Advice on the 3rd gen hunt
04-13-03, 03:17 PM
#1
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Advice on the 3rd gen hunt
Hi guys. Some of you know me, some of you don't. I recently sold my TII and am planning on buying an FD in the next couple of months.
I was hoping you guys could give me the lowdown on what to look for in an FD, as I have spent the last couple years dealing with nothing but FC's.
I feel it's never too early to start learning, so I am gonna go ahead and poke around the archives and whatnot until I actually buy one.
At any rate, I'd appreciate any advice Im given...thanks!
I was hoping you guys could give me the lowdown on what to look for in an FD, as I have spent the last couple years dealing with nothing but FC's.
I feel it's never too early to start learning, so I am gonna go ahead and poke around the archives and whatnot until I actually buy one.
At any rate, I'd appreciate any advice Im given...thanks!
04-13-03, 03:27 PM
#2
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i have a buyer's guide on my website, plus there's the buyer's guide on the sticky thread. besides all the technical stuff, i'd have to say patience is the key. i wasn't too patient, and could have definitely found a better one for the price. good luck.
04-13-03, 03:38 PM
#3
I dont own an FD, but I have nonetheless been obsessing and looking at them online for years.
I would say... know what you want before you go into it. Pick colors you wouldnt want to own (for ex. you hate black) and then auto or manual.
The packages: Truthfully, the differences between base, touring, R1/R2 are so slim it shouldnt be a large priority. i would rather have a clean base than a R1 that seems not as nice of a car. Unless things like a sunroof or leather is essential, you can pretty much add/remove things. Spoilers can easily be added, as can leather seats or suede seats or a strut bar.
Deciding between a lower mileage car and a higher mileage but rebuilt can be tough. Umm i cant really help you that much as I dont own one, but basically, look for a clean one with a mature owner (pretty imporant if you dont want a beat up one) who seems to respect the car a lot and takes care of her.
Mods?? Sometimes you can get similar mods you like for a great deal if the previous owner already modded the car. However, mods put more stress on the engine and its generally not the mods you would want anyways. You can get good deals though, as the previous owner knows he wont get out what money mods-wise he put into it.
I would say... know what you want before you go into it. Pick colors you wouldnt want to own (for ex. you hate black) and then auto or manual.
The packages: Truthfully, the differences between base, touring, R1/R2 are so slim it shouldnt be a large priority. i would rather have a clean base than a R1 that seems not as nice of a car. Unless things like a sunroof or leather is essential, you can pretty much add/remove things. Spoilers can easily be added, as can leather seats or suede seats or a strut bar.
Deciding between a lower mileage car and a higher mileage but rebuilt can be tough. Umm i cant really help you that much as I dont own one, but basically, look for a clean one with a mature owner (pretty imporant if you dont want a beat up one) who seems to respect the car a lot and takes care of her.
Mods?? Sometimes you can get similar mods you like for a great deal if the previous owner already modded the car. However, mods put more stress on the engine and its generally not the mods you would want anyways. You can get good deals though, as the previous owner knows he wont get out what money mods-wise he put into it.
04-13-03, 04:02 PM
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When I was looking for my FD my top priority was low mileage. I also wanted it to be as close to stock as possible. Now I get to modify it just the way I want it. Just take your time and pay attention to the info given in the stickies at the top of this page. Don't forget to check that the recalls were completed. There are some good deals out there. Especially with the used car market the way it is now. I got lucky and found my car a month after I started looking. It was exactly what I wanted except for the color(which I actually love now). Anyway, good luck finding a good one!
04-13-03, 04:17 PM
#5
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nick,
buy a car for what you can afford. there are many compromises that can be made when purchasing an FD, but the one that you do not want to settle for is one with bad compression or shot turbos....HOWEVER, you an bryan are good friends right? so, it might be to your advantage to buy one with a blown motor for 6-8K and have it rebuilt and worked over at bnr......i am sure that you might be happier with an engine that you are more confident of, and the turbos too.....
always do a carfax report...
always do a compression check...
always drive it....check for grinding of synchros..
check for interior and exterior wear....
then assess what has or has not been done to maintain the car, and guage your $$ offer from there.....
louis
buy a car for what you can afford. there are many compromises that can be made when purchasing an FD, but the one that you do not want to settle for is one with bad compression or shot turbos....HOWEVER, you an bryan are good friends right? so, it might be to your advantage to buy one with a blown motor for 6-8K and have it rebuilt and worked over at bnr......i am sure that you might be happier with an engine that you are more confident of, and the turbos too.....
always do a carfax report...
always do a compression check...
always drive it....check for grinding of synchros..
check for interior and exterior wear....
then assess what has or has not been done to maintain the car, and guage your $$ offer from there.....
louis
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