roody

Hello everybody. I'm new to the car-scene, but have been a follower for years. I'm 16 (almost 17), and need a car that I can customize/trick out/modify, but isn't too hard on money. I have looked at 300ZX's and Supras, and am now considering the RX-7. So, would an RX-7 be a good choice for me? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

VegasFD

No. RX-7's are money pits and is not the car for you.

MR_Rick

iTrader: (7)

Do a search on "money pit" you will see what are we talking about.

roody

So then what would you suggest?

windom

iTrader: (1)

A civic hatchback, non turbo MR2, mustang GT hatchback. The RX-7 is such a money pit. Plus not suitable for newbies.

d1rx7

well the rx7 cost alot of money to keep going, and if you are going to mod it, it will be worst, and if you do go with the 7 you cant take shortcuts, or you will have a car that just sits in the shed. most people on here have spent well over what the car is worth, on just simple mods, and just to keep it going.
thats why when you talk to people with rx7, they are so in love with there car, you have to be to put up with it, they are worst than most girls, allways wanting money spent on them lol, so i would say go with one of the other cars, or even a s2000.

goodluck finding ride

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

I suggest something FWD, so you're less likely to mod your skull on a telephone pole.

So not only is the RX-7 a poor fit budgetwise, it's also a poor fit as far as driving experience.

Yeah, I sound like a jerk, but it's basic truth. Keep to something more bulletproof and driveable for a few years, then when your income is improved and FDs are forgotten, you can pick up a high power rwd car and really enjoy it.

Dave

JDawG707

heres a tip...im in your boat, almost 17 and had my car for 1year...if you leave it stock it wil lbe alot better on money...if you do stuff to it w/o safety precautions and alot of research...Then youll put about 5k into repairs....i have about 1k in repairs...lucky and about 4-5k in mods...But i have a decent source on income so...yeah

Id say start with a little honda and work your way up...

Goodluck on your find, w/e car youll get shoudl soute you

apex_sideway

Example: I've owned the car for two years . . . here's some expenses.

Car- $11,000
Repairs to make it run perfect- 4,000
Aftermarket parts- 4,000
Maintence- 500

Improved FD

pretty much sums it up

great avatar, vegas

XxMerlinxX

iTrader: (2)

I'd try a Celica GT-S, Acura RSX-S, Honda S2000 before jumping into an RX-7. It costs way too much to a.) fix and b.)keep running and then c.) modify. In my area, just finding a mechanic that knows it has a rotary engine in it is hard enough.

FD3S2005

iTrader: (11)

ok heres my story i was 17 in a half when i got mine and it was almost stock only thing it had was a downpipe and exhust and that is it for the engine.. and lets see i didnt have a great job atm wasnt makeing to good of money but now i got a pretty good one and i have had it for almost 3 years and it has its times that it breaks down.. new radiator, new coil harness and engine harness which is about 800, upgraded sequential system, upper intake manifold and much more.. always gotta maintain it... truthfully aslong as u have money go ahead and get one.. thats what i did and everyone on the fourm told me not to but i did and i got lucky..

VegasFD

Thanks Improved.

I was thinking about it, and I thought of a fun and pretty fast car that would perfect for you. My 16 car was a 1993 VW Corrado. They're extremely rare (I have a thing for rare cars ) I loved it. It had a 2.8L V6 and had a TON of torque. It's FWD so you don't have to worry about killing yourself as Dave mentioned. Plus it's a 4 seater, which is important when you're in high school. Look it up.

-Scott

zonblitz

iTrader: (9)

Car: $14,000.00
Repairs: $4,972.00
Mods: $27,485 ...

(This does not include labor)

so, no this is not a cheap car to own

XxMerlinxX

iTrader: (2)

^ Wtf do you have done to your car that would total $27k?

MR_Rick

iTrader: (7)

My last FD
Car $13k
mods/upkeeping $16k

no repairs needed since I only had the car for a year. The car was in perfect condition on the outside and inside but the engine bay needed some replacement parts that where in the process of going out, so call it preventive maintenance.

Also I will bet you would be your daily driver. I see that you are in NY and FD + snow= no no. A nice car that will fit your area nicely and is of good taste, get you an Audi A4 Quatro.

roody

Alright, thanks for the info. I'll skip the RX-7.

zonblitz

iTrader: (9)

Fluidyne Radiator $475.00
Aluminum AST $155.00
Silicone Hoses $145.00
Hard Intake Pipes $149.00
Cusco Front Strut Brace $100.00
Efini Badges $25.99
RX7 nameplate $34.99
Smoked Turnlamps $148.95
Center Armrest $89.95
Polished A/C ***** $59.95
Momo Shift **** $125.00
Momo Ebrake Handle $105.00
Defi D Boost Guage $100.00
Defi D H20 Guage $140.00
Redline Boots $60.00
A-Pillar Mount $74.00
New Katskinz Seats $700.00
Bonez DP $75.00
Bonez Hi-Flo Cat $150.00
Unorthodox Pulleys $75.00
Optima BlueTop $135.00
Efini Y-pipe $175.00
Rotor Oil Cap $40.00
Greddy radiator cap $25.00
Dynamat $100.00
PFC Commander Holder $40.00
Apexi Power FC/Commander $1,100.00
Clear Corner and Reverse lights $150.00
Smoke paint $25.00
Brembo Slotted/drilled rotors $200.00
Pillowball bushings $350.00
AC equip $600.00
New rubber/plastics exterior $1,200.00
Paint job $3,300.00
Windows tinted 20% $160.00
AC Evaporator $100.00
AC Lines $50.00
Defrost vents $75.00
Hatch cover, strut covers $100.00
New 5 Zigen Wheels $1,400.00
Tokico Illuminas and Eibachs $450.00
Evo R Sleek Light Kit $450.00
Greddy SMIC/Hoses and BOV $600.00
99 spec Efini Tailights $400.00
new R1 lip $90.00
replace headlight cover $60.00
replace slave and master cylinders $100.00
Greddy Profec B $300.00

New project
BNR Stage 3 Turbos $2,400.00
Nippon Denso Fuel Pump $275.00
Non Seq Block off kit $45.00
HKS Twin Power Ignition $375.00
M2 CF CAI $375.00
RE Scoot Hood $700.00
Fuel lines, gaskets $800.00
Innovate Wideband $400.00
Defi oil and fuel pres guages $250.00
Mazdaspeed Radiator $300.00
Engine Wirning Harness $350.00
Magnacor Wires $50.00
Polished UIM, LIM and TB $470.00
New Undertray $162.00
Triple Guage mount $119.00
Column Mount $100.00
Stainless Steel Brake Lines $125.00
New Intercooler Duct $125.00
Greddy 3 Pulleys $160.00
Efini Y-pipe - for BNR's- Polished $290.00
Polished Alternator case $75.00
Polished Secondary Inlet Pipe $75.00
JIC Magic FLT-A2 Coilovers $1,100.00
Racing Beat Sway Bars $200.00
Defi EGT Guage $200.00
New Urethane Motor Mounts $100.00
New Guage Faces/bezels $83.00
New Drivers seat belt asbly $175.30
McCulloch 6k HID Kit $300.00

RaPtOr-T

Total cost of parts REQUIRED to keep car running -
$45.00
Total cost of parts NOT REQUIRED to keep car running -
$3471.00

Thats from a spreadsheet a while ago....the lower number has probably broke 5k and the top number has not moved. Had the car for 1.5 years now...

Maximum

iTrader: (5)

^you said without labor but included the paintjob! cheater! haha that is ridiculous.

XxMerlinxX

iTrader: (2)

All of that was actually $24,944. I rounded up on some of the things that were like 29.99 or stuff like that.

VegasFD

Hold on. Did you actually go down and add up every price on his list? You have way too much time on your hands.

zonblitz

iTrader: (9)

ahhh I see what I did... I had about 3k in labor in an earlier line in the spreadsheet and forgot to subtract it....

Good catch, you should work for the IRS.

preludesh2000

iTrader: (1)

coming from a new fd owner.....bought the car about a month ago...drove rear wheel drive be for ..and this car is ...*** happy.....
drove my prelude around and took my friends for a ride in the rx7, after i bought her ....they looked at me one at a time and said this car is F'ing sick.....please be careful.....
me being 26 took alittle bit to adjust to it...
and ive also spent about 4k on her already....some of it is mods.....
good luck

XxMerlinxX

iTrader: (2)

God no, I hate numbers.