WhtRocket

How long will it last? Somewhere between 5 minutes and 100k miles! Personally I have not had much luck but some have over 100k miles. I'm betting most members here do not get 100k miles. I think most folks get into trouble during the modifications phase. But your only planning a cat back right and a DP ? Yeah me too!

As for the Apexi dual N1, I have it and I run it with out the silencers. It sounds great, it's not too loud. It can be a bit much at WOT. Too loud kinda depends on you wife/GF/date/neighbors. My landlord lives at the end of my driveway, about 20 feet from there the FD sits. He has not complained. but then I light it and back it to the end of the driveway to warm up every morning

There are may great things you will love about this car and many things likely you will hate. So far for me the former has outweighed the latter.

Enjoy! Read the forum

Mr. Mahtab

I you drive like a Buick it could last until your children get old, if you 1/4 mile runs every 50 miles, then not as long. And seriously look at the M2 dual tip, it's really nice and the N1 isn't all stainless anyway. It can melt your bumper too if it gets too hot.



This is the M2 ($525)(it's pictured upside down)

technonovice

I started a thread a few months ago and there were a few of us with well over 100K miles. te highest I recall was 150K. I am at 98K.

Mr. Mahtab

You should do all the reliability mods, that goes without saying. And don't max the thing if you don't have the mods to back up pushing it that hard

Very imporant stuff;

AST replacement
Boost guage ( keep a eye on your turbo's performance also helps maintain vaccum levels)
Downpipe (get rid of the heat)
Radiator (if you go higher than 285 HP)
Run Redline "water wetter" in the rad too
Tie wrap on the vaccum lines if you can afford it

The list can go on and on depending on how deep your pockets are. i always keep $4000 saved just in case I have to get a new engine. I've already spent over 12K in mods and engine work and I still need to spend another 3K to get what I want.

Blade7

that is a nice site, however , where's your car?
what are your mods?

94' m2 stage 3 with
pulleys and free flow cat

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

That's a lot of cash, Mr. Kitty Cat . My motor went at 63k b/c the guy who had it before me overheated it. He thought it had a V8 or something I'm sure. If you don't (1) overboost (2) overheat and (1) warm her up and cool her down (2) change oil every 2k
(3) use 93 octane...then, depending on the car's past history, you'll be fine .

RyanC

I think everyone has gone over and over about how the FD's engine needs to be taken care of, what the reliability mods are(radiator, DP, etc.) and how long the engines last. But, I never here about the other parts of the car. Do you think that there are any problem areas that need special attention. What about the transmission, brakes, electronic stuff, etc. I'm just a little curious if you have a car with 75k miles what kind of things you should be looking for(other than the engine).

WhtRocket

Ryan C besides the motor stuff, I have not had any problems (well the AC pump and clutch failed). The other major systems seem excellent. I'm at 74K miles.

In truth, I'd agree with Goodfella. My motor is blown right now...again and the warrentte company doesn't want to pay....imagine that. So I'm about as frustrated with the FD as it gets. Ask me the same question in a couple months and I'll be saying how it does not matter cause the car is awesome! Look for a post about a new top speed by October ;D

Just be careful when modifying. I think the forum spells out most of the pitfalls.

If your buying it from a dealer, buy the warentte. Mine has more than paid for itself even if they turn this claim down.

Where do these guys get all this MONEY?

rxrotary2_7

just hit 50k on my fd and i am on motor #5 still. i dont feel a number #6 comming on for about another week or so. LOL

there was a coment about what else goes wrong. i made a statement at one point about, "did anyone ever notice that the only thing that goes wrong is the motor blows" and man did i get it for making that statement. but it is the truth.

and there was a coment by Mr mahtab saying to drive it like an old lady and it will last. i personaly think that is BS. (not saying anything about you mr mahtab, just that theory) it has been proven if you drive it like you hate it, it will last longer. (my fd is not an example of that for other reasons caused by me myself and i, just trying to figure my limit) ever notice that automatic motors go so much faster than standard? i have seen about a 4-1 ratio of autos in junkyards or for sale w/ blown motors. i used to part out 2nd gens and always had more autos. you just cant beat on an auto.
carbon builds up inside the motor when you drive like a puss#.
my 91 has 160k on it and has takes an *** whoopin every day. i never leave the rpms below 4k. my 88 ( i just gave it to my girl) has 189k of *** kicking. and my first rx had 260k

you know what will make it last? oil change, oil change, oil change. and never let it overheat.

GoodfellaFD3S

iTrader: (213)

Thanks, Keith . She looks a little different now. I decided to get away from the stock appearance I'd kept for the last two and a half yrs. I swapped out my R1 lip spoiler for a '99 spec and added the Efini badges front and back.

Also, have the car's compression tested. Mazda can do it, if you trust them ...

Rich

technonovice

Its all stock...I like running in Super stock. I am working on getting my car worthy. Visually, its a little rough. Some dings and paintt issues

Touring FD3S

I don't know where the actual proof is for this, but in my own personal experience with rotaries this is a true statement. My baby will refuse to run right if she is treated nicely. By that I mean shifting at 3500 rpms, not running over 4k. I can run it like that for a few days or so, but then she will start acting up. Little hesitation here or there, stuff like that. But if I drive hard 60% of the time I drive it, it runs like a baby. By driving hard I mean a few 6500 runs, cruising a little over 3k, and hardly running lower than that. So I think it may just be different cars, but that is my experience.

djantlive

I am expecting 100-120k mi out of my Fd's original, currently at 79k mi. I think the key points are

-religious maint
-fix minor problems early before the engine dies
-never overheat
-use good mechanic or be knowledgeable yourself
-get a good car to begin with

A good rotary mechanic should be able to tell you just about everything that is not working well.

0piston

iTrader: (9)

Unlike piston engines, you have to run rotaries at higher rpms every once and awhile to avoid carbon buildup. Don't drive around at low rpms because over time the engine could potentially go into carbon lock. NoW go out there and kick some suprass!