You may not have realized that some of us here may be parents. I have a 17 year old son. If I saw him post what you just did, he would never have access to a set of my keys again. Do the words "spoiled brat" mean anything?

Of course, my own son has access to:
'06 Mazda 3, 2.3L sedan (what he drives most of the time)
'02 4.6L Explorer (what I drive most of the time)
'07 Escape (what mom drives most of the time)
'94 FD Touring (weekend warrior that he gets to drive about once/week)

All the cars are mine. Paid for by me. Insured by me. Maintained by me. As soon as you can buy your own car, maintain it (or pay for repairs), and insure it yourself, not to mention pay for gas, then buy whatever car you want.

If your folks are like me, they want you to have access to a safe, reliable, sensible car so they don't have to drive you all over. A FD is a toy, an expensive toy. It isn't reliable, safe, sensible transportation for a kid.

FWIW, the Mazdaspeed3 is a heck of a nice car. It is very quick, handles really well, and also gets decent mileage. It also is big enough to actually be useful. If they are willing to buy a MS3, I'd jump all over that. My Mazda3 sedan has the same engine only NA. I'd love to have a MS3. I've got some Mazdaspeed suspension upgrades for the 3, and it handles really well. A true MS3 would be even better. The MS3 would be a great car to learn to drive well, and is a lot of fun to autocross. Also, as a younger person, you'd find that the MS3 isn't as horrendously expensive as the FD to mod and upgrade.

 

I bought my car when I was in University and it was paid for 100% by my EARNED money. Same money I'm still earning now from various online businesses I run. Don't assume unless the person actually says it.

It's also the reason I can take my car to the track almost every weekend and my parents can't say anything (even though they complain) because they haven't given me any money for it including insurance. They wanted me to buy a new car which I refused because I love this car so much.

thewird

 

If you are spending your own money, it is hugely different than spending someone else's money. Provided of course you actually worked for it and didn't get it by way of Daddy's allowance, trust fund, or court settlement. I may not think it is wise for a young person to through money into a FD, but at least it is your money.

To be honest, there are also some real benefits I suppose. You will learn a lot of life lessons by owning a FD. Just be careful that none of them are irreversible lessons.

 

Okay, you aren't 'that' young (but still young in this old fart's book), but I still wouldn't recommend the car to you as a daily driver. They are terrible in the rain, and I'd never even consider driving it in the snow, they get horrible mileage (but it does have a 20 gallon tank for premium fuel-$$), parts are becoming hard to get because Mazda has discontinued their parts supply as we know it. There are other reasons I can't come up with, but I don't want to make it look too bad. Heh
On a positive note, it would warm up for you quickly! They run hot as hell. It even stays hot hours after you park it! Your g/f would love you for that on the way home during the winter. I had to toss a positive in.

But, it's one hell of a car! I love them, but I don't drive mine all the time. I've had mine since 1995 since day one and still only have 49,000 miles on it. Most of those came the first 5 years. Now I put a 1,000 or less a year on it. I don't drive it a lot because I plan to keep it for years, and also because I don't wanna break it. heh.

Good luck with your decision.

Scooter

 

I reckon u should get one there sweet just dont drive like a maniac and ull be sweet if u do tho ull end up like this http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/asset.../Mazda-TOP.jpg

 

^^ Ouch!

 

<sigh>

These cars are too damn rare to be getting balled up like this. I read in a thread the other day that FDs are dying at the rate of 1 per day. However, I think this was back in 2006.

It's too bad so many of them are going so cheap.

I just hope they don't let the crusher get to them.

Scooter

 

I'm 19 and I own an FD. I'd say I've spent $45 of gas in two days alone here in Canada.. I'm about to do an oil change but I don't think that'll make too much of a difference. Why is it that the rotary engine burns more gas anyway?

I didn't tell my parents, I just went and bought it. They were kinda mad since I wouldn't be able to drive it in winter..

 

^^ lol!

i bought my fd last summer and i was 19 at that time.... im now 20 and this car is the best freaking thing i could have ever bought!!!! Altho I'm using an Xtreme pick-up or Z28 camaro to go to college and get me around at daytime... I only use the FD when I'm with my boo or when I'm going out to the club :P

GET THE FD... if you can afford to keep it running in top shape!

 

hahaha, thats the spirit...just buy it and worry about it later!

 

That's normal if you have a heavy foot . If you drive like your not driving a hot rod, its not thaaaat bad. It also might be running rich or any of the other possibilities.

thewird

 

Woah... ok. You're 21??? and your parents are still telling you what car to buy? Ok dude, you're at the age where you do what you want, not what mommy and daddy want. As far as i'm concerned, everyone should be capable of making solid decisions by age 19 or 20. Unfortunately, not everyone is. But like i said earlier, you like 7's? Buy an n/a FC.... reliable as hell if it's low mileage and maintained properly.

 

Well, when your living at home sucking on mommy's teat, you gotta do what they say, doesnt matter if your 5 - 10 - 15- or 21 years old. lol

 

Them's that pays the bills, make the rules.

My son would like to buy a sport bike. I tell him "No problem. You turn 18, move out of the house, and become financially independent, then you can buy whatever you want. Until then, as long as I'm providing a roof over your head, food on your table, car, insurance, tuition, clothes, etc... you ain't buying a sport bike."

So if he is a student still being partially supported by parents, then damn right they have a say in what he does.

 

It's nice to see that he's respecting his parents wishes. Many kids don't give a crap these days.

Scooter

 

I'm still being partially supported by my parents, but i'm paying for my fd by myself with my own hard earned money. But I still have access to their cars if i need them for taking more than one other person or more than my school bag. I got my FD exactly one week after turning 19 and I haven't looked back. It's all about choices and right now, while the 7 wasn't exactly the best choice ever, I made it. I'm being responsible with it, not driving like a bat out of hell and abusing it so I don't have to make too many repairs to it. I'm proving to others I'm mature and responsible enough to have a car like this, and if you want one, than that's what you need to do also.

 

you are all wining about the damn gas prices.. what can i say? Gotta pay almost 2 euros a freaking litre? (thats like 3bucks)

ur paying for $4< a gallon .. i have to pay 12

ts ts ts ..i need over $100 of gas(a day) the times i get my fd on the street.

anyway like everyone sais..i believe you are better off with something else... a supra maybe if money is not the issue

 

02 wrx's go for like 10k now. Thats my vote. Don't get an fd.

 

yeah, if money ain't an issue and you still wan't something fast, get a supra tt, reliable, fun to drive, more room, more confortable, and an endless suply of parts, where as ours are starting to dwindle