Okay, right now I'm having trouble figuring out which I should go for. I'm, knock on wood, expecting an extra paycheck this March that's outside of my budget and along with saving a bit more money, I could do one of two things. There's a guy at my work that has an '89 RX-7 that he's wanting to get rid of for $1000 or I could spend some money on just buying some extra stuff for my '85.

The RX-7 (I have yet to see it in person because he's getting a fuel pressure regulator installed) is champagne in color, I think 132,000 miles on it, 5-speed, non-turbo (I think he said it's a GL) coupe. I asked if anything was wrong with it, he said no, alot of the stuff on it is still in working condition and he just recently replaced all of the exhaust and a few other parts. He's wanting to get rid of it because it's just too expensive for him on his insurance and it's already costed him alot of money fixing it up. He asked me about it because he found out that I drive an '85.

Now, if I can muster it, I just might be able to save up that kind of money, or, I could just use the extra paycheck and buy a few nice things for my FB, like upgrade the ignition to MSD, get a push button ignition, or a strut tower bar, whatever.

I'm open to opinions to see what anyone else might think. As I've said, I *MIGHT* be able to save up that kind of money, but I'm wondering if I should. What does everyone else think?

 

First be careful where you ask the question, this forum is run by biased fanatics who think buying a gen 2 rather than upgrading 85 is either a sign of insanity or a deliberate criminal offence!

Assuming your 85 is in good condition, there are minimum advantages of getting the 89 as a replacement. By now you should know if there are any potential problems in yours; why is the gen 2 costing so much to run, are there major problems? These are the objective questions to be asked.

Given that both were in the same condition, which which would you prefer to drive, which has the best looks? These are subjective questions only you can answer. THe great majority on this forum would say the 85 wins on every point.

The final question is what are the best upgrades if you want to spend money on the 85. For me a strut bar or push button ignition would be way down the list of priorities, I suggest other options are good tune-up, carb upgrade, better header and exhaust. For a $1000 you could really transform the gen 1. A word of caution, whatever you spend will have little impact on the resale value of the car so primarily think of the expenditure as an investment only in better driving over the medium-long term.

The last consideration is do you want to buy from a person you know? No matter how honest they are something can always go wrong and I have seen friendships ruined by unfortunate chance. I once bought a spare car for towing a boat from an old friend, it blow the engine a week later causing potential difficulty to the relationship.

My biased view is keep the 85! Good luck whatever your choice which only you can be responsible for no matter how much advice you receive.

 

No way in Hell I'm getting rid of my FB. She's a sweetheart of a car and I would never replace her. I just love Rotarys, she got me hooked, and so I want to add a 2nd Gen to my collection is all. Plus, I need a second vehicle in case the FB is in the shop (It's better than asking a friend to borrow his truck). And, I have a 13B in mine, so no carb upgrade, and plus, if I did decide on just sticking some money into my FB, then I wouldn't have to raise $1000 in the first place, just what my extra pay would be (probably around $450). So if I wanted to get the 2nd Gen, I'd have to save really hard to get $550 more.

It was expensive I think because mostly he was trying to figure out why it was running hot, so after spending so much money, it turns out it was just the FPR and he wasted money on it for no reason trying to figure out the problem. But it's his insurance that's killing him and that's the main reason. He said he'll park it by mine when it's finally repaired.

So, first and foremost, I'm not getting rid of the FB. Just adding a new addition, maybe.

 

You pass the sanity test!

 

upgrade shocks and springs

 

Alright......what's my prize?

Eh, for $450, that'd just be enough to get new springs OR new struts. Damn things are expensive just for stock ones. Unless there's a kit out there with 4 new ones for a really good deal. I haven't looked around but now I will. Thing needs new tires, too, but for it's hard to find size, $200 more could get me a new set of 15"s with tires mounted and balanced and warranty.

 

look on here for used springs (dont really need new) and ebay u can get shock inserts (tokiko blues) for around 160.00 u can find both for under 400.00 than get yourself some tools like spring compressor and do it yourself (if your capable) becuase labor is where it will cost ya.

 

Yeah but suspension is something I don't like to mess with, unless it's regular shocks because of the dangers of installing compressed items. There's always the worry of that compressed strut flinging right out at you and shattering your face. Not my idea of fun, y'know? And, now I have to find out if my car has struts in the back or takes inserts. It has rounded humps like that of a strut and I've seen listings for both inserts and struts. What about springs, do they make performance springs? Or do those lower as well (because I don't want lowering springs)?

 

my car

 

Huh?

And, I've decided to stick the money into my FB. I realized that there's a different kind of vehicle that I want to get later on. As per the money, I might either go for MSD and/or slotted brake rotors and stainless steel lines, or a short-throw shifter.

 

make sure you put the **** on straight if you get a new shifter

 

$1000 is a very good price for an 89 in good condition that runs and drives

 

I plan on getting a simple black ****. Maybe even one those Redline leather shifter boots.