'84 Mazda RX-7

The Chief · Sep 27, 2004

I'm looking into buying an '84 RX-7 with 74k miles. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them, parts/repairs, things to look for, anything in general. I know it's an old car but it's body has no rust at all and it's such a cool car. I really know nothing about about cars so I'd obviously have someone look at it before I make my decision. I want reliable transportation with some style to boot. I don't want to be taking it in for repairs all the time though so if these cars are known for that than I guess I'll just have to stay away from it.

striderpunk · Sep 27, 2004

mazda really didnt nail down all the problems with the rotary engine till 86' so leave this one alone

Kiel · Sep 27, 2004

Pass on it and get a '94. :smirk:

TonK · Sep 27, 2004

The Chief said:
I'm looking into buying an '84 RX-7 with 74k miles. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with them, parts/repairs, things to look for, anything in general. I know it's an old car but it's body has no rust at all and it's such a cool car. I really know nothing about about cars so I'd obviously have someone look at it before I make my decision. I want reliable transportation with some style to boot. I don't want to be taking it in for repairs all the time though so if these cars are known for that than I guess I'll just have to stay away from it.

You will need to rebuild that engine VERY soon...

Not a good decision.

firebomber · Sep 27, 2004

Credit for this post goes to my brother who is an RX7 nut. He owns a 88 Turbo II but he's knowledgeable about all rx7's.

"Check around the sunroof if it has one for rust. Also, if you can, take it to a mazda dealership and have them check compression. 74,000 miles is not very much for the 12a. Many will last over 200k if they are cared for well. Parts are cheap if you buy used but repairs are expensive if you don't do your own work. The mazda dealerships absolutely can not do any major work on these cars. The first generation RX-7's are pretty easy to learn though, so you shouldn't have a problem with that.
Keep good oil in it all the time and don't let the car EVER overheat. If its a good price definately pick it up. They are bulletproof reliable and a classic in every way."

My bros 13bt rotary in his Turbo II has 123,000 on it and still going strong. Rotaries are very solid and reliable if cared for. 74,000 is a drop in the bucket, really.

striderpunk said:
mazda really didnt nail down all the problems with the rotary engine till 86' so leave this one alone

1st gen rx7's are incredible cars. What problems are you talking about exactly? Yeah they came out with the 13b to replace the 12a engine, but that doesn't mean the 12a was bad.

spike said:
Pass on it and get a '94.

94 is considered the worst year of the FD. If you want a 3rd generation RX7 get a different year if possible.
But the price difference between a FD and the FB that Chief is looking at is not exactly minimal.

Cylotron · Sep 27, 2004

i'd say just get a 92' Nissan 240SX.
cheap parts, engine lasts well over 300k, and they had a bad ass body style[best looking out of all the 240's].

:buttrock:

El_Duque · Sep 27, 2004

i saw a 89 rx-7 fc colored white at a dealer one time with mileage of 189,000. the body had some rust around the hood though. it went for $2500. a deal or bust?

RAINBOW PONY · Sep 27, 2004

rx-7s are great, but can be expensive to keep running good if you get problems, esp. if they are turbo. FB's look bad ass they are so fucking 80's it's cool, but god damn most of those are rusted out by now, be careful, esp on the bottoms. i'd say try to find a good NA FC. don't get an FD unless you're RICH, even though a cheap used one will only run you 13-15 grand or so, you'll probably spend 2,000+ a year on upkeep in addition to the crazy insurance prices that car has.

but if it's a cheap ass FB with only 74k miles on it, i'd say just ride the fucker till it dies or use it as a hobby car or something. don't spend more than u payed for it fixing it up tho.

if you like old rx7's check out the nissan 240sx.

Chicago Cheeseburgler Crew · Sep 27, 2004

this doesn't have anything to do with anything, but i really want to get a 95-96 300ZX Twin Turbo

firebomber · Sep 28, 2004

El_Duque said:
i saw a 89 rx-7 fc colored white at a dealer one time with mileage of 189,000. the body had some rust around the hood though. it went for $2500. a deal or bust?

If that was a NA fc then it's a bit too much considering the rust. If it was a TurboII then it's about average.

El_Duque · Sep 28, 2004

firebomber said:
If that was a NA fc then it's a bit too much considering the rust. If it was a TurboII then it's about average.

well it was some and not alot. though it was dirty and the interior was messed up a little, the dealer said that they fix and clean the cars up both engine and interior and exterior and put it in the used car lot 2 weeks later.

mog · Sep 28, 2004

No matter what you're going to have to put a ton of work into the car. That just comes with owning an RX7. Personally I'd get one of the second generation turbo ones since it'd be more worthwhile for all the effort you'll be putting into it.

Cylotron · Sep 28, 2004

what's the big deal about this RX-7 anyway?

pics? details?

:spock:

RAINBOW PONY · Sep 29, 2004

buttasuperb said:
this doesn't have anything to do with anything, but i really want to get a 95-96 300ZX Twin Turbo

those are actually the worst years for the 300zx, get a 90 or 92. the 95-96 were slowed down a shitload due to emissions and shit here.

The Chief · Sep 30, 2004

Thanks for the info guys though I'm still undecided on whether to get it or not. The seller game me the VIN# and it came up as an '85 RX-7, so I guess he didn't know what he was talking about. The body is in great shape expecially for being in Vermont, no rust at all. I guess it's been garaged all it's life. I on the other hand won't be able to garage it and will be driving it all year, not just in the summer. I still would like to have a mechanic look at it and see it up on a lift. The guy is asking $2500 for it which is a bit more than it blue books for, I might also be able to talk him down, what do you guys think about the price? What should it go for? I really don't want to spend $2500 so if he won't take any less then I'll probably pass on it.

terry.330 · Sep 30, 2004

Get an 88' RX-7 or a Datsun 280X :buttrock:

Chicago Cheeseburgler Crew · Sep 30, 2004

DashK said:
those are actually the worst years for the 300zx, get a 90 or 92. the 95-96 were slowed down a shitload due to emissions and shit here.

butta can't drive stick so it doesn't matter what he gets

RAINBOW PONY · Sep 30, 2004

FatGuy said:
butta can't drive stick so it doesn't matter what he gets

lmao

but damn, 2500 for an 85?????

you can get an FC for that much. unless this thing is "mint and complete", i would pass cause 2500 is about 1,000 too much. but 74k on an 85, maybe it was just sitting for years and years inside (which can be the ideal situation), which can be good or bad, i'd say take it to a mechanic to get it checked out before you buy it. then 2500 would be worth it.

Chicago Cheeseburgler Crew · Sep 30, 2004

FatGuy said:
butta rides a stick like a champ

He broke my penis, but it was fun at first.

mog · Sep 30, 2004

Also keep in mind that you'll probably have to have the engine refurbished at some point soon which costs something in the area of $1,300 as I recall. I could be wrong about that figure though. It definately costs more if it's a turbo though.

Tung Fu ru · Sep 30, 2004

I used to own a '86 RX7 and it was the shit, fast, reliable, cool........but I crashed it about a month or two later (I was 16).. That sucked, but holy shit that car was fun to drive.

The Chief · Sep 30, 2004

DashK said:
lmao

but damn, 2500 for an 85?????

you can get an FC for that much. unless this thing is "mint and complete", i would pass cause 2500 is about 1,000 too much. but 74k on an 85, maybe it was just sitting for years and years inside (which can be the ideal situation), which can be good or bad, i'd say take it to a mechanic to get it checked out before you buy it. then 2500 would be worth it.

I believe it has been garaged it's whole life, only driven on nice days in the summer time. Also, $2500 is the asking price, not what I'm hoping to get it for. I'm going to have it taken to a mechanic first though. Oh, and everything on the car is original including the paint job.

SlickDizzy · Sep 30, 2004

The Chief said:
I believe it has been garaged it's whole life, only driven on nice days in the summer time. Also, $2500 is the asking price, not what I'm hoping to get it for. I'm going to have it taken to a mechanic first though. Oh, and everything on the car is original including the paint job.

A plain-jane mechanic won't tell you shit about the rotary, I'd say 7 out of 10 mechanics know nothing about it, 3 of those 10 don't know what the hell it is in the first place.

What trim level is it? If it's a GSL-SE you got the 13B with fuel injection, which is the best of the SA/FB's.

BTW: for something cool to do sometime, rev it to redline, let it drop to 4000, then stomp the gas. The car will backfire at the very minimum, and some will even shoot flames (but that's usually only if you have a straight/catless exhaust)! Not good for your exhaust at all but a cool rotary trick.

K_Dash · Sep 30, 2004

You said it was garaged for most of its life right except for the occasional spirited ride from the owner, am I correct? If it was garaged for that long, be prepared to change all the fluids in the car at once and run a compression test to make sure there is no leaks. Might as well change the breaks while your at it.

Rotary's are notorious for their high maintenence costs, their ability to go through oil like water, and the heat they produce. The best place to learn more about the car is
RX-7 club

The Chief · Sep 30, 2004

K_Dash said:
You said it was garaged for most of its life right except for the occasional spirited ride from the owner, am I correct? If it was garaged for that long, be prepared to change all the fluids in the car at once and run a compression test to make sure there is no leaks. Might as well change the breaks while your at it.

Rotary's are notorious for their high maintenence costs, their ability to go through oil like water, and the heat they produce. The best place to learn more about the car is
RX-7 club

When I say it's been garaged for most of its life I don't know that for a fact as the current owner has only had it for 6 months or so, said he didn't want to put it up for the winter and could use the extra money to buy a house. Why I'm quite sure it has been garaged for it's life is that up here in the NorthEast a car like that would already be in the junkyard with a rusted out body had it been driven all year for 19 to 20 years. The salt on the roads just kills them and most people don't wash them like they should so most older cars on the road here are rust buckets.

I'm looking for something reliable so even though I really want this car prehaps it's not the right vehicle. I'm still undecided, but thanks for all your info. I still need to run the VIN# on carfax.com before I make any decision .

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