RX7Aggie

This post is mainly to get some wisdom and understanding from some of you older, more experienced folks on the board.

May 2004 I graduated from college and started working in late June out here at NASA in Houston. I regrettingly bought a new car with my big new salary, which was a mistake. The mistake was the fact that I got a $30K Nissan Titan 4x4 with lots of options. I had an '87 TII at the time, and sold it to pay on my credit card for $5000.

Now I realize I should have kept it, bought a 2nd backup car for cheap, and fixed the AC and PS in my FC. Live and learn.

Anyway, I'm now realizing that I should have kept a cheaper car, and paid off my credit card, put money into 401K and savings, and paid more on my student loan. Especially in light of the Katrina events, where if I stoppped working, I dont know how I would make ends meet w/ credit card payments, student loan payments, and truck loan payments.

So, I've realized it's time to sell the Titan, and get a used car. I know I will take a $3K - $5 loss on my Titan since I didn't put anything down and didn't trade my RX-7 in. However, if I finance a $10K-$12K vehicle for 4-5 years, my payments will be $200-$300 cheaper than on my truck ($540 / month). Also, according to my insurance, that will be slightly cheaper on a 2 door tubo car vs. my new 4x4 pickup, so that's no loss there.

My truck is currently getting 10-12 mpg city and 15-16 highway, so again not a big change in spending there getting an FD.

My first 2 cars were FC's (which I owned for 5 years in highschool and college), so I have lots of rotary experience and have aquired lots of online knowledge and resources. So, I kind of know what I'm getting myself into.

Here is my old FC TII:

http://www.teamfc3s.org/forum/member...iew&car_id=445



My ideal plan would be to get a loan for $10K - $13K for an FD w/ either low mileage and stock, or high mileage and stock w/ a recent engine rebuild. I want something fairly reliable, and wont leave me stranded. I plan on leaving the RX-7 stock except for any interior cosmetic upgrades or reliability upgrades (if they haven't been done).

Number wise, here is what I figure:

I'm currently spending $850 a month on my Titan ($540 loan + $160 ins + $150 gas).

After talking to my insurance agent, I will save $18 / month with an FD RX-7, and based on eloan.com I can get a $12000 private sale loan for 60 months at 7.84%, resulting in $242 / month payments. Gas mileage will be marginally better than my Titan (depending on how often I spool up the turbo), but will be offset by the premium price. [However, I'm speculating that in the next 5 years or so, premium prices will drop closer to regular due to more car companies using premium to get more power / mileage / efficeincy. Just a guess.]

Still, my RX-7 will only have 2 seats, as apposed to seating for 4-5 in my Titan, which means it will be used less to transport people. Also, without a bed, I dont be able to help people move, so that saves on gas also.

Anyway, all that racks up to a total of $510 - $560 / month I would be spending on an RX-7 ($250 - $300 loan + $140 ins + $120 gas) with gas savings due to less driving for friends / moving / transporting stuff.

This results in a savings of $290 - $340 / month, which I can use to put into 401K (3% matching), savings, and paying off credit card.

These savings result in $300 * 12 months * 5 years = $18000 total vs. keeping my Titan. I have to consider the $3000 - $4000 loss with selling my Titan (I still owe $27K).

And now, I need help from all you older, experienced RX-7 guru's.

How good / smart of a plan is this?

How much can I expect to spend on maintenance?

How much can I expect to pay for a stock FD in good condition?

What gas mileage (stock / lightly modded) are yall seeing? (I got 10-12 city, 17-20 on my modded FC)

Are there any good FAIR rotary mechanics here in the Houston area? I had all engine work on my FC's done at Alamo Rotary.

1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

i think the plan to sell the truck is a good idea as because with gas prices now, and i dont think they are going back down anytime soon, selling a truck and getting something more efficient would be smart.

how much can you expect to pay on maintenance? all depends on where you start off..if you REALLY want to get an FD, i would search hard in finding the perfect one, as close to stock as possible..then when you get one, there are tons of links on this site that will help you in every way possible in making your fd a great reliable car..

as far as gas mileage, i do mostly city so i see about 15mpg..i have all the bolt ons minus pfc and im non seq..

if i were you, if you do get the FD, def get a more gas efficient highly reliable daily driver cause there is not doubt about it that in one point or another, the fd will break down causing you down time in fixing it and you need a backup car to do your daily routine..

RX 4 Speed

I'm sure the other folks will chime in here, but if I were you, I would still sell the titan, and get a used honda or toyota, period. Get rid of those payments, get better gas mileage, and get a reliable car, all in 1 step. Save up for an FD... and get one at a later time, after paying off card debts, college loans, etc. I'm 27, have about 2 years left on college loans, with no car loans. First 5 years after college were a pain since I bought a new car.

On another note, you can expect to pay between 10 and 15K for a good to great conditioned FD...

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

For what you are looking for, I would not suggest an FD,

JaNusSolSumnus

I would vote for finding a REALLY REALLY clean TurboII since maintenance will be much lower and you owned one previously so comfort-wise you will already be with the car.

FD's are gas hungry like a TII and like your Titan but insurance and initial cost-wise the TII will be much easier on you. Not to mention overall ownership will be cheaper as the TII's seemed to be a bit more reliable with the simple single turbo setup.

~Kris

RX7Aggie

Thanks for the replies. This isn't what I wanted to hear, but what I expected to hear.

I want my cake, and I want to eat it too, and I want it to be fat free. I can't have everything, obviously.

Decisions, decisions...

Still, I dont think I can go FWD with less than 150 hp. I've owned 2 FC's, and now my 305 HP Titan.

I like cars, and enjoy driving / working on them. I need something I will enjoy. I have been thinking subaru impreza, maybe an older 2.5 RS coupe?

Force13B

iTrader: (19)

There was way to many numbers in that post. I don't work for NASA can't add that all up. The 2.5RS has a nice look to it, lots of parts and is AWD for fun. It is faster then a Honda, and subaru's don't break.

Comet

the 2.5 is one tough customer too, lot's of grunt, and the drivetrain is near-unbreakable.... and plus, it's a Subie, those things run 4ever!

mibad

Get a smaller truck, pay off debt, get an fd when you can afford to throw money at it and not care.

RX7Aggie

Again, thanks for all the replies.

I didn't think this is the best idea, and had my hesitation, but an FD is my dream car. Seriously, the first time I saw one in my apartment complex (silver) I thought it looked like a mini-viper! That was way back in middle school, before I knew anything about cars, RX-7s, rotaries, or anything else.

Still, to pull this off without taking a huge hit would have been next to impossible. I would need to find the exact FD that I liked, for a good price, in good reliable running condition in close proximitity to me (Texas / LA) AND sell my truck shortly there after. Not an easy task. Seems like finding and getting the right FD is a long, arduous process

I like how the 99-01 2.5 RS coupe looks. You get an agressive front end (lights & hood scoop), AWD, 160 hp engine, decent gas milage, coupe design.



I might start checking around in the area at a few dealers and go for a test drive to see how anemic the 2.5L engine feels without a turbo. I might also try an 02+ WRX on for size to see how that 225 hp engine feels, and see if it's worth it.

The 2.5 RS coupe is quite unique though, so that's kind of cool. And aftermarket support should be there, so I might be able to have fun with a few mods.

POS7

Sell titan get a miata. Decent hp for its size & power is upgradable.

RX7Aggie

i never have been a fan of how the miata looks, except for the latest one, which actually looks good inside and out.

DigDug

You can say that again!


I love the GC8 (98-01) 2.5RS's. Personally, I've never been a fan of the newer GD body style. Plus all the extra weight they added. But the GC8's look awesome and only weigh about 2800LB.


The non-turbo 2.5L is definitely lacking in power. Good low-end response, but the engine is wheezing after around 4.5-5K. In contrast, the turbo 2.2L in the WRX sacrifices some low-end and gains a lot higher up - it's much more fun to rev the **** out of the WRX motor.


Easy - drop the 2.5L turbo motor and trans from the current STi into the GC8 chassis, and you'll have one ridiculously fast Subaru!

FDZero

iTrader: (10)

...I read once that the Miata (current ones..not the 2006 models) was designed by same team as the RX-7 or had similar styling cues (door curve and rear lid). I think the models right after the pop-up lights were dropped. Not quite sure.

vspecpgt

i was thinking about selling my wrx and getting another rx7 as my daily... just leaving it stock though. however i'm in a better posistion as my wrx is paid off.

pianoprodigy

+1

phinsn98

iTrader: (2)

If you're interested...I'm selling my TII.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showthread.php?t=457000

jandre

hmm.. if your dream car is the rx7 you could always get a super cheap beater and get a decent rx7. should still be cheaper then the titan.. but dude those titans are pretty amazing.. i have a frontier (the baby) haha and i have a 87 nissan sentra and im looking to get a fd soon. my .02

Force13B

iTrader: (19)

The stock WRX motor is a 2.0L thats why its called the EJ20. The subaru forester motor is a 2.2 maybe thats what you thinking of.

RX7Aggie

Great looking FC!

You have done a lot of mods that I did on my S4, only your paint and exterior is in better condition than mine, and you have the S5 front clip. Looks sharp.

If you were here in Texas, I'd be interested fo sho!

DigDug

Sorry, that's what I meant to say.