Think about it, most of us drive our 1st gens because of the low entry cost in sports cardom. As such we are by nature "cheap" because it's hard to justify spending XX amount of money on a car we bought for X amount. So we become creative to get things done for our cars because the aftermarket forgot about us or the neat things cost more than we paid for our car. Take for example T.J. (Rotor Motor Driver) Slowly but for damn sure his car was turning into art. It seemed everything he did, he did himself. You don't hear many of us saying "I took my car to my mechanic and ..." or "my mechanic said..." we, for the most part, do our own work.

I thought to myself as I looked at my custom main gauge pod (one of the simpler things I've done for my 7) and thought "if we could just have the money to further our ideas". Even though I can mabye afford something newer as a project, I love the 7 (I'm sorry to the purest for my V8 swap).

Ah just a tired rant before I go to bed, hopfully you guys get jist of what I'm saying.

How many FD guys do you know that will sit outside and work on thier car in below freezing weather even though they have something else to drive. Not many, I belive we work harder and have to work harder for our love.

Maybe some of this made some scince, let me know.

 

Amen brother, cant even buy a decent turbo kit for a 12a that is a bolt on, let alone one that costs anywhere near double cost of my car. I actually have more than one item on my car that cost me more than the 7 itself.

 

LOL its very true. When most people are working to support their familys or them selves im working to support my rx7. The only mechanic my car will ever see is the back yard monkey machanic AKA my bf danny.

 

I spent approximately $600 on my 7, and have put less than $1000 total into it. Yet the gas tank has been replaced, the suroof repainted, a stereo put in, etc. These are cars for the frugal. I love the fact that some of the most viewed threads are those regarding Junk-Yard mods. We can throw out ideas that we've come up with, and yes, people may tell us they will never work, but they rarely bash the person, just the idea. They also tend to explain why they think it won't work. I love the community feel, and the fact that we are all willing to collectively solve a problem, or develop and idea. I think that is what sets us apart. Sure we may each have a few little secrets, but for the most part, we are all interested in one thing, helping others make their 7's better, while they help us do the same.

Brian

 

Your statements are almost the same as someone saying one race of people is better than another. I'm an FD owner who would fall into the category of 'doesn't work on his FD very much vs. pays someone else'. I do basic stuff (brakes and such), but pay someone else to do my mods. Why? The car requires specific knowledge that I don't have and don't have time to acquire. I use the car as my daily driver and can't afford to have it down for long periods of time while I take the time to figure something out. I work ~ 12 hours/day, am a Past Master of a Masonic lodge, have a family, and a ton of other obligations. Fortunately the fact that I work hard gives me the ability to support my car habits.

Does this make me any less an 'enthusiast'? No. I subscribe to Sports Car Market magazine and read car mags every chance I get. I've restored ALL of the mechanicals of a 1971 Triumph TR6 to Group 44 racing standards (over a 9 year period, I still have the car and work on it sporadically/drive it to British car meets), I attend Laguna Seca races every year, and I race my FD (sponsored by Mazda). I've just made the choice to do other things besides take care of my FD (although i did take 3 hours today to wash her, polish the chrome tip, clean the glass and interior, and put a couple more miles on her during her break-in period).

Try to consider what other people do from a bigger picture, and not just on this topic. When you take time to understand others, they will also take the time to understand you. Don't judge others until you walk a mile in their moccasins.

Beast

 

well, i guess i have to say that i bought mine for 150. but sure put alot into it to get what i wanted.

 

I think you may have taken some of this the wrong way Beast. You are obviuosly no less enthusiastic about your FD than we are about our FB's. The difference comes in when people ask "so how's this all work?" Many people who simply have the ability (some through hard work) to pay others to work on their cars, simply have no understanding of how it works, they just know that it d@mn well better, or someone's gonna fix it. The difference here for us is that we know how it works, because we had to in order to make it happen. Maybe this is because we're more interested in the actual workings of our cars, or maybe just because we had to get something cheap, and it turned into a project. This doesn't make us better people, just a different crowd with different resources, motivation (to some extent), and interests.

Brian

 

i was going to post a long responce but I got depresed so here is the condenced version....


reading a car mag does not make you an enthusiest.

 

To follow up with BrianHeston's words,
1st Gens are older, cheaper, and easier to work on than other 7's, - period.

Most of the functions are purely mechanical, and have no "electronics" that only a dedicated "twin-turbo surgeon" could work on.

Also, since FB's were made before the "sport-compact" craze, many aftermarket parts are simply unavailable to older FB's. Although we all thank god for Racing Beat, many people have had to make their own performance or show pieces.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want APC making crap for FB's though.

 

yes we are better... better than every one else... better lovers too......


well atleast me.

 

I just thought I was resourceful . Although, you are correct. I did do just about everything myself on my car, making lots of things and coming up with creative ways to solve things. However, Ive seen just as much inginuity (sp?) going into my cousins 3rd gen, and he does all the work himself... BUT, I do think that if you took a poll of which generation does more of their own wrench turning, I think we might come out on top .

~T.J.

 

RE: "How many FD guys do you know that will sit outside and work on thier car in below freezing weather even though they have something else to drive. Not many, I belive we work harder and have to work harder for our love."

And also:"Your statements are almost the same as someone saying one race of people is better than another.":

Regardless of the accuracy of these comments, I believe the latter to be demeaning to the significance of racism. "Race" is perceived as part of who we ARE. Turning a frikkin wrench is something we DO. Statements and stereotypes about (for example) FD owners are based on a collection of choices these people made (like buying an FD, or working on an FB, be it for enthusiast or financial reasons). So shut up or bring on the comeback (more fun). You can always sell your FD anyways. Racism is a bit tighter of a bind.

 

I just enjoy it. I think we all do, each and every one.

 

How many FD guys have to grind the hole on a 12a exhaust manifold to get it to fit there 13b?

 

So what, Iam a GENist!

1st Gen people ARE better!

Beast from the East: You made our point for us! Dont worry about us little 1st geners, keep your nose up and keep that tip polished! HA, Ha, ha ! ! !

Just ******* with you! I wish I could be a 3rd gener ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !