Hi everyone,

I'm considering getting back into the FD3S community after a 3 year abscence when I sold my 93 Montego Blue Touring MT. Anyways, I found this 94 Touring in RED MT. It has a clean title and 45K original miles. Anyways, my question is in regards to the engine. Could you guys tell me if this looks like a completely stock car? From what I remember, mine looked different... Any help will do .... Thank You

EVIL M5

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the the hose going from the engine to the Intercooler or Radiator , supposed to be Metallic. Sorry If this question sounds stupid, and as you can tell I am not too technical when It comes to my vocab, but I remember a Metallic elbow, that always looks like it was "dented" instead of the black rubber hose going from the engine on the Driver's side of the engine bay to the front. Again, thank you for any help.

EVILM5

 

I've heard that some of the '94s did actually come with a black elbow instead of a silver painted one. If you notice, it does have the "dent" like the stock elbow". Doesn't seem to be modified at all actually.

 

Yep all stock POS hoses. 94's had black plastic instead of silver ones. Looks like it sits out side with all the oxidation on the metal parts.

 

Looks stock to me, right down to the plastic AST. And CantGoStraight is right about the oxidation, but I wouldn't let that put you off necessarily. 45k is low mileage. I'd want to see some maintenance records, especially coolant/antifreeze changes. I think this is a car you should be interested in, subject to the usual checks, of course. These cars are getting harder to find. You're lucky. In South Florida you have a number of rotary specialists who can help you. I'd have one of them look over the car for you if you have any doubts.

 

Oxidation like that, tells me that the owner didn't take much care of the car, it was parked outside and you have a hose job in the very near future.

 

here is a stock engine compartment

http://www.snapdrive.net/files/103405/IMG_0007.JPG

 

Yep, some corrosion even on the UIM....I would do a lot of checking around the car to make sure it is not a flood victim.

 

Thanks for the replys ... First let me say that this vehicle is in Chicago, and I am in Miami. I have NOT seen this vehicle. I was planning to trade in my 2001 BMW
M5 for it. I have ran a Carfax on the vehicle and it has a clean title. That being said, I have had my doubts. Like you guys know, these cars are becoming harder to come by. The ones that I have found for sale in my area are all with over 95k miles, and have had many upgrades to them. Every car that I have seen in my area is has either a rebuilt title, or the car just had a rebuilt engine on it. My biggest worry is that there are many posers in this area and I do not want to purchase a vehicel that has not been well mantained. I used to be very meticulous with my car, changed the oil evey 1200 miles, spark plugs every 10K miles, changed cooling hoses every 25K miles. I bought my old 93 FD completely stock and did the upgarades myself and had a very dependable car. I have been looking for a completely stock vehicle, and with low mileage, hence my interest in this vehicle.

I have ran a Carfax on this vehicle and the title is clean. I very much doubt that it was in a flood. Now, don't get me wrong I know that there are ways of avoiding this kind of histoury in the carfax report, particularly by paying for the damages out of pocket, and not making a claim on the insurance. From the stock conditions on the car, Something tells me that the owner bought this car as a toy and obviously did not believe in aftermarket upgrades. Lets be frank, these cars are usually owned by a younger (Fast and the Furious) crowd. In my opinion, this crowd would would install a down pipe and a mid-pipe without taking the necessary precautions first. They would also care more for speed and looks than actual conditions of the car, and it is the first reason that I ignore a mildly tuned vehicle. (Let me state that I myself am 27 years old and be considered part of this crowd). Meaning, this crowd would go through great lenghts of hiding the history of this car had it been in a flood.

Anyways, my plan was to do an oil change, change the spark plugs and wires, and also replace all the cooling hoses as soon as I had the car in Miami.. From there, I was planning to do a few reliability upgrades.

What I did notice in the car was that it seemed like it may have been in a small fender bender. TO my eyes, it seems like the front bumper and the hood do not line up correctly. I had commented to the salesman and he told me that It did not seem like the front bumper had been repaired or replaced, and that the chasis was defenitely not bent or fixed. ( I do know that salespeople will say anything to sell you the car and this is the number one reason why I am recurring for help here)


Well, I have posted a few more pictures of the car, please let me know what you guys think. Thanks in advance.

EVILM5

 

Evil,

The inside of an engine is more important than the outside. I see nothing in terms of the engine or body that would put me off so far. That being said, buying a car long distance, especially something like an FD, is a tricky proposition.
Personally, I would never buy any car sight unseen, and from what you've written I don't think you're going to find the kind of maintenance records that would put your mind at ease. I think you should have a rotary engine specialist check the car out before you purchase. Anything less is a crapshoot. Possibly a very expensive one.
Right now you're dealing in speculation....most of it from mulling it over in your own mind. Better to deal in facts. Have someone who knows look at the car.

 

just like you, jconn?

"stock till I (or the car) drop"

 

clean!

just like mine when I got it with 11k miles

 

No, my car is evolving, YZF. Nothing stays the same. Everything is evolving. Don't you know that, YZF?

 

bah, I see that all the time at RX-7 World...pretty common for cars that sit for years

 

nah, your car is degrading...everything is degrading, it's the Law of Entropy...don't you know that, jconn?

and btw your car is also slow

 

For thus it is written:

"The RX-2 begat the RX-3, begat the RX-7, begat the RX-8."
And so it goes.

And the law of entropy applies only to gas in a closed system, not an open system such as the universe. But then you'd have to know science to know that.

 

The FD is a slow car?! Bite your tongue. You could be burned at the stake for heresy like that.

 

no, we aren't going to derail this thread with your bullshit crap "science"

entropy rules the universe....the universe is a closed system...you're wrong, I'm right, as always

 

Your arrogance is exceeded only by your ignorance. Observations in recent years have shown that the expansion of the universe is speeding up. Ha, ha. You lose -------- again!

 

I think it looks good. 45K is harder and harder to come by. I bought a 93 when I live d in TX that was in FL and had to fly out to get it - it worked out pretty well. What's the asking price?

 

They are asking $16,900 ... But don't get me wrong, I was planning on going to see the car and driving it. Anybody recommends a good RX-7 mechaninc in Chicago?

EVIL M5

 

I'm in Chicago and if you'd like PM me and we can talk things over.


Oh, and if the deal falls through, I have an FD that I'll be putting up for sale soon. Absolutely amazing machine, built and tuned by Gotham .

 

God DAMN but Mark can turn ANY thread into a twisted debate!

 

um, no, jconn is a dick

 

Ask some one that is local to it, to go out and check it out for you. Also, ain't A Spec out of Chicago?