FD Popularity
 

As you all can see I am not on this site as much...

Wondering if the FDs are still a popular demanding sport car.

is this a joke. of course it is

?????????????

Sounds like your asking TWO questions.

Popular? I would say they are in this forum

Demanding sports car? They are prone to oversteer in inexperienced hands.

Resell prices show that they are still DESIRABLE compared to a 93-95 Vette, Mustang, Camaro........................

Actually it was a honest question.

I know it is a rare car but was unsure if it is still popular. Have mine since 2004, car has been in family since 1994.

Thinking about selling it make room for a M5.

+1 on the M5

Our cars are very popular, but usually it is with kids who don't have the means to buy them. I am honestly impressed that FDs haven't dropped much in value with our slowing economy.

Rotary powered FDs are getting even more rare with the popularity of the LSX swaps. Seems like everytime I am in the classifieds someone is selling a full pullout.

who cares if its popular or not. if you like it than keep it, m5 has more prestige so if thats what you want then go for it.

the biggest change in the forums over the last few years is the broke ass kids who can barely afford their cars and parts and lowball everyone.

remember the days where an M2 IC sold in about an hour for $1000? yeah no longer, not even close. But most still love the FD

Its popular and demanding for LSx swaps. Thats about it.

Very rare will you find someone who is willing to pay 10k+ for an FD to restore it to their likings. And if that happens, usually ended up being sold because lost of interest or lack of funds.

To answer your question, i think you should keep it. At least til it gets more rare and maybe the value will increase. Or unless you have money to get the M5 while keeping the FD til someone buys it.

I dont know your plan.

In Ireland the FD is still very rare and therefore very popular with everyone (WOW factor) except mechanics, most of which will just turn you away before you even get a chance to explain your needs. I often have young people shouting compliments at me, men that I have never seen before approaching me and asking questions and professionals like Architects/Consultants/Engineers commenting on the marvel that is the rotary engine and its design.

I am very fussy about cars and to me there is very little other than the FD that would interest me in the slightest. I have always wanted one!

However, if I were to sell it, the only other car I would consider is the BMW M3 with the SMG gearbox/transmission.

You are asking a bunch of biased persons.

Not too long ago I am always on this forum...lately I am here maybe once a month.

I have lost interest modding the 7 and recently I've lost interest driving it. Don't get me wrong, the FD is the most beautiful sport car out there, so timeless. But it is a PITA to drive even when most reliable.

I am getting old...approaching 50 yrs old...however still like going fast but it have to be "comfortably", reason for picking the M5 over Z06; Cayman; M3.

500 hp with one push of a button...yeah.

Yeah, but 500HP pushing almost 4,000-lbs both in a straight-line and through the curves, is NO WHERE comparable to the 2,800-lb. FD. On a stock suspension, or even Koni yellows with it almost full-soft, it's pretty cushy. . .

:-) neil

Hey TP,

don't know if I ever got to see you at dallas meets. I personally think the popularity is waning. It kinda has to as the car ages and more advanced/powerful cars come out.

I have a E46 M3 and while its a nice daily driver, it doesn't put a smile to my face like the FD. However, the FD is just as quick to make me cry when the AC stops working, plastic creaks are heard, and the sinking feeling when you think you blew an apex seal.

It was my first car that I had that "emotional" connection with that even Jay Leno talks about.

I have driven a Gallardo in anticipation to buy...I'm currently contemplating the Audi R8, GT-R or ZR1. But after test drives, I get in my old car and hear the engine turn over and boost kick in....I start smiling like I when I first got it.

After 5 years of driving FD's, it's the only car that still puts a smile on my face ever time I drive it. It's a free rollercoaster ride whenever I want, besides being one of the most distinctive cars anywhere.

It's not as pillowy as the Cadillacs I used to drive, but that's not it's forte. It was designed to be different and fun, and it's definately both.

And over the years, my two FD's have helped me to become a pretty good mechanic, too.

But if you're finances are straight, I'd actually prefer the M3 ...or another 1976 Coupe DeVille, 500ci ftw!!

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...701/122008.jpg

Josh

I love my FD. But really I love every rotary machine I have owned.
I plan on keeping my FD. And I'm sure I'll buy other rotary machines
in the future. Even though they are not my daily driver, they have been in
the past. Never have I had one let me down, or break down on the
side of the road.

It's back by popular demand.

i feel popular when i drive my cym and get hounded by initial d fanboys.

me too. in a 99 look ssm. although i have run into other "specific car model" fanatics who look at fd's as "highly over-rated" until they fail to pull a ricer fly-by on me.

Don't listen to these guys, the FD isn't a "popular" car anymore.

I'll take it off your hands for cheap. :icon_tup:

I am one these broke people, I live from paycheck to paycheck just to have what I love most. I wouldn't trade it for anything. :)

I'll take your FD if you want. How many miles!

Popular? No. Only to a certain demographic these days. Most people don't even have a clue as to what they are.
Demanding? The FD is a hard car to drive spiritedly, the turbo lag and then kick makes for some unpredictability that can catch a driver off guard.

One thing the FD will always have going for it in North America is...there simply weren't many of them imported, only around 15,000 cars total. That is a very insignificant number, consider approximately 400,000 Accords are sold ANNUALLY in the same market.

I still say the FD is like the Jaguar XKE in SO many ways. When the E-type ceased production in '74 (and the Series III cars were not that popular anyway) within a few years you could find trashed and thrashed versions for just a few thousand dollars, pristine ones brought only dimes on the dollar of their original price. And you saw them rusting away in backyards everywhere. They faded from the sight and memory of all but enthusiasts.
Then...in the late '80s, people started "rediscovering" the XKE. Suddenly the dearth of available cars made for skyrocketing prices. Nowadays...it takes $100K to get a Concourse level Series I or II car. Hell, I saw a 302 Ford V8 powered one that was needing a LOT of work going for $25K in Fort Worth not long ago.
You simply can't find a 'project car' XKE anymore....those have all been snapped up by speculators and restorers, and go for 5 to 10 times their original sticker.

I see the FD following this same scenario, personally.
In another decade, two for sure...a FD that is close to stock or stock will command some incredible (to us today) prices.

I went to the meet once...it has been 3 yrs since.

Beside being a beautiful body style, I love the boost BUT feel uneasy pushing it to the limit.

Officially the car isn't for sale but here is some info and pic. Please no question on price at this time.

1994 PEP
54K miles original, run beautifully, still smell like new. Except for the CD player everything works on this car.

Purchase new by my brother in Conroe, TX 1994, mine since 2004
Trust SMIC
Intakes
HKS DP
RB dual tip
Power FC (tuned S. Kan) 12 psi if PFC set to .80 bar; 10.8 psi at .70 bar setting.
Defi Boost/Temp gauge
HR Springs
Bilstein HD shocks/struts
CCW 17" wheels
Seibon Scoot hood (removed)

Only popular with people who know what it is. I'm in Dallas and when I drive mine most people ask "what kind of car is that?"

Get that all the time.

My co worker always ask " so...is that a 2000 something vette?" LMAO! Then they freak out when learned it's rotary twin turbo. But first I have to spend 5 minute explain what the heck is a rotary engine. LOL!

My neighbor (who has a boxster and an Audi TT for his wife) couldn't stop talking about how he always wanted an FD.

My other neighbor thought i drove a NEW Viper. :LOL

Popular, no... but a conversation starter/attention getter yes.

One other quick story. I drove my FD to work one day (office is near the Westin Hotel in Chicago) and at the end of the day I come walking out of my office to find 8 people walking around the car peering in the windows. I as I walk up they move away , say "nice ride! I wish I could find one like this." Behind them I see a WRX, S2000, an old lowered Prelude and an EVO.

Reactions like this (and the sound of the rotary @ WOT) are why I love this car.

Probably the best thing I like about my fd is putting that what the hell is that look on peoples faces. Getting told to turn off my cause its too loud, and if anyone with a halfbridge and an N1 exhaust and probably relate to whats thats like.

Gets even better when i can just walk away form a vette or mustang gt after they laughed at it cause how it sounds.

For this i could never get ride of it, ear to ear grin just sitting in it. All i can say is keep it its soo worth it.

Especially when you consider that the MSRP of the Boxster in todays worthless money is only a few thousand over the 1995 MSRP at yesteryears dollar.


As to replace with an M5; they are different animals and the M5, as does the M3, varies greatly between versions. Some I have owned, some I would never own but each has its market position.

A lot of people think it is crazy to compare an E-Type to an FD, but I think they have closer demographics than many people think. I too though I could pick up a fixer upper out of college and have a dream car that was fast good handling and stylish at an affordable price. I almost went broke, as i had nowhere near the means to maintain the thing. Best thing I could have done was, stash it and preserve it for later life; some of my friends have pristine examples, but I will not pay the big $$ for one; like Gordon, a Dino 246 makes more sense to me now.

Oh, man....the evidence is thin to back up that claim. The two cars occupy very different niches both when new, and now.

Without too much difficulty you can Google up a photo of Charlton Heston and his new E-Type in the 60's. It was a car owned by movie stars and rock musicians. Jaguar is perceived as a luxury brand. The FD never had the same status.

Rightly or wrongly, there's a lot of badge snobbery when it comes to collector cars.
The European brands predominate, and so far, the Japanese brands haven't really been admitted to the club.

That said, I'd rather drive an FD any day of the week, unless maybe I was trying to make a retro style statement. I've driven an E-Type. I wouldn't describe the handling as sharp by any stretch of the imagination, and that original steering wheel felt flimsy in my hands. The pre-67 ones sure are great looking though, with the exception of the 2+2 with that gawky high roof.

lol... I have few people conviced that I drive Ferrari -:lol: -- No joke here.... I think one girl gave me her number just because of that... Hahahaha... I feel bad thou

Lets see.

My first rotary was an '88 Turbo II with a Series 4 block with a Series 5 oil-metering pump. T3-ish sized turbo, and a couple other goodies. It was only roughly 250hp at most, but MAN was it a blast to drive!

Next was my dream turned nightmare. '93 FD. On top of not being financially ready for the burden, I wasn't NEAR mechanically knowledgeable enough to handle what this car was going to throw at me. Nor was my brother, who IS a mechanic. It was too...weird. Long story short, I blew the motor in roughly 4 months, sold it at a $3,000 loss...lesson learned.

I am now the proud of a White on Black '94 FD. Turbonetics 62-1, Power FC, and all the other necessary supporting mods.

I just went home on Leave from the Navy for a week, and got to drive it.

At only 326hp/287tq, this had to the most fun car I've ever driven in my life. Aside from seeing my family, friends, and my girlfriend....It made my visit home THAT much more enjoyable.

My girlfriend would get annoyed everytime I'd be like "GOD I love the way this car sounds!....GOD I love the way this car looks!!"

haha

I think although the value has dropped, and the market for FD's has decreased significantly....I still think that the FD is a flagship car. Like some others have stated, I think that even today, it's still one of those cars that makes little kids turn their head and go "Wow....I want one of those."

And that's why I love my FD.

:]

What I meant was in the 70's as kids we would pick up late 60's E-Types , 911's, Austin Healey 3000's, Alfas etc. to bring back to life just as kids do with FD's today; both sets were affordable to purchase but E-Type were prohibitive to restore and maintain as FD's are for kids today. Not all of us on this forum talk of history as being just yesterday.

oh yeah as far as real life popularity is concerned. I'd say it's pretty strong at least around here it is.

Ever since I painted my car yellow and added subtle body mods. People freak out... Which the mods are wingless with apexi sides, 99 platless front end, sleeks, seibon hood painted to match the rest of the car, and of course dropped with rims. I'm serious I get some violent reactions from people. From totally yelling out their car window (giving props) as if their favorite team just won the superbowl, to coming up as im parking to literaly shake my hand, chasing me down in the freeway to give the thumbs up. Interesting because yellow is one of those colors that either people love or hate. Many hate it but those that love it really shows.

I know exactly what you mean, and I've had some of the exact same experiences. Some of the responses were from owners of new SL 500's, New Jag's, BMW's, etc.
Last week I was pumping gas and two nurses from the animal hospital across the parking lot came over to ask me what kind of car it was and to tell me how "gorgeous" it was. One was in her mid-thirties, the other around 50. People have also caught me on the highway just to video tape the car, with phones and camcorders. My first gen almost gets MORE positive attention than my 3rd gen. mostly nostalgic comments like "Man! I remember when those things were new. They were ROCKETS!"
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...img_012422.jpg

The Jaguar XKE was also owned by 'everyman', this was part of its allure. It was NOT expensive at all when it debuted, and it remained very affordable through all Series. This was the car people bought when they wanted to kick a Corvette's ass. This is the car from Jan and Dean's 'Dead Man's Curve'.
My dad had 2 friends that owned them, and they were definitely not rich or famous. The FD and XKE have extremely similar performance too, hp and weight were almost exactly the same as was 0 - 60 and 1/4 mile times.
I've driven several and they handle extremely well for cars running bias-ply tyres (hey..its and English car!)...actually they handle phenomenally for having bias-ply tyres....they handle very well in general, and yes, sawing away at that beautiful 15" walnut steering wheel is part of that experience. :icon_tup:

There WERE far more E-Types made than FDs...that IS one place where the cars differ. And I agree...these days a Jaguar is a Jaguar is a Jaguar....I've even seen some V12 XJSs from the late '70s starting to appreciate in value slightly.

Oh well...enough thread hijacking, huh? My bad.

Like the others have said, popularity depends on who you're talking about. If you speak of the general public (at leat in southern CA as I see it), it's not really popular... because no one even knows what it is 90% of the time! BUT... I've run into people on several occasions who were very interested in my car, and it is uberstocklooking. Frankly, I think people are attracted to it thanks to its good looks.

Amongst the "fast car" crowd, I think it has a bad reputation for reliability, and a good rep for highway-speed power. Lately, I've read many threads in other forums, many comments on youtube videos, and met with a lot of questions from other people who at least knew what the car was (a Mazda 3rd gen rx-7).

I don't care what anyone says, this car is my favorite car EVER. I loved it ever since it first came out 93 (I was a freshman in high school!). It looks BEAUTIFUL, sounds awesome, turns heads, is rare, has a lot of aftermarket support, has very faithful and technically savvy owners, is SMALL (unlike a lot of the more recent cars on the market before the big economic "crash"), has turbos (can easily make more power if you're careful)... etc.

Unless I lose my job, I'm not giving up this car. I made up my mind so there. The car is a popular sports car to me :)

This sums up everything I was going to say about my FD. I live in Columbus, GA - pop around 250,000 and I know of ONE other FD in town. It is yellow and has a body kit - looks heavily modded and stays parked outside a body shop; I need to stop and take a close look. Mine is pretty much bone stock w/ reliability mods, wheels, and exhaust. I love that the car of my dreams (I was a junior in HS in 93) is "rare" and the most gorgeous thing on the road - within financial reason of course.

My brother in law has a 328 GTS and it is really cool but I'm not up for knowing that I will spend $5k a year in maintenance if I want to drive the car a few times a week... That's for minor stuff!

i love my fd. after blowing the engine twice, i decided to put a ls1 in it. it will be finished this weekend. i just could not part with the car. even when i lived in west palm beach fl, i had people with 100k+ mercedes and lambos and ferraris complimenting me. ive had people chase me just to scream out the window how much they liked my car and wish they could have one.

who really cares about popularity...

Popular?
 

As a completely biased owner of 10 years (Jap import FD - in UK) RX7s will always be popular with me. Here in the UK I'm not sure that they were ever popular, I believe I am right in saying that under 200 UK spec FD cars were sold in the UK. Most, like my own are Japanese imports.

Like the previous poster, most people ask what it is, and I have only ever had compliments from other 'non owners'. People love it (even now) when they see it. Prices here had nose dived before the economic down-turn and they are unbelievably cheap to buy largely because they are seen as fuel hungry (er so are most equivalent cars) and unreliable (ignorance). Sadly many in the UK are in the hands of kids who drive em hard, can't afford to maintain them and the stock of good RX7s is dwindling. Rarely see them now. No plans to hand mine in. Done almost 100,000 miles and looks better than new!

Is the FD popular? Well lets examine that. What makes a sports car popular or desirable? Looks, performance, driving experience, rare, unique etc....NOW DO YOU REALLY NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU WITH THIS QUESTION :D

If the FD was a chic everyone would want to tear that ass up and she wouldn't make you wear a rubber like those Z06s would :lol:

Now THAT is sig material! :icon_tup:

I just got a GT-R....

the FD still makes me smile the most :)

Which is why even if and when you sell you're likely to buy another one. Might be twenty years down the road at the Barrett Jackson auction for 100k but you'll be willing to pay because not much else compares to the driving enjoyment an FD is able to provide with just simple bolt ons.

in california its extremely hard to find a decent FD for less than 10k

Good reply, Gordon.

However, one of the most prolific FD owner these days is...the kid with no means to support actually owning one. This is the same guy that puts as much 'rice' into the car as is possible half the time, the one who really only had to have the car after watching 'The Fast and the Furious'. After approximately 4 months of ownership, the car has been dinged up thru 'mad drifting yo', the engine bay resembles an Erector set, and the car is currently on jack stands whilst the owner posts endless questions about 'sudden smoke and loss of power'.


:wallbash:

:crackup:

Happy New YEAR 2009 DAMN time flys :D

No doubt there will always be posers and pretenders but what really counts and why this car will always be valuable and certainly a collectable are all the little things that make special cars special and the FD has it in spades. I know everyone has there opinions but this car will be worth big money in 20 or 30 years PERIOD.