Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

I have been struggling with this question for some time. Why continue putting money into my FD to get to that (never ending) point of completion when I can search for a nice clean one with all the mods already done by an FD perfectionist that has to sell for money for family, school, or any other non-FD life event?

I initially struggled with why I keep my 93 FD in the first place. I've owned it since 2000 and have slowly modded it to my liking while putting a modest 20k miles of my own on it (87k now.) I love driving it but then I find excuses not to (rain, heat, too cold, short trips, too long of a trip, fear of it dying.) It has even sat untouched, under cover, and uncared for 18 months once, after it died and I was fed up. But then the modding bug hit and now it's in a constant state of modding. (Mid-life crisis?) So now I have decided it's such a unique and rare car that I definitely plan to keep it for as long as I can. I know I will regret it if I ever sell it and be FD-free. But now I get these new thoughts of selling it and buying a nice "turn-key" FD which adds to the love-hate relationship I'm sure many FD owners feel about these cars.

This thought preoccupies my mind when I see highly sought after cleanly modded FD's for sale for $15-20k once in awhile, in this forum and otherwise. My condo is filling up with parts (Efini y-pipe, PFS SMIC, Koni shocks) to be put in once I have the time and patience as I'm just learning now to work on it myself. It's going to cost me $5000 more to get the car to where I'd like it to be - bushings for the clunk, GC springs to go with the Koni's, 17" wheels/tires, PDR for the numerous dings, and a PFC and tune. I'm not even going to mention the 5th gear synchro that IMHO is not worth it or the paint job that it badly needs. (How do people justify a $7000 paint job for their FD's?) Add another $5k+ for body kits, etc. It's also been in an accident (previous owner) so the driver's door is not original and clangs an annoying hollow tinny sound....bugs me EVERY time. Bottom line: more money and time for an imperfect car.

OR I can sell it for say....$12k and put that extra $5k in and get a clean one for $17k or so. I just saw a beautiful one sell for $16k from CA. The rub is....it won't be my "own," that I put blood and work into and have had for some time. BUT, if it's clean like my dream FD, it won't clunk or start missing coolant, it won't have door dings or peeling clearcoat/paint, it'll have nice wheels with a lowered stance, and it won't stutter or stall or pop-pop-pop on WOT. It'll just perform and look and feel like the NSX killer that MT (or was it R&T?) proclaimed it to be back in '93...and then some!

So..... I'm wondering if anyone else struggles with this same dilemma. I'm sure many do....just how do you cope?!!! Is the grass really greener on the other side? Maybe I just need to drive other people's FD's to find out and compare......

Thanks for listening.

Double_J

iTrader: (28)

Oh man....

I feel your pain and I just got on the scene. I picked up my stock FD cheap! I intended on going to an LS* conversion but changed my mind. By the time I'm done this car will easily cost me quadruple the original sale price!

I am scared to drive the car hard. I won't drive it in the rain, and park it inside every night.

Right now I'm have way through the upgrades and I just ordered a stink more parts this week


If I could do this over again I would just buy a nice FD LS* car.

Julian

iTrader: (14)

It won't be yours and for 17k I doubt that it will not have door dings .... and besides, their will always be something to change on this new one. Stick with he one you are with.

I have spent untold 10's of thousands on my car but did a reality check the other day can can up with for just 26k it is done (for now!). This is eating into my Exige S260 fund, but oh well.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

The grass is always greener...

I thought I was doing that when I bought my second FD. The first FD had a few issues that I didn't want to deal with. I figured it would be cheaper and quicker to buy one that had the mods I wanted. Didn't quite turn out that way though as I've had to replace a different set of parts than the first one. So FD #2 wound up being a work in progress also.

I think my car will always be a work in progress to some degree. Which is OK for me b/c tinkering with it gives me some peace of mind and gets my mind off day to day realities

RotaryBuddha

iTrader: (4)

That is what made me buy a some what stock FD and modify it the way I wanted. I also pulled off everything that the previous owner installed. All ebay/homedepot junk mods. This way I can get full enjoyment of it being a NSX killer as you say.

fendamonky

iTrader: (6)

I think that it is *much* better to mod your own car, as opposed to buying a car that somebody else modded.

Couple reasons, A) It's yours, not a car that somebody else built, then you bought.. B) you know the car inside and out, all it's foibles, faults, and strong suits.. C) Pride and a sense of accomplishment.. D) You don't need to un-**** somebody elses mistakes... and most importantly E) You get used to the power increases as they come.

I've only owned mine since 2006 so, if you're looking at the big picture, I've only owned mine for a short while. I was lucky enough to find a near stock car 94 in good condition that only had reliability mods done (Radiator, AST, DP, silicone vacuum hosing, intakes and a hi-flow cat to be exact) and had a relatively fresh rebuild (10-15k at the time, pulled 8.6-9.1 on all faces when I had the compression checked). The 5th gear syncro needed a rebuild and the paint was looking like *** though.

Not a problem, a quick respray fixed the paint (MAACO fucked up and had a bit of overspray, but what can you *really* expect when you're not spending much..) and one overnight in a shop fixed the syncro issue. From there I had a perfectly clean slate to begin my journey in!

I've been using my car basically as a daily driver from the day I got her, since it's been the most reliable car I've owned in the time frame. After the initial fixes (respray, syncro rebuild) I've put right about $17k into my FD, that's a lot of money, but it has its advantages.. Since I went from the stock 215(ish) at the wheels in stages all the way up to it's current 400(ish) at the wheels I have learned to handle the increased power appropriately, and drive the car responsibly, at each different level. If you were to just scrap your stock(ish) FD and purchase somebody elses hard work then you would miss out on the gradual learning curve. I've driven my FD on beautiful spring/fall days through the british country side, and I've driven it through MASSIVE downpours and nasty snow storms. If I was not able to gradually become used to the power increases then I might not have known at first that the rear *will* run away on you at 60-70mph with only a misting of water on the road (not to mention everything worse) if you stomp on it. This could EASILY have resulted in me spinning out and going off the road into an embankment if I had just jumped into a car with that kind of power without any kind of background experiences.

I'm starting to rant though... bottom line I guess is that I was raised to work hard and earn my rewards, so I'm more inclined to appreciate a car that I put my own hard work and dedication into building. I'm not some looter just sitting around waiting for hard times or boredom to strike somebody else so that I can swoop in and reap the benefits of their blood, sweat, tears and anguish. I won't do it professionally, and I won't do it in my hobbies.

Montego

iTrader: (1)

For me not an option. I bought mine 100% stock and in perfect working condition. I now have gotten it where I want it to be and I only know what has been done. I didn't cut any corners and I would hate to try and figure out what someone else has done or if they took any short cuts.

I'd say if your car is in that bad of a condition. Trading it in might not be such a bad idea.

As far a paint job is concerned for me I had two insurance pay outs because two different people decided to crash into my FD while it was parked. Instead of getting it fixed I opted for the money minus two $500 deductibles. Took my car to tijuana Mx and got the car fixed a complete respray for about the same money that was given to me ($2300). If you are curious check my photo album for pics.

TheProfessional

stock... you'll cherish it more. All the cars i bought modded i drive it like i want to break it cuz it aint my work

Islander

iTrader: (6)

If i could do it again i would buy a clean, modded fd. I bought a very nice roller and have only had it for 6 months and have spent $18k already and it still doesnt run.

I would do my research and find one from a owner that has really been a fanatic and more so a obsessed owner.

Im still not near completion of the car, maybe $6k to go. Good luck to me... :-)

Supernaut

iTrader: (83)

If I could do it over again, I would buy a modded FD. One that was modded at a rotary house or a heavy hitter on the forums. Since I don't wrench, I ended up spending a decent amount of money even on basic mods. For instance, I would rather buy a built 3-rotor rather than trying to build mine up.

wptrx7

In my opinion, I would have purchased a mechanically sound/stock FD and add cosmetic touches to it. I've owned my car for about 10 years now and may have driven it a total of 3-4 years. My only regret is not driving it more. If I could sell, like your game plan suggest, I would, but I can't so I will be parting out things I don't need and hope it's enough to finish collecting parts and paint/finish my FD. Only you know what your priorities are and what you want to accomplish. Sono matter opinions listed, just do what you have in mind

superjet3

iTrader: (38)

For me most of the fun of this hobby is working on / modding my 7. If you buy one already done you have nothing to be proud of.

proz07

iTrader: (6)

i purchased a blown fd that i have put back together to be a reliable could be daily car (although i dont). I also dont drive in the rain yada yada but its my project and im very mechanically inclined so through my endevors just rebuilding this stockish car so far iv found so many f ups its not funny i now enjoy the fact that i know my car inside and out and know its good to go.

But i see your point being a person that dosent have 20k in tools in your 3 car garage buying that modded FD may sem like a good idea but being that person i doubt you know what your looking for as far as if its a basket case or a good car. hell even a good car is still unknown to you and presents its own problems just being either 14-16yrs old OR even the formentioned someone else worked on it known shop or not i have yet to see work on a car that i liked or thought was actually worth it unless it was thier personall "shop" car or "show" car and IMO those are only to make you think thats the kind of work your gonna get takeing your vehicle there. all in all it sounds like you rely on others to fix a majority of your problems with your car and youll just be in the same boat you are now just with a possible higher hp car which i guarantee means higher expensis.

my 2c
z

hawaiianrx7

I would rather buy a stock car and then build it the way that i want without having to deal with all the bull **** of someone elses mistakes. its more fun to experience stock to 400HP. you get to feel the difrerences that the car makes every time you make a mod to it. i liki get personal gratisfaction from doing something myself and seeiung the end result. but thats just me... not everyone is the same.

Deals Gap Rotary Rally

iTrader: (6)

Sell yours if you think its not a good starting point... And buy one that you think its a better start.

If you know exactly what you want, you'll find that car. Most of the time the problem is knowing exact what you want.. I've personally changed my mind millions of times... hence the constant changes to my car(s) and now multiple rotaries... In some way, I see that as what being an enthusiast...

93vrfd_houston

iTrader: (10)

ha, my first rx7 i bought for a project car and it sat in my garage for over two years before i sold it. i hadn't really learned enough about it to work on it and tried to fix it but couldn't figure it out. i spent quite a bit of cash on my second rx7, but it is exactly what i had been looking for to keep for a long time. it has some minor mods like wheels, suspension, simplified sequential......but for the most part it was returned close to stock. i have spent a bunch of money in the past 4 months just to have a lot of things to install on it when i come home. it is something that i enjoy doing though, i have always been one that likes working on and personalizing my cars. like others have said, it gives me something to take pride in and it takes me away from other troubles when working on or driving a perfect machine. good luck with your choice.

mark

smog-guy707

iTrader: (11)

If I could do it all again... I would wait and buy a CYM, not waist money modding the twins, and save up for a single turbo conversion from the get go. Cosmetically i would only do some wheels

DDagman

iTrader: (3)

Its the act of the chase that is usually most intruiging. For me, constantly adding something new on my car is the most interesting part. I don't think anyone can every fully stop modifing these cars, as something is always going to break, or a new/improved part is relieased in Japan.

Zoolander

iTrader: (8)

Thanks for the input everyone!! It seems like the consensus is that the ultimate satisfaction comes from the path traveled more than the actual destination itself. The goal of attaining your dream machine can only come from that satisfaction of working on the car yourself..... so you can call it your own. I agree as this is more a hobby than anything else at this point. How else can you justify it right? If you want a car to perform, then just get a car that performs!

My car is not as bad as some others on this forum, ie it wasn't a "roller." It was stock with that minor(?) accident when I purchased it and I've modified it slowly and logically since so I do know my car in and out. I can see where I won't be satisfied with anything I purchase unless I find that needle in a haystack (and then get lucky bidding for it.) If I had a garage and a "killer set of tools" ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High" anyone?) then I would be completely satisfied having it sit there while I worked on it slowly. Not the case though.

I will continue making it my own in the parking lot while envying other FD's until I reach my destination....and then what? Like the dog chasing his tail...what would he ever do if he caught it? I guess in this case....DRIVE IT hard and much more often!

jkstill

iTrader: (11)

If you already have a good understanding of the FD (it appears you do) then buying a modded one that is closer to what you want may be a good idea.

I think that to do so you need to be able to inspect it personally, and have a few hours to do so.

For posterity's sake (newbies reading the thread) buying an already modded FD is a crap shoot IMO, unless you can by it from a trustworthy person that has personally attended to it and you also have a good understanding of FDs.

There seem to be many cars (not just FDs) that have poorly implemented mods.

Starting from stock (or sticking with the FD you already have) may actually save you money.

It seems that Gracer7-rx7 seems to have discovered that.

djseven

iTrader: (56)

If you dont modify it a good bit yourself it just isnt the same, I have never to this day seen a fd built the way I would build it. Hundreds of quality built beautiful fds out there but you have to put your own twist on it or you will never have a serious bond with it. The plans for my car change weekly, I finally found some time to get it running recently and it reminded me how much I love these cars and why they are so amazing, the fact I have built it from near the ground up makes it that much sweeter when mashing the gas.

EviLPeNeviL

iTrader: (2)

There's ups and downs to both sides of this really. I'm on my 2nd FD and it's pretty modded, my 1st FD was a virgin. I never really had any issues with the 1st, just took my time with her. Being that my current FD has already been modded in almost every way possible, there are still certain things that I can do, but it's mostly cosmetic.... or go single =)


It's a nice change tho really, getting used to the current built car will take me a while before I get the itch to make any changes.....

XLR8

iTrader: (52)

FD's aren't investments. You will never get your money back.....accept it. I would personally rather build my own. Just as Djseven said, no matter how well things are done, it wouldn't quite be the way I would do it.

Buying a modified car (if done right) is ultimately cheaper. You will see many FD's selling for half of what the owner has invested. But, there is something about building the car yourself that brings much more gratitude to the proccess.

I always said that buying an FD is the cheap part. I am learning the truth of that statement more recently.

EviLPeNeviL

iTrader: (2)

Ditto that!

We seem to be able to come up the funds one way or another (for rich or for poor), but eventually with time the perfect car will emerge.