Hilramorre

Just curious as to what everyone did specifically to make sure your seven was in good running shape before buying it.

ProjectR13B

iTrader: (1)

I let me friend that had a GSL-SE drive my FC and check it out before i bought mine. next FC i bought i knew enough to see where to check for trouble spots, and my SA was bought from a friend and i knew it ran strong.

hanman

I took it for a test drive and checked the length of the warranty.
Oh yeah, it was brand new when I bought it.

Hilramorre

Heh, I'm talking more of buying one used .

paulied3

Do a compression check and a used car check.
Hell pay the local Mazda dealer to do a "Used Car Check"
They are the "pros" and know what to look for.

duffman692002

iTrader: (5)

I bought mine sight unseen. Picked up a GSL roller for 100 bucks. Pics posted in the "post your pics here" thread.

84RX_Se7en

I had a life before I bought my RX7.

64mgb

iTrader: (1)

I plopped down $500 deposit and put my name on the waiting list. I got the second one ever sold at my local Mazda dealer in May 1978.

Rich

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Ah, if we could only roll back time! When will Mazda make another RX-7 in the tradition of the 1st gen?

I've bought 4 84/85 GSLs over the last six or seven years and the first thing I look for is low mileage, good cosmetic condition (especially the interior and under the hood) and a good price.

I paid a bit too much for the first one ($2,200, from my sister) but only about $1,500 for each of the other three. You can see lots of before, after and repair pictures of each car at:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479957

I actually look for ones that have significant driving issues that can be repaired easily, like bad brakes, alignment or tune up issues or overall poor performance, since I will be going over all these things anyway and I just as soon have them recently redone.

These "imperfect" cars can save lots of money, my fourth GSL, a silver one and the best one yet, was only $1,200. It needs some carb work and has some dents in a front fender that can probably be knocked out, but the paint is original and in good shape and the red leather interior is just about perfect. It was obviously garaged and well cared for most of its life and came upon hard times in just the last few years. It ran rough and that's the main reason I got it cheap (it's the carb - the engine is strong and the first one I've owned that doesn't let out a puff of smoke when you start it cold. And it has a recently installed RB header and a recent nicely done brake job with Hawk pads, really an excellent deal.

Avoid cars that have rust, been in major accidents (smaller dents and bruises are natural for a 20+ year old car and are OK), major modification and evidence of having been driven hard (the driver and history are the best clues here).

Good luck, let us know what you come up with.

Ray

renagade_rotary

I drove a reliable jeep cj-7 .......bought my gsl for 500 cash with a slipping clutch

then tracked down a local fc owner that was swapping to a lt1 bought his freshly rebuilt s5 t2 motor tranny ecu turbo everything i needed for 450

the motor had brand new housings

then i proceeded to beat the crap out of the 12a and the apex seal popped when i was just barely moving lol

so there it sits my gslt2 with flat black paint and a silver pinstripe

clbsinvaders

I looked at my car, and test drove it briefly. That was it for me. I also got my '85 S sight unseen. It was better than I thought it would be.

teamzzyzx

Mine (85 GSL) was sitting in some dude's back yard yard, with grass growing up all around it. It LOOKED like it hadent seen pavement in a while, but was in GREAT shape inside and out. So I turned the key, and it fired right up without hesitation. Didn't have to choke it (hot day is SoCal) it had MOMO Steering Wheel, RB Wires, RB Header, straight pipe, and rice cannon muffler. Engine was pretty much untouched except for that stuff. Couldn't test drive it because it was so buried in the backyard/blocked in. But I paid $1000 cash, picked up the next day. Drove Great. Happy with it ever since.

Pics from the For Sale ad (before it got booted to his backyard):

mar3

iTrader: (8)

I buy non-running or rough running cars with straight bodies for $300 - $700 and then tow or limp it home to let the fun begin...

Jeezus

iTrader: (4)

3 rx-7s strong. First was a 79, 250$. Bad engine, sunburnt interior. Trashed it. Got a 2nd 79, no interior, but remanufactured engine. took the engine out and am putting it in my newly acquired 82, blown motor, but MINT interior.

85-GSL

one thing i didnt do is check the rear wheel wells. thank you windy (rainy, snowy) city... im not saying that i wouldnt have bought it but i would have bought it for cheaper.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

edit

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Yeh watch out for rust. The one I got from Ohio, the otherwise beautiful and reliable Turd, had the rust issue. If it's not too bad it can be inexpensivley kept in check for a few years:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479957/8
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479957/9

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Yeh watch out for rust. The one I got from Ohio, the otherwise beautiful and reliable Turd, had the rust issue. If it's not too bad, it can be kept in check for a few years without too much trouble:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479957/8
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479957/9

seamusmurrin17

Yeah, ideally you have an independent check it out and do the compression test. I doubt a dealer would touch anything over 10 years old.

Otherwise, which was the case for me, I saw a *lot* of dogs along the way. If the initial cosmetics don't give it away, the interior does, or the steering, or the sound of the engine or transmission.

The story from the owner is always a good place to start. How many owners? How long have they had it? Etc.?

When I go to look at it I start as though I'm checking out my car like I would during a big service: oil, coolant, brake fluid, belts, tires. What do you think of the interior? Then, drive it. I had my wife follow me to check for smoke or crabbing as I drove. I think I got a good one :-).

Seamus

kymber39845

I bought my first one for $350. Engine shot, great interior. Got her from a friend on hard times. I paid $750 to have a used motor shipped in. Lasted 4 years as a DD (driven to North Carolina, Atlanta, South Carolina, etc at that). I blew an apex seal and parked in her to get a bigger vehicle (kids, no room). 5 years later I paid $250 for a donor car on ebay. Picked her up, sight unseen other than some pictures of her racing solo on a website. I figured the windshield and some other parts I needed were worth at least that. I got lucky! Drove her for 2 years and finally, finally...parted her out to fix up the first one. Now she is my DD when I don't have to cart the kids somewhere. She's going in for paint next week. I'm so excited! Overall I think I got a great deal and will soon have her back looking sharp! I'll post before and after pix soon!