What to do(RX-3 content)??

Hey guys,

Some of you may know the story of my 77 RX-3 SP that I bought at the end of August,and was then totaled 6 days later. Well I bought it back,and now it sits in my garage collecting dust. I have been trying to sell it for a while now as a whole car instead of parting it out. I have had a little interest,but nothing major until just this week. I had a guy in WA make me an offer,and he really wants the car. He has a friend lined up from NJ that will come pick it up,and is ready to do it as soon as next week. The offer is for more than I paid to buy it back from the insurance company,so I am making out.

My dilemma is that I really waited a long time to get this car as it was exactly what I wanted for quite some time. I know I will regret selling it,but I don't really have the talent to repair it. I have found a guy in MO selling the exact car short of not having the dealer installed stripes,and spoiler,but my car still has mint examples of these(and the stripes are available). The problem with this option is the car is $4500 plus shipping to me. That isn't too bad for a complete car,but it has some serious cancer,and would need a full restoration,but that would be helped with using the bolt on parts from my car,and anything else that survived the accident. I am sure getting the body work done,and paint will run me a lot of money,and time(time I can afford),and maybe isn't the best idea.

I am in a contract year at work(yes I am in a union,don't hold it against me),and am not willing to lay out huge money over the next 8 months due to that fact. I could just sit on my car,and wait it out,sell it,and bank the money,or keep it,and buy the car in MO. What do you guys think is my best bet? I have been contemplating getting a more modern car to have fun with during the warm weather months as well. I will keep my RX-7,and REPU no matter what I do,but I would like a car with a rear seat that is usable for the summer months. That is what the RX-3 was for,and the RX-4 before that,but now I am stuck with no cool cars that have usable rear seats,and that sucks when you have two kids.

Any input/help would be appreciated.

Chris

If someone wants it, sell it. From what I remember the shell is fubar, and if you buy the other one, fixing rust sucks, and is $$$$$$$$ to do right.

^^^AGREED^^^

You said that you really don't have the body-work skills to tackle the accident damage on the car you have. Given that, a similar, unwrecked car, with serious rust, is probably not the best option. Trading one batch of migraines for another, IMO.

As you know I am also a big fan of the Rx3, but just wait until you have the $ to buy the car you want, projects cost money and time, if you have limited skills it costs way more to have any restoration work done.

In the mean time maybe find a cheap car that can do the family duty.

Steve,

The thing is I had the money to buy the SP,and now it is dead. I am afraid I won't have the opportunity to buy another one like it ever. I am in the market for a nice Cressida. I had a deal all worked out on a white wagon in TX,and then found a possible title issue. I told the seller to go ahead and see if he could get it sold to someone else,and then an hour later called him back to say forget it I want the car. He decided to sell it to someone else anyway. I was disappointing,but understood where he was coming from. Anyone know a clean 85-88 Cressy for sale?

I don't know about a Cressida for sale, but if your drivetrain is still in good condition, I know of someone who had a California RX3 shell for sale that needed a new front panel (I think he has one) that should be fairly cancer free.

I wouldn't even need the front panel as my car is perfect from the back of the doors forward. Get me some info Tim,please.

Chris,

I'd let it go. It will never mean the same to you as it did on that first drive.

Sell it. Don't buy the rusty one. Bank the money and look for the next project that is within your abilities.

sachilles wrote: Sell it. Don't buy the rusty one. Bank the money and look for the next project that is within your abilities.

+1

Thanks guys,

I know I will regret selling this,but it does seem like the best idea.

How strapped for cash are you, if you can find a shell, these are simple cars to swap it all over.

I sold mine to come to the US and have regretted it since, I know there are other priorities but if you can hold off until you find a shell, it will be a better move in the long term.

My .02c

I am not strapped for cash at all. No credit card debt either,and only 12 payments left on my wife's van.

Then hold onto it until you can find a suitable shell, and do the swap yourself. I learned to work on cars on my RX3, these are really simple cars to work on and early Mazdas have very few different bolt sizes (8, 10, 12, 14, 17 and 19mm) so some simple tools from Walmart should do the job.

Just the option I would take

I am well versed in taking apart cars,and putting them together. I can take almost my entire RX-7 with about 4 sizes of wrenches,and sockets. There isn't a part on an RX-7 that I haven't torn apart,and put back together. I am not afraid of working on the car,I just don't have a suitable shell,and finding one is proving tough. My major problem is body work. I don't have the tools,talent,or patience for it.

I may end up keeping as the buyer has sort of backed out as he told me his furnace broke this weekend,and that he will have to wait until he gets back the cash he had for the car.

Chris

Build a rotary GLC.

Chris,

Just saw this on Ebay. Looks like it could work well with your parts... A bit far away for me to go see but maybe somebody else... RX3 on Ebay