VagaBond-X

aight I still have my '99 pro LX touring edition on hand, but its my parents car, so ima need to buy a new car for use when they have the car, and school use.
so far I've seen a few really cheap solutions, I'm also on a tight tight budget, so here they are

1985 RX-7 $800
-218,000KM
-has nothing on model detail (I'd take it if it was a GSL-SE)



1989 Mazda MX6 GT $700
-its the turboed MX6
-don't know about mileage
-body kinda needs work



1990 Mazda MX6 LX $700
-non-turbo
-200,000km
-body looks pretty alrite



These are canadian prices
I still have to call the owners, but first I wanted to see which ones you guys think I should take

All the cars have a 5 spd manual tranny.

So any suggestions on which one I should choose,
Or if you have any cars for sale in the Toronto, Ontario area for around $500-$800 Post a pic and I'll consider them too

nramsey

As someone once told me, for less than $1000 pretty much anything that starts, runs, doesn't overheat, and don't have holes in the floor will be worth it...and that's US prices.

I'd probably go for the RX7, just cause they are cool, rotary, and rear wheel drive. I'd probably get someone familiar with rotaries to give it a checkup though as used and rebuilt motors can get spendy.

JJB

seeing as you are on a tight budget and looking for basic transportation I would go for the non-turbo, non-rotary option. More parts available if it breaks, less stuff to break... just my $0.02.

VagaBond-X

ye I was thinking of the rx-7

but then i was thinking of my tight budget, so it would be easier to repair the non-turboed, and non rotary.

but then again I know a fair bit about the rotary, and I can almost perform a full rebuild of a rotary engine myself, ALMOST that is!!! its cuz I did a huge research paper on rotary engines for my auto class, and got 2 people that live near me, both with rx-7s one 3rd gen, other 1st gen, to show me around the engine and stuff.

I was also thinking that after school and stuff, I could make the rx-7 a project car for me, and do a complete restoration of it!
it would be the first car I bought with my own money, a 1st gen rx7, and i would always keep it. The restoration would take place after i've gotten my 3rd gen rx-7 HEHE I would definately take this if it is a GSL-SE

and for the turbo MX6 GT, its for the same price as the other MX6 LX just more powerful and faster hehe, i heard someone took there turbo MX6 to 140mph, can't remember where i heard it tho, the normal MX6 LX has a cut off at 125mph I think


but thanks for the input nramsey and JJB, i appreciate it, and nramsey I'll take the advice into consideration,

keep the opinions coming, and thanks in advance


EDIT : Even though I'm young, I know quite allot about engines and stuff, so I can get around!
as soon as i take one for a test drive, I'll push it as hard as i can, redline and all, then i would take it normal and see how smooth it runs.

pantherES

I agree here. On a budget to begin with, the last thing you need is to rebuild a rotary or turbo.

VagaBond-X

Also my dad can help me out on the rebuild

we both are about to rebuld an old 1985 626 engine, his first car in canada, but he'll take that

so he can help me out if i ever need to rebuild a rotary engine, even tho he doesn't know nething about it, I can slowly teach him about rotary engines

HS8

ehehhe, rotary engines are hard to rebuild, only a few people can do those things. Yes even tho it only have 3 moving parts, it's still hard.

carguycw

My opinion? RX-7. I've always loved the 1st-gen RX-7. Yeah, they have problems- expensive rotary engine, ****-poor rear suspension geometry, solid rear axle- but I've always loved the wonderful, solid, RWD simplicity of these vehicles. It's a MUCH easier car to work on than any FWD car I've ever owned, and very enjoyable to drive if you like oversteer, and lots of it They're also dirt cheap to fix and modify, so long as you don't mess with engine internals. It's a fun little toy, whereas the MX-6 is just another dated FWD coupe.

Also, the car in the pic is NOT a GSL-SE; every GSL-SE had a sunroof (and a whole bunch of other fancy options). Actually, despite the fact that they have lower horsepower, the non-SE RX-7's have some advantages- no hard-to-find, expensive, SE-only parts (i.e. the brakes and entire rear axle assembly), lighter weight, and they're also MUCH less likely to have power steering. P/S is IMHO very, very bad on a 1st-gen RX-7 because these cars have loose steering to begin with because of their antiquated RX-3 recirculating ball steering system; P/S erases every last bit of steering feel these cars have, and makes the steering feel like a Buick. Also, non-sunroof RX-7's (like the one in the pic) have a lot more headroom than sunroof cars, which is important if you're tall.

This car also has aftermarket wheels, which is a nice plus because they're almost impossible to find for a 1st-gen non-SE because of their oddball 4x110mm bolt pattern (SE's have a much more common 4x114.3mm pattern). I say go for it. I've owned 2 1st-gen RX-7's, and I might have to get another one someday.

VagaBond-X

Cool thanks allot carguycw...you've definately pushed me into the direction of the rx-7

I was thinking ye why not, RX-7 my Fav car, why not get the 1st gen as my first car, get a 2nd gen as my second car, and later on in life get my 3rd gen.

cool I'll have every gen, and if they do make a 4th gen, which i hope, will have the rx-8 engine with the rx-7 looks, I'll get that too, and put in a twin turbo hehe.

Also the rx-7 comes with 4 extra wheels (maybe the stock ones) and 2 extra bucket seats, i forgot to mention those, seems like a good deal, ima phone the guy today to make sure the engine is nice and running, and see what problems there might be, and why he selling.

The only problem is the guy lives close to 100km away from me, so i have to find a weekend, that i'm not working and drive down there with my dad, one trip, check it out, buy it, and I'll let my dad drive the RX-7 back

let my dad take the first spin in it hehe, I know he'll max it out down the highway lol, and he'll probably turn at an intersection coming at it almost at max speed, lol

but still thanks for your thought carguycw, and your opinions on the car,

and thanks everyone else on your opinions for my budget, and stuff like that

Gro Harlem, i think i'll stay away from a festiva for now hehe!.

maybe i can bargain the guy down a bit from $800 down a few hundred bucks, but I'll take it at $800

also this budget thing is just for now, from after i get the budget car, i won't be on a budget hehe, I just want a cheap good car for now, and then I'm saving for my 2nd gen, which i might be able to get by the end of the year, or by next summer for sure.

and if you guys want, I can keep you all updated on the status of the rx-7, seeing if i'm gonna get it and stuff.

if neone still has some good opinions, please feel free to post them