Ryan2949

So I have 4,000 dollars cash and I am interested in two cars. Let me give you details on both.

Rx7
$4,500
-1991.
-95,000kms (less than 60,000 miles for some of you 'mericans).
-Everything is original, paint is in amazing shape, tires have probably 90+% tread left, brakes were just changed.
-Not a single spec of rust (we have four-five months of winter up here in Northern Ontario)
-Garage kept, never driven in winter.
-Rotaries sound incredible to me.
-Possible 20b swap when I graduate college and have money.

-Incredibly bad on gas. Something like 15-18MPG city and 24-26MPG highway.
-Not the fastest car out there weighing in at 1250kg with 160HP.
-I'm not familiar with them to be honest, so I don't know where I could find aftermarket parts.
-Aftermarket parts are more expensive than on the Miata.



Miata
$4,250
-1992.
-Lightweight.
-Convertible.
-Comes with matching hardtop.
-Pretty great on gas, especially compared to the RX7.
-Yellow (I have never seen a yellow Miata).
-Lots of aftermarket support and affordable.

-213,000kms (132,000 miles)
-1.6L I would have preferred a 94-97 for the 1.8.
-Going to be even worse in the winter even with winter tires because of ~950kg's
-Needs A/C recharge
-Has been repainted 3 years ago (could be a good thing as well)




-Both have a 0-60 in around 8 seconds.
-I will most likely buy a LSD for both for help with winters.
-I will have to buy a set of winter tires for both.

I'm going to offer both of them $4,000.

Dreaming_S2k

Going with Miata. I love the RX7 but from what it sounds like the Miata is the smarter purchase. Better gas mileage + reliability wins on this one imo.

Ryan2949

Rotories are actually pretty reliable when maintained, which I do plan on doing. Owner said he's had the car for the past 10 years and has done 20,000kms since then and has only drove 500kms this year. He's selling the car to buy a bike. The gas mileage isn't THAT much of an issue because I will be 4 kms from my college, a walk from the mall but 300kms (one way) away from family, but that's all highway.

The Miata is the smarter purchase, I dig the color, it comes with a hardtop for winters but I just think 213,000kms is a lot, even though i know Miatas can go for 200,000 miles(but so can these RX7's)

rockville

The only advantage to the RX7 would be cargo space. If you want a LSD for winter get the viscous LSD, not the later Torsen. The Torsen is too aggressive for icy/slick conditions. The rear end of the car shifts side to side very quickly while the VLSD allows each wheel more freedom to move but still keeps some power heading to each wheel. I'm not in love with THAT Miata for $4k but if it's well maintained it shouldn't be a bad car. The mileage doesn't worry me at all. I would only be concerned about age related failures but the FC is just as old.

Ryan2949

Let me also point out I haven't seen this Miata in person yet because it's located in Toronto and that's 4 hours south of me. The rx7 however, ive seen in person a few times because it's only a 10km drive. So I forgot to add an extra hundred or so to pick the Miata up if it's in good shape of course.

I wasn't expecting this to be so one-sided. This is the best deal for a Miata ive seen in the Ontario kijiji.

Just checked KBB even though it's sorta pointless because it's American, but that Miata should be worth 2,200. But for in Ontario 2,500 will get you Miatas with rusted rocker panels, 200000kms+, torn tops. If I could get that Miata certified for 3,500 I'll buy it for sure.

Ferrari812

Neither, get a CRX.

2wheelsmoker

If you're just looking for a fun commuter and don't care too much about the extra gas, I'd get the NA RX-7. I had an '88 and it was bulletproof aside from the fuel pulsation dampener needing to be changed (engine fires if faulty). The car wasn't pushed hard but ran reliably. I bought it for $1,500 and then sold it for $1,000 three years later. There was nothing wrong with it but I had other cars by then and couldn't justify paying insurance and registration on a car a barely used.

2wheelsmoker

Also, I went early 90's Miata shopping with a friend who was looking to buy one and none of them impressed me. They weren't bad cars but I feel the quality is nowhere close to the RX-7 and the stock performance of the Miata left something to be desired when driving on the streets. He eventually bought one and it turned out to be a nice little car. But personally I wouldn't pick one up unless I was going to make it a track car. I think commuting and using it as a DD would be a PITA.

TheDonEffect

Yeah the na fcs are reliable, knew a couple of folks who dded the heck out of them and got past or near 200k on the original motor. I do understand the appeal of the fc, but my brain goes with the na, but i understand ur dilemma.

Ryan2949

That's actually another option, but I'm very, very picky with CRX's. There's a stock 1989 SI for sale with 3 sets of wheels, none of which are ricey, he installed power windows and it's only got 114,000kms.

I'm under my parents insurance because I have 8 points on my license and will only pay around 80 a month. This car honestly looks new.

I will be doing track days in the distant future (2-4 years) and plan on either swapping a turbo II engine or a 20b into the RX7 when I graduate college and have a nice job and with the Miata I plan on turboing or may consider a 20b swap in that. I f@#king love the 20b engine, as you may have noticed.