am not mechanically inclined so I'm shite out of luck. I would call around just to see how much it would cost to rebuild the engine for worst case scenario and go from there, I got a quote for 4-5000 bucks.
I really don't recommend this cause there isn't too many replaces that do work on rotary engines and if they do, it'll cost you an arm and a leg lol, that's for around here in Calgary anyways. If you do decide to go through with it, good luck:)

[Makaveli2k]

FYI, The guy selling that car has been pegged for selling rust buckets to many people before.

He paints these cars to hide defects and undercoats the body with POR(Paint over rust).

Avoid that car like the plague. Unfortunately the car was sold. I hope who ever bought it knew what they were getting into.

OP you seem kind of clueless, not to be mean or anything but I think you should find something that you've done a bit more research on. Especially when it's an old enthusiast type car like an Rx-7

[n1zm0]

Originally posted by Kennyredline

YA, LISTEN TO THIS GUY!!! BUY MY PROBE!!!!

i dunno for sure but i think this guy is in Ontario judging by the craigslist link

OP settle with a beater, save up, buy something nice :thumbsup: