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TL;DR I test drove a Tesla Model 3 dual motor long range (non-performance, one step below) and bought one. I'm daily driving it now and charging it for free at work, and I'm thinking about selling it because it performs equal or better than my FD and I've already got other cool cars.
I bought the Tesla because I like the car, not for "eco" or political reasons.
I still have a 2017 Challenger R/T (5.7L manual) which has another year left on the lease, my wife drives a 2019 Mustang Ecoboost manual that I can drive whenever I want, and I have my 1995 Rx-7. The FD has ~59k on the clock. I got it in March 2017 off Bring a Trailer for $20,500 plus fees (so something like $21.5k) and then taxes etc. I've basically bailed from day to day wrenching work on cars, so I took it to a local shop with rotary experience which did a pretty good job on the vacuum lines, cooling system, brakes, and pillow ball bushings. Only performance mods are RB catback and JDM downpipe. The motor has about 100psi even compression according to the Mazda tester, but does use more oil than a rebuilt engine would (1 to 2 quarts per 1000 miles).
It's been a solid car for two years and everything works on it, including A/C. I'm just not driving it enough. It's almost completely stock but I've stopped driving it to work because it's just draining to drive compared to a modern car and I have a highway/stop and go commute. I do a few good weekend drives on it, and last year I did a fun road trip to the Appalachian mountains. Where I live there are limited twisty roads, and while the FD is still quick, it might be slightly faster than my Challenger. The Tesla just annihilates it in a straight line. It's like instant bus lengths. And I have no interest in modding the FD to have it keep up. I had a big single turbo FC; I've been down that road before.
I've had this Tesla for a month now. It weighs 4000 lbs but it drives like it weighs 3000 lbs because of the low center of gravity. The handling is really good, close to a stock FD although not as nimble , and it's way more comfortable, way more spacious and much faster in a straight line. It doesn't have the rotary sound (or V8 sound) but I do like that it is quiet sometimes.
Meanwhile the FD will eventually need paint, a motor, tires. It's fine for now, but I don't have a lot of space for it anymore (4 cars, 2 car garage, narrow 1 car width driveway). I'm really thinking about selling it. Yes values are going up but realistically the appreciation will not be faster than the cost of keeping it up. Also, the shop I went to doesn't work on rotaries anymore, so I'm going to the dealer for service (they actually have an old timer who knows what he's doing) but a big job would probably require me to go out of state.
I'm sure I could get what I paid for it in a quick sale, and summer is the time to sell a sports car.
Last edited by arghx; 06-21-19 at 09:51 AM.
Reason: it's not the performance model but it's close
Recently had a Model 3 in the local autocross. We have some damn good SCCA drivers in the Richmond area. The Model 3 DOMINATED in D stock and handed me my *** as well as a number of modern performance A-C class cars like a Camaro SS 1LE from B stock. It was half a second off cars running hoosier a7's... insane.
yeah and that might have been the Performance version. A friend of mine just bought the Performance version, trading in his Camaro SS 1LE manual trans that he tracked. . I got the dual motor non performance, which has less stiff suspension, smaller tires and brakes, and less low end torque (relatively speaking). It's still a LOT for a daily driver though.
I think the only thing the FD has going for it compared to the Model 3 is the uniqueness and looks. Even the range thing... an FD driven like it's meant to be driven might get 250-300 miles per tank, comparable to a Model 3 long range driven like a normal car (not the optimistic EPA numbers).
They're fast cars but I think they are ugly as hell. If I was in your situation I'd wait out or break the lease on the Challenger and keep the FD. I think you'll always have a place in your heart for the FD and will be buying a new one in a years time.
If you have room in your garage for a lift and the expense of one isn't an issue why not buy one and put the FD in "storage" on it for a while?
I don't have a lift in my garage. It's actually a rental house.
Breaking the lease on the Challenger costs as much as keeping the car, so I'm going to keep it until April 2020 which is the earliest I can turn it in without penalty. If anything I would put the Challenger in storage.
I didn't like the looks of the Model 3 at first, but it grew on me. Obviously the FD wins in the looks department.
I would have thought the space and cost issues (paint, possible rebuild, etc) through before adding another car to the stable. If you feel the FD is draining to drive, and you’re not working on it yourself then it probably wasnt the right car for you from the beginning. They’re old and needy, just the nature of the beast.
Seems like you had your mind made up when making this post, glws.
I've had a Tesla since 2013.
It is hands down the best DD.
Despite that my FD RX7 is a blast from the past that gets more thumbs up than any car I own.
Everytime I consider selling it, I take it out for a long drive and it still puts smiles on my face. Even if launching it doesn't make me say ** **** ok Iike my Tesla does every time.
Drive it till it doesn't make you happy.
I'd take the rx7 over your other cars any day of the week
The only reason to keep an FD is because you like the car. There is no practical reason to own one.
Sell it.
I don't see a stock FD coming close to keeping up with a performance model 3 on any type course, be it autocross or road course (AWD 450 hp and 470 torque/fd doesn't have a chance). EVs are going to take over the world. It sounds crazy but I believe in 10 years 1/2 the cars on the road will be electric.
The only reason to keep an FD is because you like the car. There is no practical reason to own one.
Sell it.
I don't see a stock FD coming close to keeping up with a performance model 3 on any type course, be it autocross or road course (AWD 450 hp and 470 torque/fd doesn't have a chance). EVs are going to take over the world. It sounds crazy but I believe in 10 years 1/2 the cars on the road will be electric.
Well I have the AWD non-performance model, which is still a pretty high performing vehicle for what it is. A friend got the performance model recently, and I've ridden in it. I just didn't want the stiffer ride in a daily (we have terrible beat up roads here) and it costs a lot more. But yeah this thread is making me lean toward selling FD.
Getting rid of the Challenger before the lease is up only saves the extra space, it doesn't save me any money (downside to leasing), and I was thinking of making it a winter car due to all the salt around here. My wife just got the Mustang and she really likes it, so there's no reason to get rid of it.
I think I'm in a phase of life where I don't have much interest in tinkering on a car, which is a far cry from 10 years ago when I spent every weekend and every free dollar of my collegiate self on car projects.
Perfect. You can come back to us when they come out with the new RX-7
Agree with Fritz. Whether it's 10... 20 years... Eventually rotary owners (and all ICE fans) will be like the old country bumpkins displaying their ancient hit and miss engines at the county fair. Tucked away in some corner with their relics from the past while the rest of the world runs circles around them. They'll still be fun to drive though haha.
I think I'm in a phase of life where I don't have much interest in tinkering on a car, which is a far cry from 10 years ago when I spent every weekend and every free dollar of my collegiate self on car projects.
then it's simple. get rid of it.
if your circumstances would tolerate keeping it and waiting it out, then i would have said wait it out. however, your feeling this way is 85 percent of any reason to part ways, circumstances are just the last 2 nails in the coffin.
While I'm still not sold on the electric cars, the ecoboost mustangs are no joke. I rented one while on vacation a couple weeks ago and it impressed me. In drag race mode it chirped the tires with the first few upshifts. I'd still keep the fd if you could swing it. They are getting more rare and the value is just going up.
I’ve been mulling something like this over myself. Moving to japan later this year and my 7 is gonna sit in my parents garage for 4 years. Do I let her rot there and not collect any miles and spend money on it when I get back? Or do I sell her off to someone who will use it more than me? It currently sits in my garage and comes out for track days, but literally that’s about it. I haven’t taken it out for a casual drive in awhile because I have to move two cars just to get it out of the garage.
Thanks for all the advice everyone. I decided I will sell it, with an asking price of $24k. I'm not sure where that falls in this rising market. If I get a bunch of interest in it at that price I will take the highest bidder. I'm not doing the BaT thing because I want a quick low hassle sale.
I'll put an ad up probably Monday. If you're reading this thread and you think you're interested, you can PM me. I had one guy contact me but he then decided he wanted a non sunroof model.
I have a couple videos showing cold start and idle, and me getting under the car to show there's no rust on the underbody. I also have a bunch of receipts including the compression test from the dealer that I can provide.
06-21-19, 07:12 AM
