Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Queries / Hints and Tips on purchasing a rotary => Topic started by: rotari on April 30, 2007, 02:28:25 PM

Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: rotari on April 30, 2007, 02:28:25 PM
Following up on my quest for a unmollested Rex I\'ve come across one that seems to good to be true...
 
94\' Fresh Import (2 months in country)
28k on clock
Standard
 
Now, I\'ve heard the rumours about imports being clocked as they come into the country, could this be one??
 
Its a trade sale so rang them up this morning to ask if the car had service history to prove the mileage and he answered no, and that he deals with 100\'s of imports a year and none of them have service history. This sounded a bit dojy to me considering the age of the car and the mileage.
 
Either way I\'m gonna take a look cause its not to far away from me and could be a steal.
 
Are there any clues that could give away higher mileage than stated? (Other than compression test of course)
2
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: interloper393 on April 30, 2007, 02:37:17 PM
he`s right that imports dont come with any history m8, well none that i know off.. if you look around the car you will see stickers added for services ect..
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: Brett on April 30, 2007, 02:39:39 PM
General wear of the interior should be a good clue, check the condition of the brakes etc - a car with that mileage should probably still be on its origional discs.  A heavily worn clutch or acc pedal indicates its done more miles than it may read.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: robedwards99 on April 30, 2007, 02:43:06 PM
Also take a look at the gear knob, mine is at about 120k miles and the gear knob is very worn with the shiney surface worn off in one spot and the numbers fairly faint now.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: rotari on April 30, 2007, 03:37:34 PM
Good idea about the discs, didnt think of that. Would be quite a give away.
 
The interior from the pics looks in perfect condition, but I suppose the only way I\'ll be able to tell for sure is when I go and take a look.
 
As for compression tests, what is the main difference in getting a rotary tested compared to a normal car? I have a guage you see.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: elford_tim on April 30, 2007, 03:42:40 PM
Quote from: rotariGood idea about the discs, didnt think of that. Would be quite a give away.
 
The interior from the pics looks in perfect condition, but I suppose the only way I\'ll be able to tell for sure is when I go and take a look.

Ask them to see the Japanese auction sheet if possible as that should show the mileage and general condition when it was sold on.

Quote from: rotariAs for compression tests, what is the main difference in getting a rotary tested compared to a normal car? I have a guage you see.

I\'d bet you a dollar to a half-eaten doughnut that you do have the wrong compression tester :D.

You want someone to do a proper test with the appropriate Mazda tool so you get readings from all three faces separately.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: Oedipus Rex on April 30, 2007, 03:53:08 PM
you can use a normal tester and leave the return valve open, it will keep bouncing as the face passes the hole and you can see the reading pretty easily.

Also check out the steering wheel and handbrake as well as the gear nob, all these are a good indicator, as is any wear on the drivers seat.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: robedwards99 on April 30, 2007, 04:06:55 PM
Quote from: robedwards99Also take a look at the gear knob, mine is at about 120k miles and the gear knob is very worn with the shiney surface worn off in one spot and the numbers fairly faint now.

Just realised what I wrote... mine has 111k kilometers and 9k miles... a slight difference!!
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: interloper393 on April 30, 2007, 05:11:51 PM
cars cn be easily clocked now tho. . just spoke to a guy who`ll be doing all my imported cars, says 30mins to remove n redo the clocks,..:2Confused
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: rotari on April 30, 2007, 05:38:51 PM
Thanks for the quick reponses everyone!
 
Just another quick question (apologises for pestering)
 
Is anybody aware of rotary specialists in the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire area?
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: gsb876 on April 30, 2007, 10:45:39 PM
Quote from: rotariThanks for the quick reponses everyone!
 
Just another quick question (apologises for pestering)
 
Is anybody aware of rotary specialists in the Yorkshire/Lincolnshire area?

Closest to you is WGT engineering in Northwich :cheers
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: G@NDY on May 01, 2007, 10:39:07 AM
Hi mate,

Is it local round here? Lincolnshire is rubbish for travelling to rotary tuners/builders im afraid.
Mazda will do you a compression test, but wether they know what they doing is the question and they will want £90:2eek :2eek

If its not to far away i dont mind having a look with you buddy, although im busy for the next 2 weekends then off to cyprus with work for 3 weeks.
Do you have a link to the sale or any pictures?

Its usually best buying from someone on here private, or buying a car that has been here a while so you can assume all the problems have been ironed out etc.
The only place i would buy an import from is Newera or the vendors on here matey.

Regards Andy
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: DC-TYPER on May 01, 2007, 12:13:30 PM
the drivers seat is a goodun
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: rotari on May 01, 2007, 01:21:41 PM
Andy,
 
You have a contact number or msn address? I can shout you the link -don\'t want everyone to see the advert! I have a few questions to ask as well :)
 
Thanks for the offer, but I\'m going tomorrow to take a look.
 
Or give me a call: 07870264891
 
Many thanks everyone
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: rotari on May 01, 2007, 02:03:47 PM
Also, I\'ve rang round a few Mazda garages in the area and they all seem bewildered. I get the explanation that they have done it on RX-8\'s but never a 7 and that they don\'t believe there diagnostic machine will be able to test a RX-7.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: elford_tim on May 01, 2007, 02:07:43 PM
I think you may need a better class of Mazda garage :D.

I doubt that there is anything intrinsically different between a 7 and an 8 that would make their tester unusable on a 7.
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: G@NDY on May 02, 2007, 10:19:50 AM
msn is rutpcc@hotmail.com matey :cheers
Title: Little advice needed on a Rex
Post by: jpc on May 02, 2007, 11:33:04 AM
>he`s right that imports dont come with any history m8, well none that i know off..

I have full history on mine,  auction sheet and delivery inspections etc. Pity I cant read Japanese.

JPC.