Hey now, I was originally going to put this in the FS section but the feeler theme does not abide by the rules so here goes:

03/94 build date. Brilliant black R2
55K miles
3rd owner, purchased 10/2000, stock with 31K miles
Garage kept
Has been set-up the past 2 years with the emphasis on autocross usage than street/comfortability. All parts purchased new except for Recaro seats.
The Good: Maintained religiously...fluids, plugs, filters, wires, hoses. Have all parts and service receipts. All work done at KDR. Pulling 16" of vacumn at 750 rpm idle.
The BAD: Coolant seal(s) is/are starting to go. Coolant is starting to dump back into overflow bottle(changed and checked rad. cap twice). Pressure testing performed twice recently at KDR and was found to be good. Plugs are fine, no coolant smell in exhaust. Champagne test done several times and sometimes it pops up, sometimes it doesn't. Driveable while cruising, but have to avoid heavy and prolonged boost.
Front fenders have some damage from tire rub during autocross(see race tires below). Pass. side is not too bad or noticeable but driver's side is. I mistakenly thought I could roll the fenders myself and messed it up on the 2nd attempt after they slightly rubbed on the 1st. I haven't taken it to the body shop for estimates yet.
Paint from a few foot's distance looks great, but close inspection reveals some chips and some clear coat peeling on pass. B-pillar. Rear bumper shows a slight outline of a hex bolt from a nudge some old lady gave me at a red light. This will show up on carfax as I reported it. And there is an indentation with no paint damage behind the pass-side, rear wheel which I don't know how it got there. Lower wheel well paint is chipping from the stones getting brought up from the race tires/wide profile.

ENGINE:
M2 CF intake w/polished pipes to turbos
Unorthodox Racing full pulley kit(black)
M2 large IC w/ 2D performance airpump friendly turbo-IC pipe and Greddy elbow
Odyssey PC680 battery in pass. bin
HKS SSQ BOV
HKS twin power amp
Pettit unlimited ECU
ACT street/strip clutch
4.3 ring and pinion
SR motorsports 9.5lb flywheel
DP w/JET HOT 2000 coating
Gotham Hi-flow cat
Trust 3" full ti catback w/silencer
J&S knocksensor w/dual monitors
99' turbos(sequential)
XS engineering manual boost controller
Fluidyne radiator
Castrol 20W-50 replaced every 6 months or 1000 miles+new Mazda filter. Redline S-1 fuel injector cleaner at every oil change.

BRAKES:
KVR Performance 2-piece slotted rotors(stock) w/black hats and titanium bolts
Hawk HP+ pads
Goodridge SS lines
Motul 5.1 fluid
SUSPENSION:
Zeal Super Function coilovers w/16KG springs F+R
M2 toe links and trailing arms
Widefoot Billet sway bar braces(black)
Swift sway bars(have original bars+ a 93' rear bar)

INTERIOR:
RZ Recaro seats(black) w/black leather side protectors
MOMO RACE steering wheel w/hub
Mazdaspeed shortshifter
Benevento CF overlay on dash and driver's side door panel
SPI pillar mount boost gauge
Drilled metal gas pedal and foot rest overlays to match brake & clutch pedals
Dual DIN map pockets(still have radio/tape and CD player but radio is not working...typical skipping on CD player)
Factory scuff plates in good condition.

MISC:
Fan mod w/toggle switch
AST deleted
Vac. lines replaced with black silicone hose & zip tied
180 degree thermostat
9 plugs trailing/leading
Cosmo fuel pump
Efini badges and rear nameplate(have original badges)
99' tailights
All coolant hoses replaced this past winter except for turbo lines which were replaced in 05' when the 99' turbos were installed.
A/C system removed(still have parts)
15% tint on sides and rear
Front alignment specs are -2.5 camber with 1/16" toe out on each side and rear specs are -2.0 camber with 1/16" toe in at each side.

WHEELS/TIRES:
-Street-
Black RPF1s 17"X9" +45, F+R
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, 255-40-17 F+R
Muteki lug nuts(black)
-Race-
RPF1s(silver) 18"X10" +38, F+R
Hoosier A6 285-30-18, F+R

Can't think now if I've left anything out. I currently have a new engine reserved from Malloy coming in soon, which I have the money for. Plus I have the money for parts to be replaced during the removal. In 2 years I will have budgeted enough for a thorough and complete paint/body repair. After that, I won't risk anything on track/autox usage and would just want to keep it mint as possible with the occasional cruise and meets. Kind of like the old-timers do now with their classic and muscle cars. So with that in mind, the only reason to consider selling at this point, would be to purchase a low mileage, stock and mint FD for that purpose. Of those 2, and only those 2 options, what would you do? I'm planning to attend gmonsen's meet next saturday, so anyone attending can see the car and give me advice as well.

Thank-you,
Don

 

I would keep the car the way it is.

Stop modding it, return the car to whatever you feel is best for you (whether its completely stock or bolt ons only) and like you said, enjoy the car on nice days, meets or just cruising on the weekends.

Since you had that car for that long, only you know the history, you know what needs to be changed, what you changed, what problems it did have and all that.

I have had my car for 5 years. Sometimes i feel like selling it, just to buy another FD thats already done up for CHEAPER. Meaning a freshly built engine, single turbo, maybe new paintjob, wheels etc.

But i know the ins and outs of this car pretty much, and its not really the same when you sell the car, only to buy another car of the same type.

It just doesnt feel right.

 

But according to Mazda "It just feels right". LOL! Sorry man, I thought of that instantly upon reading your last sentence. That was Mazda's slogan during the early 90s...

Yeah, I hear ya though. Having this car so long, it definitley has it's sentimental value. I love SCCA racing so much but don't want to wear down the car anymore, especially if I'm going to get the main things redone soon. Thanks for your reassurance and valued input!

 

Im in the same situation as you almost.

I want to get into track events. As much as the FD is made for stuff like that, i dont want to pour money into it prepping the car for events, then paying for stuff when it breaks.

Thats why im in the market for a daily driver/track car, ie: mazdaspeed 3. With that, i can do bolt ons, and be very quick for the street. Then throw some good rubber on that, and be really competative for the track. Then i can leave the FD to cruising only or meets and enjoying the car for what it is. Its too expensive to turn the FD into a track car.

IS your FD a daily driver? I would just do what you said, do up the maintenance, refix stuff that broke from the track events, then leave it alone. Enjoy the car on nice days and get a fun daily driver.

 

No, I have a Civic for a DD. Yes, the FD is a great platform, no doubt. The one other thing about racing is some of reliability mods that we do to our cars bump it into prepared and modified classes. If your doing it just for fun, fine no problem. If you want to get serious and competitive, then it gets tougher with PAX classing, controlling the car, etc. I see novices come in and run fast times with EVOs and STIs because of the electronic aids. A stock FD, nevermind a modded one, is extremely challenging to drive at the limit in my experiences. But the FD looks so much better doing it. Even if I had a crappy day at the autocross, it was still great to have 5 different people come up to me during the course of the day and pay compliments to it. So, to try and stay on topic...looks wise, the FD is timeless and worth holding on to even if its my current one or another one. You brought up a good point though with the Mazdaspeed 3. Great car with great potential and not expensive. It's worth a look into for a DD/weekend track car. Thanks for bringing it up!

 

I have had my FD at the same power level since around the 1st year of ownership.

And even up til now its not exactly a "monster" but i think its the fact i dont drive it often and i have a daily driver, it makes it exciting everytime i get back in.

I think thats the key to a long term happy ownership, you dont drive the car everyday.

I know a kid that daily drove his 500hp cobra. He was in LOVE with the car when he got it, months and months went by, traveling to school almost everyday which was 70 miles one way slowly wore him down and he wanted something else. So he sold it.

Now he has like a buick and deeply misses the cobra.

So the key is lay off the "toy" once in a while, hop into something more convenient for the errand routine, and i think you'll be happy.

 

too bad i cant afford another fd rite now lol

this is sooooo 10000% true to me and atleast 50 of my friends w/ cars in the past. we dont have a few of the ones we wish we kept n miss them dearly.

 

Does he still have the car? This post was from 3 years ago.