I've got the chance to buy a 1995 RX-7 with 22k ORIGINAL miles, and a 3 year/36k mille warranty, for $20k. Anyone have any good pictures of the blue that they came in that year? I just don't know enough about the RX-7 colors to have any idea what it might look like.

It's a beautifully deep blue, very dignified with an inner character. its a dark navy blue darker than winning blue but lighter that the dark blue on the mazda 3. is it a twin turbo 6 (5?)spd?

Twin turbo 5 speed. Going to run a CarFax on it tonight, and hopefully it won't go anywhere before then. Apparently someone tried to buy it yesterday, but the deal fell through. I may go get it transferred tomorrow if the carfax checks out. Trying very hard not to get excited. Not a very responsible purchase, considering that would leave us with an 8 and a 7, and we were considering a Mazda6 Sport Wagon, but it's REALLY hard to pass up.

indeed...id say its worth it, thats a rare beautiful car...i found this site with pictures of some guys montego blue rx7...the blue is slightly lighter in person though... http://www.cardomain.com/id/fastrx7man

Elara,
Here's some pics from www.Autotrader.com.
Sorry, they are not very good.

another

As said before it is Montego Blue. It will look green under certain lighting conditions. It is one of my favorite automobile colors ever. Good luck. What trim level is it? I know it comes with a warranty, so service shouldn't be an issue for a while, but do you have an FD mechanic somewhat local. If you do, it might be a good thing to get it checked by someone before buying. If you buy the car PM me and I can give you some good (I and many FD owners think) advice on reliability work that should be done to the car. BTW, is this going to be a daily driver?

Yes monetgo blue is an awosome color. Lots of ppl think its green...but its not :)

BTW all FDs were twin turbo.

That mileage is insanely low. And the price is very good for the miles. Buy it in a hearbeat. If you dont fool=you.

Yeah, the blue looks exactly the same as your 8 Elara.

Lawrence is right, the price is right for the car with that mileage. But please have the car's compression and boost pattern checked. Even low mileage FD's can have issues, and there could be legitimate reasons not to make an FD a daily driver at any price. I bought mine thinking it would be. Now, I wouldn't dream of having a daily driven FD. The one factor that would make me feel comfortable buying this vehicle is the warranty. Just make sure that warranty has no wiggle room and is comprehensive. Also who performs the warranty work is important as well. If the car is fixed free, but consistently sits in a shop and when it is returned to you things are still wrong--what good is the warranty. Like I said good luck. I searched about 8 months when I bought my R-1, so perhaps I could give some decent advice.

Ahhh, so it IS the Montego Blue. The pictures of it aren't very good, and we didn't know if there was another blue color that year. The montego blue color is what made me pick the Nordic green on my 8.

Originally posted by Senseny
Lawrence is right, the price is right for the car with that mileage. But please have the car's compression and boost pattern checked. Even low mileage FD's can have issues, and there could be legitimate reasons not to make an FD a daily driver at any price. I bought mine thinking it would be. Now, I wouldn't dream of having a daily driven FD. The one factor that would make me feel comfortable buying this vehicle is the warranty. Just make sure that warranty has no wiggle room and is comprehensive. Also who performs the warranty work is important as well. If the car is fixed free, but consistently sits in a shop and when it is returned to you things are still wrong--what good is the warranty. Like I said good luck. I searched about 8 months when I bought my R-1, so perhaps I could give some decent advice.

And the stuff you guys are bringing up are why we're hesitating. It wouldn't be driven all the time, but for the most part, it would be my husband's daily driver, alternating with my 8. The warranty is what's really got us hopeful on this- but finding a qualified rotary mechanic has me worried, too. Ugh. Well, I guess we'll see what happens. If I can wait 8 more days, if it's still there, I get it for only $17 (employee discount)- so maybe we'll wait. And if it's meant to be, it'll still be there.

Originally posted by Elara
I've got the chance to buy a 1995 RX-7 with 22k ORIGINAL miles, and a 3 year/36k mille warranty, for $20k. Anyone have any good pictures of the blue that they came in that year? I just don't know enough about the RX-7 colors to have any idea what it might look like.

DA-YUM, Elara! I'm jealous!

I hope it works out, if you and Steve decide it's what you want!

Originally posted by jtimbck2
DA-YUM, Elara! I'm jealous!

I hope it works out, if you and Steve decide it's what you want!

Still trying to convince him-I can't even tell you how badly I want this car- I'm considering offering him the 8 if he doesn't want the 7, and I'll drive it.

Originally posted by Elara
Still trying to convince him-I can't even tell you how badly I want this car- I'm considering offering him the 8 if he doesn't want the 7, and I'll drive it.

How can he refuse such a beautiful car?!?! I'll buy it. LOL

there are a few rotary shops up here in northern VA, as well as one down at VA/NC border (I think McNair Motorsport is their name...)

Originally posted by Elara
If I can wait 8 more days, if it's still there, I get it for only $17 (employee discount)-

that's a nice discount!! can you get me that kinda discount on a Mazda6 hatch?:)

I really wouldn't recommend an FD for a daily driver. I wouldn't recommend any 10-year-old twin turbo car for a daily driver. Yeah, I know some people do it, but for most people I think it's too finicky and requires too much time/money/attention.

Sure, some FDs are trouble-free, but if you're going to buy this car, you have to seriously consider the possibility of having a bunch of little gremlins you'll need to often be taking care of. Like in a couple of months if you start getting a weird boost pattern or a funny idle what are you going to do? If you take it to a dealership, they will probably be pretty clueless and might even mess up your car worse. Most *good* rotary shops usually have a wait to get any work done, and you might not be able to use your warranty at one of these independant shops.

I'm not trying to scare you away, I think FDs are great cars, but you need to realize what could be involved in owning one. It's not like owning a Miata. If I were going to get another FD and daily drive it, I would make sure that it was totally stock and never had any mods, had good compression and a proper boost pattern. Then I would do all the so-called "reliability mods", including silicone hoses, downpipe, boost/water temp gagues, aluminuim AST, Fluidyne radiator, etc...

Good luck with whatever happens!

Originally posted by zoom44
that's a nice discount!! can you get me that kinda discount on a Mazda6 hatch?:)

I meant 17k :P

Originally posted by m477
I really wouldn't recommend an FD for a daily driver. I wouldn't recommend any 10-year-old twin turbo car for a daily driver. Yeah, I know some people do it, but for most people I think it's too finicky and requires too much time/money/attention.

Sure, some FDs are trouble-free, but if you're going to buy this car, you have to seriously consider the possibility of having a bunch of little gremlins you'll need to often be taking care of. Like in a couple of months if you start getting a weird boost pattern or a funny idle what are you going to do? If you take it to a dealership, they will probably be pretty clueless and might even mess up your car worse. Most *good* rotary shops usually have a wait to get any work done, and you might not be able to use your warranty at one of these independant shops.

I'm not trying to scare you away, I think FDs are great cars, but you need to realize what could be involved in owning one. It's not like owning a Miata. If I were going to get another FD and daily drive it, I would make sure that it was totally stock and never had any mods, had good compression and a proper boost pattern. Then I would do all the so-called "reliability mods", including silicone hoses, downpipe, boost/water temp gagues, aluminuim AST, Fluidyne radiator, etc...

Good luck with whatever happens!


This is the only reason we're still waffling on this. There's always the possiblity it could nickel and dime us to death.

Well, the carfax report checks out...http://www.carfax.com/cfm/FSBO.cfm?report=CFX000006629214 .....argh!!!

This is so hard...

Elara, I know the feeling. You are probably almost hoping something is really wrong with the car so the decision will be easy. If the warranty is good, the FD won't nickle and dime you until after the warranty expires, so don't worry about that too much. Extended time in the shop and finding a competent hand with the twin turbo rotary is a more pressing issue IMO.
I overall agree with M477.
A true sports car purchase (esp used) is a decision that is usually not made with the head, it is much more of a gut purchase. If you can live with the quirks, not count on driving the car every single day, and give the car the attention it needs, I say go for it. I know this much, you will always regret NOT getting this car if it gets away from you.
Once again, best of luck. Do a search for Rob Robinette's third gen site. It is a great resource for anyone interested in purchasing a third gen.

Originally posted by m477
I really wouldn't recommend an FD for a daily driver. I wouldn't recommend any 10-year-old twin turbo car for a daily driver. Yeah, I know some people do it, but for most people I think it's too finicky and requires too much time/money/attention.

Sure, some FDs are trouble-free, but if you're going to buy this car, you have to seriously consider the possibility of having a bunch of little gremlins you'll need to often be taking care of. Like in a couple of months if you start getting a weird boost pattern or a funny idle what are you going to do? If you take it to a dealership, they will probably be pretty clueless and might even mess up your car worse. Most *good* rotary shops usually have a wait to get any work done, and you might not be able to use your warranty at one of these independant shops.

I'm not trying to scare you away, I think FDs are great cars, but you need to realize what could be involved in owning one. It's not like owning a Miata. If I were going to get another FD and daily drive it, I would make sure that it was totally stock and never had any mods, had good compression and a proper boost pattern. Then I would do all the so-called "reliability mods", including silicone hoses, downpipe, boost/water temp gagues, aluminuim AST, Fluidyne radiator, etc...

Good luck with whatever happens!

Best advice to date.

I just got one and its midly modded with most of it being the reliability mods. I'm still working on what else is on the car because I don't want the damn thing to break down on me when I least want it (its my daily driver for now).

And he's right, its no daily driver and petrol is expensive.

Well, it may be a moot point- it looks like it has been sold, which, in the end, is a good thing- having bought the 8 and a new house in the past 8 months, and owning almost no furniture, we really don't need to be spending money on and tinkering around with another car right now...*sniff*

(can you tell we've been trying to convince ourselves we really don't want it...it's not working)

Originally posted by Elara
Well, it may be a moot point- it looks like it has been sold, which, in the end, is a good thing- having bought the 8 and a new house in the past 8 months, and owning almost no furniture, we really don't need to be spending money on and tinkering around with another car right now...*sniff*

(can you tell we've been trying to convince ourselves we really don't want it...it's not working)

:eek: :(

Well, that's too bad, but have you considered a Miata? I know it might not sound very exciting compared to an FD, but I think that they are one of the most fun to drive cars for any price, and one of the most underrated cars out there. It wasn't until I actually drove one that I realised what great cars they are. Plus, they are generally bulletproof and you could find a really pristine one for well under $17k. Anyway, just a thought...

i'm sorry to hear that its been sold. too bad. i wouldn't mind having no furniture as long as i can keep both in the garage. sleeping on the floor is good for your back anyway.

Elara,

if you have a chance to get a 95 rx-7 for 20k (hopefully the 5 speed) you are crazy not to get it. only 595 made.

while Montego Blue is one of the ugliest colors (often refered to as Montego Puke), the car itself is rare.

I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Since it'sbeen sold anyway, before we were able to get it transferred, it's all a moot point. Not that we wouldn't have done it, but it would have been pretty stupid of us. If we could buy it outright, sure. But it would have eaten most of our savings, and we'd still have a monthly payment for a few years. And we'd have no way to get around if it snowed. And only one car that could be relied upon as a daily driver when we both need one.

And the Miata is definitely on the list, as a fun car- but that will be my second car in addition to whatever else I'm driving at the time. I've always wanted one, but we have to have at least one practical car that can be driven in all weather (yes, I know I can get snow tires- but I feel safer in something other than the 8 when it's nasty out). Maybe in our next house, when we have a three car garage :)

I still want an RX-7, but we need a little more knowledge about rotary engines, the time to make sure the car is cared for properly, and the money to do so. There is just no way we could justify this right now, cost, time, or otherwise- anyway, not fair to someone who could really appreciate and love the car for some newbie like me to get it. I'm kinda glad the decision was made for us, because otherwise, it'd be on it's way home with me.

Elara, I am sorry the 7 didn't work out for you. But, all these people just saying "go ahead and buy it because its a good deal." don't seem to understand that you seem to need some qualities from your second car that an FD wouldn't be able to deliver. For now you are probably better off without. But, there will be other deals available (maybe I will tell you first when my FD goes on the block).
As far as 13B-REW rotary newbieness (is that a word) goes, we were all newbs at one point. Just do your research, learn and try to do the right things with the car--and hopefully you won't blow up any engines J/K. Trust me, you would appreciate the car--you already appreciate the Rx8!

I know the feeling too believe me.

I went through it with the RX7 I have now.
Its not an FD, but its a Turbo II (FC). I know they dont have some of the issues that the FD has.

But if you take care of the car and do RELIABILITY mods than they make fine daily drivers.
Check out this link for info on buying a used FD and other great info (http://www.rx7turboturbo.com/robrobinette/buyaused.htm).

Also go to rx7club.com for great info.

And remember this car was released with the intention of being a daily driver for many people. Its not some crazy exotic automobile (ok, well it is in a way) like a v12 ferrari.
There are many many many great rotary mechanics all around the USA. I know there are several where I live in FL. And there is a list of approved rotary mechaincs over at rx7club.com.

I say go for it, you dont get many oppurtunities like this :)

*edit* didnt read your post. Oh well dont worry about it.
There are lots of other cars out there that are just as fun.

Lawrence, you say that an FD can be a reliable daily driver, but the answer to that question in the Robinette link is "THESE CARS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR RELIABILITY and are absolutely scary in any amount of snow". It goes on to completely say the opposite of the assertion that the car makes a good daily driver.
Since the car performs as well as almost any of the exotics produced at the same time, I would say it is almost like owning a Ferrari. Only there are LESS qualified mechanics. You are lucky to be in FL where there are several and I am lucky to be within an hour and a half of two different shops I could trust. But there are not tons of mechanics that can fit the bill for the FD.

Yea I know there are not tons, but im pretty sure there is a good rotary tech in at least 48 of the 50 states.

And was also aware of what the link said.
That being said I know people who daily drive FDs.
One of my friends has a stock one---only realibility mods done to it.
And another has a 350rwhp FD that is DAILY driven (its his only car). These cars can be realiable and I hate the myth that people think its impossible.
FYI the last iterations of the RX7 in japan had all of the heating, ecu and turbo issues worked out. They are pretty darn reliable.

You have to take extra specail care that is all.


And like I said my 7 is daily driven and it makes a good amount of HP more than stock. Of course it doesnt have the complex twin turbos and the FCs had a better ECU. But if I could afford the initial cost of an FD its not as hard as people think to keep one running properly..

Haynes is your friend lover and lifetime partner with these cars.

I know people as well who daily drive them. I just don't think it is the norm, nor do I think it met Elara's needs (from what she said in her posts). I agree after reliability mods the car is a better daily driver, but even those mods are not cheap, nor are they anything close to guarantees. I would get a newer, cheaper car and get some furniture if I was her. There are good rotary techs in her state-Peter Farrell Supercars at least-but that doesn't mean they are close.
BTW, I would LOVE to get my hands on a Japanese later model Rx7. They are far superior cars to the ones that were imported. Just not a very easy car to make street legal here.

I use to own a 1993 Montego Blue Automatic; it was my daily driver and I took it to college with me as a freshman and sophomore. I had added downpipe and intake which is good for 20HP easy on those turbo charged cars. I ran mid 14s all day before the mods (and thats with the auto). I never really had any problems out of it--it had 80,000 mile on the odo when I lost it in Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. The major reliability mods are replacing the vacuume hoses, downpipe, and a larger radiator. Heat is the 3rd gens arch enemy--also a turbo timer is a good idea.