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Need Advice on a Used Car

T

timmyG

Senior member
i need to get a used car soon, and i was wondering how good mazda rx-7s are. im not sure about the reliability and i dont want a car that i gotta fix. i would be lookin for something used < $5000. the car only has to go around town mostly, but i want a car that is sort of unique. any suggestions on any used cars would be appreciated. this will be my first car btw. i am getting my lisence at the end of next month so keep that in mind. im not one of those fool new drivers.

also i was checkin out pontiac firebirds but i know little about them or other cars.

please post any suggestions you have.
 
Hey. I don't own an RX-7, but I've been looking at them. It seems to me that if you want a car that you don't have to work on, and RX-7 is a bad idea. They have a rotary engine that many places won't service and they often need some TLC. On the other hand, they look great, have good power and get good milage. Good Luck.

Will
 
unique, under 5k and reliable are pretty much self exclusive. Please pick 2 of the 3 😀 Seriously I don't think their reliability is that bad, then again I do't think any cars is that bad, but you're looking at potential headaches if something were to happy with its rotary engine.

If I were you I'd look for a late 80's, to early 90's turbocharged chrysler, plymouth, or dodge car. They are solid as a rock, fast, and cheap. They aren't all so unique but there were some numbered models by Carol Shelby and some R/T editions of the cars.
 
The RX-7 actually gets fairly crappy mileage. Forget about the RX-7 if you want/need something reliable.

Soybomb's right, as usual. Unique, cheap, and reliable aren't gonna happen at the same time, so pick the two most important. Though far from unique, you can get a pretty nice 92-93 Accord for $5000. Try to find a 2-door, they're not as common. Get one that's in excellent shape (not hard to find, since so many people LOVE their Hondas) and keep it that way, and it will go past well past 200,000 miles, with few trips to the dealership. <mini-rant> Don't let cheap-ass chain type places near a Honda, they don't use genuine parts, and in my experience can't fix anything right the first time, costing extra money. </mini-rant>

You're getting your license in one month. How old are you, around 16? Liability insurance will cost a lot in any car, and any sporty car, particularly with a V8 or turbo, will cost a lot more. Keep that in mind. If you're footing the bill, you won't want to work extra hours just to afford the extra insurance.
 
You might consider a '89+ Eclipse or Talon, a Nissan 240SX or 300ZX (older model), or a Toyota Celica.. they are all fairly reliable, cheap, and look sporty..

As for the RX-7 I would say avoid it, older ones often have leaky or malfunctioning Apex seals around the Rotary engine and that can mean lots of $$$ when it decides to go poof.. but otherwise they have good gas mileage (who said they didn't because I'm pretty sure they do) and power but the quirkiness of the Wankel Rotary Engine it uses is just enough to make a person think twice before owning one..

You might consider European.. I have an '86 Saab 900 I bought for $800 from a friend and I haven't had a single problem on it to date with regular oil changes and all that, plus it still gets looks all the time..
 
Hmm, a male, and your just getting your license. You might want to look at the insurance for theses coupes and other sporty cars. Then after you marinate on that, consider a 90-93 Accord, or perhaps a 93+ Nissan Altima.
 
thanks for the advice. i am really trying to avoid the acoord/civic/camry type cars though even thougb i know they are good cars. i will check out some of those cars mentioned. thanks for your help. feel free to post any more suggestions.
 
Any of the 80s rwd, boxy, V8 🙂, bigger domestics( not mustangs/camaros) will normally have low insurance but still have enough power to be fun. Things like t-birds, cutlass, ltds, furys, monte carlos, crown vics, blah blah blah there are a bunch 🙂. Most are really cheap even the ones in real good shape and most are atleast fairly reliable and if something does go wrong parts are cheap and junkyards have hundreds of them.
 
i'd go with a late 80's or early 90's honda or toyota... the honda's go on and on.. I have one with almost 200K miles on it.. no major problems.
 
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