fd rx7 first car.
 

im 17 and made 15k from stocks. ive found a couple of nice import rx7s around 12-14k. this is literally my dream car and i spend every minute researching the rotary. i dont need to rely on it daily because my school/job is a 3 minute walk. i just want something fun to fuck around and mod. BTW, im on my parents policy and they have a clean record. i know the rotary is a hard car but tbh i like working on cars more than driving them anyways and gas mileage doesnt matter since i dont have to rely on it daily.

i just wish i could afford all of this shit
headlights: http://www.evo-r.net/product/RX-7/Sleek.htm

13b rew engine rebuild kit: https://shop.mazmart.com/en/rotatary...text=Available Options Choose Installation Gasket Set,Casings) Mazd ... 1 more rows

fluidyne race radiator: https://www.irperformance.com/produc...adiator-93rx7/

hks downpipe: https://www.driftshop.com/hks-downpi...a-rx-7-fd.html

takeda short ram air intake: https://www.carid.com/takeda/retain-...ke-system.html

fuel computer: https://www.hks-power.co.jp/en/produ.../is/index.html

front mount intercooler: https://www.cxracing.com/intercooler...-IC0008-BOV009

nrg innovations wing: https://www.carid.com/nrg-innovation...l?vehicle=3682

tein street advance coils: https://www.rx7store.net/TEIN_Street...sm32-2uss2.htm

short throw shifter: https://jp3motorsports.com/products/...-throw-shifter

enkei kojin rims: https://www.fitmentindustries.com/bu...spension=Stock

rocket bunny rear diffuser: https://www.andysautosport.com/produ..._17040208.html

13brew intake system: https://eliterotaryshop.com/shop/ols...-intake-system

radiator hose set: RX7.COM | FD Engine Cooling

sbg competition water pump: https://www.sakebombgarage.com/sbg-c...kit-fd3s-rx-7/

carbon fiber hood: https://visracing.com/i-30498479-car...A||year%3D1996

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...c84c54ac63.jpg

Theres a bunch of thread about this that you should search up as well as in my opinion, a terrible idea.

you gon die

start with a Civic

First, good on you for finding this forum and signing up and asking.

The sad reality is most people's first cars get trashed, driving takes some practice before you really get good. I was a pretty responsible high-schooler with decent grades, and I managed to crash an old Honda into a curb going fast enough that it broke off a few chunks of concrete and destroyed one of the car's wheels. It was a learning experience and luckily nobody was hurt, but it would have been a shame to do that to a rare car like an FD. It would have cost a lot more to fix an FD also.

If I were magically back in my 17-year-old body with $15k I would save half and buy a car for $5k max. That leaves $2k for tires, maintenance, mods, tools, and track day fees. Try not to touch the other half of your savings. Try a non-turbo RX7 if you really need a rotary as a first car, that will be plenty fast. Or a Miata, or an old Integra or 240SX if those don't get stolen where you live. Try to avoid Subaru unless you know a mechanic you trust to check it out first, there are too many model years with reliability problems. Don't worry, RX7's and other cool cars will still be around when you're older. I think I was 22 or 23 when I got my RX7, and I've managed not to screw it up too badly so far.

Take your profit and be smarter with it. Dont WASTE it on a car. Any 15k fd isnt worth the time anymore. Based on your situation, a 15k fd is SUPER not a good idea.

turn your 15k into more and reassess this decision

Sorry to say it, but a $15k FD is probably going to need $10k-$15k in work and troubleshooting to really be enjoyable. You could get a damned clean FD for that much 10+ years ago, but prices for good low milage examples are up a lot these days.

Honestly, you should have a second car BEFORE you buy an FD and I'd keep an easy $5k on hand at all times for unexpected costs.

Start with a 1st or 2nd gen miata. They're cheap, reliable, and fun as all get-out!! I second what the others are saying... an FD as your first car is a BAD idea!! Both for the vehicle and yourself.

Keep saving up and when you get around 75K saved up buy the lowest mile FD you can find given a two year search. Then make sure it has perfect original paint with under 20k miles and a compression test that shows the engine in the 120s. Be sure to have a house with a garage so not to leave this car outside. And have a good job so you can buy a reliable daily driver too. That's what I did and it work out nicely.

wow it had been a while since I'd seen one of these threads. I get the feeling that we are being trolled tho...

Just in case we aren't being trolled: OP,

Forgetting the fact that for the purchase price of $15K you are basically looking at shit boxes: Does buying a 30 year old car that has the reputation of being a money pit sound like a good idea for a 17 year old?

It's either a troll or a really meth'd out kid.

Some of those parts don't even make sense for one build.
He's got links for a $1200 water cooling setup, then chooses CXracing front mount?
$1000 HKS piggyback fuel computer overnight from Japan?! C'mon Man!

Lower the dosage of adderall or put it to good use researching the past 25 years of mods.

I've made over $2M from stocks since March and will say the FD stands for Financial Disaster.

$50k
94 Hardtop, mlnt interior, fresh paint, 20K mile all original drive train, 57k mile chassis
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...2bfbb54f8e.jpg

If you're smart enough to make 15k off stocks, you'll be smart enough to turn around before you get a car that is impractical in literally every aspect. These cars are just a cult following and the car can and will try to kill you if you don't respect it for what it is. I would recommend an e46 m3 or an e36 m3 as they are more dependable (minus rod bearing and sub frame maintenance on the e46 lol) and are far more reasonable cars. Realistically, just get a cheaper car and learn how to work on it and drive it and work your way in to an FD. FC's still get you the rotary experience with substantially less cost and with far more interior space if you're determined on an Rx car. Those are just my 2 cents through 5 years of ownership and experience.

Pass on the FD in the end you'll spend $30-50K for a nice one. No one lies when they say save and buy the nicest one you can.

I bought my FD for 17k 5 years ago and thought that's all that was needed. Boy was I wrong, you're gonna need at least 30k...

Yeah, buy all that stuff you linked to! Especially anything Rocket Bunny. It’s like pink gel-coated horsepower...its awesome! Ignore the snickering.

Just don’t forget jack stands.

Oh, and a stick to beat your parents with...they’ll have it coming.

https://www.japanesecartrade.com/389...cars-2002.html

https://www.japanesecartrade.com/369...oupe-1996.html

https://www.japanesecartrade.com/370...cars-1996.html

these are a few rx7s ive found in my budget, im not buying the car anytime soon BTW, gonna try to get 20k or 25k in 6 or 8 months and try to find a nice one then. thank u all 4 the advice

Seems you ignored what everyone was saying....

You need to allow like 10k to get one of those here. I’d strongly suggest unless you have contacts to work with an importer that always has cars stateside, such as Duncan or Japanese Classics.

Yes and all 3 they posted are currently illegal in the US, which is likely why they are on the cheaper end.

That too...I saw the 02' and was like wow! That's not coming over for a while!

Exactly. And by the time any of these posted cars become legal to be registered and used on US roads (i.e., 25 years after VIN production date), they would have been sold to buyers elsewhere, maybe lived a good life or ended up in the crusher.

As one of the under 25 years of age types on this forum who bought the car at 21.

This car WILL attempt to kill you.

If your gonna be hardheaded though and want the instagram clout of my first car was an FD. You better keep researching these forums you got ALOT to learn. My car is basically a homage to this forum because unlike my friends who think this forum is too much work to read and ignore me. They have broke FD's with no plans to fix it or sold them and mines running without a care in the world.(I guess premix is a big care?) Don't get it twisted most dudes have $$$ to pay someone who knows what they're doing to fix their cars.

These old dudes know what they're talking about you better listen or your gonna have a 2800lb heaping pile of crap sitting in your parents driveway.

That or you'll be dead.

TLDR:
No offense to the older members y'all were just talking about mods in this forum before I entered kinder. :lol: Much respect.

I bought an '87 Turbo RX-7 when I was about 24 (back in '96). I traded my '87 Camry that my parents gave me in on the FC.

LOVED it. Car didn't need much, was fast and run.

Wrapped it around a tree 10 months later. I was fine, no injuries, car was totaled. I learned my "rear wheel drive is a whole different thing" lesson that day.

High horsepower rear wheel drive cars that have ZERO traction control or any sort of modern driver aid is a whole different thing.

JuSanBee has some solid words of wisdom. These cars are all OLD at this point and need a lot of love. Parts aren't cheap and many of the systems (like turbo controls) most mechanics won't bother with.

I would say an FC is a great starter car but FC's are going the way of the dodo, most of them are gone at this point. RX-8 is a great way to go - it's modern, it's rotary, it's fast enough to be fun and it handles like nothing else. And you can get them for a great price. But, it's a rotary, and their engines aren't great for lasting forever. Looking at $3000-5000 to do the engine, less if you do more of the work. Just rebuilt the engine in mine and had close to $2000 in parts and that's with buying smart and me doing everything myself.

Anyhow, the FD is not a great first car. If nothing else, start working your way up the world of rear wheel drive cars until you get to where you can deal with an FD. Miata, BRZ, 350z, something like that - get one, fix it up, have fun, sell, buy another, get some experience and seat time under your belt. Take the car to an autocross and learn what it's like to drive at the limit.

Dale

Either an FB,FC or Rx8(with a fresh motor and maintenance these make great dailies as a rotary)

I got an FD for close to nothing, but im pretty sure im about 3k in because issues keep popping up and it still needs a good paint job. Not to mention that i dont know how long the engine will last once it starts to regularly see road use.