DoriftoX

Hey guys... New to the forums and just wanna say Hi and also had a question on FD maintenace... I might be having to move to Japan as a job offering has come up and I am still deciding on taking it... Anyways my plan if I choose to take the job is to buy an FD as I have been wanting one for sometime now... My question is simply how bad is the maintenance on the 13B? How has everyones experiance been with there's?

Sorry for the story lol... but ya all help is appreciated. Thanks everyone!

-Josh

RE-Amemiya

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...8&page=1&pp=20


Page 3:
1. Gasket hanging from turbo-installed missing stud and nut:$107.14
2. Vehicle leaking gasoline-Gas tank has hole, replaced gas tank:$900.55
3. Repair sunroof switch-replaced sunroof switch assembly:$352.36
4. A/C inop-check system and A/C operates to man. Specifications:$89.95
5. Reattach front chin spoiler:$62.48
6. Attach front license plate-installed tag bracket and Mazda Emblem:$129.45
7. Oil pan leaking-replaced oil pan gasket:$401.92
8. Completed power steering flush:$117.20
9. Completed brake fluid flush:$106.83
10. Completed 4-wheel alignment:$79.95
11. Replaced heater temp. hose for aftermarket exhaust:$59.93
12. Hazard material and shop supplies:$31.45
TTL Service bill: $2,503.96

1. Perform VA emissions:$28
2. Passenger side door lock broken-replaced lock cylinder:$171.60
3. Replaced fuse cover:$28.38
4. Replaced rear brake pads and calipers:$902.18
5. Rear windshield wiper inop-replaced rear wiper motor:$454.83
6. Replace all pulleys to have air pump operable to pass emissions:$1071.68
7. Hazard material and shop supplies:$31.45
TTL Service bill: $2,782.75

1. Completed 75,000 mile service:$220.74
2. Repair door handle:$89.95
3. Remove turbo timer:$116.94
4. Hazard material and shop supplies:$31.45
TTL Service bill: $462.54

Door handle: $260.90
Ornament? : $141.46

-That’s the $6,151.61 I was talking about since Aug.
-I have NOT included the most recent services completed, or the tires I bought for the car the same week

suprasigh

just a thought

SayNoToPistons

two words:
Butt Rape.

InvisibleMonkey

^ LMAO

this is talked about all the time, but i've decided to get an SC300/SC400 because of this forum, but i'll get a '7 later when i can have a weekend car, as much as i'd rather have an RX-7, i know it would be stupid knowing what i'm getting into and having to ride the bus when the car is down, from what i've been reading since i joined, i don't think it would be a good daily driver, but a good project/weekend car

chinaman

Josh, the best RX-7 gurus are in Japan! If you decide to take the job, visit some of the shops (Amemiya, Feed, Panspeed, R-magic, ect) and talk to them. If you really want to know about these cars, these are the guys to talk to.

fsae_alum

Sheeeeeeetttttt.....moving to Japan? Why not get an S15 Silvia or a Skyline?

JConn2299

You tend to hear horror stories on a forum like this. It's like TV news, you don't hear about the 10,000 houses that DIDN'T burn last night. If you buy a car in good condition and that hasn't been over-modified, I don't find the maintenance schedule that demanding. I'd look for a 2001-2002 model. Chances are maintenance has been good on a late model car.
Then oil changes every 3k miles, spark plugs every 15k or so. Do a fuel filter and coolant change as soon as you get it, and you should be good to go.

Other than oil, the fluid changes are the same you'd do for any other car. A late model Japanese car won't have a pre-cat, so you don't have to worry about removing that.

We have some posters here who live in Japan. When you spot them, send them a personal message via the forum. They should be able to supply all the information you need.

I would think the biggest problem with owning an FD in Japan is finding a place where you can drive it routinely without running into hellacious traffic.

VegasFD

I must be the black sheep of the group. I've been very lucky with the repairs on my car. Other the normal maintenance, and modifications over the last 18 months, my car has been nothing but cheap and dependable. I even drove it as my daily driver for a year. However, it has a lot to do with HOW you drive it. For the most part, I drive like an old man, no crazy 7000 RPM launches, no tracking of any kind. Just my two cents. Good luck.

jpandes

If you will have the time to work on the car in Japan. Why don't you buy an FD as a project car(I.e. 2nd car) I hear that you can buy them pretty cheap in Japan. I wouldn't recommend it as a daily driver.

BlackR1

FD ownership isn't bad, but I wouldnt recommend it if you don't have any other forms of transportation. I personally believe the car is too much of a rarity to be daily driving it.

There are a lot of parts to break on the car, so if you will be daily driving it, be prepared. Use the forum, search, and do preventative maintenance. I changed my oil every 1500 miles, and spark plugs every third oil change. The car can be had relatively cheaply, but it is not a cheap car by any means. Never use cheap parts.

Before you even contemplate modifying the car, get it running back to stock/reliable condition first. Don't buy that exhaust or those rims, buy a downpipe, AST, and get the sequentials working properly. Fix that busted CV boot, replace those creaky bushings, and take care of any leaks you may find.

Since you are in Japan, you have a higher probability of finding a good condition car...but then again, the cars are also becoming rare in Japan as well. K-Cars and wagons are the popular form of transportation over there, and you probably won't see too many FD's on the street.

Whether owning the FD is "worth it" or not is dependent on why you want the car. I've had countless headaches and have burned a lot of money on my car...but for me, I consider the car a 'relic'... a car like the FD will never be produced again-- it's a relic of days long gone and has a bit of history attached to it.

DoriftoX

Thanks everyone for all the replies really helping me out a lot...

and to answer your question fsae_alum the reason i dont pick a S15 or a skyline is that i'm a huge FD fan... that and i would almost prefer a 1990 Silvia K's with a CA18DET and build that up...

-Josh

Joe Geiman

The proof is in the driving. There is no other car that compares.
That's what makes all the hassles worth it.
Really, other than regular maintenence, my 85K FD has only had a few minor problems.
It stuck a check valve in the boost control circuit, the pre and post cats were clogged and replaced with a down and mid pipes. That's about it.

namasan

Good luck paying for gas, tolls & parking !!! Once you get done w/ those, then you can worry about the maintenence. Hope you got a really good offer!

fdjon

wait, $116.94 to REMOVE the turbo timer?!

RE-Amemiya

Yeah

coolvette

my 98 c5 had at least as many problems.I guess some cars are just plain lemons.