Not Your Typical Internet Car Purchase Story

"McMike" (mcmike) 09/14/2016 at 18:07 • Filed to: FD, RX7, tutu153

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Update : The hood release is broken, third gear is hard to find quickly, tach doesn’t work, needs motor mounts, and the climate temp knob spins freely and puts out warm air.

It’s a turbo, but since the hood won’t open I don’t have any photos to identify what’s been modified. “Stock fuel pump” is written on one of the boxes, as well as “stock radiator hoses,” so I’m guessing those two have been updated. Not sure if these ever had a blow off valve or not. This one does.

It’s clean, but the paint on the front bumper/headlights is a little rough.

...and it chirps second.

Pro tip: If you take an old license plate and make it look like it was on the car during a sloppy paint job, you can’t see the expiration dates on the stickers.

It’s pretty good that this, tho.

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I get a call from Ginger, my 30 year old neighbor shortly before 9:00PM last night. He asks if I’m still awake. I paused for a second and told him that in spite of being 47 I was suprisingly able to summon up enough energy to go outside and open a beer with our other neighbors, but thanks for asking..

He says he needs a ride home, as he’s currently walking home from a few miles away. I ask what happened, and he said he would explain when I picked him up. I figure it was car trouble and he was desperate, since I’m probably at least the fourth or fifth person he would call for something like this.

Because of the sleeping comment, and the fact that I was only half-way through my beer, I decided I was going to finish my beer/conversation before I went to go get him.

As I was walking across the street to get my keys/wallet 10 minutes later, his wife/nanny/kids come home. I say hi, and mention that I’m getting ready to go pick up her husband. She rolls her eyes and said. “Where is he?” I told her where he was walking, she sent the kids/nanny inside, and she went off to get him.

Now off the hook, I went back across the street, opened another beer, and continued hanging out.

10 minutes later, they get home. She walks inside, and he walks across the street, briefcase in hand, shaking his head.

Ginger has a friend in the military that is currently deployed, and G.I. wanted Ginger to pick up a car he was getting ready to purchase in Maryland (30-40 min away) Ginger said yes, G.I. sent Ginger a cashier’s check, and he went after work today to go pick it up.

Right away, this story is starting to sound like a bad craigslist episode. We keep listening.

GI just bought a FD RX7 sight unseen online, and it came with a “box of parts” Ginger (who is not a car guy at all) was expecting a box, not a pile of bulky parts. He didn’t think there was any way to fit all this crap in the car, but the seller managed to squeeze it all in there.

Then come the pre-flight instructions from the seller. The instructions included hits like, “Make sure you really slam the door, it sometimes doesn’t close,” “If it starts to run poorly in traffic, just rev it to keep it running.” etc…

Before taking off, Ginger asks if the AC works. Nope.

Before taking off, Ginger asks if the car has license plates. Nope.

Ginger (who probably has never purchased a private party car) is now pissed and asks “How am I supposed to get this thing home?” The seller hands him a piece of paper to put in the window that says “IN TRANSIT.” Ginger laughs at the suggestion, and decided to take his chances anyways, since he used public transportation/UBER to get to the seller’s home.

He got the car most of the way home in sweaty rush hour traffic with a bad idle, open registration, and no license plates. Then at dusk he realized the pop-up headlights don’t open, so now he’s driving home in the dark with no lights, a bad idle, open registration and no license plates.

Four miles from home he drove through police working an accident scene and got pulled over. The cop asked him “Any idea why I pulled out over?” Ginger (now fuming) replied, “ I have SEVERAL. ”

Turns out that the police would not let him drive it any further, let him off with a warning, and now he has to figure out how to get the car to his driveway before it gets towed.

From his wive’s earlier eye roll, I’m guessing that she didn’t think this was a good idea in the first place, and he had been texting her for the last hour trying to get a ride home.

The Mazda was in front of his house as I left for work this morning.

The end.

OPPOsaurus WRX > McMike 09/14/2016 at 09:46

3

thats pretty funny, for everyone but him and his wife

Scary__goongala! > McMike 09/14/2016 at 09:53

6

Well at least it was all for a FD, not a Camry or something stupid.

McMike > OPPOsaurus WRX 09/14/2016 at 09:57

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Driving home a broken car isn’t out of the ordinary, but sending your friend to pick up a car without a title, plates, etc is a douche move.

The buyer asked him why he just didn’t have his wife drive him up there in the minivan so they could put the parts in it.

When you have three kids and are putting your house on the market tomorrow, you don’t ask your wife to do anything.

I would have told my friend to send the seller a deposit, and arrange for a tow. Mail me the check, and I’ll drive over there and deal with it when I can.

McMike > Scary__goongala! 09/14/2016 at 10:03

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He probably wishes it was a Camry.

I had to ask a few questions to figure out what gen it was. I’m hoping it’s really clean because I think he said it was $13K.

Looked fairly stock as I drove by it this morning. I will take a look at it when I get home to see if it’s someone’s unfinished project or not.

/Just cause I’m curious

AkursedX > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:06

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Crazy story. But geez, I would NEVER buy a car like an FD RX-7 sight unseen unless it was incredibly cheap (Like under 2k for a running, clean in the pictures FD). There are just way too many potential issues and things to check with such a finiky vehicle like that.

And then to have a friend who is not into cars pick it up?? Thats just asking for trouble.

Scary__goongala! > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:12

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I feel like a clean FD would cost more than $13k.

McMike > Scary__goongala! 09/14/2016 at 10:17

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I’ll see if I can get some photos today

Textured Soy Protein > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:17

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When you have three kids and are putting your house on the market tomorrow, you don’t ask your wife to do anything.

I’m going through something similar right now except it’s more, “when you’re getting married in 17 days, you don’t ask your fiancee (who has been doing the majority of the wedding planning) to do anything.”

McMike > Textured Soy Protein 09/14/2016 at 10:23

1

Congrats.

And good idea.

MonkeePuzzle > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:28

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“hey McMike, you like cars... hows about you help me get this running for a GI? GI said it has a ‘rotary’... I though all cars had rotating wheels, so not sure what that’s about” ~ Ginger in about 2 days.

LongbowMkII > Scary__goongala! 09/14/2016 at 10:30

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Even running poorly?

PS9 > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:30

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The rules for buying a private car from someone.

Don’t buy someone’s project car.

If you really want it anyways, please refer to rule #1

Pay for a tow

If you don’t want to do that, sort your registration/insurance/license plate shit out before you drive home.

If you don’t want to do that, add ticketing and impound costs to the price of the car.

Consult your significant other before purchase.

If you don’t want to do that, add a divorce, alimony payments, and moving expenses to the price of the car.

McMike > MonkeePuzzle 09/14/2016 at 10:36

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Ginger’s activity with the RX-7 is over. I’ll want to take a peek at it out of curiosity only.

McMike > PS9 09/14/2016 at 10:38

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Haha.

His friend has a history of making really, bad decisions. Probably why Mrs Ginger was not pleased with any of it.

OPPOsaurus WRX > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:38

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I still find it funny, but there is also an internet between me and his misery.

I also feel a bit of the guys pain too with the back story.

MonkeePuzzle > McMike 09/14/2016 at 10:38

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wait ‘til you see Ginger’s wife head out. I have a sneaking suspicion she would like to pretend the car doesn’t exist :D

Scary__goongala! > LongbowMkII 09/14/2016 at 11:13

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I think they are really on the edge of starting to appreciate significantly. Guess I’d have to see the car in person, but I’m also not a RD expert. So my opinion may be way off haha

LongbowMkII > Scary__goongala! 09/14/2016 at 11:38

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I think so too, but I can see someone washing their hands of a troublesome project for 13k

TheRealBicycleBuck > McMike 09/14/2016 at 11:38

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Every time you say Ginger, I picture Ginger.

Then you refer to her as “he” and my brain has a spasm and shuts down.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > PS9 09/14/2016 at 11:39

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I've never played a car before driving it home from a private sale. I did get pulled over once, but I just told the officer that had just purchased the vehicle that day. he said that's fine just get it plated within the next two days,

McMike > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/14/2016 at 11:47

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Sorry. It’s ginger the species, not the name.

PS9 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/14/2016 at 11:53

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There’s one story. Then there’s the other universe where you ran into officer Hardass who cuffed you and immediately impounded your car for driving without registration or insurance. You might also live in the State of HardassVille, where driving without insurance = auto suspension, so points on your license on top of everything.

Will you get lucky instead? Maybe. Still, it’s best to practice CYA when ever you can.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > PS9 09/14/2016 at 12:05

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Well I do always make sure I get insurance before I drive home.

BLCKSTRM > McMike 09/14/2016 at 12:36

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I don’t get it.

What about this whole episode is atypical?

Sounds like craigslist SOP to me!

gawdzillla > McMike 09/14/2016 at 12:46

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pic of actually car ?

let him know if its newer than 93 i’offer $2000 and get it out of the driveway myself

McMike > BLCKSTRM 09/14/2016 at 12:58

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I guess I expect to hear about someone getting scammed, or the seller not being honest with his listing, or not available, etc.....

The actual purchase went very smoothly.

BLCKSTRM > McMike 09/14/2016 at 14:04

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You make a good point. And it’s funny - I sell sell things occasionally on craigslist, and everything has always gone smoothly. But I don’t sell junk, and I don’t respond to scammers.

But this seems like the typical craigslist post - someone selling junk, someone bought the junk, then got bit for having bought junk.

The twist is the guy who bought it isn’t the one who got stranded.

But I’m sure that will come later!

McMike > BLCKSTRM 09/14/2016 at 14:27

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There’s still a good chance that the listing was inaccurate, mileage was inaccurate, and the whole thing is rusty. I would love to see the listing, then look it over.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:13

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That’s really clean.

Mid Engine > TheRealBicycleBuck 09/14/2016 at 18:15

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10/10 would hoon

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:19

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An RX7 (or any rotary) is the last car I would ever buy sight unseen. So many potential issues that can be expensive to fix. I would still be very happy to pick up a sorted one though.

Steve in Manhattan > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:19

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To buy a Camry sight unseen is one thing, to buy a rotary-engined car that way, that’s quite another. Did you note the mileage? Those seals on the rotors are said to be tricky.

McMike > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 09/14/2016 at 18:21

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Ginger told me that when he showed up, the seller told him that he “warmed it up for him”

LOL

It pulls really well once on boost, tho.

RallyWrench > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:25

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Bro cool, story. This would be a normal story if Ginger then became the usual “friend selling the car for buddy who is deployed” Craigslister. The car certainly sounds ready for that situation.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:27

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Hmm looks like they used the same Nardi wheel in the FD as my Miata.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > McMike 09/14/2016 at 18:33

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That car is fucking gorgeous.

McMike > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 09/14/2016 at 19:28

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It’s kind of rough.

Some of the boxes that came with it contaned the following: Stock fuel pump, hood release cable, radiator hoses, etc...

All I know, is that it does donuts pretty good. Brake stand? Not so much. No torks

Leadbull > McMike 09/14/2016 at 19:30

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Wait, so how much time is left on this guy’s deployment?

Does he expect your neighbor to keep it parked on the street for however long that is?

McMike > Leadbull 09/14/2016 at 19:37

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He’s picking it up in 10 days.

We just took it for a spin with some plates I had hanging around.

It may have not torks, it pulls once it you build revs. Nots sure how many revs it was, since the tach is broken.

Leadbull > McMike 09/14/2016 at 19:43

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Ok, at least he’s not a massive asshole.

I’ve driven a first gen RX-7, and no torque was definitely a theme there as well. It was a pretty fun car though.

McMike > Leadbull 09/14/2016 at 19:55

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Ok, at least he’s not a massive asshole

Well, the guy fought to legally disown his young child to avoid child support. This car equaled about about 12 payments.

Leadbull > McMike 09/14/2016 at 20:07

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I guess buying a car with “parts included” sight unseen is an indicator that you don’t really have your life together.

Chris Clarke > McMike 09/14/2016 at 20:28

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Had a second gen. FD is on my list. Wife even thinks it's sexy. One day fingers crossed. I'd take a beat up one.

notsomethingstructural > McMike 09/14/2016 at 20:30

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You said $13k? That’s the body / interior? And it runs? Bargain.

McMike > notsomethingstructural 09/14/2016 at 21:10

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The paint is kind of rough, the hood won’t open, tach doesn’t work, HVAC only blows warm air, and the oil temp gauge bounces all over the place.

Aside from that, the parts that came with it sound encouraging. One box said “stock fuel pump” another box had some other stock parts in it from whatever the previous owner did to it.

Previous (recent) owner was in his 20s. Makes me wonder how many owners this thing had.

notsomethingstructural > McMike 09/14/2016 at 21:22

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If that’s original paint and numbers matching it would be a steal if it didn’t run. If it’s a respray, it’s still a pretty solid price. Fully repaired and close to stock the floor on the turbos is pushing $30k now.

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > McMike 09/14/2016 at 21:39

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That’s not bad! I mean I don’t know much but I imagined something much worse when I read the first part of the story earlier in the day.

I hope it stays close to your area so we will hear more about it in the future!

Nauraushaun > McMike 09/14/2016 at 22:57

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Absolute CP. These are just the obvious things wrong with it. It screams negligance, and rotaries don’t like that.

RangerSmith > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 09/15/2016 at 01:27

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Warning: The following rant is not directed at you: However I hit the reply button to your comment because I’ve seen you comment here before, and you seem like a reasonable person-please forgive me. Thankyou!

HOLY SHIT, I AM TIRED OF ALL THE MISINFORMATION COMING FROM PEOPLE THAT HAVEN’T MAINTAINED, OR EVEN OWNED A ROTARY ENGINE!!!

1. Mazda’s factory HP and Torque specifactions were purposefully underrated on 1992-2001 RX-7's due to Japenese taxes on power. There are articles online that explain this and show stock FD dyno sheets.

2. Torque is there. How do you think the motor spins the wheels? You just don’t feel the huge “kick in the pants,” down low in the power band like a V8. ALL your power comes from much higher in the power band/ with your foot to floor.

3. Reliability. There are three moving parts in a typical, Mazda rotary engine. Two “doritos,” and one eccentric shaft. THREE, That’s it! The apex seals are considered a wear part, kind of like tires. But with regular oil changes, and conservative engine modifications; Apex seals commonly last over 120,000 miles. And despite little overall R&D, apex seals have gotten better over the years. Yes you have to pull the engine to replace them. But guess what!? The engine itself only about 350lbs wet with oil. Excluding accessories like A/C, water pump and alternator, there are 13 bolts holding the entire engine together! Making it easy to disassemble and reassemble.

Taking into account the addition of forced induction in the 1980s, old composite apex seals never stood a chance. Although the same could be said for many overboosted engines; blown seals and gaskets are not exclusive to rotary engines. Add in the that turbochargers have a sordid history due to bad bearings(See why it’s taking Ford so long to sell everyone that boost in moderation, combined with modern materials is good).

4. Efficiency.

Due to the design, Wankel engines due not produce efficent gas mileage in normal everyday driving. Yet once up to speed, they are a heavy hitter. I once averaged over 40 miles to the gallon on a 600 mile trip, over the Cascades, in my 1972 RX-2(12A engine, about 75 mph). Get your rpm’s up in the middle of the powerband where they belong. And where engine is spinning easily with very little additional throttle.

Power to Weight Ratio. It’s a thing. Rotaries produce good power for the actual size of the engine. Put that in a well balanced, lightweight coupe, and you have a winner! That’s why RX-7's are popular to begin with. Other than maybe rental cars or Ford Rangers, rotary powered things are some of the best vehicles to hoon.

Engine flooding/ Hydrolocked. Again the answer is to never lift. Press the throttle to the floor and count to ten before releasing, to clear fuel from the exaust stroke of the engine cycle.

Sorry for those who read my quick rant. I apologize. But don’t make blanket statements when you don’t have first hand experience with the subject matter(Your friend owning one doesn’t count). Rotaries are not complicated and don’t run on unicorn farts.

McMike > Nauraushaun 09/15/2016 at 05:09

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I forgot to mention that third gear is hard to hit. Not sure if motor mounts or syncro.

The blow off valve, box with “stock fuel pump,” and boost gauge makes me wonder if it still has any apex seals still in it.

Nauraushaun > McMike 09/15/2016 at 05:47

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Another victim of the JDM craze that has ruined every good sports car Japan ever made.

In other words, idiot previous owners.

Cash Rewards > notsomethingstructural 09/21/2016 at 11:14

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That’s so damn depressing

notsomethingstructural > Cash Rewards 09/21/2016 at 11:49

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All the Japanese halo cars from that era are either there or will be soon. 300ZX TT, 3000GT, FD’s, Supras have been gone for a while. It’s a matter of time before the next generation goes that way too - G35 coupes and S2000's are already on the way up, Evo VIII are pricey cars but will be bananas in a few years, RX-8 is bound to start creeping too because they keep exploding. Outlook isn’t as rosy for WRX and IS300 IMO.