Buying FD. What do you think?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 422
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From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Hello everyone. I've been doing my home work and have read hours upon hours of this forum over the last few months.
Anyway I am on the verge of acquiring a 93 R1 Vr.
This particular vehicle has a history. It has a salvaged title from Texas showing it was part of the 2003 flood. It was then purchased by Fast Import Cars (RIP). I was told it was repainted in ferrari red at the request of one of the owners. The paint is good. The body was carefully gone over by a body guy and said it was all good. I was originally told it had a 99 spec motor. After some research into the computer I found that it has a N3a7 ecu, indicating a 93-95 jspec. Rather than continue to ramble on I will sum up existing mods:
Pettit intake w/ shield
NO pre-cat
Magnaflow exhaust
AST Conversion
5 way adjustable shocks
Lowered springs
Stock wheels
New leather interior
Good carpet
Efini steering wheel
I should add that they are fixing, replacing and installing any pieces that are missing as well promising that all systems will function properly. The car has been started and run for 1/2 hour it ran smooth. Lights, gauges, and most all electrical checked out. The clutch master needs replacing so it has not been driven. I will take it and have it placed on a dyno, compression checked and hook up a boost gauge before I buy it.
I've agreed to pay $13,500 once the car is where I want it. So I open myself to you fellow forum members, what do you think?
Anyway I am on the verge of acquiring a 93 R1 Vr.
This particular vehicle has a history. It has a salvaged title from Texas showing it was part of the 2003 flood. It was then purchased by Fast Import Cars (RIP). I was told it was repainted in ferrari red at the request of one of the owners. The paint is good. The body was carefully gone over by a body guy and said it was all good. I was originally told it had a 99 spec motor. After some research into the computer I found that it has a N3a7 ecu, indicating a 93-95 jspec. Rather than continue to ramble on I will sum up existing mods:
Pettit intake w/ shield
NO pre-cat
Magnaflow exhaust
AST Conversion
5 way adjustable shocks
Lowered springs
Stock wheels
New leather interior
Good carpet
Efini steering wheel
I should add that they are fixing, replacing and installing any pieces that are missing as well promising that all systems will function properly. The car has been started and run for 1/2 hour it ran smooth. Lights, gauges, and most all electrical checked out. The clutch master needs replacing so it has not been driven. I will take it and have it placed on a dyno, compression checked and hook up a boost gauge before I buy it.
I've agreed to pay $13,500 once the car is where I want it. So I open myself to you fellow forum members, what do you think?
Water+ electronics + corrosion = over time who knows ? ? ? ? These cars have all kinds of problems vrop up without the help of intoducing water into the electrical. Good luck with it. Jack
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 97
From: Bay Area, CA
You don't mention the chassis miles, which makes it impossible to make any reasonable price estimate. Modifications are irrelevant - they have no effect on the market value.
However, unless it has 10k miles or less on the chassis, $13.5k makes no sense for a car with a salvage title. Perfectly good cars can behad for that price, and for $2k more you could have a very decent FD.
Also, fixing up a broken FD is not something a random shop can do well. Unless the seller is a rotary specialist, there is a high probability that they will not have the ability to fix the car properly. Hell, most people here would not bring their car to a dealer, let alone a random shop selling salvaged cars. Odds are, they will fix is as cheaply as they can (so that they can turn a decent profit on a car that they probably bought at auction for $4k) and you will spend $5-$10k in your first year fixing their mistakes. And you will still have a car with a salvage title.
Run away.
However, unless it has 10k miles or less on the chassis, $13.5k makes no sense for a car with a salvage title. Perfectly good cars can behad for that price, and for $2k more you could have a very decent FD.
Also, fixing up a broken FD is not something a random shop can do well. Unless the seller is a rotary specialist, there is a high probability that they will not have the ability to fix the car properly. Hell, most people here would not bring their car to a dealer, let alone a random shop selling salvaged cars. Odds are, they will fix is as cheaply as they can (so that they can turn a decent profit on a car that they probably bought at auction for $4k) and you will spend $5-$10k in your first year fixing their mistakes. And you will still have a car with a salvage title.
Run away.
You live in Broward, Fl ? How about a CLEAN '93 with 68,800 original miles for $1K($14,500) more ? I live in Delray Beach, Fl. 45 minutes away from from you.
Last edited by Tuan7; Apr 18, 2005 at 12:19 PM.
No way would I buy a flood-damaged car. As others have said, you can get a decent FD for a few thousand more that will have a clean title and won't have suffered flood damage. I also seriously doubt the paint job is of any special quality.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,258
Likes: 9
From: South Florida
Originally Posted by bee
13.5 for a non-perfect salvage vehicle, you need to do some research. For that much, you can buy a nice clean title car.
Thats a rip off.
Thats a rip off.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,258
Likes: 9
From: South Florida
Originally Posted by bee
13.5 for a non-perfect salvage vehicle, you need to do some research. For that much, you can buy a nice clean title car.
Thats a rip off.
Thats a rip off.
Dont buy a salvaged vehicle unless you plan to keep it forever. Coming from a guy who buys and sells fds it is not a wise thing to do. A lot of people who buy these cars "think" they want one and are ready for one and soon find out the common headaches with these cars are too much for them to deal with. You can find much better deals for $13500 without salvage history. If you were to decide to sell a salvage titled fd it would take forever unless you basically give it away. Look at the ones for sale in the classifieds section. They are much cheaper than the clear titled ones and they still cant get rid of them. If you honestly plan to never sell the car than I dont see the title history being a big deal as long as the car checks out. Just my opinion. Hope it helps
Originally Posted by papsmagu
i agree......if your really wnat a nice FD, buy mine its local
you can say that again. oh wait you did

Edit- car hugger :
F that salvage car you want a great deal check out TTT's ride:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=415113
^^ If I didn't have an FD already I would take it off his hands.
Last edited by Montego; Apr 18, 2005 at 06:26 PM.
Originally Posted by bee
13.5 for a non-perfect salvage vehicle, you need to do some research. For that much, you can buy a nice clean title car.
Thats a rip off.
Thats a rip off.
As others have said, a salvaged title will make the car very difficult for you to sell at a later date. Take off $5K for the title, and maybe its worth it ........... "IF" everything else is right!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Thank you all for your opinions. This was something I was curious about, as far as everyones views on a flood vehicle. I must say that when I was originally told it had a 99 spec motor, I was willing to spend the extra if I would be guarenteed any promblems stemming from the water intrusion would be dealt with properly. I've known the guys preparing this 7 for a couple years and know that they would take care of me if something should come up. But I value the forums collective experiences. You guys are right and unless everything is perfect with this car and the price drops, I will be looking for another vehicle.
As far as resale, I've loved cars my whole life and every car I buy I plan on keeping forever. But there's just too many good vehicles out there to experience and I end up selling them every two years any way.
Thanks for time and for reading my thread. And feel free to continue commenting especially if you have ever purchased a salvaged FD.
As far as resale, I've loved cars my whole life and every car I buy I plan on keeping forever. But there's just too many good vehicles out there to experience and I end up selling them every two years any way.
Thanks for time and for reading my thread. And feel free to continue commenting especially if you have ever purchased a salvaged FD.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,258
Likes: 9
From: South Florida
Originally Posted by montego
you can say that again. oh wait you did 
Edit- car hugger :
F that salvage car you want a great deal check out TTT's ride:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=415113
^^ If I didn't have an FD already I would take it off his hands.

Edit- car hugger :
F that salvage car you want a great deal check out TTT's ride:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=415113
^^ If I didn't have an FD already I would take it off his hands.
i was planning on purchasing a flood titled fd with a ls1 swap...but the guy that was selling it bought it at an auction and never mentioned it had a flood title to me. He played dumb about everything i asked him. I asked him if it was a 6 speed (which all t56's are) and he said he didnt know. I asked him if he had even driven the car. He said he had but its hard to tell if it was a 6 speed or not. Needless to say i ran away quick. I guess what i learned from that whole experience is, its hard to tell how bad a flood car is damaged...so why risk it. Like everyone has said, you can get a great one without a flood title for about the same price.
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