Hi there, I'm 17 years old and I'm looking to get an FC (hopefully turbo, probably '88) as my first car. I'm not going to lie, I know very little about cars, which is why a friend of mine, who's pretty knowledgable, is going to be helping me out. I've already found the "What should I look for when buying a 2nd Gen RX-7?" section in the FAQ, and we'll be using that as a guideline to evaluate the FCs we look at.

I've been looking on autotrader.ca, and all the RX-7s listed are in my price range (<$10000 cdn). My only problem is that my dad is very reluctant to let me buy something this old, saying that there's no way to know whether or not within 2 or 3 months, I'll have to dish out huge cash in repairs, and the thing will start falling apart. He'd rather I go with something more practical like a P5.

So my question to you is: Given that my friend and I can find an FC that, according to the criteria in the FAQ, is in great shape, can we then, with any certainty, tell my dad that it won't cost me thousands of dollars a year to run? Basically I want to know how I could prove to him that an '88 FC would be reliable, if not even a little bit practical. Any tips on what we should be looking out for the most?

My apologies if my lack of knowledge in general seems annoying or "n00bish", but I'm just trying to get my foot in the door. I want an FC, and this is what's standing in my way.

Thanks to anyone who can help me.

 

well you need to look for one with low *** miles and still buy a rebuild kit and take a little cash set it off to the side for a rainy day. and dont spend 10 grand on a fc

 

to be honest you will have to do repairs with any car of this age. The only reason to buy one of these cars is for the love of the car and the rotary engine.
and im with your dad on picking up a more practical car, buy a Turbo RWD sports car later, you'll be happier.
i speak for experience (19 years old now, and feeling good that I held out for 3 years on the sports car)

 

Its next to impossible to say if an FC is going to run for another year or not. They are picky little cars, and they just seem to blow whenever they feel the need. Even if you find a low milage car, the engine is still around 17yrs old. Time is hard on engines just like milage.

In short, I think the FC would be a bad idea for a 17 yr old to buy. Especially if your relying on someone else to fix it. Buy a honda or something that takes a little less upkeep for your first car. Then, when you have a little cash saved up, but the FC for a second car... Dont get me wrong, they are great little cars. But at your age you need something reliable, that will take the abuse a 17yr old has to give to it. Good luck with whatever you get.

 

alright that's the type of response I'm looking for. more or less what I was expecting to hear. I was just hoping that I'd be able to justify an RX-7 right now but if i can't guarantee that its not gonna cost me a grand in repairs every few months then guess not =/ I just feel drawn to the car.

Don't suppose the engine being new/rebuilt would help things?

 

It would help. The best thing to do with your budget of 10k is to spend no more than 5k on the car, spend 2k on a reliable daily driver and save the other 3k for the eventual engine rebuild you will need to do.

 

I bought my rx-7 like 2 years ago, and it broke a few months later and it's been off and on ever since. lol, last summer I just got sick of it and bought an old corolla to drive around all the time which is nice, because it gets a lot better than the 12 mpg my rx-7 had been getting. insurance on 2 cars is a little expensive, but I think it's worth it. an rx-7, specially a turbo one, is deffinitly a second car to drive on the weekends and random fun rides.


a rebiult engine does help, but it doesn't help most of the other things that break, when I bought mine it had about 4k on a new engine, and a newer tranny in it but my experience deffinitly has been one of the more bad ones haha, I know a lot of poeple that bought them and they ran for a long time with minimal mantenence, but there really isn't any way you can tell before hand.

 

ok, youre looking at a few thousand worst case scenario (rebuild) sooooo if you get a pos and get a rebuild you will be good for years, alot of people have bad experiences some of us have good ones. ive had 3 and all have been great, never had any major problems. so its kind of like a risk youll have to take if you really love the car youll go for it if you just want some inital d car to blow money on buy a pos corolla

 

alright thanks for the advice.

this is the one i was looking at, for reference.... Turbo II 10AE. I love it.

http://www.trader.ca/SendToFriend/Re...4&adid=5116593

edit: fixed link

 

If the care is modified then you definately need to plan on having it rebuilt soon since they might not have done things right. Also, if you have any emissions requirements where you live, the JDM engine won't pass it.

 

rx7's are nice but i think a 240 would be better for you if you want the rear wheel drive sports car you can pick them up cheap and it will give you alittle practice for the 7 when you decide to get it

IMO you should probly look for something else get some experience on working on cars and driving them, then later on down the road get a 7

 

My NA 7 has been perfectly fine since I picked it up almost a year ago. Changed the oil...thats about it. It has 75,000 miles though =p

Hopefully your friend can help you out when you go check out cars. Drive them, and look/hear for anything suspicious.

 

I havnt had my GTU long but I learned something. If you can pick up a 7 cheap do it. THen just get a lil FWD car to poke around in if you do have problems. Besides the motor going outin my GTU its the only RX7 Ive owned that I have had anyproblems with.

Basically when you go and look at one take a compression tester, screwdriver, jack, and magnet.

Check the compression first and if its low just walk away cause its gonna need a rebuild sooner than later.

Take the screw driver and poke around the frame in the usual rust spots and make sure ther isnt any. If there is but its only minor and not like a hole you could put you foot through keep the car into consideration

Jack up the car and get under there and look around for more rust, possible collision repair, and other things

Take a magnet to the fenders and everything to make sure they arnt cover in bondo and just painted over.

I picked up my 88 GTU for 800$ perfect body garage kept low miles and about 2 weeks later it started smoking like a frieght train and then the motor went. but I also picked up a base for 400$ high miles shitty interior and some surface rust and nothing ever went wrong with that car. This can happen with any car at anytime. Just try and get as low as miles as you can, make sure everything is in working order and dont jump into buying the first thing you see.

 

Hey, This is what my friends tells me all the time! Rx-7 owners dont buy rx7s to drive them they buy them to play with the peices!! My rx7 is always part and he is always helping me build on it. My car is nowhere near stock everything is custom and rebuilt. And my parents and g/f think im nuts for the money i spent and time working on this car and not driving but its not all about driving to me.

If you buy one it good shape with low kms and is stock then you should be alright with just general maintance.

Stay away from cars that ppl have hacked with and didnt know what they were doing.

 

The RX-7 (especially turbo) is a very poor choice for a first car. It will cost a lot yearly to run the car, and you will get yourself into serious trouble. I know this from experience as an RX-7 was the first car I ever bought.

Find a cheap Honda or some other beater that you can trash for a few years as you gain experience. Then buy the RX-7.

When you are young you want to rush into everything. Just take it easy and gain knowledge. Otherwise you will likely end up with a trashed RX-7, no money, and no car.

I should also mention that since you are in Barrie, an RX-7 is not the ideal car for an inexperienced driver to be using in the winter. It's not that it's a bad winter car, but from what I have seen, most young drivers have no idea how to properly drive a RWD car in the good weather let alone when things get slippery.

 

i say get a 240... and how much does your friend know about cars anyways?

 

MY theory...

When you are young people will always tell you whats good for you and what you can't do. Their goal is to keep you out of harms way and the reasons that they say not to do cirtain things are probably good reasons. The bottom line is, If you have to try and convince yourself that it's a good idea on any level, It's simply not a good idea (usually). However, It's been said that people who tell you whats good for you, and tell you what it is exactly what you do and dont want to do, in reality dont understand. I'm 19, married with a kid, obviously not what others recommended to me, but I'm way happier than they could imagine. It works for me and my wife. I recently bought my TII against advice, and I've never worked on cars (but also have a friend who is good at it) and I'm fairing fine. just be prepared to learn. manage your money well and you'll be fine. I know how you feel wanting a sports car, as do we all. I'm obviously a rebel, so take this with a grain of salt, but I say, do what you feel like. as long as you can back yourself up in the end when it all breaks (not that it will) just do it. 10k is alot to throw at an rx7. buy cheap and save for repairs. you should have no problem finding a mint rx7 for 3-4 grand be patient in the buying process and you'll fair well...more power to ya dude.

-Jake

 

Well... I;m 18 and I bought an S5 N/A a year ago, not my first car but second...so might as well have been first.

My first car WAS a honda... reliable and safe. I wrecked it doing something stupid and irresponsible but then when I got my RX-7 I had learned my lesson, and have been very careful with it since i've owned it.

It IS impracticle, can't really be used in winter, and can hold very few ppl and cargo, but its also a lot of fun. it's a blast to drive and ppl love to tell me how great it looks. I paid $2300 for it, it costs next to nothing to insure (due to its age) and most of the $ i've spent on it has been for "toys".

I do often think I should have gotten something with a little more room and weatherability, but it's been great to have and if i could go back to 1.5 yrs ago i would totally buy it all over again.

Just know that...
-it can get away from you if you drive it too hard before your ready
-you will probably have to fix things yourself
-police will watch you like a hawk
-you wont be able to drive 3 passengers and a ton of stuff. Well you CAN (i do... far too often) but its not comfortable and doesnt look cool.


just my $0.02

enjoy whatever car you get

 

thats exactly my point almost everyone makes a mistake with their first car, better if its in a honda. Everyone thinks their going to be fine but most arn't

 

so you live in canada and you have about 10 k why dont you get a skyline weren' they imported to there

 

I am in your same situation. I am almost 18 and have wanted an RX7 for about a year now and have been looking into buying one while saving my pennies.I have already owned 4 vehicles and have raced cars, yet everyone thinks I am crazy because it is a rotary. I have taken apart piston engines and put them back together and my dad is somewhat of a gearhead and is very knwoleadgable. But, that is kind of part of the whole fascination. I want to know and I want to learn and learn adn fix things and have the car I want, because I like it alot.Soon I will have enough money for one, and the decision must be made.I will buy an RX7 If i can, fully knowing the sorts of trouble I may be getting myself into. Saying that, I have another vehicle to drive if it dies. But, just because I am young, I am not crazy, besides I kinda know how to handle cars. Good luck man, do whatever you think is best!

Ephipany

(BTW I totaled a truck once, haaha)

 

HAHA I am importing a Seven. I looked at skylines and 300zx's and mitsus and skylines seem like a clear choice for performance and stuff.
One problem. If it breaks, you pay out your ***.Parts are soo expensive as I found out not too long ago. Seven parts are still expensive, but less so.

 

okay whoever brought up the skyline: i did come across one for about 10k on autotrader, but to my knowledge i thought they were illegal in Canada??? whats the full story on that? because a skyline would be ******* SWEET.

as far as ******* up your first car goes: i've been driving for almost 2 years now, and i've already fucked up my dads once. I'm now a pretty careful driver and would like to think that i wouldn't **** up like that again.... but then again who knows how adventurous i'll feel if i do get an rx-7..

grrrrr choices.

 

From the sound of it me bein 16 years old and buying this FC was a mistake. It's ok though, I'm not looking for the reliability the other guy is. I'm all about restoration, twas my plan anyway.

 

Skylines aren't really that great, they're actually very slow, it's the engine. The engine is built to withstand insane boost pressures, so it's the money you put into it that gives it performance, off the shelf they are like your average car just with 4WD and 4-wheel steering. Also: it HAS to be the GTR or it's a RWD N/A. go for the FC if you're willing to do the matenance that comes with it. you said your budget is $1000? Buy a $3000 one and rebuild the engine, swap the tranny, suspension and other wear and tear parts and the whole car is practically new for $10,000. there, problem solved. as new it would'nt break for another...... well some last for 20 years till today. Also if you have the choice go 89 Turbo rather than 88 Turbo. The 89 is the S4 to S5 conversion.

(Note: even with the brand new rebuilt engine, if you don't maintain it, it will be bad, keep it full of (non-synthetic) oil and when new you need to break it in for the first 1k miles really smoothly.

Hope I helped

-Chris