Advice on picking up an rx4

spankle my wankle · 06-07-2010, 11:00 PM

My brother works with a guy who has an rx4 that he says has been sitting under his garage port for 15 years now. He is hesitant about getting rid of it but i think ill be able to convince him. That is unless people here tell me its a bad idea. Are the parts hard to find (not sure yet what is wrong with it as he doesnt really know)? What are the usual problems that come with these cars? Its kind of a vague thread i know but assuming it has a straight body (he says it does) and isnt complete junk mechanically, besides a new motor maybe, would you go for it? Thanks.

LunchboxCritter · 06-07-2010, 11:08 PM

That would depend on the price. If it was cheap enough that if you found out it was in unrepairable, and you can get your money back from the good parts, then go for it.

Buggy · 06-08-2010, 06:02 AM

As long as all the expensive stuff is there I'd go for it. Things like glass, stainless trim, interior, ect. If they are in good shape I'd grab it. Also as long as the body isn't complete junk too. I know my Rx-4 had rust in the main chassis in the frame rail above the front tires behind the fenders. Also had rust in behind the rocker panel on the passenger rear side. Another bad rust spot is the front fenders where the structural skeleton piece is bonded to the fender skin. All in all it wasn't hard to repair all that stuff. Parts can be found still, it takes a bit off digging but you uncover sources pretty quick. This also depends on what direction you want to take with the car. Keeping it 100% stock is much harder than going the modified route.

djmtsu · 06-08-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buggy

As long as all the expensive stuff is there I'd go for it. Things like glass, stainless trim, interior, ect. If they are in good shape I'd grab it. Also as long as the body isn't complete junk too. I know my Rx-4 had rust in the main chassis in the frame rail above the front tires behind the fenders. Also had rust in behind the rocker panel on the passenger rear side. Another bad rust spot is the front fenders where the structural skeleton piece is bonded to the fender skin. All in all it wasn't hard to repair all that stuff. Parts can be found still, it takes a bit off digging but you uncover sources pretty quick. This also depends on what direction you want to take with the car. Keeping it 100% stock is much harder than going the modified route.

Listen to this advice Seth.

PS- where exactly is this RX-4??

Buggy · 06-08-2010, 04:38 PM

At least go take a look at it and feel the guy out. Oh ya, take pics too so we can see this machine. The initial find is always one of the most exciting parts of getting one of these cars. My R100 is complete junk pretty much, but finding it sitting there in the weeds was like striking gold. At least for me it was. Not too many old school rotaries survived here in Ontario Canada, let alone a R100.

fire85gslse · 06-08-2010, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankle my wankle

My brother works with a guy who has an rx4 that he says has been sitting under his garage port for 15 years now. He is hesitant about getting rid of it but i think ill be able to convince him. That is unless people here tell me its a bad idea. Are the parts hard to find (not sure yet what is wrong with it as he doesnt really know)? What are the usual problems that come with these cars? Its kind of a vague thread i know but assuming it has a straight body (he says it does) and isnt complete junk mechanically, besides a new motor maybe, would you go for it? Thanks.

yep, if price is good I would get it, get it running and sell it quick as the 4 is ugly! But thats me

Buggy · 06-08-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fire85gslse

yep, if price is good I would get it, get it running and sell it quick as the 4 is ugly! But thats me

I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

12arotary · 06-08-2010, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buggy

I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

there are several better looking models

Whizbang · 06-08-2010, 11:09 PM

i still want an rx4 wagon.

PercentSevenC · 06-09-2010, 12:23 AM

The '74-75 RX-4 coupe is actually the best looking old-school rotary in my opinion. RX-4 wagons are also fairly attractive as '70s wagons go.

Buggy · 06-09-2010, 05:58 AM

In stock trim, I agree they aren't that great looking. After some tweaking though I think they look beautiful. I love the roof line of the hard top along with the fact that the quarter windows roll down. Mine is still kind of ugly, but that will be fixed when it gets lowered and has some nice blacked out panasports on it.

Stredrotor · 06-10-2010, 04:12 AM

RX4s are the toughest looking Mazda around!

You just need to get rid of the hideous US spec bumpers

Rotarydave · 06-26-2010, 04:39 PM

If you all aren't interested or if it is nearly a complete piece of junk even with frame rust I am interested I have 2 74 coupes we are restoring and 3 wagons we are doing as well a 75, 76 and 78.

06-07-2010, 11:00 PM	#1
spankle my wankle Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 185 Rep Power: 17	Advice on picking up an rx4 My brother works with a guy who has an rx4 that he says has been sitting under his garage port for 15 years now. He is hesitant about getting rid of it but i think ill be able to convince him. That is unless people here tell me its a bad idea. Are the parts hard to find (not sure yet what is wrong with it as he doesnt really know)? What are the usual problems that come with these cars? Its kind of a vague thread i know but assuming it has a straight body (he says it does) and isnt complete junk mechanically, besides a new motor maybe, would you go for it? Thanks.

06-07-2010, 11:08 PM	#2
LunchboxCritter Simply Rotarded Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (0) Posts: 166 Rep Power: 16	That would depend on the price. If it was cheap enough that if you found out it was in unrepairable, and you can get your money back from the good parts, then go for it. __________________ LunchboxCritter - 91 NA to J-Spec TII - 88 FC Vert - 04 Rx8 Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic, and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

06-08-2010, 06:02 AM	#3
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	As long as all the expensive stuff is there I'd go for it. Things like glass, stainless trim, interior, ect. If they are in good shape I'd grab it. Also as long as the body isn't complete junk too. I know my Rx-4 had rust in the main chassis in the frame rail above the front tires behind the fenders. Also had rust in behind the rocker panel on the passenger rear side. Another bad rust spot is the front fenders where the structural skeleton piece is bonded to the fender skin. All in all it wasn't hard to repair all that stuff. Parts can be found still, it takes a bit off digging but you uncover sources pretty quick. This also depends on what direction you want to take with the car. Keeping it 100% stock is much harder than going the modified route. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

06-08-2010, 04:38 PM	#5
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	At least go take a look at it and feel the guy out. Oh ya, take pics too so we can see this machine. The initial find is always one of the most exciting parts of getting one of these cars. My R100 is complete junk pretty much, but finding it sitting there in the weeds was like striking gold. At least for me it was. Not too many old school rotaries survived here in Ontario Canada, let alone a R100. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

06-08-2010, 11:09 PM	#9
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp iTrader: (5) Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	i still want an rx4 wagon. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

06-09-2010, 05:58 AM	#11
Buggy I've been Wankeled! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Mildmay, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0) Posts: 260 Rep Power: 15	In stock trim, I agree they aren't that great looking. After some tweaking though I think they look beautiful. I love the roof line of the hard top along with the fact that the quarter windows roll down. Mine is still kind of ugly, but that will be fixed when it gets lowered and has some nice blacked out panasports on it. __________________ 1976 Rx-4 hardtop. Half bridge 3B 13B, S5 NA rotors, Renesis e-shaft, stat gears, and bearings, balanced rotating assembly, RE dual weber 36 DCD's 203rwhp 137ft-lbs torque DGRR 2011 3rd place 1974 Rx-4 all original 27,000 miles 1988 Rx-7 TII 320rwhp. DGRR 2012 3rd place

06-10-2010, 04:12 AM	#12
Stredrotor Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tasmania, Australia iTrader: (0) Posts: 53 Rep Power: 15	RX4s are the toughest looking Mazda around! You just need to get rid of the hideous US spec bumpers __________________ RX4 coupe 20B conversion http://www.rotarycarclub.com/rotary_...ead.php?t=9884

06-26-2010, 04:39 PM	#13
Rotarydave Rotary Nut Case Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Cibolo, TX iTrader: (0) Posts: 273 Rep Power: 16	If you all aren't interested or if it is nearly a complete piece of junk even with frame rust I am interested I have 2 74 coupes we are restoring and 3 wagons we are doing as well a 75, 76 and 78.