I\'m currently looking around to buy an RX-7 - have the funds etc..., just looking for the right car. Does anyone have any opinions on whether to go private or from an importer/dealer. If I go private, are there companies that I can pay to do an inspection, cos I don\'t suppose a standard AA one is really going to cut it.
I\'m looking for a pretty unmod\'d 3rd Gen RX-7, preferably with a nice body kit on (when I say no mod, I mean performance wise - big in ya face spoilers I like) and as new as I can get for around 12k.
Also, if I go to a dealer, what type of warranty should I be looking for?
Cheers
gAdj
If you want it quick, check the for private sale section, there are a few nice cars to be had there. I think most have come through recognised channels (good importer) anyway.
If you can wait (for an import) then try an importer such as http://www.neweraimports.com that\'s where many of the members here got their cars from. Most importers will offer some kind of warranty on the engine which is the most important thing. Although new SVA laws mean it\'s tougher for importers to get modified cars into the country now, although I\'m not sure how this effects non-performance modifications.
Check this thread for great buying tips and answers to some of your questions: -
http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=256
Make sure you can get insured before you buy :)
Try searching the forums for answers to any questions you have, someone is bound to have asked the same question before :)
Enjoy!
Chris.
RAC inspections aren\'t too bad. The one I had in Aberdeen spotted the loss of coolant which made me terminate that purchase. For the inspection I had in Kent the guy who called me back after the inspection couldn\'t really hide his glee at what a wonderful car it was. Trouble is cost. If you get someone who doesn\'t know what they are doing you may get away with £149 for a 1.3 (if you are an RAC member). If the person you get on the phone does know what they are talking about they will charge you £250 for a 2.6.
AFAIK no-one will include a compression test as part of their inspection, so look for as many other clues you can find, such as mileage, coolant loss (visible under the bonnet or if the light on the dash works/has been disabled), if the vendor seems to have thrashed it by the way he/she acts, how many 1/4 mile times he goes on about, etc...
Don\'t be frightened to have a look on Ebay either, not only will it give you ideas, you can always go and see the car before bidding on it !!!
Good luck,
Mart.
Thanks guys. New Era seemed to be recommended by many people, so I think I might check them out. It seems more expensive, but I think I stand more chance of a reliable motor, which is important seeing as I\'m new to all this.
I phoned the RAC on Saturday and asked how much it would cost for them to check a car out in London. They said it would cost £300 for everything (all checks HPI etc...). I asked if they did a compression test and teh bloke said they did but they didn\'t call it a compression test. :rolleyes: No idea what he ment but I didn\'t use them in the end as Ive found a nicer one. You have to book in advance aswell and they will turn either between 9am - 1pm or 2pm and 4pm. Also they said they do a 10 min road test. Dontknow if thats a good thing or a bad thing :p
£300 including an HPI check sounds about right. If anyone is interested I can post a copy of an RAC inspection here on the site so you know what they involve.
Mart.
*sensible head on*
At the end of the day even if you buy through Newera or other \'reputable\' source, there are NO guarantees (not even with warrantees half the time!) that you wont be paying for a rebuild within the first year of ownership. Sad but true. LOADS of newly imported cars crap themselves, fact...
There are lots of FDs in the country now although unfortunately there are more than a fair share of dogs amongst them from the less scrupulous traders out there who sold them for a quick buck (some thing that you cant really do now I think). It\'s REALLY worth looking at and driving as many of these cars as you can before buying so you get an idea of whats a crate and whats a good car. You really dont want to end up with a shed of an RX7 as you and your wallet will take a long time to recover from it!!
I would consider buying one already in the UK - pref with a rebuilt and waranteed motor. Dont think u need a late car either, there\'s nothing between them really (except for may be the 99+ cars) so a good move may be to buy a good straight tight early car and hold back £3-4K for engine replacement...
If poss, get a specialist to look the car over if you are getting serious about it. Before you buy it :)
*/sensible head on*
Right, now ignore all that and go and buy an FD - you\'ll LOVE IT!!
I think the AA one is allso quite comprehensive and is cheaper at £165.
Regards,
Paul:)
OK, I\'ve seen it everywhere. But can\'t work it out. You\'re gonna think me thick, but what does FD stand for?
FD?
Its the chassis number prefix for 3rd gen RX7. They all start FD3S
I asked the same question when I started looking
2nd gens all start FC and 1st gens FB
not sure if there was an FA, but the RX8 is FE, I think...
i\'m still going with my Fird Deneration dyslexic theory (http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/ed/laughpf.gif) lol
Si
Funny :)
Had a quote from AON on an FD :) 834 pounds - as it\'s a second car, I can\'t get no claims from anywhere and this is a classic car insurance for about 5k miles - which is about right.
I\'ve also found a car. It\'s a white (not keen on white - but respray or blue stripes might sort it), it has mazda speed/sport front nose and rear spoiler, coil overs and stainless steel rear exhaust silencer, with thatcham 1 alarm and immobilsor for 11k. 12 month warranty (although you never know how good they are).
Its a 96 model with the 16 bit ECU in, and its in very good condition and 56k on the clock.
What do ya reckon. Sound ok?
Still quite a lump of cash. Get some one who knows about them to look it over - it will be more than worth the money if it stops u buying what looks like a nice car but which turns out to be a dog. Dont under estimate what a crap FD will do to you!
I have a 96 type r car 16 bit ecu 59k on clock
With catback exhaust, suspension, 17 inch alloy wheels.
Car being sold with new rebuilt engine with 12 months unlimited mileage warranty for £10,500:)
Unfortunately I don\'t have that luxury cos its on a boat from Japan and I have to pay for it before it gets here. Its from new era imports. They assure me they only supply quality motors, and most people I speak to seem to recommend them, however, they would say that - they\'re trying to sell cars.
Thanks for the alternative, Brian, but I think I prefer the body kit on the other one. It\'s much more in ya face :) Although, black is a way better colour than white.
Yes Newera supply good cars, but I\'m sure lots of people could still puts their hands up and say they\'ve had newera supplied cars rebuilt.
Look at Brian\'s car another way; it has a rebuilt engine which he will warrantee - and he\'s worth his word unlike other warranty\'s. You buy a car (that u\'ve never seen before u pick it) from some where with body kit and then engine dies within 12 months. You pay £2-4K to have it rebuilt. You buy Brian\'s for e.g. thats rebuilt and then have a couple of £K left for body kit of your choice.
Finally, I have no connection with Brian. My silver FD did come from Newera. As did another silver FD I drove on and off for a while.
So what does your warranty cover then Brian? I hear so much about warranties you buy from companies (probably like the one new era is offering) and when stuff goes wrong, its never covered. Is yours different? Do you guarantee it personally or something? If so, what does it cover?
Also, Miguel at new era said that if an engine has been rebuilt, then it means the rest of the car must have had its tits thrashed off it and there might be problems there. Obviously he\'s gonna say this cos he wants to sell his car - but whats the general opinion over an engine with 54k on it or a rebuilt one?
And if all that works out, do you have any other pictures? And what\'s the full spec? Like hifi, alarm etc...
Cheers
Oh, and the difference between the two is 500 pounds. Not gonna get much body kit for that price :( And I really do like the in ya face body kits. Sorry Brian - being new to this forum, I don\'t know your history. Are you a dealer/garage/specialist??? Can you get the body kits and fit them?
Gotta go with Brian on this one I\'m afraid. One thing I learnt early on is you don\'t buy an RX approaching the \'death zone\' of 65k unless you are ready to buy an engine rebuild, hence me searching for so long to find one below 30k (although I viewed one with 39k that was heading for a rebuild). A rebuild will give you piece of mind and the mileage is not far off that one from Newera.
A car doesn\'t have to have the milkbags thrashed off it for the engine to die, all it has to do is go lean once, and that can happen in a variety of ways.
I also am unconnected to Brian, except that I visited him at his home to view a car, a very nice one that I didn\'t buy because it was a bit too much of a monster for me, but he is a thoroughly nice and honest chap.
....and I want him to answer my post on fitting my Blitz BOV... ! ;)
:cool
Mart.
ok, Brian, give me the full spec of the car please and what the warranty involves. You can e-mail me if you wish. Any other pictures would go down well :)
Thanks
wow this is an old one got peopel asking me questions and haven\'t seen it.
Blitz bov always leak. they are crap. Thye last a few months and start having sticky pistons and all sorts of bother. Greddy ones are better in my opinion but because I have taken so long to reply to this I guess you have fitted it already. Sorry.
Gadj
Warranty I cover myself. All major mechanicals are covered.
Basically if you have any issues at all with the car take it to the nearest specialist get them to contact me and I will pay for any work needed doing.
Car has kakimoto catback, lowered springs, hks induction kit, aftermarket strut brace, cd player, new engine, and new clutch, 17inch alloy wheelscan send you more pics if your still interested.
rgds
when u buy a car from newera u dont need to wory about anythign. its quite sickenign how well they look after there customers :P