Really need some advice on my 86 RX-7!!!

Hello everyone. I am new here, and have been reading ver several if the messages posted in the RX-7 forum. There is obviously a great amount of knowledge floating around, so I figured Id ask for some advice on this one...here goes...


Im 16, soon going on 17, and I am going to treat myself to a 1986 Mazda RX-7 for my birthday. I am buying it from a close neighbor, whos currently asking 1,000...but he told me my price was 700. Currently the car is NOT running, due to a bad alternator. Heres the problems...

Bad alternator
Bad clutch
Many holes in muffler
Sad interior
Floods as do most all aging rotary engines

From a standpoint this is all I know of the car, and this is all he has informed me. The car has been sitting for almost a year now, and has 150,000 miles on it. Using what little knowledge I have on these cars...it seems best to have a rebuild. I have no clue what this will cost me...??

Can anyone please give me any info on this car and what needs o be done? I dont know if i should fix whats wrong now and drive it until I have the money for the rebuild or just wait it out and do everything at once.

Thank you

PS - what would insurance run on one of these? Liability only I suppose.

if it still can run, run it until it dies for real.
rebuilds cost alot

Well thats exactly what I would do but its not running. In order for me to be able to run it until rebuild is a last resort Im going to have to have a new clutch installed, rebuild the alternator, and place new bearings on the gear shift. Thats a good 200 bucks at least.

Don't buy it, especially if it hasn't been driven for a year. I have an '87 rx7 with 250,000 miles and i love my car, but if that car only has 150000 miles on it and it has that many problems its not worth it. Obviously it was not well taken care of and there might even be some underlying problems you or even the seller might not know about. I bought mine for 900 and it has a rebuilt engine and was moderately well taken care of. Just take your time and look for a better deal. Rebuilds can easily reach $2000.

BTW: I am also 16, and bought from a close neighbor. Insurance is around $130 for me only with comprehensive. If you do buy it and get a rebuild, make sure you TAKE CARE OF IT. Check the oil every time you fill up on gas and make sure you warm it up for several minutes after you start it up and also let it cool down before you shut it off. Rotory engines burn oil every time you start them up and warm up is a very important aspect. Don't let your dad or anyone else tell you that's unnessecary. If you follow these basic guidlines, your car should last you a long time.

my car has 150,000 miles and its taking a dump i have spent over $1000 in like a month and the car still runs like crap. last time i checked the car couldnt even out run a stock 91 integra, my next step will be save up for a turbo swap or just admit my defeat with this RX7, and buy a 240 sx i saw near my house. and if you want a good clutch the price will provably reach $300 or more. my opinion buy a cheap piston engine and save up $ then buy the RX7 you want (I would not recomend an RX7 with my experiences)

Just because you bought a lemon doesnt mean that others should not get their feer wet with the RX-7.

Speaking of lemons, every car I had ever owned seemed to be one untill I bought my t2 and it was the most reliable car that I have ever owned. As for my current Gxl the only problem I've got with it is a bad wiring harness and thats about an hour job to fix. So if I were you I would try it out, its not like the car can't be fixed if it isn't running right now.

Ask a lower price for it, mine was only 500 and it ran and had fewer things to replace.

a buddy of mine had a problem like this, he ordered a new 13b turbo from a site and installed it himself, well himself, me, and some guy.

Bad alternator
Bad clutch
Many holes in muffler
Sad interior
Floods as do most all aging rotary engines



$700? How do you know the alternator and clutch are bad? What are the symptoms?

Flooding? I would install a cutoff switch and keep going.

That's too much money for a car with that many problems that isn't even running...

Thanks guys...I thought all along 700 was too high of an asking price for a non-running car. He admited the alternator was bad and the clutch would bite the dust soon. What would be a fair asking price for this car? And yes...after the rebuild an inline switch would be a first proirity.