Hey I'm a corvette enthuisiast thinking about buying a third generation RX-7. Corvettes can be expensive, how much is the maintanence on one?
I love the slimlined stature of the Flip up headlighted cars. Please drop a comment

 

Read the stickies at the top of this section if you want some good info.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

 

ive never owned a vette, but i would bet the farm that a FD RX7 is considerably more expensive to maintain. especially if you are not familiar to rotary engines and forced induction systems like to sequential turbocharger. but hey, everyone has to start somewhere and there are plenty of helpfull owners and information on this board.

you can start by checking this out:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68640

will probably answer many of your questions. good luck

 

I wouldn't be too sure about FD maintenace costing more than Corvette maintenance.

RX7's were expensive, and exotic, but so are corvettes - in some cases even more so.

And if you read the latest consumer reports, Corvetts do not fare too well in the reliability department themselves.

 

I hear and read of alot more blown FD motors than Vette motors

 

and american parts are just way cheaper than stuff from japan

 

I have a 94 FD and a 98 C5.

Routine maintenance costs are similar for tires, coolant, oil, filters, belts, lamps, alignment, etc. Plugs are about the same since Vettes have 8 to the FD's more expensive 4, and brake pads and rotors are comparable. Even my insurance premiums are similar.

 

My insurance is cheap. Considering I've got full-coverage with a $500 deductable, and I'm only about to be 20 years old this month.

$220.

 

Let's just say, as much money as I put into my FD, I would have 3 vettes In my opinion, it's all worth it and i'll never get rid of my FD.

 

How do the cars compare? What car is more fun? What do you think looks better? How does the handling compare?

thx, scott

 

that is a good point. Plus the FD is way more sexy than that Vette. I am not impressed with Corvettes until the new Z06, holy **** but, a whole nother story. The FD has to be more expensive due to parts being manufactured in Japan VS USA and the delicate way you have to treat an FD.

 

I do like the color on the vette though.

 

My 98 c5 had more problems than my last and current fd combined.I liked driving the vette when it wasnt sitting at the dealership.I prefer my fd to a c5 coupe.I have never driven a c5 zo6.I strongly suggest that anyone buying a c5 get a gmpp.It saved my around 5k in repairs,that included bad valve seals,transmission,bcm,pcm,rocking seat,steering column lock,leaking battery,abs,o2 sensors,frt wheel bearing unit,cracked exhaust,power window motors,bose speakers,svc abs system ,that could not be fixed. clutch ,pp,slave cyl flywheel.these problems started at 27,000 miles and i sold the car with 44,000 on it.I have owned my current fd for 8 months and have put 8000 miles on it with 0 problems.Buy a low mileage stock fd and the car should run great foe a long time.

 

Thanks its a fresh paint job Its Admiral blue after a history corvettes paint job "The Grand Sport."

 

Coolvette & RX7Addict -- Some C5s were real lemons, but so were some FDs. I bought a late 98 new, and it had plenty of minor problems, but nothing major in 39,000+ miles. My biggest complaints are rapid front tire wear and dealer incompetence. I got the GMPP (extended warranty) because the car has 11 damn computers in it and I expected trouble. As it turned out, I have had no electrical problems other than a dead battery and a hinky ignition switch. (Luckily, I switched the dead factory POS battery for a Yellow-top before it could leak acid on the main computer and harness.)

I planned to sell the FD when I bought the C5, but decided pretty quickly to keep the FD. The Vette is a torque monster and is also great for long, fast interstate drives, but the FD is so much more fun to drive on the hilly back roads. The FD is lighter by 400 lbs and feels like it.

Of modern production cars, none are as good looking as a stock base FD in vintage red. Personally, I don't understand why so many FD owners feel compelled to mess with that winning style, although a nice set of wheels and tires is ok. And maybe a RB dual tip catback. But please, no giant wings, paint stripes, flames, advertising decals, scoops, extra lights or other clutter.

GM clearly borrowed FD design features for the C5, which is why I also like the C5's looks. But Mazda probably stole a few design ideas to make to FD too, so it all evens out.

 

Very True. Streamlined styling is a thing of the past. Now we have the RX-8's and blocky Scions to look at ar not that the lack of flip up headlights bothers me. Those are pretty expensive when the motors burn out. Kill1