After a year of FD ownership...it is one of the best "me" purchases I've ever made. Apart from loving the car and always having something I can tear apart, I'm more grateful for the relationships and friendships I've built in the community as an owner.

 

My wife would take 20k for our 93 but would immediately turn around and buy another that is a bit more done than mine.

 

Id go back to the rx7. Very hard to compete with the FD in terms of driving feel, style and power AND price.

Only thing within reason is probably a turbo s2k.

I would LOVEE an exige but way out of price compared to the FD. Same with the C6Z. Both cars are exceptional upgrades to the FD but also a lot more money.

I think if i was OP, i would go back to an FD but get a GOOD one. Meaning new paint (if possible), relatively good sized single (IE: GT35R), 94-95 and low chassis miles of course.

If someone offered me 20 grand for my FD, id take it. I know in the past i said i never would sell my FD but i would sell mine, just to get another one, with all mods done similar to what i was going to do to my current FD anyway.

 

I've crashed one FD to death and blown three engines in the second, and every time I say "enough's enough, time to walk away" something makes me come back to rebuild again.

There are cars that look (almost) as good, cars that go faster cheaper, cars that handle as well, cars that have as much character, but every time I sit to write a list and go shopping I can never come up with one that does all these things together like an FD does. Even a V8 FD isn't somehow as visceral and involving a driving experience as a full-fat rotary turbo (even though *whispers* it's very likely faster easier).

I came to FDs from bikes, and that's what an FD is like for me, it's as involving and life-affirming as riding a bike fast, you have to put something in to the drive to go fast, you can't just sit and waft along at stupid speeds like in a Skyline or M3 or Supra or whatever. It's not just a fast car, it's genuinely a way of life.

 

a viper is not that much of a step up... trading off handling for torque...unless youre getting the final gen ACR that is car is SICK

AM's are a totally different category, grand touring... i wouldnt mind an AM V12 Vantage as a daily, and built RX7 as a track toy!

The only thing the RX7 really lacks is exotic car status and refinement. It's a respected sports car, but does not impress anyone, if that is what you're after.

 

If I could afford a GT3, DB9, or something more exotic I would in a hearbeat, but honestly if I can have both, why not? Gonna keep the 3 rotor FD track toy as long as Uncle Sam lets me!

 

Supercharged Viper or a Turbocharged Cayman S are the only other cars I'd consider, and both are signficantly more expensive. I will likely stick with the FD for a long time... maybe add a stablemate (1965 GTO or the like) but I just can't imagine selling the FD, ever.

 

This.

I used to be a Viper GTS fanboy. Was going to be a car i was going to buy to sit next to the FD. Just needed a garage to do so.

As the years went by, there were many other cars that fell within price range of the GTS i rather have. The GTS is a gorgeous car. Although now, its outdated. Parts are expensive and maintenance. Only thing it has is rarity and style. The low end torque is scary though, literally. People crash them in the dry coming out of a corner because of the torque.

I rather have a C6Z. ENDLESS aftermarket support for the LS engine, style, reliability, and power STOCK. Those vettes are seriously monsters in stock form and just incredible when modded.

Probably the best bang for buck right now still.

 

You know what, I finally did get to see the NSX in person (first gen and last). They do have a precense to them that FDs don't. They just seem more regal but that's pretty much it. I was a little disappointed by them. The front visibility is amazing but I couldn't see much through the back and that rear end did nothing for me. For me to buy an NSX over an FD, it would have to handle superbly well and be exciting as hell and I have doubts that an NSX could do that. A turbo first gen would be something I'd consider though but I'd rather go for something else with that much money.

 

NSX interior design is horrible, for the price that car is way under power compare to and FD.

 

I wouldn't say its terrible.... boring maybe, but nothing wrong with it.
It doesn't peel like my 93 plastics, or break door handles all the time does it? lol
i think it looks pretty good when you add the 7" LCD nav display from the jap market.

definitely underpowered...although it had more power than the FD, it was lacking compared to other similarly priced cars of the time, such as the first Viper and ZR1.

not that stock power really matters for any of us, we dont leave them stock

 

I came from 5 sportbikes to the FD in 1995. 4 engines, 2 turbos, 2nd tranny, 2nd diff. Can't beat the feeling of the FD: it's like riding a bike. In fact going to Laguna Seca to see MOto GP, I blew away a Ducati 848.

 

I had an NSX right before my FD. The only reason I parted ways with my NSX was due to financial reasons, so I tried my best to find something 'close' to it. I had a 300ZXTT prior to my NSX and really enjoyed it, but wanted to try something a bit different and had always loved the FD...

I really enjoy the FD. It doesn't quite make me feel the same way as my NSX did (miss that car every single day... best car I've ever owned by far), but it's certainly fun to drive. I'm very glad I decided to buy one and can now officially say I've owned one. I will say I am more comfortable in the 2000 or so miles I've owned my FD than I was in 10k+ miles in my old S2000... FD is just super predictable and very easy to drive quickly!

 

I just recently fell on top of a 1985 RX 7 GSL with 6,500 original miles and 100% original, garage kept and the car is like brand new: seats, orginal floor mats etc.! I love the car it handles unbelievable and am just starting to break it in!

 

If your FD was mostly stock a Cayman S may be a good option.

 

When I would buy and sell a lot of fds back in the day, several guys would sell their fd and end up buying another one back from me. They are just addictive. I always tell them if you sell the fd and want a similar driving experience you only have a handful of options. Vipers, Z06s, Supra(just for the fan boi status), Lotus, and Porsche. Ive driven all the cars I just mentioned and still not one of them gives me the same thrill as a nicely setup FD.

Recently I purchased the only vehicle that gives me the same excitement when I get into it, as I get anytime I sit down in a fd, my Campagna T-Rex. However, it is even less practical than the fd and has even worse build quality.

The FD has a lot of quirks but also offers a thrill that isnt easily matched below $100,000.00

I would also like to add that most on this forum have never experienced a properly running stock fd or one with just a down pipe and catback. If you havent experienced the sequential system working correctly on a quiet smooth fd, you really have never experienced what Mazda accomplished with this car.

 

My close friend has one and it makes around 340whp... Its fun, but no FD. Turbo is where it's at on those engine's anyway. Making 500whp on stock internals and a thicker head gasket. The FJ20 engines are phenominal.

There isn't a single car on this planet that I would rather own than my FD. It was my dream car 15 years ago, and now I own it.

 

i agree with that. i've driven FD's from stock to pretty wild, and the MOST FUN, is just stock + dp. the worst is the FD where you drive around looking at all the gauges and the PFC, because the temp needle might move...

stock FD is not fast, but there is NOTHING on the planet that accelerates like a sequential twin FD, its just FUN, and addicting!

they are also quiet, smooth, and once all the updates were in em, they are actually pretty reliable. there aren't many $100k cars you can drive for 80k miles and do nothing but the normal services, like the FD.

back in the day i ALMOST sold my FD and bought a 308 Ferrari, they are both good looking, nice driving, but on the Ferrari the engine comes out every 12k miles! for $6000! make all the jokes you want, but the FD isn't even close to that...

 

i would sell mine if offered the right amount of cash, then the next day i would be on here looking for another. i love the FD the timeless design the feel of the interior wrapping around you or the sound of a rotary when the wastegate opens up, i would miss that way to much the only car that could make me part with my FD is probably an alpha12 GT-R, and even then i would miss the FD. i wanted one when i was 6 its been my dream car while they can be a pain i love having the satisfaction of looking under the hood and being able to say i did that, i turned the wrenches on my childhood dream car.

 

Guys, let's take the grade-school squabbling to PMs. Thanks

 

For the money, they are the best sports car out there hands down... I go through cycles where I am bored to death with my FD and I start looking for other cars south of 40k; there's very few things out there that come close for me, and most of the cars that do (viper, exige, etc.) are right at that 40k number and I just cant justify them against a 20k FD.

I've walked away before, only to come back a year and a half later; there's just something about these cars.

 

^^^There you have it.^^^^

 

i would buy an audi sportquattro replica or a super seven.

 

Those last two numbers are just engine designations. Besides you can have pretty much every option you want on your BMW without needing the higher horsepower engine. It's simple, some people like myself dont want our everyday car to be some v8 engine or a twin turbocharged inline six like the 335, and all the bullshit that comes with having higher performing engines for everyday driving. I don't want the hassle and the hit on mpg. Having a simple engine keeps keeps my life simple for maintenance and everyday use.

It's okay though, having premium package ( the real thick leather), cold weather package, awd, ambient lighting and other packages that I have on my 525xi allows me to enjoy the car without needing those bigger engines. Sounds like you've never been a BMW owner.

Besides, I can see how you can have that misconception. Most people get the weaker engine because its cheaper, and dont load the car up with options in order to get into a BMW without costing a complete arm and a leg. Therefore the lower designation on the last two numbers must mean its a barebones car.

 

Having owned and driven some of the 'lesser' BMWs (328i, 325i, 118i, 540i) in addition to an E46 M3, I agree. Bottom of the range 1, 3, and 5 series are often not that different to their siblings with bigger engines. (And leather is leather no matter what size the engine is.) Yes, the pinnacles of each series (Ms primarily) have upgraded suspension components and much nicer engines and other cool bits, but the fundamental underpinnings are not that much different. The M cars can also be a little frisky - I would much rather take my old E36 328i on a long road trip than I would my E46 M3. A base 118i rental I had last year was a blast (and is actually quite a cheap car in Europe), if a tad underpowered.