Considering buying this, Advise pls

[Abe130]

Hi guys,
 
This is my first post on here and I am looking to buy an FD3S, I have seen the following one for sale and was wondering weather anybody on here knew anything about it or could advise what to look for when going to view it:
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320231789805&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011
 
The guy does not seem to know much/anything about rotary engines and I have asked him if I will recieve a warrenty on the engine as I will be having a full service completed once purchased, I also wanted to be protected against any nasty suprises once it was in the garage.
 
Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Alex

[Aceman]

Personally, I\'d avoid..

Car\'s had a "poor mans" respray, and looking at the pics is already battered and tattered (look at the front bumper!)..

Car seller can\'t spell simple words..

Owner has a "flamer kit" (SCREAMS chav owner!!)

No mention of engine work ever - and 56k on the clock (ok, probably a lot in KMs)

Not too unrecent import being sold (says bad things to me personally..)




Dunno.. Just doesn\'t read right..

But then, pick it up for £3k, get a written 12mth warranty inc engine covered and it\'s not so bad I guess..

[Abe130]

Yea I know, The bumper is not a issue as eventually I will be putting a different kit on it, and the seller is obviously an idiot (I have spoken to him on the phone and he didnt know that you could compression test a rotary engine lol)
 
He took it as a part exchange and if I were to buy it I would have the engine services straight away. I have now asked for a warrenty with the car so hopefully it would be a bargain if the engine runs fine.

[Kevin]

I seriously doubt any warrenty company would cover the cost of a rebuilt engine as it is wear and tear and not catastrophic failure.  Especially seeing the mileage is bang on due for problem time.

Get it if you like it, but budget for rebuild.

[SmbFD3S]

Could be a good project car, looks very tatty tho and considering he said
 
"WITH NO REGARD TO COST OF OWNER THE CAR SPEC INCLUDES"
 
it dont look well looked after, and as per Acemans post, something doesn\'t read right with this..... I\'d want to see some evidence of any kind of history with this too...
 
Obv up to you, and if it\'s cheap enough then might be worthwhile... Does depend on body condition and the condition of the "respray"

[Matt_K]

Firstly - warranties on used cars are virtually useless anyway. Don\'t fall into a comfort zone thinking everything\'s going to be ok because you have one.

- He\'s took it as a part exchange and doesn\'t know much about them. that car could have been passed on with significant issues from the last owner. It\'s easier to part-ex a car than repair problems and sell it privately. Rats nest, boost issues, low compression, worn bushes - the list goes on.

- It\'s getting to the age where water seals become an issue, not to mention it\'s potentially getting near 60K. While that\'s not a definative figure of when they go wrong, extra caution needs to be applied.

I think lastly I have an issue with the description. "THIS HAS BEEN LOOKED AFTER WITH NO REGARD TO COST OF OWNER" - right, so that\'s why the bumper is cracked and the door handle needs repairing. (common I know, but to me, something that\'s been looked after would have had these sorted before a sale / part-ex.)

I wouldn\'t touch it unless it was dirt cheap. Much better cars available through this forum, that you know have been looked after (and you can search against the owners posts to check for problems). You really don\'t want to be buying the wrong RX-7. It would turn a lovely little money pit into the grand canyon!

[T11MNM]

Paint will be crap, interior looks tatty, it will be ready for an engine rebuild. Why not spend £7k on a nice one?

[Abe130]

So worth a miss then? I cant afford 7k for what I am sure would be a mint RX7 I am currently in the situation of wanting to part-ex my Starlet turbo I just thought if the engine was OK it would be a decent price after an engine service?

[T11MNM]

But at 56k the chances of the engine being alright are quite slim so you might end up spending 3k on an engine re-build in the first year anyway.

[Abe130]

Even after a good engine service?

[Kevin]

Servicing will not do a damn thing.... when the engine decides to go it will go, wether it be rotor and/or water seal failure.

[Sy.]

Not even after a good service . Just servicing is not enough if the tips are gone or the seals are knackered.  you might get 10 k miles out of it and it all fine but for that cheap ... i would wonder.

[BlitzBoy]

yep even after a good service. Water seals inside the engine do go after a certain age (due to the seals being old and going through many heat cycles they just fail) regardless of mileage which means engine out time.
My first FD had the water seals go even though everything else in the engine was fine.

So you might get lucky and have 10 to 20K miles before they go, mine went after 6k miles

[Abe130]

Oh right, I am new to the Rotary scene so I did not realise that servicing would stop the engine blowing, so the best thing to do would be to buy a newly rebuilt engine with paperwork to prove?

[Sy.]

that is the ideal situation .. new or recent rebuild or low mileage .. but you will have to pay extra for it or it is normaly reflected in the price .