A couple of questions that I get asked constantly are how expensive it is to own an RX-7 or what I should pay for one. Also, how much have I spent on mine? That got me curious, and I tried to identify everything I've done since I got it in 2018. Well, my assumptions were off as hell 🤣. How much have you all spent?

https://youtu.be/m-phitvxkMU

 

this could be a lively thread....

gentlemen, start your calculators.

 

Be prepared to use exponential notation.

Indeed it could be lively and I’m afraid to even contemplate the total costs….in my own case there was a substantial opportunity cost as I preferred to work on my FD and other car projects as opposed to doing real paying work.

Don’t forget to figure in the cost of your “labor of love”, your indirect and overhead expenses, et.al..

 

It was an eye opener. I expected a lot less due to be able to do everything at home but I was so wrong 😅.
That would be good to know also. How much would've spent if a shop did all this.

 

🤣🤣 People have been pm'd me excel sheets lol!

 

I don't really want to go through receipts

I bought a 50,000km car and after driving 10,000km in the past year, so far I've spent:
1.) $10k+ for a AT -> MT swap (including new transmission, new differential, powerFC ECU, starter I had lying around, etc.)
2.) Probably at least another $10k on a 99 spec front-end conversion + OEM fenders + reversion to pop-up headlights + paint (all new OEM parts basically)
3.) Several thousand dollars in misc. stuff & maintenance (wideband O2 sensor, new alternator, all new belts, new steering rack & tie rods, new steering wheel, shift ****, air filters, multiple coolant flushes & engine oil changes, new coolant overflow reservoir and window washer reservoir, cheap side mirrors to replace broken aftermarket ones, etc.)
4.) About $1.5-2k on new wheels + tires (new PS4S set + winter tire set of tires/wheels), sold off the ~20" rims that came with the car
5.) $1.1k on autoexe front + rear swaybars & install
6.) $1k or so on new suspension & install
7.) ~$2.5k on xavier's pfc master
8.) radar detector: $300
9.) basic maintenance & inspection ($2k)
9.) probably a bunch I'm forgetting

Total: $30k or so

New things that have broken:
-power window motor (will be about $1k to replace everything on both sides, window wiper motors also appear to be aging, and the climate control circuit board probably needs to be repaired soon-ish)

Stuff still needed (I have a 30+ point list...)
-brakes: $2-3k (BBK up-front is expense, rears need to be upgraded to 17" to match.)
-Bushing refresh: $1-1.5k ($450 parts, $1k in labor roughly) & maybe front lower suspension arms & wheel bearings
-subframe collars: $1k (parts + labor) - more of a want while I'm replacing all the bushings
-vacuum hose replacement ($1.5k??)
-better mirrors (maybe $1.5k installed & painted for kabuki mirrors)

I do almost all my work at a tuning shop but I usually buy parts myself when I find them at a discount online. Lately I've been doing more at the local mazda dealership (roughly $30/hour for labor) so that helps. They replaced my power steering rack, tie rod ends, alternator, and did engine oil & power steering flushes plus a basic check-up for about $450 in labor.

 

Haven't even factored in ECU, wiring, or paint yet...

 

Not bad!! I'm wondering what would be the cost per hour for rebuilding these engines. I'd like to add it up to my sheet.

 

What ECU are you running?

 

Probably going with a Haltech 2500. Still need an engine harness plus whatever sensors but haven't even begun looking into that yet. Plenty of other small odds and ends that I'm missing also. Heavily debating sending it to someone who really knows this chassis to make me a list of everything I'm missing lol

 

lol. I say the basics, oil pressure and temp, coolant and air temp, knock sensor (optional), fuel temp and pressure, and the trigger if you go hall effect. Everything else is extra safety features that you will like to have.

 

Do you guys write your costs off as business expenses for the "company vehicle"?

"Yes sir, it's a demo car for my mobile mechanic business. So far no customers, but someday I'll have that luxury limo business!"

 

It started out of curiosity, then after speaking with some insurance adjusters, continued it for insurance reasons.

 

I can try but my company is pastries related

 

Sounds like the perfect business for it. Gotta have a fast delivery vehicle to make sure everything is still warm when delivered

 

 

I'm somewhere between $60 and $65k, and that includes my original purchase price.

 

I do not keep track and I don't want to

 

^what he said

I've owned mine for over 20 years now. I never counted and I'm not going to start now.

 

^^^ Exactly, My FD gives me joy, while going for drives, working on it or detailing it.
So, I don't even think about what she cost or what I've spent on it.
Life is short, enjoy the ride!


Steve

 

I actually make a target budget and stick to it pretty well. My current "car" has morphed halfway through the build so the budget changed drastically.


Very roughly the car is at:

500 for the car
800 for the engine
200 for another engine to complete it
300 for the carb
150 for exhaust piping
100 for the left rear control arm
100 for epoxy paint
400 for raw steel
200 for a distributor, plug wires, and coils
200 for an electric water pump
100 for brakes and a master clutch cylinder
600 for an atkins rebuild kit
150 for universal coolant hoses
200 for a set of wheels
$4000

Then I got the FD body...

3000 for everything
200 for rustoleum paint
300 for fiberglass and bondo
400 for my ****
250 for side skirts
150 for lexan
500 for a rear window
600 for A/C
1500 for paint

$6900 for the body

Makes for $10900 total.

Still need tires and a front windscreen. So tack on an extra 2 grand.

Not too bad. My projects tend to the $10k mark so I'm not upset about it.

 

If it can work for a tofu delivery shop it can work for pastries!

 

I'm not familiar with the REW engine. How many vacuum hoses are there?

 

a **** ton is a pretty accurate description 😂

 

LOL fair enough.

REW's are different from what I've observed. I guess I've never run anything other than S4 blocks. And those S4 blocks were nothing like OEM. S4 is just sooooo damn cheap.