How much do you have Invested, and do you ever have Second thoughts?
09-07-12, 10:30 AM
#1
How much do you have Invested, and do you ever have Second thoughts?
It doesn't take long to realize that things can add up quick with these cars. By now, including the cost of the car and the work done, I could have just as easily went out and bought a C6 ZO6 or an M3 and called it a day. And I haven't even touched the engine. And there are owners with FDs that have far more extensive work
Many of the builds on here are very serious, and obviously can't be done with chump change. Some people do it all at once, and others spread over a span of years. Irregardless, from a return on investment perspective, it's unlikely to get back what you spent on mods.
So my question is, why do you do it and how do you justify it? Do you ever have doubts and wonder why you didn't just buy a so and so new car?
Personally, I think as good a stock FD is, there can always be improvements... As costly as these improvements can add up to be, it's nice to know you can have a personalized touch with your car. Choosing this route and doing all this to a 90s Mazda is definitely the "path less travelled"
Many of the builds on here are very serious, and obviously can't be done with chump change. Some people do it all at once, and others spread over a span of years. Irregardless, from a return on investment perspective, it's unlikely to get back what you spent on mods.
So my question is, why do you do it and how do you justify it? Do you ever have doubts and wonder why you didn't just buy a so and so new car?
Personally, I think as good a stock FD is, there can always be improvements... As costly as these improvements can add up to be, it's nice to know you can have a personalized touch with your car. Choosing this route and doing all this to a 90s Mazda is definitely the "path less travelled"
09-07-12, 01:11 PM
#2
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At this point I've got about $60k in my FD. Honesty my only regrets are paying somebody else top dollar to rebuild my engine. My regrets there are because their quality control and attention to detail were so poor that both engines blew before i hit 3k miles on either engine.
I'm now doing my own rebuild in my garage and plan on easily holding 500whp with the new engine.
I put money into my car knowing that it was a hobby, a passion, and that i would NOT see a financial return on what i spent. If you purchased an FD with the thought of it acting like an investment than you're wrong. It's a sports car, it needs to be driven. When it's driven stuff breaks.
I built my car slowly over the past six years, some years i spent more (the overhaul and single turbo conversion ran me $13k), other years i spent less. It doesn't really matter to me in the end though, money spent on something you truly enjoy is money well spent. What is the point of busting your ***, and saving all your money, if you can't put the fruits of your labor towards something that makes you happy?
I'm now doing my own rebuild in my garage and plan on easily holding 500whp with the new engine.
I put money into my car knowing that it was a hobby, a passion, and that i would NOT see a financial return on what i spent. If you purchased an FD with the thought of it acting like an investment than you're wrong. It's a sports car, it needs to be driven. When it's driven stuff breaks.
I built my car slowly over the past six years, some years i spent more (the overhaul and single turbo conversion ran me $13k), other years i spent less. It doesn't really matter to me in the end though, money spent on something you truly enjoy is money well spent. What is the point of busting your ***, and saving all your money, if you can't put the fruits of your labor towards something that makes you happy?
09-07-12, 01:52 PM
#3
I bought it as a burnt shell almost a year now , in OCT 25th I believe .
and I've invested a total of around 16k .
I have regrets yes.. , I could of gotten a running FD for much less and modified from there and had a car to drive in the meantime , isntead of having to take rides , an busses for the 6 months it took me to get hte car on the road LOL
and I've invested a total of around 16k .
I have regrets yes.. , I could of gotten a running FD for much less and modified from there and had a car to drive in the meantime , isntead of having to take rides , an busses for the 6 months it took me to get hte car on the road LOL
09-07-12, 01:56 PM
#4
i'm probably somewhere around the 30-35k mark, including the purchase price of the car. I bought it about 7 years ago, and shipped it up from Texas to Toronto, Ontario. 1 rebuild and a few different setups later, and i'm sure i've sunk way more than i should have, given my budget. That's the way with these cars though. They get under your skin pretty quickly.
Do I regret it? not for a minute. It's time for it to have a rest, pull the engine, do the clutch, transmission, single turbo, and supporting mods, v-mount and some suspension bushings. I've had 5 years of hard driving and lapping on the car, and it's been bulletproof. Now with a second kid due in about a week, priorities have changed, but the car will still be sitting there for when the pendulum swings the other way.
Do I regret it? not for a minute. It's time for it to have a rest, pull the engine, do the clutch, transmission, single turbo, and supporting mods, v-mount and some suspension bushings. I've had 5 years of hard driving and lapping on the car, and it's been bulletproof. Now with a second kid due in about a week, priorities have changed, but the car will still be sitting there for when the pendulum swings the other way.
09-07-12, 02:27 PM
#6
I don't really regret it, sure its alot of money 40k+ for me but the small handful of other cars I would consider instead would cost that much too. Personally I would never be happy with a corvette, evo, sti, e46 M3, s2000, Z or any of the other dime a dozen cars at any track event. There is a reason a well sorted FD or NSX will turn more heads and many people enjoy seeing them more than any of those other cars.
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09-07-12, 04:49 PM
#11
Not really. In my years of ownership (14) and including purchase price I've spent about 45k . Let's say I saved my money for all those years, so what would I buy with 45K ? A 2006 Z06 comes to mind but wait I still have 14 years awesomeness to make up for...
I love my FD. IMO for the total money spent there isn't anything that would reward me just as much.
I love my FD. IMO for the total money spent there isn't anything that would reward me just as much.
09-07-12, 05:48 PM
#14
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For me the ball is just starting to roll, but with my plans it will easily there. My only second thought is why not be smarter and buy a nice new sports car, not worry about it breaking, but most importantly, have it covered by insurance. But, I'm too far in the game and I will play it -- and possibly, hopefully not, learn from my potential stupidity someday in the future. Right now I'm happy envisioning the near future, and a unique car...that people on the road tend not to see 
09-07-12, 06:43 PM
#16
Amount invested: lost count and honestly don't want to know 
Regrets: I just wish I would've decided on certain items from the get go ie: larger single turbo setup and accommodating fuel setup that I have now compared to the smaller setup before...would've saved me time and money...money to spend on other mods lol
The main reason I spend the money on the car though is because I plan on keeping it as long as I live. Its funny, because in my group of friends, many of them have upgraded and changed their "toy" two or three times just to do it all over again. I consider this car as one of my life long projects/achievements that you can look back later on and say "Yeah, I built that to what you see today". As far as doubts, it occurs every once in a while when some random item breaks...makes me think "I should have bought a newer fast car" but eventually that new car will get old too.
Regrets: I just wish I would've decided on certain items from the get go ie: larger single turbo setup and accommodating fuel setup that I have now compared to the smaller setup before...would've saved me time and money...money to spend on other mods lol
The main reason I spend the money on the car though is because I plan on keeping it as long as I live. Its funny, because in my group of friends, many of them have upgraded and changed their "toy" two or three times just to do it all over again. I consider this car as one of my life long projects/achievements that you can look back later on and say "Yeah, I built that to what you see today". As far as doubts, it occurs every once in a while when some random item breaks...makes me think "I should have bought a newer fast car" but eventually that new car will get old too.
09-07-12, 07:52 PM
#17
I have about $15k in my FD so far, and just put down another $3k for engine rebuild parts. I try to keep it cheap and do all the work myself. but most people will spend $20k+ on a new car, i would rather spend that on an FD and still have money left for a cheap 2nd car dd for when the FD is down lol
09-07-12, 10:16 PM
#20
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I'm right at 50k
... and I'm not even done. Still have to install the body kit among other things...
Worst part is I haven't even driven the car yet. I'm only 3 months into ownership. Everyone tells me (even people that don't own Rx7's) that this is one of the best / most fun cars you could ever own... hopefully it lives up to its reputation.
Nice garage and collection of bikes gmonsen. I used to have a 1098 myself.
... and I'm not even done. Still have to install the body kit among other things...
Worst part is I haven't even driven the car yet. I'm only 3 months into ownership. Everyone tells me (even people that don't own Rx7's) that this is one of the best / most fun cars you could ever own... hopefully it lives up to its reputation.
Nice garage and collection of bikes gmonsen. I used to have a 1098 myself.
Last edited by fatwhale; 09-07-12 at 10:21 PM.
09-07-12, 11:39 PM
#23
Currently at 21k so far with no regrets. Every compliment and head turning is worth every penny spent. Besides it's a one of a kind among the many M3, vette, SS, Cobra, and even Mkiv that are driven on the streets today.....
FD's are a classic eye catcher everytime I see a well maint one driving.....
FD's are a classic eye catcher everytime I see a well maint one driving.....
