chouchoo

Hey everyone! I recently joined this forum because I am interested in getting a rx-7, I'm still pretty new to the whole rotary thing, so I still have a lot to learn. Do you guys think this car is suitable as a first car? I believe that I am responsible enough to take good care of it. I also want to know really how practical this car is. All input would be much appreciated. Thanks

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

Well, here are some threads you should read through first:

The newbie link:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=147498

Some info about how dangerous the car can be:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=127436

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...hreadid=162895


Money and the FD:
https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=42278

wingsfan

Probably not the answer you'd like to hear but I think it'd make a horrible first car. It's small (no trunk space and only seats one other person), gets horrible gas mileage, and if you're a teen ager the insurance will be through the roof expensive.

It's powerful (which may not be a problem depending on your maturity level), and way too easy to get a false sense of security since it handles so well. If I had my FD when I was 16 I wouldn't be here. I'd have wrapped it around a tree or something.

Add to that the finicky nature of the 13B and the price of parts to fix it when it breaks (and it will break) and it's a damn money pit.

OTOH, It's sweet when it works!

If you're like every one of my friends (and myself) growing up, you want something that will not break your heart when you get in an accident (I had 3 by 19, none of which were my fault), and you don't want something too fast or you will rack up the tickets. I had 6 speeding tickets by 23, which is just under 1 a year, and they were mostly for being stupid (only 1 was because I was running late).

A better route if you're interested in the rotary would be an N/A FB or FC, which will get your feet wet, and they're still sweet handling cars, but much less powerful. My advice would be to buy somehting sensible and sturdily built. There'll be time in a couple of years for a sporty car. Start saving your money now and learn to work on/take care of a beater and in no time at all you'll be ready for it.

chouchoo

man... that story was really sad. IF I do get this car... I will make sure I drive very responsibly... man.. that sucks so bad...

cpa7man

iTrader: (2)

Mahjik, Thank you for linking to the thread my Midnight Hour. The thread is very moving. We all need to be reminded how dangerous fast cars are. Thanks again.

Paul

Crackers

Chouchoo, I understand and everyone else understands that you will say you will drive it responsibly even if you do the car and its power and your lack of driving experiance will equal you crashing the car and either A. hurting your self badly or B. killing your self and someone else..

Also on another note, you're Located in NorthCarolina, if I memory suits me right they get snow there and quite a bit. These cars do not ever mix will snow its just a death trap. So you would need a second car for the winter anyways.
With that since you're on the cost line you also get some more wet weather also which also equates in a bad combination the cars are easy to spin out in the wet. Please reconsider get a front wheele drive car to start like a honda Civic learn how to drive and then buy a N/A FC and learn how to drive a RWD car and learn to handle it in wet weather and light snow and then get an FD and still don't drive it in the wet or snow.


PS sorry for the long *** runs ons or any other spelling or grammer mistake as I don't care hehe. I suck at ENGLISH.

Crackers

By the way im 21 and im on my second FD. I was 18 when I got my frist FD and a 16 year old girl who her rich father let he drive his brand new BMW M3, and im sure she said she would be responsible to her father, TBONED my fd going 100+ She broke my wrist and three Ribs. and put me in a comma for a while.
Estimated Collision speed was around a 150mph sending my car 400 feet from point of impact hitting a semi and going over a guard rail. In the end she was lucky She broke her neck but didn't get paralyized and is fine now.

That is the true reason why NO 16 year old kid should be allowed to drive a car that can go that fast.

JONSKI

My FD is my first car. Be sure you have access to another car while you make repairs to your FD.

Tomarx7

If I had owned a Rx-7 for my first car, I would'nt be here right now. Go out and buy a Honda Civic Si or Crx Si. Those two cars are very sporty and much much more economical. You can find all kinds of aftermarket parts too. The Crx Si I had I drove under all conditions and it kicked ***. The Rx-7 is not meant to be driven daily and definitely not a good car for a teenager. But if you do ever get one, rotate the tires regularly and never never drive in the rain if they get low on tread, the right rear tires spin a little more under hard acceleration and in the wet the rear end will kick out and you will find yourself in a spin.

prew

iTrader: (9)

definately, i spun mine the 2nd day i got it in the rain with bald tires. good thing there was nothing there to hit.

DaedelGT

Don't do it. You need a pretty good amount of mechanical skill, time, tools, and money to own an FD. I thought I was a mature driver at 16 until I spun out my Chevy Lumina trying to "drift". I can't imagine what I would have done with this thing. I pamper it now

nycrx7

First, thank you for the links... it was a good reminder for me as well. My first car was a 94 vtec prelude, which ofcourse had to be turbocharged. I was a bit older though... so presumably a bit more mature. I've had a few reckless moments myself, and have done my share of stupid things... even though I believe I am quite and was quite responsible, for my age.

I would definitely recommend a car with less power for your first car. Even though you may *think* for the moment that you are mature enough, you may not be if some *punk* rolled up next to you, and pushed you to race. At 16, I remember my "appearance" being a lot more important than it is now. Hence, more likely to race, even if the circumstances did not warrant it. Just one example, I'm sure there are plenty of reasons.

And as others have mentioned, these cars can (not necessarily) have significant downtime. Even when they are mechanically sound, winter driving is not recommended, especially after they have been modded.

Just my 2 cents. Get a prelude, integra, awd talon/eclipse, civic, etc... fwd or awd with a bit less power ...

Boostedtwice

yeah give it some time... i'm a newbie too so i took an hour to read brandon's thread(s)... i don't know how long ago it was but i still just want to say, i'm sorry about Brandon's loss. and it made me think about when i almost offed myself and a friend when i tried to take a turn in my first miata doing 85 and i was in the on coming traffic lane when a explorer came around the coner... spun around the explorer and stoped 6 inchs from a tree i don't even want to know what would have happen if i was in a FD. I don't do it. i was 17 then. I'm only 18 now but i know now that you are not near as good as you think you are when your 16. It a 255hp car. and beast if you will and the Miata only had a little over 90 whp. I advise get a miata to start... Great handling car great quick perfromance. So you can get used to a real wheel drive sports car.
just my 2 sence

nycrx7

I remember driving along in my prelude (turbo charged - put out 260 fwhp) one sunday evening... light traffic. A talon with a HUGE exhaust pulled up next to me... and revved to go. I let him just fly by the first time. He slowed down, and revved on me again. Ofcourse, this time around, i had to stand up for "honda power" (doh), and dropped the car into 3rd (think we were about 65mph). We hit about 125mph coming around a bend... when I saw a sea of RED BRAKE LIGHTS!!! It was a 3 lane highway, and the guy was in the middle lane, and had time to slide over to the left lane that had a bit more space. I didn't have that luxury. I stomped on my brakes (luckily the brakes and pads were only about a month old and upgraded to race pads and vented/slotted rotors). I came to a stop from 125 to 0... with about 3 feet of space left... Now I'm sure with the RX's better braking, I would have came out ok anyways... but just FYI- no car is really "safe"... so regardless... becareful and think twice before you race on the streets...

elmo908

dude an old z car is really cool. They are upgradeable, you can learn alot about how motors work and are dirt cheap for parts and insurance. I am super happy I bought mine as a first car. I was considering a crx with a b18c that my friend had though.

stik6shift00

well im 17 and seriously looking for a modded FD for my car, which would be my 3rd since Ive had my liscense
So far, I have had one ticket (excessive tire friction, on a AWD stealth, going 20 MPH in dry weather...total BS,) And i havent messed up or gotten in any troulbe with my camaro now...so i think I could handle a rx-7 ( I dont drive like a maniac, honestly)

The only thing I'm concered with is buying new parts when it breaks. I have access to another car, I work so hopfully if its not breaking once a week costing me hundreds for every repair I should be good. I hope///

Kiflin

Your concerned about buying new parts when the ones on your fd break?

Well this is how you check the fd your buying to see if its quality.

-Listen for a clunk at 4,000 rpm's, it means the turbo's are good.
-You want a good 7 rating on the compression test.
-Make sure all cylinders are clean and responsive.
-Make sure the wastegate has been closed at all times, thats very important to the health of the engine.
-The front Dif. should have a hole in it, right in the middle.

All I can think of right now.

As for more information. If you fo fd, go with the r3. It has a 6 speed, 14b two rotor and puts out around 195 rwhp. They originally sold in the spirit r package but was discontinued in 1996 due to a fire in the plant in Japan.

If you have any other questions, pm me.

Crackers

stike6shift hope you have a access to a car for the winter cause if you take the FD out in Chicago weather in the winter you might as well kiss your *** goodbye

REsuperG

ive had mine since i was 16 that was about 4 years ago. ive been in 2 minor fender benders only one was kind of my fault (driving in the rain on bald tires) the other was a hit and run in a parking garage. oh yea no speeding tickets yet. (knock on wood) it just shows you if you dont have the budget which i diddnt have to pay speeding fines and replace parts which will break if you rag on an fd you really dont drive fast or beat the **** out of your car. also i was living at home then and my father would have my *** if anything bad happened. so look at responsiblity that way as i did.