Tafumi

I've been in the market for a new project car. My hobby is to find cars that are hard to find and learn them from headlight to tailpipe, piece by piece, normally by stripping them to the bare metal and building them back up - replacing what is necessary along the way and modifying should I feel the need. To that end, I don't plan on using this as a daily driver. Matter of fact, for the first year or so, I don't plan on ever driving it. I was looking for another 2.5RS Impreza to rebuild, but an opportunity came up and bit me.

For the better part of 13 years, I've wanted my own FD. Not much has changed over those years. A friend of one of my coworkers (whom works across the street from me) is selling his RX7. However, she's not in the best of conditions.

It's a 93 Touring Red/Tan. She's got 133k on the chassis. Supposedly, the engine was rebuilt around 80k but he has no documentation proving that. What's left of the paint is oxidized to high heaven. The greater part of the front end is down to the primer. Not a problem for me as I plan on painting it mica blue or montego blue. The suspension is unnaturally stiff, even for an RX7 and there is a pretty severe fuel leak that seeps into the cabin. I've heard about the smell that the exhaust can eject, but this is different. This is definently a straight-up fuel smell. Yet, nothing leaks out of the bottom of the car aside normal condensation that I would expect off any car.

The dash and trim is in very, very good condition. The carpet has normal wear that you would expect for a car of 14 years. The seats weren't taken care of very well and (as it's leather) is cracked - especially on the drivers side.

The left headlamp lid isn't there any more but it is in the car. I would just have to put it back on as he seems to be too lazy to do it himself. Not that I care. I'd just end up taking it off anyway to find out how the headlight assembly is constructed. Lastly, the stock Boss sound system is completely gutted and there's nothing there replacing it. Right down to the wires. But, no big deal again as I would have ended up ripping it out anyway.

What he has added is an aftermarket boost gauge in a single gauge pod on the pillar. It either isn't working right anymore, or he possibly has a leak somewhere in the vaccum hoses. He has no real clue when he changed oil last, or when he had the coolant flushed. Pretty much, bad owner.

There is an aftermarket RacingBeat spoiler on the trunk which I kind of like and would probably keep on the car.

The rest of the vehicle is in perfect operating order. Lights, powered motors all work, etc etc. She has a clean title with no accidents and has been in for all factory recalls to get the fixes done.

He's asking 6k for it. Just want to know if I should lowball the hell out of him or only a little. I feel that 6k is a bit much. But I keep getting mixed signals on the car. The hard part is that I really want this car and it's perfect for a project car. I would be very hesitant to pull apart a perfectly good car. Not to mention that he doesn't have to sell it. He isn't exactly hurting for cash. If I haggle him too hard (or low) he might just give up on the sale and keep it. Or go find some other sucker that'll pay that much. Unless the price is actually a fair one. I'm not looking to make the deal of the century. I just want to pay what I should and not a penny more.

I wish I could get to the car again to take pictures as they would likely help you more than words. Unfortunately, that is quite the challenge due to it's location compared to mine.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

The Driver

iTrader: (4)

7-8K it seems very sketchy.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

FD parts prices are an absolute killer so I would do some investigation of those before I'd buy. It may be just a Mazda but many parts prices are worse than BMW or Porsche. You could easily drop $10-$15k on it (in addition to the purchase price) - and you'd still have a high mileage car worth about $10k.

If the car is running $6-$8k is not too bad.

DarkLikePoe

Eh, I only see that as having value as a parts car. I mean, if you have the funds, go ahead and buy it. Know that everything on this car is expensive... and I mean EVERYTHING. To put it in perspective, there's a little pocket in the driver's door. The lid to said pocket is very often broken, but hardly replaced. Why? The lid to the pocket costs $90. Hell, a remanufactured alternator for my 280Z cost about a third of that. HELL, for $90 I could replace the entire dash on my old 240SX. HELL, for $90 I could get a pair of turn signals for my current DD, a 95 Camry.

If you are REALLY interested in picking apart the FD to learn about it, skip this one. From the sound of it, it's not an A+ specimen. However, if you REALLY mean to pull everything apart, invest thousands of dollars into the car to make improvements, and enjoy it that way, maybe this is right for you.

moconnor

iTrader: (14)

Don't forget the $1500 per side interior door panels.

Tafumi

I'm used to expensive project cars. My last car, a 97 2.5RS Impreza, I spec'd out to a JDM STi of equal year. $130 for a stock door handle (literally) and that was considered a good deal. Didn't include any of the mechanical pieces associated. Just a piece of plastic. Just to name a random part I replaced or repaired. Bought the car of 4k and ended up puting around 16k into it. About 9k was getting it perfect 2.5RS standards. The rest was fluff that wasn't necessary but I went for broke. And pretty much went broke in the process.

I'm walking into this knowing full well the price tag associated with even the most trivial of parts when it comes to the FD. Everything I do, I always research to an extreme depth far ahead of time.

I don't buy cars because they're pretty, or fast, or get the preverbial chicks. I buy them to learn about them with hands on experience. I then apply that experience wherever I can. It's an expensive and financially unstable hobby, but I'm still young-ish and attribute it to that fault.

The side benefit is that I usually end up with a satisfying end product after a year or two of work.

The car does run. And it doesn't squeak or crunch or knock while in motion. It's actually suprisingly silent. She's not much to look at on the outside - granted.

Again, this isn't going to be a DD for me. I already have a DD that I'm more than satisifed with in terms of cost of repairs and reliability.

But I need a new project car before I go nuts. And it's either this or turning a 240 into a Silvia. And I'd rather it be this. One way or another, I'm going to get an RX7 and tear it to shreds only to rebuild it again. And if I stumble and get fed up, this site will suddenly be filled with an abundance of cheap parts for sale.

mrb63083

iTrader: (4)

6k does not seem outrageous. If there is no horrible body damage, i say go for it.

XxMerlinxX

iTrader: (2)

I'd at least see if you could knock him down to $5k. For $6k, you could get a relatively nice roller. I mean with the way he's treated the car so far, you're probably looking at a rebuild soon anyway. Just prepare to go way over budget, these cars tend to develop into black holes rather quickly.

BADSVN2000

I would say go for it, I bought a stolen recovered FD in Much Much worse condition and it is now almost finished after 6 months! I have had almost every part in bits and managed to piece it back together into a drivable car. Check out my thread under interior/exterior - New Zealand build.

Yhe thing people don't seem to take into consideration is that these cars are no longer made and they will only go up in price over the years. I have a friend over here in New Zealand who has a 1991 (yes that is correct a 1991 FD3S, was the first year of production) and he has spent about NZD $150, 000 on it already and its still just a rolling shell! His engine has been donated to his drift car.

I guess my point is that anyone that takes on a project whatever make it may be generally knows its going to cost a bit of $$ thats why they are projects. We all do it for different reasons but at the end of the day a project is a project. You could pay 6k for a beat up early model, throw 10-20k at it and be happy or you could spend 10-20k on a later model one then do the same by spending another 10-20K on it by doing the same mods and be happy also but the first option you save on the initial purchase. I should know what im talking about as I have just done it myself.

my 2 cents anyway. Good luck with the project.

Gyan

There is enough FD3's out there for sale that are in better shape for a few dollars more that would save you thousands in parts cost alone, Certainly get an FD they are my most favorite car in the world. But do your research on what's out there. That's my 2 cents

4CN A1R

iTrader: (6)

^ what he says is true. if i had the money i think i would buy it just to part it out.