Good buy or not?
06-22-10, 04:56 PM
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Good buy or not?
06-22-10, 05:13 PM
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well i called the dealership and theyre letting it go for 17,9000. My next bet at buying a 7 would be 250 mile out in NY where i can find them for like 14. is it worth it? and yes theyre in really good condition with low miles.
06-22-10, 06:14 PM
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Grabbin My Wankel
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Seems expensive. I got my SSM touring for less with the same miles years ago when the economy was good. In this economy you should be able to get a car much cheaper.
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06-23-10, 11:49 AM
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The dealers gonna let it go for 17 and its only 8 miles away from home. I think its a solid deal, the car is impecable. I want a stock 7 not one that's modified so this fits my need perfect. Considering I'm new to rotarys I'm going to keep this car stock and learn as much as possible about it. Good thing my cousin is a highly licensed mechanic.
06-23-10, 02:02 PM
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viegasgixxer1000... I think you are making a sound decision. The best FD's out there to buy are bone stock, low mileage cars where you can tell the owner cared for the car. Check the engine bay. If someone really takes care of their car, the engine bay is usually very clean.
Gordon
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06-23-10, 02:55 PM
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Personally, if that car holds up under scrutiny, its not really a bad price for a 36,000 mile car. There is an interesting piece in the current Motor Trend Classics saying that the FD is a future collectible. It searched ads and found an average price of $17-and-change and average of 72,000 miles on the chassis of the cars surveyed. They noted that there were very few made and that most of them are trashed. I am fairly certain that the FD prices have hit bottom and will only go up from here. If you can take advantage of owners here on the forum who may believe pricing is softer than the market may actually be, you may be able to save a thousand or two. But be sure the cars you are comparing are really comparable.
Gordon
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06-23-10, 03:12 PM
#13
Not too take this too far off topic - but quite a few in the ballpark.
Remember, this is before "the industry" really took off. Before Fast & Furious, before DSport & Modified Magazine, before Formula D & Time Attack, before RX-7 Store had their own store front.
My only point being, after 2001 the market on RX-7s, took off and continues to stay high. Current trends represent only a dip it an otherwise abnormally high market.
I suppose the crossroads is now between the FD being a 'used car' and 'collectors item' as gmonsen eluded to. That's all from me. Back to the dungeon.
06-23-10, 03:16 PM
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Not too take this too far off topic - but quite a few in the ballpark.
Remember, this is before "the industry" really took off. Before Fast & Furious, before DSport & Modified Magazine, before Formula D & Time Attack, before RX-7 Store had their own store front.
My only point being, after 2001 the market on RX-7s, took off and continues to stay high. Current trends represent only a dip it an otherwise abnormally high market.
I suppose the crossroads is now between the FD being a 'used car' and 'collectors item' as gmonsen eluded to. That's all from me. Back to the dungeon.
Remember, this is before "the industry" really took off. Before Fast & Furious, before DSport & Modified Magazine, before Formula D & Time Attack, before RX-7 Store had their own store front.
My only point being, after 2001 the market on RX-7s, took off and continues to stay high. Current trends represent only a dip it an otherwise abnormally high market.
I suppose the crossroads is now between the FD being a 'used car' and 'collectors item' as gmonsen eluded to. That's all from me. Back to the dungeon.
06-23-10, 03:46 PM
#16
You cant really say the FD is at an abnormally high price. if any car REALLY suffered from the F&F movies its the supra. I love supras, one of my fav cars of all time. id love to own one but they are WAY out of my price range. your talking MID 20's for a automatic N/A. 30+ for a twin turbo supra. its ridiculous. and VERY hard to find one in stock condition.
Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't pay it - or it's not worth it. But the facts stand. $19,000 for a 17 year old car that MSRPd for ~$35,000. You're talking LESS than 4% depreciation per year, not including the initial 'first year' depreciation.
But again... worth every penny.
06-23-10, 04:03 PM
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I think if you follow any 'normal' price patterns of used vehicles that were mass produced... the FD is abnormally high. Evolutions, STIs, 911s, S4s, etc, etc all have fallen over the years - the RX-7 straight-lined (the Supra had a rising curve).
Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't pay it - or it's not worth it. But the facts stand. $19,000 for a 17 year old car that MSRPd for ~$35,000. You're talking LESS than 4% depreciation per year, not including the initial 'first year' depreciation.
But again... worth every penny.
Now, I'm not saying I wouldn't pay it - or it's not worth it. But the facts stand. $19,000 for a 17 year old car that MSRPd for ~$35,000. You're talking LESS than 4% depreciation per year, not including the initial 'first year' depreciation.
But again... worth every penny.
06-23-10, 04:06 PM
#18
Yeah seems like everyyear the supra is more and more expenssive. I will someday own one. As far as the 7 goes, i think its totally worth it for 17k. its a car that you never see, atleast round my ways. Its a timeless vehicle. hard to beat the sexy lines of an FD.
06-23-10, 04:35 PM
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a pretty straight up question. I hear alot of people complain about 7's not being reliable but i cant help but feel that comes from people who dont own or dont know much about them. considering im keeping this car stock, atleast for a long time. With regular maintenance i should be ok?
06-23-10, 04:43 PM
#20
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you are incorrect. they are not reliable. especially in stock trim. even the most die hard rotorhead will tell you to purchase a daily driver. I say this as someone that daily drove his FD for 2 years and dreaded almost every minute of it. You couldn't ever count on it 100%.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
06-23-10, 04:59 PM
#21
you are incorrect. they are not reliable. especially in stock trim. even the most die hard rotorhead will tell you to purchase a daily driver. I say this as someone that daily drove his FD for 2 years and dreaded almost every minute of it. You couldn't ever count on it 100%.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
The RX-7 should not be relied on for work, school, etc - in stock form or otherwise. Sure there are exceptions to this rule, but don't expect the RX-7 to simply 'work' everyday. Be ready to administer TLC at a moments notice and/or shell out cash. ALSO, make sure you have $3-4K in reserve just in case you happen to need to replace the motor.
-M
06-23-10, 05:49 PM
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Another Amen. I always equated an RX-7 to a unfaithful girlfriend. The sex is great, she's beautiful, etc, etc - but it's just a matter of time until she crosses you.
The RX-7 should not be relied on for work, school, etc - in stock form or otherwise. Sure there are exceptions to this rule, but don't expect the RX-7 to simply 'work' everyday. Be ready to administer TLC at a moments notice and/or shell out cash. ALSO, make sure you have $3-4K in reserve just in case you happen to need to replace the motor.
-M
The RX-7 should not be relied on for work, school, etc - in stock form or otherwise. Sure there are exceptions to this rule, but don't expect the RX-7 to simply 'work' everyday. Be ready to administer TLC at a moments notice and/or shell out cash. ALSO, make sure you have $3-4K in reserve just in case you happen to need to replace the motor.
-M
06-23-10, 06:31 PM
#23
No.
Most of the reliability issues that come from these cars are the ones that the owners caused themselves. I’ve met a few owners that have had constant issues with their cars not starting or not running properly. None of them were stock.
Some of those had shitty tunes and were fouling their plugs so bad that sometimes the car wouldn’t start and they would end up flooding it. Probably the worst mod that I’ve seen is changing out the stock battery for that piece of **** oddyssey PC680. ******* thing is a motorcycle battery, so it’s just not the best choice. As it can’t hold a charge worth of ****. Better hope that your tune is 100% or that the battery is fully charged as if you have to crank your car more than 3 times you’re done as it already ran out of juice. Roll the windows down with the engine off? Bad idea, dome light? Yeah make sure it’s off. Stereo on only with the car running. The lesson is that when modding the car make sure that you put some thought into what exactly you are doing.
Given the age of the car certain things need to be checked and performed.
1) Eliminate or replace the AST because it's plastic and it cracks
2) Replace the stock radiator again because of it’s plastic endtanks
3) Replace the pulsation dampener
4) Replace the precat with a downpipe. The precat’s always go to **** because of the hot rotary exhaust temps.
5) Get AI
6) Steam clean engine internals peiodically to remove carbon buildup
For overall fun factor:
1) Get a boost gauge to make sure you are always boosting properly
2) Replace stock vacuum hoses with silicon to avoid the always having boost problem
3) STAY 10 PSI
Happy motoring and WOT at your heart’s content without having to worry about ignition, fuel, EGT’s, AFR’s, basically detonating overall, nothing. Just floor it and go… The only downside especially compared with today’s cars is that you’de be on the slow side :P:
you are incorrect. they are not reliable. especially in stock trim. even the most die hard rotorhead will tell you to purchase a daily driver. I say this as someone that daily drove his FD for 2 years and dreaded almost every minute of it. You couldn't ever count on it 100%.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
Now that it's a weekend car, it's much more enjoyable. And has brought me back from the brink of selling it.
In those 110K miles my car has stranded me twice: Once when the engine went and seized upon start up. And two last year when a rear coolant hose broke. That's it...
Not too take this too far off topic - but quite a few in the ballpark.
Remember, this is before "the industry" really took off. Before Fast & Furious, before DSport & Modified Magazine, before Formula D & Time Attack, before RX-7 Store had their own store front.
My only point being, after 2001 the market on RX-7s, took off and continues to stay high. Current trends represent only a dip it an otherwise abnormally high market.
Remember, this is before "the industry" really took off. Before Fast & Furious, before DSport & Modified Magazine, before Formula D & Time Attack, before RX-7 Store had their own store front.
My only point being, after 2001 the market on RX-7s, took off and continues to stay high. Current trends represent only a dip it an otherwise abnormally high market.
Not only from memory but by analyzing who the owners are/were: If low milage FDs were had in 2001 for 13,500 that means that higher milage ones were available for less, much less. Given that we would have had an influx of teenagers/broke *** owners having them back then. And that wasn't the case and FnF came out in 2001 we would have had them by the boat loads.
A clear indication of automobile attainability and who is buying them can be had by examining the disposable income of it's current owners. From my recollection the broke *** owners didn't start coming until 2005. Prior to that you put a M2 MED IC up for sale for 1K and it would be sold within an hour... Now? good luck with that... Cheap ebay parts on an FD? riiight lol back then it was unheard of. A clear indication of who the current owners were.
In fact the prices have slowly being declining over the years. Right now it seems to be a low point and holding some what. What I attribute it to be the low prices is that most FD's are beat to **** these days and hence must be sold at low prices. Even then the prices are quite high when taken into account how old these cars are, and the condition that they are in. It’s kinda sad but a few weeks ago I stopped at local rotary shop (one I never go to) because but I needed to see if they could get some items. When the owner came out he was impressed with my car and actually said “wow! It’s been a while seen I’ve seen a car in this good of a condition. Most of the ones we see these days are pretty torn up and the owners are always trying to cut corners” And I live in Southern CA where there seems to be the most FD’s around. Nevermind that My FD has almost 165K on the clock.
I am a firm believer that these cars WILL be collectibles. Given it's unique engine, exterior styling, performance, the way EVERYONE feels like a race car driver when they sit in it, and hence the overall wow factor. I can't drive one day without someone either giving me the thumbs up, rubber necking, taking pictures and let's face it the FD is 18 years old (it really came out in 92'). So the car has all of the makings to reach the potential of being a collectible. The only thing it has against it: is that it's badged under japanese automaker.
Last edited by Montego; 06-23-10 at 06:52 PM.
