How to value your FD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 274
Likes: 141
From: Pa USA
yeah, if that car is $28K mine's worth about $35! Just amazing. I probably need to bump up the agreed value on my insurance policy....
Last edited by RX7gp; Oct 2, 2018 at 08:01 PM.
Presentation is everything folks.
The car did look great for 180k miles.
At the same time, lets think about how much more money would it had gone for if the guy detailed it. I'm thinking that it would had been very close to 30k.
Last edited by Montego; Oct 2, 2018 at 09:35 PM.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 28
From: San Pedro, California
holy **** all this hate on the supra...
I own both and often drive them back to back. I have more fun in the FD for sure, the steering, handling, and direct connection to the chassis is better for sure. But I don't trust it...I have stressful track days because I constantly need to monitor all the stats.
Even if both cars are 90s, Japanese, twin turbo rwd sports car, the Supra is a totally different kind of car, I can't really say which one is better or worse because it's comparing apples to oranges. It's also not the kind of car I would take out to the race track primarily because it is sooo expensive to upkeep and mistakes will be costly for sure. And why would I, when I have a better tool for the job?
I tell you this though...when I work on the Supra everything just feels so high quality and well made and built to last. When I work on the FD I find myself discovering things and saying "wtf Mazda?!" pretty often. Neither car completely replaces the other, which is why I bought both. As for owners, you gotta look past youtube stars of what kind of people own them. We definitely have some weirdos in the FD community too.
In the end I now track a supercharged miata because it's way more fun to toss around a car you don't give a **** about, is worthless, and you don't have to put much thought into whether you want to preserve the originality of anything. It also starts every single time and an entire engine is like $300.
I own both and often drive them back to back. I have more fun in the FD for sure, the steering, handling, and direct connection to the chassis is better for sure. But I don't trust it...I have stressful track days because I constantly need to monitor all the stats.
Even if both cars are 90s, Japanese, twin turbo rwd sports car, the Supra is a totally different kind of car, I can't really say which one is better or worse because it's comparing apples to oranges. It's also not the kind of car I would take out to the race track primarily because it is sooo expensive to upkeep and mistakes will be costly for sure. And why would I, when I have a better tool for the job?
I tell you this though...when I work on the Supra everything just feels so high quality and well made and built to last. When I work on the FD I find myself discovering things and saying "wtf Mazda?!" pretty often. Neither car completely replaces the other, which is why I bought both. As for owners, you gotta look past youtube stars of what kind of people own them. We definitely have some weirdos in the FD community too.
In the end I now track a supercharged miata because it's way more fun to toss around a car you don't give a **** about, is worthless, and you don't have to put much thought into whether you want to preserve the originality of anything. It also starts every single time and an entire engine is like $300.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
. That is 2007 GT3 RS money.Seriously though unreal what's going on but I'm also not at all surprised. I wouldn't buy the ssm 95 R2 listed here on this forum for 20k much less this car at 28k. Perfect example of an uninformed buyer but most of the cars on BAT have been bad buys or GREAT SELLS.
The FD was decimated by F&F and The Big Crash in 2007. The Supra and NSX were spared by high asking prices and reasonable service needs. The other period jdm supercars were saved by general mediocrity and high production numbers.
Rare is the FD that was spared mods, part outs, bad service, accident history, and misguided ownership over 25+ yrs.
Not sure why collectors are getting dumped on. They're the only ones preserving these cars we love. Everyone else tore them up, parted them out, raced them, left them for dead, fixed them under a shady tree, and sold them to the next one for their own convenience.
Add $10k and you'll know the prices for the same car next summer, bet you lunch.
Rare is the FD that was spared mods, part outs, bad service, accident history, and misguided ownership over 25+ yrs.
Not sure why collectors are getting dumped on. They're the only ones preserving these cars we love. Everyone else tore them up, parted them out, raced them, left them for dead, fixed them under a shady tree, and sold them to the next one for their own convenience.
Add $10k and you'll know the prices for the same car next summer, bet you lunch.
The car that jumped the shark has finally eclipsed the thread title. Or it's no longer hard to sell an FD for over 25k. Just maintain it nicely and it's worth 25k or more.
I think because the RX7 was such a departure from its contemporaries and sort of ahead of its time, it wasn't well understood and suffered mightily in the import/modding craze, where it was evaluated relative to the standards of other cars deemed "like" it that really weren't.
For it's time, the FD R7 was an exotic made by an economy brand. I used to call it "The Japanese Lotus." That's actually the concept of Gorden's build: "what if it had been made by a higher end brand?" You'll really never see anything like it again I don't think, nobody would be that that stupid (Car companies I mean, not Gorden). And I think it'll be tough for a lot of collectors to get past the brand and see if for what it is, and that may mean that it never really attains the collector value it should for it's significance. But, you're starting to see some hints.
For it's time, the FD R7 was an exotic made by an economy brand. I used to call it "The Japanese Lotus." That's actually the concept of Gorden's build: "what if it had been made by a higher end brand?" You'll really never see anything like it again I don't think, nobody would be that that stupid (Car companies I mean, not Gorden). And I think it'll be tough for a lot of collectors to get past the brand and see if for what it is, and that may mean that it never really attains the collector value it should for it's significance. But, you're starting to see some hints.
holy **** all this hate on the supra...
I own both and often drive them back to back. I have more fun in the FD for sure, the steering, handling, and direct connection to the chassis is better for sure. But I don't trust it...I have stressful track days because I constantly need to monitor all the stats.
Even if both cars are 90s, Japanese, twin turbo rwd sports car, the Supra is a totally different kind of car, I can't really say which one is better or worse because it's comparing apples to oranges. It's also not the kind of car I would take out to the race track primarily because it is sooo expensive to upkeep and mistakes will be costly for sure. And why would I, when I have a better tool for the job?
I tell you this though...when I work on the Supra everything just feels so high quality and well made and built to last. When I work on the FD I find myself discovering things and saying "wtf Mazda?!" pretty often. Neither car completely replaces the other, which is why I bought both. As for owners, you gotta look past youtube stars of what kind of people own them. We definitely have some weirdos in the FD community too.
In the end I now track a supercharged miata because it's way more fun to toss around a car you don't give a **** about, is worthless, and you don't have to put much thought into whether you want to preserve the originality of anything. It also starts every single time and an entire engine is like $300.
I own both and often drive them back to back. I have more fun in the FD for sure, the steering, handling, and direct connection to the chassis is better for sure. But I don't trust it...I have stressful track days because I constantly need to monitor all the stats.
Even if both cars are 90s, Japanese, twin turbo rwd sports car, the Supra is a totally different kind of car, I can't really say which one is better or worse because it's comparing apples to oranges. It's also not the kind of car I would take out to the race track primarily because it is sooo expensive to upkeep and mistakes will be costly for sure. And why would I, when I have a better tool for the job?
I tell you this though...when I work on the Supra everything just feels so high quality and well made and built to last. When I work on the FD I find myself discovering things and saying "wtf Mazda?!" pretty often. Neither car completely replaces the other, which is why I bought both. As for owners, you gotta look past youtube stars of what kind of people own them. We definitely have some weirdos in the FD community too.
In the end I now track a supercharged miata because it's way more fun to toss around a car you don't give a **** about, is worthless, and you don't have to put much thought into whether you want to preserve the originality of anything. It also starts every single time and an entire engine is like $300.
Though I was surprised how high the bid went (I was expecting high teens low 20's), is it really jumping the shark? Especially when one considers that this decently maintained 180K mile FD is close to being 50% of the price paid on the 9.5K mile car.
I'd say the red car went for cheap especially given the BAT peanut gallery. Now at the same time, FD's prices are very dynamic right now and it appears that they have been jumping considerably from one month to the next.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 28
From: San Pedro, California
I had been re-thinking whether I wanted to keep tracking the FD because of the value jumping but then yea you're right life is short.
I have now joined the team of I have no idea what is going on... The 38K mile 93 CYM only netted $10,550 more than the 180K mile touring? I can certainly understand the lack of enthusiasm over an R model because I really like the sunroof 
but these two had a difference of 141K miles...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
but these two had a difference of 141K miles...https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
Last edited by Montego; Oct 3, 2018 at 03:30 PM.
I Raise Chickens
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 35
From: Half Moon Bay, CA
I followed that auction closely and while I was surprised that it didn't cross 40k, two things really hurt the sale: No compression test and the "moderate damage" on the vehicle history report. The "moderate damage" flag could have kept bidders away that are looking to buy low mileage "original" cars.
Maybe others were turned off by the CYM? Hard to say for sure.
Maybe others were turned off by the CYM? Hard to say for sure.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
I have now joined the team of I have no idea what is going on... The 38K mile 93 CYM only netted $10,550 more than the 180K mile touring? I can certainly understand the lack of enthusiasm over an R model because I really like the sunroof but these two had a difference of 141K miles...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
but these two had a difference of 141K miles...https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
Someone did OK on the CYM but man that ssm buyer, just wow!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 519
Likes: 28
From: San Pedro, California
Full disclosure here. I go by AZ Rotorhead on BAT. I was a little surprised the CYM didn’t bring more today, but my suspicions are that the market softens between October and March as the country approaches Christmas, but more importantly, the Winter months. It would be interesting to see all seasonal sales prices on BAT to see if that suspicion has any merit. The other thing I didn’t understand today was the Sellers reference to BAT insisting on a fairly low reserve, yet the 9K mile red base went to nearly $50K but didn’t trip reserve. Did that seller pay a higher premium for the sky high reserve price?
My '95 Montego Blue PEP I bought on BaT with 49k miles was $20,500 final bid, and the guy told me if I remember correctly that it had like a 17k reserve, in March 2017. He could have gotten a few more thousand if he had sold in May.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Full disclosure here. I go by AZ Rotorhead on BAT. I was a little surprised the CYM didn’t bring more today, but my suspicions are that the market softens between October and March as the country approaches Christmas, but more importantly, the Winter months. It would be interesting to see all seasonal sales prices on BAT to see if that suspicion has any merit. The other thing I didn’t understand today was the Sellers reference to BAT insisting on a fairly low reserve, yet the 9K mile red base went to nearly $50K but didn’t trip reserve. Did that seller pay a higher premium for the sky high reserve price?
The 94 car will likely be listed again shortly or they'll wait until spring. It will eventually sell for over 50k. I would have run to the bank with the 47 because you really never know what tomorrow will bring
. That said, we are currently living in the best economy I can ever remember so smart money holds for more but I'm super conservative LOL. Unemployment is ridiculously low, everyone is making more money blah blah blah (amazon just committed to paying everyone 15 or more an hour and I think we'll see more and more of that). I plan to sell at least one of my FDs this coming spring.
I have now joined the team of I have no idea what is going on... The 38K mile 93 CYM only netted $10,550 more than the 180K mile touring? I can certainly understand the lack of enthusiasm over an R model because I really like the sunroof but these two had a difference of 141K miles...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
but these two had a difference of 141K miles...https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-41/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1993-mazda-rx-7-40/
the only thing I can think of is that the demand is a lot stronger for the mid 20's range cars and that the 180K dude has a four leaf clover shoved up where the sun doesn't shine.
The SSM was located in the Dallas, TX area. Perhaps someone local checked out the car in person vs. buying blindly? Perhaps the recent rebuild from Rotary Performance helped with the price?