1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Car Value

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Old 03-27-06 | 11:55 PM
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Car Value

Looking for an approximate value/if its worth this much answer on this 1985.

Car has newish paint, no flaws/dents/rust
interior is pretty good.
90k Miles
No options, 12a 5spd
Engine is strong, no leaks, excess smoke, newish clutch.


Owner is asking $2200. Worth this much? good buy?



Old 03-28-06 | 12:00 AM
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Not worth that much but very clean indeed. I'd say $1000-ish
Old 03-28-06 | 12:29 AM
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I was thinking it was maybe a little too high, but really only $1000ish? That seems way low.
Old 03-28-06 | 12:52 AM
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Yeah, that's fairly clean man. Mine's simialar in appearance and cleanliness and I paid $900 PLUS the dude threw in rims and a RB header.

I'd shoot him loooooow. $1000 isnt a bad deal for that car.
Old 03-28-06 | 12:57 AM
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yea, i think this car has a header too, seem to remember him mentioning it somewhere.

The guy said he doesnt need to sell the car/hadnt even thought about it till he saw i was looking for one, so he might not be very flexible.
Old 03-28-06 | 01:12 AM
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i thinik the car is worth 2000.....but no one ever gets what they think the car is worth

i'd probably pay 1500 for it considering what i can see by the pics

nice car
Old 03-28-06 | 01:21 AM
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http://usera.imagecave.com/stevethecleric/RX7/

more pictures
Old 03-28-06 | 01:28 AM
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I agree with you man... the car is WORTH the money, I just got a stellar deal. If you can get him down to $1500 I'd jump on it. How's the motor running?
Old 03-28-06 | 01:36 AM
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ok then, so dont be too surprised if he wont go down eh?
Old 03-28-06 | 02:22 AM
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For a base 1985.... I don't think I'd pay 1,500 dollars for it. If I owned that one, I would ask 1,500. I just wouldn't pay that much at all. Him asking 2,000 dollars, though that is low miles, I would be afraid of carbon lock and other various been-sitting-too-long factors. Then again, I just paid 1,400 dollars for a 1984 GSL with minor body problems (a little bit of rust), and about 114,000 miles. I just wouldn't be very likely to buy an FB without disc brakes and a lsd. That's just me though.

I say that if you want the car, and it drives good without any problems at all, with as nice as it appears to be inside and out, 1,500 dollars would be a good deal. I would just personally not pay that much for a GSL (I don't think I'd buy a non GSL or GSL-SE anyway.)

You've also got to keep in mind that its a 21 year old car, and you'll more than likely be replacing a lot of old parts.

Just my 2 cents, but buy it if you want it. You won't be disappointed, just perhaps stuck in a position of feeling like you paid too much.
Old 03-28-06 | 02:47 AM
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I definitely think the car should be worth that much but now days 1st gems aren't really getting that kind of money. You have 2 groups concerned with the 1st Gen Rx7, those that no nothing about them and there for will sell them for next to nothing, and those who know a good amount them and try to sell them at a fair price.

But the catch is that the people that are interested in them and do know about the cars are too cheap or just too used to paying next to nothing for a car and will rarely ever offer you your asking price. This is all on top of the fact that you will undoubtedly spend more money on the car then what you paid for it.

I would defiantly try to buy that car it looks like its in pretty good shape but just so you know that if you do pay this price you will most likely not see decent return when you try to sell it. You would have to find that one person willing to meet you at that price which may take a while.

As you have seen above those will be the usually offers when you try to sell. But that's life offer him 1500 hundred in cash and see what he says. Money Talks!!!

Good Luck
Old 03-28-06 | 03:15 AM
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Interior looks mint, if the paint is near flawless, and it has an RB exhaust on it, 1500 is not unreasonable, maybe even a little more if the mechanicals are perfect and there is NO rust.

The S models are not that common, nor is the gray interior. Looks like a good car. Post some engine bay pics and insist on a compression test before buying, especially if he won't come down much.
Old 03-28-06 | 07:02 AM
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A while back you check the value of these cars though NADA and Kelly Blue book, not anymore. Just to give you an idea, both books were saying in 2005 that a mint GSL-SE with the original paint and stock equipment with zero miles was worth only $1500 and the SE is the highest model after the GSL, GS, and S. Of course just because the bluebooks low balled the value of these cars doesn't mean that some out there aren't worth much more. So keeping that in mind, I wouldn't offer him anymore than $1000-$1200 and that would be my highest offer after a compression check was done.

Last edited by Rxcalibur; 03-28-06 at 07:05 AM.
Old 03-28-06 | 07:03 AM
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Looks like a very good car. Mileage is rather low, which is a big plus. Test all the lights, wipers, washer, parking brake, heater, A/C, mirrors, etc, etc. If those all work and there is no rust, it sounds promising. They are getting rarer every day.
Old 03-28-06 | 07:05 AM
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That car is well worth the money.

Good paint, Not dents dings. new cluch. Low miles.

I would ask him to take off $200 for the radio missing.


PS SA's rule and FB's drool.
Old 03-28-06 | 08:04 AM
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I think that car is well worth the money as well.What drives me crazy is that alot of people not only on this forum are very cheap when it come to these cars.I agree with what another post said about these cars becoming more,and more rare these days,especially in stock or close to stock condition.If the body is straight,and there is little to no rust,and the engine runs it is worth $2200 everyday of the week to me,but then again I live in an area that you rarely see a first gen,and usually when you do they are beat up,and are being driven by people who don't care,or know what they are driving.I like the S models myself,and now that I own my 79 GS after owning a 83 LE I much prefer the 79 even without the sunroof.I think the GSL's,and SE's started to get to far away from what these cars started out as.Basic fun to drive sports cars with little to no creature comforts.Just pure fun machines,even though they are underpowered.

Oh yeah SA's do rule!

Chris
5/78 GS Spark Yellow
83 LE parts car now
74 RE/PU
92 Cummins diesel(for sale)
03 Ram 1500 quad cab Hemi
Old 03-28-06 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Normality_Glitch
Just my 2 cents, but buy it if you want it. You won't be disappointed, just perhaps stuck in a position of feeling like you paid too much.
Yeah before I was a member of this forum, I bought a 85 GS similiar to that for $2000. Now that I know what its worth i wish i had haggled him down, hell, the thing didnt even idle w/o the choke, but it was just love at first sight, and you cant put a price on true love.
Old 03-28-06 | 10:29 AM
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I would consider it also, the S model makes it fairly rare, as the non sunroof cars have been snapped up for racing there aren't many left in good shape, if I wanted a good stock original car that is what I'd be looking for.

What is it worth to you.....remember paint isn't cheap.
Old 03-28-06 | 01:45 PM
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$

The 1st. gens are not bringing good money @ this time. The market is
flooded w/ used cars w/no relief in sight. That said the car is worth appx.
what the owner is asking. What you are told on this site however is propably
going to be lower than a "accurate value" . I have an early 1st gen and
regardless of what the market is I would not take less than 5 grand for it.
I dont really care what folks are willing to pay for it.
Old 03-28-06 | 02:02 PM
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I bought my SE 2 years ago for $1500. He was asking $2200 for it.
Old 03-28-06 | 06:58 PM
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^^^Yeah I was about to say that the radio is gone. Both trim pieces are gone on the doors and the bumper trim was panited over on the front and rear bumpers. Seems pretty decent though. I have an 83 S and they aren't very common so it is a good find.
Old 03-28-06 | 11:37 PM
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well, i offered him $1700 and I think it made him mad. Dont know if he still wants to sell it or not. This is the best first gen ive seen so far, and the only one ive found sorta locally. Anyone else know of a good one, lemme know. Located in the NC/SC area.
Old 03-29-06 | 04:04 AM
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If you like the car, buy it. Who cares what others say. You will always get mixed opinions. Like here around Chicago, you will never ever see a first gen. I have seen one so far and it belongs to a member here. I had to drive 2 1/2 hours for mine and it ended up being an 85 GS. Fb's rule and sunroofs are for sissy's.
(Look who's talking, I have heated seats on mine )

Seriously though, I've already spend almost 5 grand on stuff for my Fb and It hasn't been a year yet. Is it worth it? No. To me, Yes. Will it be super fast? No. Will I ever get the $$ back? No. Am I worried about it? No. Am I having fun with it? Yes!

LSD, disk brakes, blah, blah, blah, nothing a little money can't buy.
Old 03-29-06 | 07:41 AM
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I agree with Kim's FB... I paid $1500 for my '85S, and the body wasn't nearly as nice as the pics posted here. Then I put another grand into it for a safety check...Bottom line - I would've paid $2000 easily for the car pictured.

You have to remember, these cars are not for everyone, they are enthusiast cars, so they shouldn't be your main ride. Therefore, pay what you can afford and have some fun...everyone has a different opinion of what you should pay, but at the end of the day, you have to be comfortable with the deal you make. It's best to go into these deals expecting to spend some $$, since profits are rarely made with these cars. My motto is "If you can't afford to pay, you can't afford to play." Good luck and hope you have fun!
PS...I personally think that the current market has undervalued our cars...considering the scarcity of the 1st gens, and the fun they provide, they should command a lot more money....my 2 cents....
Old 03-29-06 | 08:38 AM
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I bought my 85 S (red with gray interior) for 500$. Only spot of rust is under the right tailight. The motor pulled strong when I checked it out pre-purchase; however the steering was shot to hell and back, with stock sturts and springs. Oil leak was fixed with a 1.50$ trip to Ace for some washers. Coolant leak fixed(caused by oil leak) with cheap rubber hose, runs fine even though the fan clutch is stuck. All for 500$

New springs and struts: 400$
Having to remove all of the carpet and sound deadener because the previous owner was a messy coke head: priceless

Depends on how much it is worth to you. If I had the money to buy that car I'd willingly give at least 1500$ (which, incidentally, is how much I will have into my car total after fixing all of its problems).


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