disabled and looking to buy 3rd gen...
 

Hi all, I'm a complete n00b here, and also don't own an RX-7.. as the title says, I'm possibly getting ready to buy a '94 though, and have a few questions for anybody with the time.. (I haven't been able to dig the forums yet, and may not for awhile) I currently drive a '93 2.5L MX-3 SE, and a '91 MX-5 - going strong @ 189,000 miles, though showing its age physically. (the MX-3 is actually down do to a faulty rear main, which caused massive damage)

Also, as per the title, I am disabled, meaning fully wheelchair bound. Unfortunately this limits me to automatics. I can check my fluids and tell people what needs to be done in most cases, though usually can't do too much more physical labor than that. Fun vehicles are one of those things that makes my life worth living though, and Mazda's great at keeping the fun factor, even with a slushbox attached. That said, I've always wanted a 3rd gen. (well, any gen. given the condition!) I've read a good deal about them over the years and know their general pitfall comes down to reliability, due to quite a few factors. (but mostly heat & improper care) I also know there are some upgrades that can be done to help in that department. My question is this - if I were to pick up a very well maintained '94 model and go ahead with the basic reliability mods, just how reliable could I expect a 3rd gen. to be/how many miles might I expect from the original engine? It would likely have to be my daily driver. I live in WV and we do have winter, though not too harsh. If at all possible I'd definitely park it till the slick stuff goes away, though it would still be subject to the cold, and very unfortunately, I do not have a garage to park it in. (I've been driving the Miata year round for awhile, with proper attention & great luck)

The particular 3rd gen. I'm looking at right now is '94 automatic base model, two owner vehical, both being older men who took excellent care and were not hard on it. It has 55,000 miles on the clock and has spent most of its life in sunny FL, garaged when not being driven. Unfortunately, that's quite a distance away from me, so I'm trying to feel out if a 3rd gen. is even worth going to such great lengths to look into, again, given I need a reliable daily driver. Also, the closest dealer is about 140 miles away. I plan to call them tomorrow to feel out their tech department/see if they've got a rotary specialist etc.

All that said, and I apologize for my long windedness :lol: , would anybody mind lending any opinions and/or information that may help me out with the decision? The one I'm looking at may be sold pretty quick, so the sooner the better. I suppose if I don't wind up with an RX, I'll eventually replace my Miata with a better 1st gen, and go from there. Thanks in advance, and again, sorry for writing soo much, haha!

I'll share my (short) experience..

had an R1 with 188k miles on it ...two engines in its life.
i'm sure you'll hear/read all types of awful stories but I didn't beat the piss out of mine and ran `Super RA` 3mm seals the 2nd engine.

I say go for it! ...to each his own though :)

You can expect to travel to find a good example of a third gen. Many have been rung through the ringer time and time again and it can be hard to find one that hasn't been beaten half to death.

The FD is a bit of a DIYers car, though with deep enough pockets you can pay others to work on it for you. Living in the Northeast, reputible shops that would be closest to you would be Peter Farrell Supercars in the DC area, KD Rotary in Bethlehem, PA, and IR Performance in Clifton, NJ. IRP is a bit of a haul for you but they are hands down the best shop on the east coast.

There's a guy local to me who is fully wheelchair bound who has a very very nice NSX that he's had modified to suit his needs. It's a beautiful car, my only regret is I haven't seen it on the road since I bought my FD 2 years ago. I hope nothing happened to him...

As for daily driving, if you keep it relatively stock, upgrading the cooling system, removing the precat, and getting a Blitz stock mount IC, it should be fairly reliable especially with the automatic engine.

For local dealerships, Malloy Mazda in Virginia has a very strong reputation with our community for parts and service excellence. Ray Crowe, the head of their parts department owns two FDs, knows these cars inside and out and has enough pull with the higher ups to get us some killer sales and discounts on parts.

It's highly reccomended to not allow Mazda dealerships to work on our FDs, as they tend to go in with a vacuum leak and come out with a blown apex seal. Rotary specialty shops should be the only places that touch your car.

As for being worth it, imagine your Miata with twice the power, half the gas mileage, beefed up suspension, with a modernized interior and a hatch back and you have a car that's almost close to an FD.

So there's my .02 for ya

Oh, more food for thought, even though we have a 1.3L engine, we tend to get worse gas mileage than most big block V8s.

if you decided that the fd is not for you, you can try an Rx-8 if you still want a rotary. engine warranty on the 04-08s just got extended to 8yr 100k miles. one guy on rx8club has a 8 with hand controls. here is a thread he has: http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=92246

he also was looking in to this hand control set up that still utilizes a clutch. i dont really know you budget or how much it cost but here is the website: http://www.rediautosport.com/conpro/redisytm.html

Wow, two replies already - I'm in a good place, thanks guys. :icon_tup: Fuel economy's mentioned.. I know there're technical figures, but does anybody happen to know real-world numbers the automatics throw? Also, is there any known issue with the automatics attached to FD's? An example being, the "4EAT" generation ATX's on MX-6's, MX-3's etc. have a major heat problem, which can be cured by slapping a $40 aftermarket cooler in the line. I'd have loved to have known that when I purchased my first MX-3! (I'm on my third, they're great FWD's)

Also, what kind of general service bills might I expect, if I were to be taking it to a specialist for scheduled checkups/maintenance, with no known major problems? (I know that one's a little hard to answer but.. lol) I don't have deep pockets, but hope I could help ward off that need a little by getting things checked out on a regular basis & doing some of the reliability mods ASAP. I suppose I really am an idiot for considering this purchase, but wow, what a car! (and the one I'm looking at seems to be a winner, at an unbeatable price) It's too bad they didn't continue on in the US with factory reliability upgrades. It's also too bad the Miata's trunk isn't about 3" deeper so my chair's frame would fit in it completely. :hahaha:

My dream is a 3rd gen, though I may eventually have to look into an RX-8. Thanks for the link, I'll have to take a look. As for the hand controls, I've checked into those. They look killer, though they want 10 grand to buy & install them on a vehical. Also, I can't find any dealers that have a set installed so I could even make sure I was able to use them, before plopping down that kind of cash. :scratch:

The auto trannys are pretty stout. Fuel economy is probably between 15 and 20mpg, 20mpg on your best day.

Plan for expensive maintenance work, and there is always the chance of a more expensive unplanned visit. Depending on the condition/age of the engine, some recommend that you have spare cash in case the whole motor goes. You may have to go a long way to find a suitable shop, depending on where in WV you are. If you're near Frederick you'll be in good shape, but if you're in Pocohontas county good luck. :)

The FD's trunk is only about 8" deep. I can barely slide a golf bag in flat and get under the strut tower bar.

The cold should not bother your car at all, but the winter weather is definitely out. Even with snow tires I'm not sure I'd like to drive it in winter, and I know how much snow tires can help.

Last but not least, read the FAQ. https://www.rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/desktop-dyno-64680/
I haven't seen that mentioned yet.

Bajaman would be the best person to answer this, he's the forum Automatic guru.

Automatic FDs come with a stock transmission cooler. I believe the only known issue with autos is trying to make more than 300whp without dropping the trans.

You'll always want to get a compression test before buying a rotary. You'll also want to have the coolant system checked out by a reputable shop. The vacuum system should also be checked out. In Florida, you can't beat Pettit Racing in the Miami area.
That's the best mentality when looking at this car. Preventative maintenance will keep her happy.
Define an "unbeatable price". A low mile 93 auto should cost less than $11,000. Autos tend to be less desirable and often sell for about as much as a rolling chassis.
Well, my friend used to drive one of our wheelchair bound friends around all the time. His chair fit perfectly in the hatch, though he may have needed to remove the divider to fit it in completely. Also, the leather seats made for very easy ingress for him. You may want to look into a leather drivers seat.

How about summer tires on the drive wheels during a blizzard? :lol:

My bad Dave, you'll have for forgive me..I'm in the last hour of my shift and more concerned about going to bed :lol:

MX-3's do too, but they're integrated into the radiator, which does little for cooling in it's case. It sounds like FD auto's aren't undercooled though.

That is my "unbeatable price", $11,000. Had I made a decision quick enough, he would have taken 10. That's the lowest I've seen an ATX that actually looked & sounded like it might be in really good shape. By what I've seen, usually they've been beat out pretty good and cost more around the 15k and up. The only "option" it doesn't have that I'd like is a power sunroof, but I could live without for a solid example. Being a base, the seats are cloth as well. More on that in a minute.

I fully agree. I went from leather seats in the MX-3 to cloth in the MX-5, and the leather was much easier, though obviously doesn't offer as much grip when cornering hard, so it's a hard decision. I still haven't decided which I prefer. My chair's pretty tiny when torn down, so if your friends fit, I'm sure mine would - cool. And now I need to go to bed, as I've spent entirely too much time here for one night, haha! Thanks again, and in advance. I think I'm getting scared away from the buy, but am not sure yet.. Will hit that FAQ link later on today, after I snag a couple hours sleep, lol.

First of all, I want to commend you for not allowing your disability to keep you from pursuing your dreams. THAT is...totally admirable, I cannot say how much it really moves me to hear stories like this. :icon_tup:

Others have done wonderful job in answering a lot of your questions, I will concentrate on the 'performance' ones.

As has been debated here many, many, MANY times...the whole 'auto vs manual' issue really comes down to a couple of things. The inherent lack of torque of the 13BREW doesn't lend itself well to the initial 'launch' of the car, this coupled with the taller rear end gearing imparts a certain sluggishness that the manual guys deride immensely.
But the truth is, the real world difference in all performance aspects comes down to about ONE HALF OF ONE SECOND. Zero to 60, quarter mile, etc. The auto pulls like a friggin' freight train once off the line, and once you master the 'hold' feature of the automatic you CAN wring near-manual levels of performance out of the car, truthfully. The ONLY "disappointment" is in that initial take off. From a 20 mph roll I'd put the auto FD up against anything in its class, including its manual brethren.

I will also say I don't recommend an auto to those that want to track/race the car. In these cases the 5 speed IS a much better choice.
And if you want to modify the car to greater than around 350 rwhp, the auto requires some very expensive transmission upgrades to hold that sort of power.

Once again, I commend you and wish you the best of luck in your search. And this Forum is a truly wonderful place to get invaluable information. :)

+1 on that for sure!

masonholmes, the main concern IMO is the ability to get in and out of the car. My father is getting on in his years, but he's not 'old' yet. He traded in a 2003 Z06 for an SUV a year ago as he thought his sports car days were over, but he's looking to buy a new sports car this year :) . Anyway, he has difficulty getting in and out of my FD the few times he'll actually get in it ;) . I would definitely try to find one locally, even if it's a manual, to test to make sure that it's not going to be a problem for you.

If you can get in and out of the car and are prepared to deal with the extra maintenance, then I think you will be fine. A quick release steering wheel hub might help as the stock wheel does not tilt. I have heard of several disabled individuals drive performance cars. Two were rx-7s one had a grand national.

Quick release steering wheel is a very good idea. Maybe installing a grab handle would help a lot too, as the car doesn't come with them and you really have to hoist your butt up when getting out.

Everyone has offered some great ideas. I have just a couple observations.

I think that you may find that maintenance costs are going to be higher than what you are used to. Hard to give good solid numbers though. I would do some research (maybe around the regional forums for your area) and find a rotary shop that is the closest to you. Give them a call and just ask what they would charge for the routine maintenance items like fluid changes, brake flush, rad flush, fuel filter. I had a rotary shop do the initial maintenance on my car when I first bought it in December.

Here is what I spent.
Oil change: $27
Trans and Diff oil change: $77
Fuel filter change: $63
Alignment: $100 (18" rims)
Change plugs: $60
Radiator flush: $70

Keep in mind that with the rotary you will need to change the oil at LEAST every 3000 miles and many hear recommend more often. This is just the routine maintenance stuff. I've spent over $800 in just shop time since I bought the car to have the mechanic chase down and diagnose some other relatively minor problems.

I'd strongly suggest, if you haven't already, is find an FD and see if you can get in and out of it. The FD is very low and the doors are quite wide/long. The bolster comes forward quite a bit as well. The steering wheel is non-adjustable and it is hard for me (at 6"2") to maneuver my legs and knees in the car around the wheel.

I think folks are being particularly nice since you posted with a good attitude and happen to be disabled. Most of the time when these questions are asked the answers are 1) the FD is NOT a good car as a daily driver, and 2) the FD is expensive as hell to repair and maintain (and that is when a person can do a lot themselves).

On a more encouraging note, two weeks ago I was autocrossing my FD at a local event. The guy in front of me in the grid was driving a Shelby Mustang with manual transmission. He was also in a wheel chair with no use of his legs. He has some type of hydraulic system to activate his clutch somehow tied into his hand controls. I was impressed. Between each run he would get out of the car, check all his tire pressures and readjust, chat up his friends, and get back in. He also was running a good 5 seconds faster than I did on my best time. The point is, don't completely discount a manual transmission car. The setup may be more expensive initially, but I think it might be less expensive than the costs of owning an FD in the long run.

Good luck whatever you decide.

I don't think the FD is the right car for someone in a wheelchair. Getting in and out will be very difficult. Once you are in, getting the wheelchair in will be a difficult thing to do because of how tight everything is. You won't be able to do much work on the car yourself. That means paying big bucks to have a 3rd gen specialist work on it for you. Anyone else working on it will cost you more in the long run for anything but the basics.

I hope you are able to find a car that will work better for you than an FD.

You should either be able to drop $3-5k on a repairs at ANY time, or not depend on the car as your daily driver. It seems that there's no rhyme or reason to which cars last and which don't. You can do all the reliability mods, and address all the other shortcomings which lead to premature engine death, and it could still die.

Thanks everybody for all the great replies, keep them coming! I had another windy one all ready to hit send few hours ago but accidentally closed the wrong window, lol.

As for an FD being "accessible" to a fully wheelchair bound individual, I appreciate your concern, but you're generalizing just a bit adam. ;) (though my Dad would likely agree, and word it almost identically - but maybe not, as he's got a Miata too) As per my original post, my current daily driver is a 1991 Miata. A car I used to be averaging 25k a year on, and drove through some pretty nasty weather, year round. (I don't drive near that much as of this year) You can't get much tighter inside than a Miata with the top up! The seating and steering column were mentioned in a response or two above as well.. FD seat bolsters don't really look that much deeper than a '92/93 MX-3 seat, and once my hand controls are installed, any adjustablility in the steering column is gone, (until I remove the controls). A quick release steering wheel is something I did consider, before picking up the Miata, and I thought I might require. Luckily that's not the case. Supportive seating is also a selling point for me, as I have poor balance. It's actually part of what got me into an MX-3 as a first car, soo long ago. Yes, a big, heavy wheelchair van with a lift or something would make going to the grocery store much much easier, but it'd be boring as hell!! (especially on twisty mountain roads :)) My feeling is the same for most cars being put out today - they're just too big, heavy, and mushy, for my tastes. (as well as overpriced) I am a very high functioning quadriplegic who's only owned V6 MX-3's and my current Miata, and doesn't want to "downgrade" from either. My cars are not for practicality only, they also help me to enjoy what I have left of life. Don't anybody take what I've just said as anger or an insult though, I'm just explaining where I'm coming from, as well as stating that some handicap individuals can enjoy fun vehicles too. For my particular case, the rehab department actually advised a small, 2-door car with good power steering & supportive seats, though they didn't mean quite as small as a Miata, haha. Back to RX-7's though, my only concerns, (after finding a good one), at this point are reliability & maintenance prices, since I can't work on it myself and I seem to be about 195 miles from a respectable specialist.

To throw out another completely ludicrous thought, lol, I've been pondering on having a "reliable" engine built by a reputable shop, and keeping it stored somewhere nice, until it's needed. This throws out the thought of my picking up an FD in the direct future, but might help me deal with reliability, in the long run. The thought being, AFTER I've got the solid, new engine in my possession, find a well maintained FD. Once it's engine went, I'd have a more reliable one on hand and ready to go in, which would hopefully last longer. Also, as far as having one built, I'm not really interested in additional HP over stock, so modifications for such wouldn't really be a factor. I emailed Petite about an hour ago addressing this thought process and my particular case. I plan to contact other reputable builders as well. Any thoughts on this idea?

I would not assume that the interior of a Miata would be more difficult for you than the interior of an FD. However, this is all conjecture. Go find one, and see how it fits you, and your wheelchair.

Interesting idea. Maybe you can share the response you get from them?

The cost of an engine rebuild is only part of it of course. The cost for an engine pull and install has got to a lot. I have no idea what, buy maybe somebody out there could offer a number.

I think the real key is how dependent you are on the car for daily transportation. As someone here has in there sig, "The best upgrade to an FD is another car as a daily driver". If you need the car day in and day out, then I'd strongly recommend against it. The FD is great as a second car, not your only car. OTOH, if you have access to another car if your FD is in the shop (consider how to tow the FD to the shop as well), then go for it, provided the rest of the factors are functional for you.

To be honest, I think you would be money ahead to buy a cheap, reliable Honda Civic or something similar than you would a spare engine. The cost may be about the same initially and having cheap reliable transport when/if the FD needs to be worked on would be a real bonus.

BTW, the good news is that automatic FD seems to be several thousand dollars cheaper than MT FDs.

Yeah, I'll be glad to share their response. I've spoke with a few people who have said their FD's were very reliable & downright cheap to maintain. That's obviously not the typical case though. (and likely wouldn't be, with my luck, lol)

As for being a daily driver, it's very possible that I could keep the Miata around for that, or maybe sell it and put the MX-3 back on the road. (or possibly replace the Miata with a lower mileage one) Knowing me, I'd always be climbing into the RX-7 though, which I guess would be a bad thing in the long run, lol. I'd definitely keep one of the two vehicles I've already got though, before going to a Civic. Not meaning to bash there, Honda makes great cars, but they just don't have the fun factor of either MX's, which are usually very reliable as well. (plus, everybody has a Civic) I spose RX-7's are just out of my grasp due to reliability. A modestly tuned Miata with a modified/deeper trunk, might be what I wind up going with, as I think that'd just about be the next best thing to an FD. I'm interested in what Petite etc. might say though, and haven't quite gave up yet!

I dunno if this belongs here?, but I guess I'd also be interested to hear what you guys would pick for a fun alternative to your FD, that handles, looks good, and is more reliable. (and if you didn't have the cash to go buck wild on a fairly new vette or something) What really got me thinking FD again was when I decided I'd get an insurance quote and found it wouldn't raise my rates a dime over what I'm paying on the '91 Miata?! I've always figured the rates would be through the roof. Heck, it cost more to insure my "1.8L" V6 MX-3's. I suppose I also prefer smaller cars overall, than say a Corvette or Supra. (which have to have nasty rates) Maybe I should start a new thread somewhere for this topic?

If you run a search you'll find that topic's been discussed quite a bit in the General Automotive section. You can start your own thread, but don't miss the existing info.

Dave

Thanks, will do. :icon_tup: If any of ya feel like it, feel free to be checking over there for a thread by me on this subject. I appreciate all the info you've already given, and wouldn't mind your opinions there either. :)

..I'd really prefer FD owner's opinions though, so I might wind up sticking it in this section. At least in most forums, you'd get almost all replies from people who have never driven an RX-7, and just speculate on what kind of car they really are.. (when posting such a question in the general section)

G35 Coupe? 350Z?

So...I'm curious....where do you stow your wheelchair in the Miata? I had a friend that was wheelchair bound back when I was in college...his chair would barely fit in the hatch of my 2nd gen....which is a pretty good sized area.

I posted something along those lines in this thread a few days ago:

https://www.rx7club.com/lounge-192/%7Ehelpp-%7E-having-some-dillema-762021/

Another car to consider would be a Honda S2000.

Well, my chair's not quite the norm, but that doesn't change much when wondering where it'd go in a Miata, haha.. When I'm alone I put the frame in the passenger seat and the rear wheels on the deck right behind the seats. The front wheels are quick release too, but I really have no need to remove them in most cases. (I'll be giving a link to help illustrate a little in a second, it can be found towards the beginning of this thread, referencing a disabled RX-8 owner) If my fiancee is with me, who is also somewhat disabled, I can actually fit the frame of the chair on the deck behind the seats and she puts the main wheels in the trunk, leaving room for some groceries etc. If I'm with an able bodied person, the frame looses the back wheels, the back folds down, and it goes on it's side in the trunk. Unfortunately, the trunk's not quite deep enough to shut it. Since my Miata's so old & has some body issues/I'm thinking of replacing it with something, I may have my mechanic experiment with chopping a section of the trunk's floor out & weld it back in a couple inches deeper, if it looks possible. My fiancee used to put the frame back there like everybody else, but that's a little hard on her these days, so I've been putting it on the deck. It's not real easy on me either, and gets a little harder to position it there with the top down, but I love the car too much to give it up before I absolutely have to/have something I deem better to replace it with. Putting it back there has also proven hard on a few areas of the interior, which took me a little time to swallow, but oh well. Also, not looking for sympathy, but my back's fused from top to bottom and crooked as hell, and I have horrid balance/no real muscle control below the shoulders. The hassle is still worth it to me though - I just wish I had a little bit more room to fit my frame in the back. (as an RX-7 does) Here's the link I mentioned. My frame sets in the passenger seat, identical to this guys, and folds in the same manner. (though is a different model from the same manufacturer, and is a little smaller/more compact. these chairs run $2-5k on their own) I posted something in that thread last night, which should still be right at the end. http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=92246

The G35/350Z is a bit bigger/heavier than I'd like, and are out of my price range really anyways, as is the S2000. Maybe in a couple years though. Do 2000's come in automatic? I think I checked that out awhile back, but don't remember at this point. Also, I'll check out that thread Mahjik. :icon_tup: As far as transmissions go, a brand new Miata could suit me real well with it's paddle setup and a few modifications. Unfortunately, I really don't like the look of the new ones. They're not "true" Mazda's either, and as the other mentioned vehicles, are currently out of my price range. I may warm up to them enough one day to have one though. It's too bad I couldn't put a 3rd gen. Miata ATX in a 1st gen - that'd be great. The new auto's test just a tad slower in the quarter, but actually hold equal lap times to their manual counterpart, according to a writeup I believe I read in R&T. In that test, the best lap time was actually from an auto. This is going off topic, but I wonder why they don't have a paddle option in automatic RX-8's. That'd make them a little more attractive to me once they hit my price range in a few years. (wow, I type waay too much huh, LOL)

i gotta say, i have an FD and its my daily driver, tho not in the winter, my car has 71k on it and she still runs like a beast! of course a few flaws here and there but with a little TLC shes running great again, tho i have to say, the car can be hard for some one to get out of and it can be a tight fit in there. for example my gf has to pull herself out of the car. and i just want to add, ive seen people in wheel chairs fully modify cars to fit there needs and win shows and certain events, with that said, if u do decide to get the FD big props to u!! i wanna see pics of it of course : ) but im sure what ever u decide to do will make u happy. good luck!

A few things...

350Zs and S2000s are in the same price range as manual transmission RX-7s($13-20k)

S2000s come in 6sp manual only

Auto RX-8s do have paddle shifters.

And how old are you? You keep talking about your dad not approving and a tight budget...You're not a teenager are you?

I hate to say it but I think a C5 Vette is the best option. I remember hopping in one back in 2000 and thinking how great a balance it was between luxury and performance. Good gas mileage. Reliability. Trunk. I would have bought a Vette but I remember all the wierd looks I use to get driving around a Firebird. "DUDE! It's an Asian in a Firebird!" I love that you love the RX7, but honestly I don't see it being worth it. Haha I'll probably get flamed to hell for this, but my vote goes to the Vette.

Hey man props, you have chosen a great car to look at. I bought my FD a little over three years ago with a rebuilt engine/turbos. Since then I have done the reliability mods and regular maintenance with no problems. As mentioned I would not want to rely solely on the FD though, but since you said you would keep one of the MXs that should not be a problem.

It sounds like you have a trusted local mechanic which would take care of your basic maintenance, you should not have to visit a rotary specialist for things like that. However, with gas prices and a tight budget it might be wise to look elsewhere. Have you looked into any of the Mazdaspeed cars such as the older proteges or the new 3. I can not speak for the protege, but the Speed3 is supposed to be a blast to drive. This would offer you the fun of a sports car with the added practicality of a sedan or hatchback.

Whichever route you decide to go good luck man. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing you as our newest member :).

Hey Mason,
Many have expressed concerns about the FD as a daily driver. And though I can't disagree, my 93 touring has been pretty darn good. In the 6 years and 90k miles that I've owned it, it's been down for a total of four weeks. Three of those were for a rebuild at 80K due to failing water seals.


I owned two first gen RX-7's--drove an 85 for 17 years until I retired it with 219,000 miles on the original engine--never rebuilt. I fell in love with the FD in '93 but waited until 2002 to buy one. What a blast! I've never had so much fun with a car! No, not cheap to own, but the reliability mods help a lot. And with some of the upgrades you do get some (very) modest performance gains. As stated before, the car is worse than useless in snow and ice--it's downright terrifying!

If you can confirm that you can reasonably get in and out of the car, and can find a car that checks out, then why not? What's the worst that can happen? Sure, like any performance car it could be an expensive mistake, and maybe some short term inconvenience, but at least you'd have given it a shot, yes?

If you really have the passion to own an FD, then search out the right car, buy it, and blind everyone with the smile that comes from driving it!

By now you're likely aware that this forum is an outstanding community and an awesome resource--lots of experience with a car that demands excellence from the driver/owner. If you have a problem or question relating to the FD, they'll help you find the answer--I can't say that strongly enough!

Whatever you decide, best of luck to you and we'll see you in the twisties!

Cheers,
Tom

As a recent buyer of an FD I cannot provide you wish as much technical information as most on here but I can throw in a few things.

Much like you before I bought mine I had been looking at if for several years wondering if I would ever be able to afford it and keep it running. When the time came I jumped on it and I have to say I have not one single regret ( and it hasn't been smooth sailing either ). The enjoyment that this car brings is well worth every penny I spend/will spend keeping it in good shape. If you're like me another car just simply wasn't an option and I have to say I'm glad I couldn't convince myself otherwise.

Best of luck finding the one that suits you. Once you take it for a spin I am nearly sure there will be no turning back.

You might want to PM andre sinclair, he's also bound to a wheelchair and hot rods RX7's.

https://www.rx7club.com/other-engine-conversions-non-v-8-118/sa-2jz-gte-swap-751161/

Great replies, thanks everybody. :icon_tup: To be honest, I've never been interested in 350z's, though I wasn't aware they were getting that cheap. I've always been interested in S2000's, but now recall what you said - 6spd manual only. I guess it's a little picky, but I think the dash cluster is horrendous too. What's with that big, goofy, digital speedometer? haha. I love Vettes, but they're out for now. I may eventually own one though. I'd give anything if I could get ahold of an FD, and stick an RX-8 ATX behind it. (I know how impossible that is too, I'm just saying it'd be awesome) I wasn't aware they had paddle shifted 6spd's available. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, or maybe it's just been thaat long since I've honestly checked them out, but last I remember they had typical 4spd ATX's attached.

As for being a teenager, nope, I'm 27. Dad lives in ME, I'm in WV, and Mom's in AZ. My closest family is 350 miles away. When I first read that question I was a little confused, though after re-reading some posts, I spose I can see how you might get that. Dad has no say, he's just an overly-practical business man and that response read straight out of his mouth - bold, well worded, and to the point. Not to say that's a bad thing, at all, but practicality isn't always the shoe that fits. Being disabled to the point that I am, I just have a limited budget to deal with, and have to keep that in mind, at least somewhat.

Petite has responded to me a couple times at this point. So far they haven't said a word about building a "reliable" engine, though they're very willing to help me find a car they've gone over & deem solid. I'm currently waiting on some pics of a black automatic they've got for sale. That may be the way I go, as I would definitely trust one they've gone over, much more than a random one I find. Apparently the one they've got now, they've done all the maintnence & work for the previous owner, so it's interesting to say the least.

As for a trusted mechanic, yep, I was lucky enough to find one right across the street! He'll even come over, get my cars, and bring them back when he's done/has the time. (because he knows what a hassle it is for me to get in and out of them) Honestly, I could probably even trust him to dive into rotary stuff & do a great job, even though he's got very little expierience. Maybe not, but I just about have that much trust in him at this point.

I agree, the big digital tach on the s2k is fugly, but even RX-8s come with digital speedos. lol

Be careful trusting a non-rotary mechanic on an FD. there are a lot of little quicks specifically related to the FD that resemble problems on different cars but are completely different issues on ours.

And here's what the engine looks like with the UIM off.
https://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j...13-07_1149.jpg

Mind you my car's a 5sp manual, the automatic has more vac lines and wires there. So you can see why it's important to have an FD specific mechanic, or atleast a rotary specific mechanic for anything engine/turbo related.

Yeah, but even the RX-8's cluster isn't as nasty looking as S2000's, haha. I felt the same way about whatever year Prelude that was back in the day. ('93 or so) The car looked great, but the dash was just fugly!

As for mechanics, I know and fully understand. I was just making the point that I do have a great mechanic across the street, and if it came down to it, I could probably give him books to learn up on, and he'd probably do a good job. If/when I get an FD, it will likely only get oil changes etc. from anybody around here though.

I forgot to reply about the 3 & older Protege's suggestion.. as far as I know, like with so many other manufacturers, the uprated, (MS), versions of these aren't available in automatic form. I wrote to Mazda USA about that in regards to a few different cars, a few years ago. Come to think of it, I told them I thought the automatic RX-8 should be available with paddle shifters and some of the other, then MTX-only, goodies. Maybe they listened, a little bit at least, haha.. Honestly, the 3 and Protege, (and RX-8), are a little bigger than what I'm after too. I also wish the 3 was available as a 2-door of some sort, as most 2-door's are a little easier to get a chair in and out of, due to the longer doors & whatnot. (I actually think the 3 sedan looks better than the hatch, which is completely out of the ordinary for my tastes) In a perfect world, I'd never own anything much bigger or heavier than a V6 MX-3, haha. Heck, if I could get a good ATX, (or manual setup I could drive), into a 2.5L MX-3, I'd never want any other FWD. (with some other goodies too of course)

Have you heard that Malloy Mazda service is good as well. I've been told Ray is great for getting good deal but I didn' know if it was a good service station for the 7's

I am not too sure about their service department. I know Ray Crowe knows his shit about FDs, but he's the parts department head, and I don't think he ever touches the servicing of cars. For work done, your closest quality shop would be Ray Wilson at Peter Farrell Supercars in MD.

Does anybody know anything about Rotary Power USA in Encinitas, CA? I've not gave up on RX-7's just yet, and have been in contact with the dealer selling this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123

Looks relatively clean. Pretty high mileage. If you can get records on when and where the motor was done at, and any other repairs made, it could be a good deal.

However, autos usually for less than their manual counterparts. Their "buy-it-now" price does seem reasonable for a purchase from a dealership.

ps glad to see you are still on the hunt. I sincerely hope you find a way to enjoy an fd given the hurdles you will have to overcome.

That Rotary USA I listed above is apparently where the engine was done. I've been exploring other possibilities, as far as cars go, (and not comming up with many that fit my strict criteria), and ran into that one. Thinking about making an offer, but would want to hear something positive about Rotary Power USA in Encinitas, CA first. Not knowing RX-7's as well as say MX-3's & Miata's, I wonder about the interior.. were those seats/tan carpet an option together? Oh yeah, and thanks for the words of encouragement!

The rebuild was done at Rotary USA in Gardena CA, which one person has said do excellent Rotary work. (including the turbos) I'm getting ready to make a new thread over in the Western RX-7 forum area, as I had the city stated wrong originally. I've got a PDF copy of the invoices for all the work done, though the file size is a little over a Mb & I can't attach it. Anybody know a way around that? Also, to answer my own question, the seats were re-covered. (it's included in the invoice set)

If your criteria is as strict as it would seem, and you found an FD with plenty of recent work and in good condition....

It may just be time to make an offer/purchase.

The worst case scenario is something breaks and you replace it. Then you don't have to worry about that part... for a while. ;) Its an FD. They don't call them "Financial Disasters" for nothing you know. :P If it runs strong and fits your needs/wants, and falls into budget. Its time to get a car.

When it comes down to it, anyone can tell you to wait because a nicer one will come along. And anyone can recommend that you purchase. And either one could be a good or bad choice. You have to look at a few factors:

Does it fit?
Can you afford it?
Do you want it?

If all three answers are yes, then the only thing holding you back is pulling the trigger. Get a good deal and enjoy your new car, and enjoy learning it inside and out... or wait for another one to come along. both situations are inevitable... Just which one will come first? :)

Just have 3-6k for an engine rebuild on hand... just in case. Not saying your engine will go, just saying that it helps to have cushion. My project has gotten delayed for an extra 2 years due to not having a sizable enough financial cushion. My mistake, my lesson learned.

Thanks for the words man, all too true! Of course I found myself a reason to doubt this one now.. the fact that it's been driven for 20k, (in 2 years), since the rebuild. Until the invoices were forwarded & I payed attention to the dates, I was under the impression that the rebuild was more recent.. :wallbash: I'm pretty well out of time at this point, but I should have been trying to see if anybody out there would go check it over & testdrive it for me. I've had people from Miata.net do that with long-distance Miata's I've been interested in.

IMO, 20K miles on a rebuild is not a bad thing. If anything was going to go wrong because of a rebuild mistake, it would have already happened. And with reasonable care and use, a rebuild should last at least 60K or so. So I don't see that as a detriment.

By the time you pay shipping you are going to have near $12k in an auto fd. Believe me, you can find a better deal. I dont deal with auto fds but I have sold around 80 fds over the last 6 years, you should be able to find a nice low mileage fd for around $11-12k on the east coast, I am talking between 25-50k miles. Ill keep an eye out for you.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...ight=automatic

This is a little high in price but maybe you can work with him. White FDs do usually bring the most money along with CYMs.

I guess I was hoping to have a little more of the rebuilds miles to myself, paired with the mileage on the rest of the car/transmission, and the overall price + 1k shipping..

That's kind of what I've been thinking as well, though I don't seem to find many on the east coast, especially with as low miles as you're talking. (this is the first I've paid any attention to over 100k though) Thanks a bunch for the link to the white one. Again, by the time I figure in shipping, I'll have to really lowball him though, unfortunately. Hard to find them in such good shape, and then to have a nearly new ATX attached - wow! I also GREATLY appreciate your keeping me in mind. I'll be contacting rzgmt, but doubt I'll be making a sale there.

Ray's service shop does work on FDs last I heard from him, so that's one option if you're local to woodbridge :icon_tup: