so far i found two cars currently available that seem like good candiates for daily drivers to keep miles off my incoming car.

car #1, '85 Honda Civic, 193K

1985 Honda Civic 1500S - $650, w/o race tires (dont need 'em)

Great local H-Stock car, CSP, or Rallycross project. Proven local autocross class winner. 4th place car at the 2001 Petersburg ProSolo. VMSC 2001 HS Virginia State Championship car. Modifications include: Tokico Illumina adjustable struts, MSD ignition coil, Carbon Metallic brake pads, K&N filter, and six extra wheels with BFG Comp T/A R1 race rubber, (4)215-50 13's and (2) pretty worn 185-60 13's, as well as the 4 steel wheels with street tires. Car is extremely easy on tires. It is ready to run right now, but could use a little TLC. Needs a brake booster, and insulator plate for the carburetor. Engine, clutch, brake pads, etc. were repaired or replaced two years ago. Car is still running well and it's quite a sleeper. Has A/C but needs belt and freon to blow cold again. Could be used as a daily driver if necessary.

Car #2 - '83 RX7

needs new front rotors and pads and an inspection (easy)
85,371Mi.
Mechanically sound, runs, drives
Original 12A engine
5 Speed manual trans.
4 wheel disc brakes
Original metallic gray paint still ok except for some fading on hood and roof
Damaged right front fender, dent on hood and rear panel
No rust except some surface rust where fender is damaged
Carpet is good
Some interior trim panels are faded
Leather seats, but leather is bad on seat bottoms
Vinyl on upper door panels cracked and chipped
Removable sunroof
Air Conditioning - removed but still have parts.
Cruise Control
Power Windows
Power Mirrors
OEM digital cassette stereo W/graphic equalizer
Nice Mazda RX-7 bra and custom fit car cover

motor is strong, has new plugs and wires,

What do y'all think? Good? Bad? Ugly?

-Ryan

 

The Civic sounds like it's got a well documented history. That's always a plus. Is the owner a regular autocrosser? It's been for sale for while (I've seen the ad before)- is there a reason?

RX-7s are fun. Run a compression test before buying - rebuilds are about $2000 and only a few guys can do them well. I have 2.5 RX-7s and love 'em. Mazda sells parts at deep discounts to competitors, so this is a bonus. Add a Spec RX-7 package and you have a very capable, reliable, inexpensive track car.

 

HONDUH without a doubt

 

I know that Civic you mention and it's a good car for the money. Not perfect, but a great beater as far as I know. That would be my personal choice, specifically because I know its last two owners.

As for the RX-7, take Al's advice and do a proper 'rotary specific' compression test before anything else. Rotaries are not like piston motors... and I have been down that road more than once, with mixed results (one blown apex seal after 5k miles in what is now Stephen Harper's brown NASA SRX7 '84 RX-7 racecar, and more than a few vacuum/carb/electrical issues in a nasty old orange '79 RX-7 that was headed toward being an ITA car but fell about $15k short of completion...)

Also, rotaries definitely don't like to sit for very long, so I would worry about that low mileage. Check the hell out of the vacuum lines for any sign of cracks or other extreme wear. You will drive yourself crazy trying to track down which one of the 100+ small hoses (each one less than $1 to replace) is causing your particular problem, whether it's no idle or high idle or misfire at 3472rpm only under 64.71% throttle or etc...

Anyway, back to the point - my advice: get the Civic.

Jon
former owner: 79 RX-7, 84 RX-7, 87 CRX Si... the Honda was the best by far

 

Much as I've always liked the original RX-7...I think that Civic is a nobrainer. How much is the Mazda?

--Karl, who is out of garage space.

 

The asking price on the mazda is $850. Not sure how low he'll go on it. The guy says he has gone through and replaced most of the vacuum seals on the engine, and the previous owner kept a full maintenance history, and that he has owned other 7's and this one runs strong. I'm gonna go take a look at it this weekend - i'm a sucker for rx7's....

can any mazda dealer do a compression test on the car? I know the inherent dangers of buying a used rx7.....

-Ryan

 

Well, if you don't buy the 1500S, let me know, and I'll buy it!!!!