Purchased 30 years ago today at North Penn Mazda in Colmar, Pa. Just turned 137K miles. Where did the time go!

 

Looks minty fresh for 137k!

 

wow.... looks extremely well taken care of... thats incredible

 

Very very nice Base Model.
Original engine??

 

Super clean!

 

Very well taken care of!
I found it funny how no one likes the stock steering wheel. Lol
Here’s to the next 30yrs!

 

That’s the way to own a RX7, driven!
I have the same steering wheel…

 

Thanks guys. Yeah, it's been a labor of love and pampered all its life. Daily driver first 4 years I owned it, put about 65K on it in that time. Winters in the Northeast and all, a little hairy at times!
Motor and turbos were done at 97K miles with a new short block and 99 spec turbos. Was still running fine except for the secondary turbo, so decided to do both at that time. Dave at KD Rotary/Speed1 did all the work, sure miss having that guy in the biz.
Stock steering wheel is in a box in the basement, along with the stock stereo and a bunch of other stuff. Steering wheel with that big airbag was certainly a product of the times. Went back to the oem wheels a couple years ago but not sure I'm ready to do the same with the steering wheel

 

What great condition for the mileage! Makes me feel slightly less bad about putting miles on mine.

Any tips or advice on how you have kept it in such great condition for so long?

 

Very clean! You need a better matching cruise control switch tho

 

Thanks! As far as tips, well, nothing that would surprise you. Huge advantage being an original owner - I've put every one of those miles on the car. Most important is where you park it. In the garage at night and as far away from other humans as you can get when out in public! Other than that I just keep after it in terms wax, touch-ups when needed, etc. Of course at this point it's a "sunny day only" car.

 

Agree! I bought the wheel from you 13 or 14 years ago. Are there options for the cruise control switch?

 

Not so much of an option since the Nardi wheels for our car never had cruise. However, the Miata at the time had roughly the same wheel. There are slight differences, but they had cruise as part of the wheel. You can retrofit it onto your present wheel but you’ll have to make some permanent mod to it. If you can live with it, go for it.
I’ve never bothered since you can barely use it. The car commands so much attention and she hates going slow.

 

Funny what FD owners notice through experience: that shift **** looks great, most I see are worn to the bone. I took mine off and it’s stored in carbonite

 

Thanks, that's actually the Mazdaspeed **** that I put on many years ago. Original was still in good shape and is also in a box in my basement somewhere.

 

Beautiful specimen good sir and respect to you for hanging on to your gem in such great care. Your first pic reminded me exactly of what mine looked like when I pulled up to inspect and purchase on the same day. Base VR here as well. I spy a Greddy boost gauge and is that the Continental Radio ?

 

There is! I might not have done the PnP cruise control when you purchase this wheel, but I do now. In recent years, I even adopt them to wheels that don't normally support cruise like the one you have.

Here's one example.

 

Thanks. May have to consider a future upgrade

 

Thanks and you are correct on both counts, good eye! Nothing like a VR base, enjoy

 

Feed free to reach out anytime, I can help you upgrade just the cruise switch

 

The car looks great and it's good to hear that I am not the only one still driving my Fd. Everytime I get in it I drive it and I don't care about milage. I did not buy this car in 1998 thinking about storing it for someone else.

 

Me either! For me it was a daily for 4 years, a regular, 3-season driver for 16 followed by 10 years of less frequent (following Cayman purchase) but still regular use. I guess I'm proof that this can be done and still have a pretty nice looking FD in the end. I'm old enough to remember when cars rusted easily with a few years of winter use. With modern cars they can really last forever with proper care and maintenance. Keep on enjoying yours!

 

I hope the majority of us are still driving theirs. It’s the purpose of the vehicle.
never understood having something and then not using it due to “loss of value”.

mines at 164k km’s and still counting.