Mazda Rotary Club

General => General Queries / Hints and Tips on purchasing a rotary => Topic started by: shaunwil on February 08, 2004, 09:41:25 PM

Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 08, 2004, 09:41:25 PM
I\'ve found a nice rx7, but i have quite a few questions since im a complete newbie to the rotary engines. The car i\'m looking at is an FD, i think its an Type R2 (no back seats), with 54k miles on the clock. They want 6,500 for it and they do sell quite alot of FD\'s. It has a stainless exhaust system and the engine looks neat and tidy and completely standard. They aren\'t sure if any work has been done to the engine as it is a fresh import.

http://www.dealer.autotrader.co.uk/_keighleyframe7.htm

(its the red one)

I\'ve been reading alot of the threads about how long the engine lasts and how to check if the engine is on its way out. I\'ve read quite a bit on compression of the engine and that about 6.5 and 7.0 bar is ok for one that hasn\'t had any work done on the engine. The main question is how do i get the figure read on the car i\'m looking at ? Also is there any good companies aroud the bradford / Keighley area that are experienced in assessing condition of Rx\'s ?

Any info greatly recieved,

Shaun
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 08, 2004, 11:12:53 PM
I\'d force them to get a compression test on it..

that\'s quite cheape, esp for a dealership, so be careful

Best of luck matey
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 08, 2004, 11:14:14 PM
(http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=62568230)

I REALLY hope that condensation in the pipe too hehe
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: J4P RX on February 08, 2004, 11:14:51 PM
Enlarging the image shows a Sticker price of 5995 or something in the window instead of the price said on the advert text.

Lee
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: J4P RX on February 08, 2004, 11:15:21 PM
Andy its the red one.

Lee
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 08, 2004, 11:19:45 PM
ya right you can see it quite blatent here

(http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=63587217)
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: petemillis on February 09, 2004, 10:01:41 AM
Is the back of the front right wing the same colour red as the door?
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: J4P RX on February 09, 2004, 10:07:02 AM
Nope, which looks bad but then a 12 year old red car is likely to have paint issues anyway!  Might be ok still.

Lee
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: tr8theshape on February 09, 2004, 10:32:39 AM
Yeah, on my 93 type R which is also red the paint is not too hot, faded in places and has had panels painted (badly).

Thing is, if it is that cheap and the engine doesn\'t need a rebuild and there is no accident damage then the price may be low enough for a respray.

But if it needs paint and a rebuild it would work out expensive!
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 09, 2004, 01:23:26 PM
Cheers, it does look a nice and tidy car. Is pressure testing a big thing to have done, how is it actually done ? Can the pressure test be done by the AA / RAC on an inspection ?

I live about an hour away from them and they have offered me 5k for my fto, and it needs a few jobs doing on it. He was a bit cheeky any way because he said he couldn\'t offer me any more for my fto, because he had a veilside fto for 7k that was an s reg, but it was ugly, more people where looking at my car parked up in the yard , because of the 5in tail-pipe and the 19in rims!

The silver one has done 59k and they want 6k for it, but it isn\'t as tidy as the red one.

Is it worth me haggling to try and get 5k miles warrenty on the engine !

I\'ve attached a picture of my current car
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 09, 2004, 01:30:54 PM
I forgot to mention mines done 124k km\'s, is a GPX auto. I\'ll ask them why they have upped the price by 500 quid !

Cheers
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Wav on February 09, 2004, 05:54:14 PM
I lived near keighley for many years and they get in many rx\'s at this garage and they are always quite cheap, but usually for a reason:rolleyes:. I\'ve heard a few bad stories and coinicidences about the place, but mainly just rumours about buying a car from them, then a week later it gets stolen from outside of their house etc etc etc. I would say that most of the cars they sell are crash damaged examples or low graded cars from Japan. I would ask for an auction report from them, and if they say they do not have it ask why! And if you are serious about buying it I would definitely get a ful AA/RAC inspection on the vehicle to make sure everything is tip top and that if it has had an accident that it wasn\'t too bad and that it was repaird to a high enough standard.

Sorry bout the negative post, i\'m not trying to put you off, but am just making sure that you are aware of these potential problems, Paul:)
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: iaint on February 09, 2004, 06:05:33 PM
Worth mentioning that the AA?RAC won\'t be able to do a compression test properly as it needs a rotary tester not one for a piston engine.

Iain
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 09, 2004, 06:15:45 PM
Cheers everyone for the info.

I have been a couple of times, and to greatly honest the first time i went i thought what a dump it was, and they did look low graded cars. I know im being daft looking there again, and i don\'t think that i\'ll boither with them.

The big question is im looking for a nice condition Rx7 gen3, that at least i can use for 12 months before it needs an engine rebuild and Im looking to pay between 1-2k and my fto. I live in the NW, near preston and if anyone knows anybody that can do me a good deal, then please tell me where i should go.
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 09, 2004, 10:22:05 PM
If I were to buy another i\'d use MRC\'s fab importer (username) BNA Ellis of Rotaryimports (http://www.rotaryimports.com/) , Ben Linney of www.linney.org (//www.linney.org)  usually has some sexy examples or the infamous Miguel of Newera Imports (http://www.neweraimports.com) where I got mine from (highly recommend them)

I\'d stay away from garages like that.. usually too good to be true.. ooh try the "fore sale"section here too :D
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 10, 2004, 06:16:20 PM
Some very good cars indeed. Has anyone bought an Rx7 off jimmys-rx7, it says he rebuilds the engine when he gets it.
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 10, 2004, 06:24:20 PM
only bought parts from them, nice people! Sure the cars are as nice too :)
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: shaunwil on February 11, 2004, 01:16:52 PM
It looks like i\'m going to have a look in a few months for an rx7, going to save up some cash and then have a good look at the dearer end of the scale. Cheers for the info.
Title: Looking at a FD Rx7, Please help !
Post by: Andyp on February 11, 2004, 02:25:17 PM
best of luck with it mate.. if ya need any more help do ask away. It\'s worth all the hastle in the end :)