FD a dying platform. Am I crazy to get one?
06-12-12, 11:30 AM
#1
FD a dying platform. Am I crazy to get one?
Ok 3rd gen guys, a question.
I'm a long time first gen rx7 owner. Bought my first GSL-SE in 1997 and daily drove it for years. Followed it up with a second 1980 FB with a weber'd streetported firebreather motor (mazspeed's old car). I tracked that car for years (Sear's Point, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill) and it kicked *** and never failed. After selling my FB's I moved to miatas. Now my daily is an 05 STI, and I just sold off my latest toy (Lotus elise) I always had a soft spot for FD's but never had a chance to own one. Now I have the chance.
I am currently looking at a single owner 1993 FD with only 28k miles. It was driven stock until 2005 when it's owner began to carefully modify it for track duty. The owner is an engineer, and the car is pristine. It was garaged it's whole life and looks new.
It currently has the original stock engine with the following mods:
Knightsports v-mount IC + radiator
Kightsports intake + AST
efini Y-pipe
BNR stage 3 twin turbos
SMB downpipe.
Running on stock computer but it comes with a Power FC (uninstalled and untuned)
It also has tein flex coilovers, and a stoptech big brake kit.
Most of these mods are fairly new and recent.My use for the car would be as a street toy and track toy. As you all know the reliability issue is a big one on FD's. I've read so many reliability threads here it's made my head spin. So my plan if I buy it would be to install the Power FC, get it tuned conservatively for the mods and leave it alone. I would add water or water/meth injection for a bit of a safety margin.
The main worry I have is this: As great as these cars are, they seem to be getting more and more rare, parts are drying up and places to have them serviced & tuned are disappearing.
I love rotaries but I'm also cross shopping early NSX's (more reliable but more expensive).
What would you guys do?
I'm a long time first gen rx7 owner. Bought my first GSL-SE in 1997 and daily drove it for years. Followed it up with a second 1980 FB with a weber'd streetported firebreather motor (mazspeed's old car). I tracked that car for years (Sear's Point, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill) and it kicked *** and never failed. After selling my FB's I moved to miatas. Now my daily is an 05 STI, and I just sold off my latest toy (Lotus elise) I always had a soft spot for FD's but never had a chance to own one. Now I have the chance.
I am currently looking at a single owner 1993 FD with only 28k miles. It was driven stock until 2005 when it's owner began to carefully modify it for track duty. The owner is an engineer, and the car is pristine. It was garaged it's whole life and looks new.
It currently has the original stock engine with the following mods:
Knightsports v-mount IC + radiator
Kightsports intake + AST
efini Y-pipe
BNR stage 3 twin turbos
SMB downpipe.
Running on stock computer but it comes with a Power FC (uninstalled and untuned)
It also has tein flex coilovers, and a stoptech big brake kit.
Most of these mods are fairly new and recent.My use for the car would be as a street toy and track toy. As you all know the reliability issue is a big one on FD's. I've read so many reliability threads here it's made my head spin. So my plan if I buy it would be to install the Power FC, get it tuned conservatively for the mods and leave it alone. I would add water or water/meth injection for a bit of a safety margin.
The main worry I have is this: As great as these cars are, they seem to be getting more and more rare, parts are drying up and places to have them serviced & tuned are disappearing.
I love rotaries but I'm also cross shopping early NSX's (more reliable but more expensive).
What would you guys do?
06-12-12, 11:36 AM
#2
The car will never have the aftermarket or support of say, a mustang.. but I wouldnt say parts are that scarce. Other than finding someone local that you can trust to work on it , if you choose not to yourself, there are still plenty of parts/knowledge available, especially on this forum. Youd be surprised what you can still buy new from the dealer, and good lower milage used parts can be sourced from importers of later model FDs from overseas.
06-12-12, 11:37 AM
#3
fd's are easy to take care of after you have it setup how you want. people have problems because they either cut corners, neglect maintenance or are uneducated. my fds have always treated me well after i cleaned up the previous owners hacks and messes(which sounds like a non issue for you). they are great track cars and weekend warriors. i have a few friends who daily them but im not sure i would recommend it because i like low mileage cars.
06-12-12, 01:10 PM
#5
Wastegate John
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Ok 3rd gen guys, a question.
I'm a long time first gen rx7 owner. Bought my first GSL-SE in 1997 and daily drove it for years. Followed it up with a second 1980 FB with a weber'd streetported firebreather motor (mazspeed's old car). I tracked that car for years (Sear's Point, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill) and it kicked *** and never failed. After selling my FB's I moved to miatas. Now my daily is an 05 STI, and I just sold off my latest toy (Lotus elise) I always had a soft spot for FD's but never had a chance to own one. Now I have the chance.
I am currently looking at a single owner 1993 FD with only 28k miles. It was driven stock until 2005 when it's owner began to carefully modify it for track duty. The owner is an engineer, and the car is pristine. It was garaged it's whole life and looks new.
It currently has the original stock engine with the following mods:
Knightsports v-mount IC + radiator
Kightsports intake + AST
efini Y-pipe
BNR stage 3 twin turbos
SMB downpipe.
Running on stock computer but it comes with a Power FC (uninstalled and untuned)
It also has tein flex coilovers, and a stoptech big brake kit.
Most of these mods are fairly new and recent.My use for the car would be as a street toy and track toy. As you all know the reliability issue is a big one on FD's. I've read so many reliability threads here it's made my head spin. So my plan if I buy it would be to install the Power FC, get it tuned conservatively for the mods and leave it alone. I would add water or water/meth injection for a bit of a safety margin.
The main worry I have is this: As great as these cars are, they seem to be getting more and more rare, parts are drying up and places to have them serviced & tuned are disappearing.
I love rotaries but I'm also cross shopping early NSX's (more reliable but more expensive).
What would you guys do?
I'm a long time first gen rx7 owner. Bought my first GSL-SE in 1997 and daily drove it for years. Followed it up with a second 1980 FB with a weber'd streetported firebreather motor (mazspeed's old car). I tracked that car for years (Sear's Point, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill) and it kicked *** and never failed. After selling my FB's I moved to miatas. Now my daily is an 05 STI, and I just sold off my latest toy (Lotus elise) I always had a soft spot for FD's but never had a chance to own one. Now I have the chance.
I am currently looking at a single owner 1993 FD with only 28k miles. It was driven stock until 2005 when it's owner began to carefully modify it for track duty. The owner is an engineer, and the car is pristine. It was garaged it's whole life and looks new.
It currently has the original stock engine with the following mods:
Knightsports v-mount IC + radiator
Kightsports intake + AST
efini Y-pipe
BNR stage 3 twin turbos
SMB downpipe.
Running on stock computer but it comes with a Power FC (uninstalled and untuned)
It also has tein flex coilovers, and a stoptech big brake kit.
Most of these mods are fairly new and recent.My use for the car would be as a street toy and track toy. As you all know the reliability issue is a big one on FD's. I've read so many reliability threads here it's made my head spin. So my plan if I buy it would be to install the Power FC, get it tuned conservatively for the mods and leave it alone. I would add water or water/meth injection for a bit of a safety margin.
The main worry I have is this: As great as these cars are, they seem to be getting more and more rare, parts are drying up and places to have them serviced & tuned are disappearing.
I love rotaries but I'm also cross shopping early NSX's (more reliable but more expensive).
What would you guys do?
I think that because you posted this on RX-7 club most would purchase the RX-7.
I think if you post the same thing on an NSX forum most will tell you to get one of those.
IMO, the car sounds like a great platform to start off with. Even though it is low mileage it may be a good idea to get a compression check, it is also important that the antifreeze has been changed at regular service intervals.
I agree with stevensimon, these cars are reliable; in the right hands. I have owned my FD for 3 years and 18k miles and it has never left me on the side of the road or have been unreliable. In most ways it has been more reliable than my DD
.BTW, arent stock NSX's slower than the FD? I never understood the appeal of those cars
. They seem like a wannabe super car but do not have the horsepower to back it up.
06-12-12, 01:13 PM
#6
i'm surprised it's still in one piece running the BNR's and the stock ECU... if you buy it you will need an immediate tune along with the PFC installed.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
Last edited by RotaryEvolution; 06-12-12 at 01:23 PM.
06-12-12, 01:23 PM
#7
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haha... to the OP you sound just like me a couple of months ago...
Well, rest assured. I've actually already bought an Rx7 and it isn't bad at all. There are still many services around for these cars and if you looked hard enough (and by hard i mean just searching for 10 min or so), you'll actually find all the parts you need.
Well, rest assured. I've actually already bought an Rx7 and it isn't bad at all. There are still many services around for these cars and if you looked hard enough (and by hard i mean just searching for 10 min or so), you'll actually find all the parts you need.
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06-12-12, 01:26 PM
#8
I'm relitively new to the FD, I got my first one in November of 2010 with a blown motor and a ruined interior.
I've had no problems at all replacing the entire interior as well as getting a motor rebuilt along with an extensive list of aftermarket parts.
I'd say this has been one of the easier cars that I've owned to source parts for.
-Geoff
I've had no problems at all replacing the entire interior as well as getting a motor rebuilt along with an extensive list of aftermarket parts.
I'd say this has been one of the easier cars that I've owned to source parts for.
-Geoff
06-12-12, 02:14 PM
#9
All out Track Freak!
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i'm surprised it's still in one piece running the BNR's and the stock ECU... if you buy it you will need an immediate tune along with the PFC installed.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
BTW the FD has the opposite effect on me so that comment really hurt my feelings
The more I drive them the less I want to drive anything else Different strokes for different folks 
06-12-12, 02:15 PM
#10
i'm surprised it's still in one piece running the BNR's and the stock ECU... if you buy it you will need an immediate tune along with the PFC installed.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
i agree with most above, a rotary car is only as reliable as it's owner but is less forgiving to neglegence. my TII has been the most reliable car i have ever owned, but it took a bit of work to get there. the chassis has 220k and the engine now has 70k on it with all the hard engine parts being used so the engine realistically has far more than that aside from the seals.
but i'm going the opposite direction, as i get older i prefer older platform cars like the old 2,3,4 and datsun cars. no offense to anyone here but i never really cared for the FD after driving so many.
But yes, a tune would be a priority. Any recommendations of good califronia tuners?
06-12-12, 02:45 PM
#11
I think that because you posted this on RX-7 club most would purchase the RX-7.
I think if you post the same thing on an NSX forum most will tell you to get one of those.
IMO, the car sounds like a great platform to start off with. Even though it is low mileage it may be a good idea to get a compression check, it is also important that the antifreeze has been changed at regular service intervals.
I agree with stevensimon, these cars are reliable; in the right hands. I have owned my FD for 3 years and 18k miles and it has never left me on the side of the road or have been unreliable. In most ways it has been more reliable than my DD.
BTW, arent stock NSX's slower than the FD? I never understood the appeal of those cars. They seem like a wannabe super car but do not have the horsepower to back it up.
I think if you post the same thing on an NSX forum most will tell you to get one of those.
IMO, the car sounds like a great platform to start off with. Even though it is low mileage it may be a good idea to get a compression check, it is also important that the antifreeze has been changed at regular service intervals.
I agree with stevensimon, these cars are reliable; in the right hands. I have owned my FD for 3 years and 18k miles and it has never left me on the side of the road or have been unreliable. In most ways it has been more reliable than my DD
.BTW, arent stock NSX's slower than the FD? I never understood the appeal of those cars
. They seem like a wannabe super car but do not have the horsepower to back it up.As far as the FD goes, it's another level of cost and performance. It's like any other layer of ownership. As you step up the performance and technology, cost goes up. It's not a Porche GT3, but it's not an FB. It lands right in the area of cheap supercar. It is an extremely capable car for it's price tag. Some would argue the best.....
Parts.... PLEASE, I could build a car with a few months of our marketplace. I continually see many awesome deals and influx of quality parts for FD's in our section. I noticed how much faster the FD section moves compared to FB & FC.
Service.... All I can say is learn your car. For me, half of this great hobby is building my own car, and doing my own work. You don't have to be an expert engine builder or fabricator to effectively own these cars. Being an enthusiast means you are willing to learn and tackle projects. There will always be companies out there to build you an engine or fabricate a turbo kit.
For me, it was always an FD. I've owned 10 Rx7's and only 1 FD. It's by far the greatest package sports car I have had the pleassure of enjoying.
06-12-12, 04:57 PM
#12
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fd's are easy to take care of after you have it setup how you want. people have problems because they either cut corners, neglect maintenance or are uneducated. my fds have always treated me well after i cleaned up the previous owners hacks and messes(which sounds like a non issue for you). they are great track cars and weekend warriors. i have a few friends who daily them but im not sure i would recommend it because i like low mileage cars.
.
06-13-12, 02:34 PM
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My FD has been reliable as you can get. It ran everyday in rain, snow, sleet and any other weather condition. I auto-x it, highway race it on occasion, beat on it all the time, dragged it a few times, took it drifting twice, drove it and beat it for days straight at Deals Gap, and never had it die on me. 4½ years of great fun. Only issue is gas mileage.
06-13-12, 02:40 PM
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My FD has been reliable as you can get. It ran everyday in rain, snow, sleet and any other weather condition. I auto-x it, highway race it on occasion, beat on it all the time, dragged it a few times, took it drifting twice, drove it and beat it for days straight at Deals Gap, and never had it die on me. 4½ years of great fun. Only issue is gas mileage.
If I used my track car on the street I don't think I could break it.
06-14-12, 05:46 AM
#21
Most facts have been stated in this thread. Keep up with maintenance and understand your car. If you're the kind of guy who doesn't know what knock is or doesn't understand that when you hit the gas and it shudders and sputters and shakes then you don't just go into boost to see if it's still ok. I don't know why people always think that's alright. I are all the time on this forum kids saying, "my rx7 is hesitating and sputtering and running like garbage, but I went into full boost in third and it boosts fine! But when I took it home now my vacuum is all jumpy help!" Do your research. I researched FDs for 3 years before getting mine and I love it
06-14-12, 08:55 AM
#24
OP, the FD is a dying platform. We are getting less and less support from Mazda and more and more people are going to have to go v8 or fight over leftover parts so don't bother. The less new FD owners, the more parts for me!
Seriously though, I think within 5 - 10 years we are going to have a really rough time finding parts.
Seriously though, I think within 5 - 10 years we are going to have a really rough time finding parts.
06-14-12, 09:50 AM
#25
My FD has been reliable as you can get. It ran everyday in rain, snow, sleet and any other weather condition. I auto-x it, highway race it on occasion, beat on it all the time, dragged it a few times, took it drifting twice, drove it and beat it for days straight at Deals Gap, and never had it die on me. 4½ years of great fun. Only issue is gas mileage.
This is the stuff that warms my heart. I'm really close to pulling the trigger on it, the main problem is finding a tuner in the SF Bay Area to tune it. Might have to got to LA which would be a hassle.