Hi everyone,
I'm going to be looking to buy a 3rd Gen. Rx-7 in the next 6-12 months!



but i need some experienced advice...
I should have around $12,000-15,000 to spend, and im not sure which i should get:
Should I get an FD with a nice body, but a high mileage engine, and have the engine rebuilt nicely, or
Should i get an FD with a sound body, and a low mileage engine, or
Shoud i get an FD being sold with a newly rebuilt engine?

i want to know what would be most cost effective because i plan on spending the extra $ on upgrades anyway..
Thanks for the input,
David

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

 

Thanks

 

Now I'm no FD owner, BUT. I'd say with any "project" car buy the nicest body and interior you can find.

Motors are never that big of a deal.

A total minter with a blown or weak engine, priced accordingly, would be ideal.

 

Ok so if i also plan on putting a body kit on it, should i look for a 7 with a poor paint job, and have the car completely painted after body kit... any thoughts?

 

Honestly, what are you planning on doing to the car? Are you going to be happy with a fairly stock FD wth stock twins and the all the bolt-ons?
or do you want and FD with a single turbo conversion?

I bought my FD bone stock, I was really happy with it. Then I put on the bolt-ons and I was extremely happy. Well, finally 2.5 years later and 50k spent I will shortly have a single turbo monster.

My point is that it might be worth your while to get an FD that has all the bolt-ons or find one that already has a single turbo conversion. Let someones loss, be your gain. Beleive me-you will benefit and save money.

 

what kinda kit u want to go with

 

Yeah i will eventually want to do a single turbo conversion, so i can see your point in taking someone's loss as my gain.. what do 7s run for a relatively new engine (rebuilt or not) with a single turbo conversion?

jic.. i was going to do a 99 spec style kit, maybe with different side skirts though

 

Single turbo FD's vary in price, all depends on the modifications. It all depends where you live, in Canada we pay big $$$ for FD's. The prices seem to be more reasonable in the USA.

I would check the For Sale section on this forum, always good deals in there.
Or call some local RX shops, I'm sure they know of someone selling.
Hope you find the right FD for you!

 

You are looking at $15k at the least for a relatively new engine with a single turbo conversion. Most I see that fit that criteria and are in good shape go for more though...

 

Just out of curiosity, how old are you??

 

14

 

19, how is that funny? Do i need to be 45 to buy an Rx-7?

 

No but you'll probably be able to enjoy it alot more if you wait till you're say 25 (like I did) to buy one. Don't kid yourself, these cars are MONEY PITS. They're one of the most fullfilling and coolest money pits ever, but they cost a TON to own if you really want them to perform and stay in one piece. Not to mention body kits and single turbos and the like cost alot to do right. This is not the car to put ebay special parts on, good bodywork starts at 4-500 dollars per piece, anything shy of good body work is ruining the car, the lines of a rx7 aren't forgiving if your body kit pieces need fixed. And the cost to do a single turbo setup RIGHT is astronomical. I'm probably 15,000 deep in my rx7 and me and my friend did most of the work, built the turbo setup, the intercooler setup, got the paint done cheap by a friend, cut every dollar i could out without buying junk parts, and there's still more stuff I'd like to do.

 

After purchase, do the typical reliability mods first before anything. Here is place to start: http://robrobinette.com/

Fortunately, my FD came with some reliability mods when I got it but heck, I'm still doing more reliability. I feel more comfortable now than initial condition/purchase (April '05). BTW, welcome to the club!

 

i tried saving up for a FD... didnt work... enough for a FC though! well good luck lol... gona take you a LONGGG time to get where you want to esp. if youre 19 (or younger... =/ )

 

FDs aren't that plentiful to pick and choose so you have to find what's best for your needs and wants and decide if the car you find is worth the cost.

 

if this is your first FD, get a FD in good condition, and low milage on a newly rebuilted engine. so in the short run, you don't have to spend $$$ fixing stuff that u have no idea what caused the problem or blowing the motor and need to spend 3, 4k more just so u can get the car running again.
drive the car first, take it to track, learn the limites w/out pushing the car too hard. FD's can spin out easier than 240 and other RWD cars w/ longer wheelbase.

 

Thanks, I've got my eye out for one right now; hopefully ill find one with most of the necessary reliability mods finished. I'm hoping to have one by August.. wish me luck

 

Youll generally find lighlty modified rx7's for less thas stock ones(if you can even find a stock one anymore). Theyre big money pits so approach them with some reservation. Try out a couple. Dont be scared to sit on your hands. These cars arent going anywhere or going up in value at the moment. And 19 is fine to own an FD. Its 16 that pisses me off. I got mine at 18 and didnt wreck it. We'll all pop an engine. If you dont youre not doing it right.

 

im 16, iv had my car for about 6 months, and its done fine ever since...age doesnt mean ****, a 16 year old can take care of a care just as well as a 45 year old can. its all about responsibility

 

If I were looking I'd get the lowest mile 94 or 95 I could find with the options I wanted and best interior/exterior condition stock unmolested in any way

 

I find that just a little hard to believe since most state laws don't allow you or anyone under the age of 18 that still attend school, to work more than 30 hours/week nor past 10 PM on school nights. From my experience, money is also required to take care of a car. So financial assistance from moms and pops doesn't count in this situation.

 

... im the same age as Rufio... and theres is no way some 16 yr old can afford the upkeep of a FD... so FC it is...