HiWire

I was looking at some of the group buy and product development threads when I realized I didn't actually have a budget for my FD.

Other cars may come and go, but the FD is my dream car and I'll take her to the limit (street/track – not a show car).

How many of you guys feel the same way – no matter what great new cars come along, whatever life events (kids, etc.), that you'll keep driving your FD?

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

my FC is that way, no real budget, or timeline. i started with a bare shell, and have been enjoying piecing it together.

HiWire

I've been thinking that I'll go the full resto-mod route someday – I'd like to get all the squeaks and rattles sorted out, the paint perfected, and mechanically I don't even know how far things will go.

I do know that I'd like to keep a sequential setup and a liveable ride quality and interior, but otherwise the sky's the limit. A lot of mods that I see are interesting, but I have my own balance on what my car needs – it's never going to be a full race car, but I want it as polished and "perfect" as possible... as alluded to in the Singer cars thread.

Littleguy

iTrader: (5)

Mine is sort of a budgetless resto-mod right now. I consider mine a dead man's car in that it won't change hands until I die.

HiWire

The same goes for me. Looking farther out, I can see unlikely stuff like a 6-speed transmission, a non-gasoline engine, lighter-weight windows, laser headlights, etc. in the future. I don't care if everyone thinks the car is a slow, unsafe antique by then... the mantra of the build is like Daft Punk's (not a big fan of their music, actually) song title:

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

adam c

iTrader: (2)

Everyone thinks they will own their FD for the rest of their life, then life happens..........

gio64

iTrader: (1)

Keeper over here.
At my age, my kids are 23 and 18, as long as I have my health, she is not going anywhere.

And I don't have a budget or timeline myself, although there are some things that are getting done now and a bunch of other things that I lined up.

Like somebody else said, I'd love to have a top notch paint job and make a few changes/improvements/fixes along the way. Mechanically, I am getting a rebuild with porting, I think I'll be happy where she'll sit once it is all said and done.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I've had my FD since 2004, it's not going anywhere. I can't imagine another car that I enjoy working on as much, have as much fun driving, and has such a great community behind it.

If you ever feel the love affair is fading, go to Deal's Gap Rotary Rally. That will make you fall in love all over again.

Dale

Retserof

iTrader: (1)

I bought my FD new in 1994. In the 20 years that I have owned it, other cars have come and gone, but I am still feeling the rotary love.

96fd3s

iv had mine for 8 years now, and have just started piecing together the bits to go single...so safe to say my FD isnt going anywhere anytime soon..im in for the long haul!

I often think to myself, and have the conversation with the girlfriend..what car would you get if you won the lotto? Well, id keep the FD, throw lots of money at it, and make it a super car killer.

After 8 years of ownership, I still look at it and admire its beauty..just like the day I got it.

I have no budget..but i also don't have unlimited funds..I do have a lot of time though!

VTECthis

iTrader: (4)

I've owned 4 FD's. I learned my lesson from the last one I sold. I will never be "over" these cars, and if I can help it, I will never sell my current 94 CW.

jetlude

iTrader: (9)

Going into my seventh year of ownership, and as a one the has owned and modified several cars over the years, this will be the keeper. Got the power and stance thing all wrapped up in one. Only regret is that I never really got any time with the twins since I went single within weeks of getting the car. But running 500+rwhp daily and having one of the sweetest looking rides on the road is pleasing to me.

HiWire

I got lucky in that the previous owner (we are still in contact) had a similar mindset to me – he was fairly meticulous in maintaining the car, even though he raced it in Time Attack.

The mods were all done with intelligence and speed in mind (street ported, boosted, and tuned to about 320 hp with bolt-ons and even including a bolt-in roll bar)... I'm happy with her performance at this point, but I'll be doing little cosmetic things like I mentioned above as well as more major things like an engine rebuild when the time comes.

Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference, too. I'm currently running Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires on RX-8 wheels, and I'm looking forward to "downgrading" to smaller 17" wheels with Michelin Pilot Super Sports when my current set wears out. The tired Tokico Illumina struts on all four corners were replaced with new Koni Sports and I haven't had a chance to push them on a track since they were installed.

I'll probably get the ABS working this spring as well. She braked fine when I took her out on a few tracks, but I think I'd prefer having ABS working on the street and in the rain.

lOOkatme

iTrader: (19)

I don't have any plans to sell mine. I have done a lot to it to make it exactly where I want it to be. It's a street car but I still enjoy modifying it to get everything out of the car.

This winter I have modified the evo-r lights with bi-xenon headlights with high beams, I put on some 18x11.5" 285/30/18 tires late in the fall, I swapped to a V-mount, redid all my lines to AN fitting lines for wastegate and oil catch tank. I redid my intercooler piping for very short direct piping. I made a custom intake with 6" velocity stake and huge low pressure drop air filter inside my bumper. I just need to finish off my ducting for everything. I am also thinking about ducting the air out to the bottom of the car for less drag and lift.

I also swapped out my coilover springs to 8KG front and 6KG rear.

before this I swapped to 99 spec brakes and project mu rotors

The car is almost done to where I want it. I have no plans of selling it. Even if the engine goes I will rebuild it.

Spalato

iTrader: (33)

I can only see two scenarios when I would get rid of my FD:

1. If it was the last thing I owned and needed to sell it to eat and survive

2. If I completely wrecked it beyond repair

HiWire

I was concerned about engine availability, but it looks like there will be enough parts to go around for a while. If things get tight, I hope that somebody steps up to manufacture parts for our community.

I'd like to do something about the headlights as well. New bulbs would probably be a big improvement, but I'd save up for something like the SakeBomb Xenons later on. I don't drive at night too often, but I might if I had better lights. Still not a fan of bugs in the country, though.

The other thing that's far down the list is an audio upgrade. I still have the stock cassette radio, which I'd like to replace with something like this:

DEX-P99RS - Reference-Quality CD Tuner with Digital DSP and USB Port with Digital Direct Signal Transmission | Pioneer of Canada - English

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

I just put in a 5k cage.

I'm committed LOL

I can't believe seattle passed on 1st down on the 2 yard line WTF?

Montego

iTrader: (1)

17 year owner here. My FD is not going anywhere.

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

LOL............so true!

However I never imagined owning the same car for 16 years either and have no plans for anything else at this time.

Maybe the new 7 (fingers, toes, eyes and legs crossed)

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

I'm seeing a lot of 5 and 10 year rotor symbols. I'm sure some 15 year symbols will be posting here soon. I also think Gordon and I as well as Montego could use an update

TomU

iTrader: (11)

Think the "new 7" might be the STI BRZ, if they ever make the STI that is

Neo

iTrader: (4)

Keep in mind there was the big reload of the site due to hackers. Some of us say 10 where we're actually closer to 20.

Yep, owned her since I was 19. She's 21yrs in May. The only car I ever wanted.
She's very much a street car, but she's been massaged a bit. Recently got in the group buy for the sakebomb HID kit. Now I'm looking into the recaro seat group buy.

She's not going anywhere anytime soon.

SA3R

I've owned mine since the middle of 2010. It is not for sale and never will be.

I don't plan on having kids as I've heard that they tend to disrupt long term plans like owning a sports car, and honestly I think I can get a lot more enjoyment out of the car through my lifetime than I will with kids. So my wife and I aren't having any.

My somewhat derpy brother-in-law asked me once "Soooo brooooo, what you gonna swap that Mazda for next?? I have a real cleeaan Camry here thats just out of registration... I'll do swapsies for your Mazda thing... its not normal to keep a car more than 3 months man... I'd love to do a V6 conversion in it and go drifting...."

I kind of looked at him, decided that a 20 year old who lives in a basement on welfare and eats a microwaved 12-pack of sausages in one sitting really would not be the best person to discuss the refinement of an FD, and I just walked away.

Short of the car being horrifically damaged and written off, I don't see it going anywhere. If it were damaged beyong repair, I would strip it myself and crush the shell myself, and get another FD. But I'm hoping nobody ever writes the car off. I've been driving it a lot less lately because the prospect of a bad driver in an SUV writing it off, scares me a lot.

DriftDreamzSS

iTrader: (4)

Ive dumped countless dollars into my FD and Ive never felt its the keeper haha. I do however still have plans of someday owning a chaste white non sunroof car that will be "the one".

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

I don't have a budget either. But my wife does.