Gamezilla

Okay, I've got about $15-20k to work with. I've wanted an FD for years. Its been the car of my dreams. I know the car backwards and forwards. I do a lot of work on many different cars and trucks in the auto shop and I know pretty much how to diagnose and fix any problem I have. I'm gonna go off to college soon (probably in San Antonio). I'm left with the choice of getting the FD at the end of the school year or keeping my 89 Pathfinder. My pathfinder is falling apart. 13 years old and not very well cared for. Its running, so its not all that bad. And it does seem to be pretty hard to destroy on purpose. So if I do get the FD I at least have a beater.

Considering what I have, should I get an FD? I'd be living on campus. Would it be too much work for a college student to take care of? Should I get something like a supra or 300zx TT instead and sell the truck?

Blitz0309

On campus, nice cars have a tendency to get broken in to. My friends red FD is recovering as we speak...

poss

iTrader: (5)

I have my FD at college. Not having a garage is a PITA. I can't work on it without looking like a redneck and there is the weather thing. While I wouldn't trade my FD for anything, it does suck worrying about it. vandalism isn't too bad around here, but there will always be jealous people that wouldn't think twice about keying it or breaking into it. With the exception of someone taking my license plate off and putting it on my hatch , I've been lucky so far. it's a tough decision. If you can get a garage somewhere, I would say go for it, otherwise you might want to think twice.
good luck!

RX7Elmo

I have an FD and i'm a senior in college. But then again, I also have another car that i drive mostly. The FD is a bad car for around town driving, espeically on campus. It gets bad mileage and i get pissy because i can't drive more than 20mph anywhere. I'm basically in 1st=2nd gera the entire time. Also there are haters at college that will vandalize your car. If you aren't the showoff type and park in low-profile areas, that won't be a problem.

Silver94

Get the FD! I go to the University of South Carolina and I bought myself an FD my freshman year. It is harder to take care of it when your in college but I always find the time to.

JONSKI

I hope you're not going to my school. Two years ago someone threw a desk through the hatch of a CYM R1 (it's owner is on the forum). The crime at my school is horrendous. It's why I don't take my car to school (or go out alone at night).

MazdaMike

i commute with my fd she taks some peble punishment on the highways but she is pretty good in the lots nothing bad has happened yet... knock on wood. looks really pretty get a lot of jealous looks from all the guys with mommy and daddys benx/beemer/infinity but they would rather be waxing their hair then messing with fast cars heh good luck man

-Mike

RollnDrty

I'm junior and have my car at college. I have not had any trouble thus far. Downside is it gets parked outside, in the weather, plus I dont have access to a garage for when I need to work on it. You need to consider where it will be parked most of the time, and the type of people that will be around it. There are always gonna be haters, regardless of your driving habits, and regardless of whether its a Z, 7, or Supra. As for having the Pathfinder, keep it. You may need a car to rely on should any major problems arise with the FD. Personally I like having my FD around, regardless of the downside.

charliegt

Dude, get the FD. Take the truck to college and leave the FD at home in the garage where it belongs. I commute to college in my FD but I have a beater for the winter. I also keep my FD in the garage. 20k is more than enough to buy a nice FD and keep it maintained as long as you don't do anything stupid. I don't care what anyone says about 300zx or supra, they don't get half the looks and comments the FD does. In fact nothing short of a Viper does.

-Charlie

Gamezilla

I dont even plan on putting too much money into it. Some new rims, probably my sound system from my truck (shiva sub and JBL amp) and a couple of the reliability mods and I'd be done. I dont want the car for the power. I want it for what it is. The most cosmetic stuff would be the front off the late 90's RX7s. And character-wise I find it hard to beleave someone would actually grow to hate me.

Meiogirl

iTrader: (2)

It depends on what kind of perosn you are. I think you would be better off waiting until you get out of school. that way you dont have to add it to your worries.

Ward

get the car, its great. i got mine while in college, but i'm paranoid about my car. thats why it stays in the garage at home. i will not have it exposed to weather and all the goofballs around. and on top of that no one can park or drive. people dont have respect for others property. so the car stays home and i drive my truck (my nissan truck, representing the N)

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Funny, I said that 3 cat backs, 3 sets of 18's and tires, 2 intakes, two spoilers, a DP, a set of Sparcos, a hi flow cat, Apexi RX6 BB single turbo, 2 sets of steering wheels, 1300cc secondaries, Nippon fuel pump, Crooked Willow SMIC, Apexi sideskirts, Koni adjustable shocks, two sets of lowering springs, P FC stand alone, Mazdaspeed rep CF hood, Jimlab bushings, God knows what else I can't think of, and two years ago.... It's a disease, and I'll have nothing to do with a cure.

TeamChin

iTrader: (1)

i'm so jealous....i wish i could've afforded an fd in college....what do you people do???? sell drugs or computer nerds???

for real though....it will cost you more then you expect...but is worth every penny...if you can afford it go for it...

Gamezilla

Actually, I planned for the longest time on getting a TII. Then my parents told me they had a lot of money left over in my college saving account. If I get more scholarships, I get whatever surplus money in my account for myself. I have the money to pay for the car, for the repairs, for the gas, and for the insurance. I'm just worried about practicality and having it around campus.

What about putting it in storage? I could work on it in peace and air conditioning. Nobody would bug it. I'd just be renting out a garage pretty much.

m477

Yeah, that's a good idea. I got my FD when I still lived in an apartment, and not having a garage got old REALLY fast.

mightyslash

Anyone realize he's only 17?

RX7Elmo

17? wow. how did you come up with 20K at 17? hehe. But um, try to consider insurance. I hope you have a good record. But FYI, my insurance jumped 700 a year when i bought my FD. For reference, i had an MR2 1991 Turbo and a 1989 MR2 supercharged (still have). expect insurance and gas to take up a huge chunk of your funds.

Danny

FCRyosuke07

iTrader: (1)

depends on the area, i would say dont leave it on campus. my integra got stolen off campus and its not that ghetto here at all. get a good alarm/immobilizer or something.

prew

iTrader: (9)

get the FD man. im a freshmen in college and i have been leaving my car at home. my parents are letting me drive one of thier cars here now, and im buying a beater soon. i would not suggest bringing an FD to school unless its in a real nice area. it sounds like you could leave it at home and take her out on the weekends. my car wouldnt last here in north philly. good luck. - steve

Gamezilla

First, I know I'm 17. I'll be 18 in January and wont even think about getting the car till June. The money is from the surplus that my parents saved up that I didnt need for college. Its mine to do with as I like. I'd rather not spend it all on a car though. That would be really stupid.

Second, my home is in Spring TX (about 45mins NW of Houston (near the Woodlands). San Antonio is close, but its still a decent drive home. And I'll be living on campus probably. Keeping it in storage would be kinda lame. I'd have to drive over to pick it up every time I wanted to drive it. I'd feel like I was building a race car, not a daily driver.

Lastly, I go postal when people mess with my ****. Doesnt matter if its a car or something else. I just dont like people I dont know messing with my stuff. Like I planned with the TII, I would bring the car in and have the windows treated to make them shatter proof. At least someone with a brick or crowbar is gonna have to work to get in. Alarm goes on. Pressure sensitive and calls my cell phone (which is left on almost all the time). Kill switch with dummy switch. Kill runs to the fuel injector. Car runs for a couple minutes, then dies. They cant restart it. Plus, I dont plan on having all this money invested in a stereo and parts. I like doing my own unique custom work. Something that nobody else has done, but is really of no value on the open market.

If its keyed, I'll just have it touched up. I want to get the Spirit R front fender and wing for the rex. I'll get those painted, but nothing that'll last more than a couple years. Reason? Right before I graduate, I plan on blasting the whole thing and painting it electric blue.

dclin

iTrader: (4)

Dood, you ask for opinions, and you're going to get an ear full both ways. Before you go thinking you have all the bases covered as far as people messing with/stealing your car, attend a monthly Houston RX7 meet and ask around about things that have gone on in the last year/two. Then ask me why I have not been to a single meeting in a year and a half.

Granted, having your car stolen/screwed with does not just apply to RX7s, but something to consider if you donl't have the facilities to put a flashy car up in.

Anyways, it sounds like you want one, so get one. We hear the same thing on a weekly basis - somebody asking if they should get one, then coming up with all sorts of reasons themselves why they should. Best of luck.

wonder1and

I'm a Fish-sophmore @ UNT its a good school... but always keep in your mind... FD= Fixed daily.
Ryker

verc

We should, you and I. I feel we are in a very similar situation. Well, I am a year older than you, but I'm assuming that you've been doing all your research, read all the tech articles on Scuderiani (I can't spell) 's site.

I'm in California, you are in texas. About the same weather? (Except TX is more humid) So there's no snow in winter. That's one good thing going for us.

I'm assuming you are middle class. I'm in college right now and I'm not really particularily worried about damage/theft because there are hundreds and BMW's, Porshes, and Benzes in the parking lots and I have never heard of any getting robbed. Besides, we got garages on campus.

hrm...I dunno how much you know about physcially working on cars right now though. You said your last vehicle was a pathfinder?

Don't forget the maintanence! 18-20 grand will get you a pretty decent car IF YOU PICK IT CAREFULLY. People Bullshit about reliability mods, compression tests, and lie about their boost patterns to sell their car.


Well, best of luck!
Ambert

1FooknTiteFD

get a supra or 300zx. It's hard to find a nice FD these days and they tend to cost a lot of money in the long run when stuff starts breaking. Ask any FD owner who has owned their car for a long time who have had it for over 50,000 miles, **** just starts falling apart. As a college student would you have the funds to support it if parts start breaking? if not then I suggest that you get a different car.