Let me start this out by saying I am not a rotary newbie, but am new to the 13B-REW. I currently own a 1985 RX-7 GS with RacingBeat intake, RacingBeat road/race exhaust, RacingBeat Street/Strip clutch and numerous other goodies. I have also owned a 1987 TII, which I got rid of.

Currently I drive a 2003 Mazdaspeed Protege and my wife drives a 2003 Mazda Protege5. Both great cars and very reliable, much like the 12a in my Rex.

I have always wanted to own a 3rd Gen, its kind of been my dream, since I sell Mazdas and am a rotary nut. I've spent years going over things about the FD, looking at reliability mods, problems and what not.

Well, I may just be getting a chance to own my dream car. I found a 1993 Black Touring model with an automatic (ehhh) with 61,000 original miles on it. I've pulled up a CarFax on it, and it turns up clean with the car averaging just a little over 5,000 miles a year. It had 2 owners and was bought at auction. No damage, or odometer problems ever reported and milage is consistent with DMV reports.

The guy that is selling it is posting it for 13,100, which I think I can talk him down alittle bit. I am also not familiar with the automatic transmissions on these cars, as I have never owned an automatic in my life. I am very mechanically inclined, and due all my own maintenance on my cars. I'd actually just be having my wife drive the car back and forth to work and what not, just a daily driver.

The thing is, I'd be trading in my Protege5 for this FD and I want to make sure that it is reliable for her. I've heard mixed opinions about the FD and reliability and want to make sure I'm not getting into trouble. I am not going to mod it, just leave it stock and do the reliability modifications. Any advice on my situation would be nice. Thanks alot guys.

BinaryRotary

 

Oh BTW, we don't drive much, We've only put 10,000 miles combined for both our cars in 1 year.

Oh one mroe thing, the FD is COMPLETELY stock.

 

FD is not a good choice for a daily driver. If you don't want an automatic, don't buy one. You will be sorry later if you compromise now.

 

I second what adam just said... If it's a daily driver you want, you'll be much happier with your basically brand new Protege rather than the 10 yr old FD. Keep your Protege

 

I don't mind maintaining the car or repairing it. It is never going to be driven hard, my wife doesnt drive fast, lol.

What I'm asking is, if I drive the car everyday, put don't put many miles on it, am I going to end up repairing it every month? I don't mind every 6 months but not every month. My FB is realiable as hell.

 

If it's going to be a daily driver, it's going to have alot of miles on it. I would stick with the vehicles you already have. They are far better suited for what you need them to perform for.

 

Im an Fd owner so I assure you, I do love this car. But if you plan on daily driving this vehicle your going to be dumping large amounts of money in to it at one point or another. As for the Automatic Tranny. If your looking for and auto deff. dont by an FD. Auto FD's suck. Test drive the stick and then an auto. You will see what I mean. This car will never be reliable. There is nothing you can do to your FD short of putting a fuel injected LT1 in it that will make it a daily driver. The reliability mods are great but your still going to need a motor at some point. I see that you like the vehicle, but and FD is a weekend car, plain and simple.