should i buy an rx7
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide
i myself love rotaries, especially the 7. if anything, i would love to have it as my first car, all my frens know this. but one thing my mate tells me is that, with the 7, be it fc or fd, they're probably too powerful for a new/inexperience user. especially if some young ones get too hyped up having a sports car and want to show off drifting/racing on public roads, the 7 would be a dangerous car for everyone.
however, i reckon that if you're 'smart' enuf to learn and know your limits and the limit of your car, and you can handle it with some support from your parents, you should go ahead. it could be a valuable learning experience. but, know the car you want first before you buy it, and always have a back up plan if things to go sour, eg when you buy the car and find that it's too much trouble to be worth your time/effort, can you still sell it off quick? just my opinion
however, i reckon that if you're 'smart' enuf to learn and know your limits and the limit of your car, and you can handle it with some support from your parents, you should go ahead. it could be a valuable learning experience. but, know the car you want first before you buy it, and always have a back up plan if things to go sour, eg when you buy the car and find that it's too much trouble to be worth your time/effort, can you still sell it off quick? just my opinion
Rotary for life!
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,155
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere...
THe FD was and currently still is, my first car. And I must say, it has tought me about life, sacrifices etc... I have been through a lot with my FD (love hate relationship 
) funds is very important, but my FD has made me a better person in relation to responsibility and seeing reality. The FD is not just a car... its an experience... a pleasure. If you do get a FD, please don't be a tipical young driver and drive very stupid....
) funds is very important, but my FD has made me a better person in relation to responsibility and seeing reality. The FD is not just a car... its an experience... a pleasure. If you do get a FD, please don't be a tipical young driver and drive very stupid....
Full Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, california
imo, get the 2nd gen first. if its your first car, its gonna be hell lol. i'm only guessing but your prob still gaining confidence while driving. start off small and go up. same rule as with a motorcycle
I wish I had picked up an FB as my first car 
An FB or FC would be a much better choice for a first car. You're GOING to make mistakes learning how to drive, everyone does. The good thing about having a cheaper car is that those mistakes will be MUCH less costly in the end.
An FB or FC would be a much better choice for a first car. You're GOING to make mistakes learning how to drive, everyone does. The good thing about having a cheaper car is that those mistakes will be MUCH less costly in the end.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Tbilisi
If you're asking should i buy it or not, that means you shouldnt. S2000 will be a good choice. It's not slow, has fun handling and difference in reliability compared to FD is like heaven and hell.
FD is not a car to buy for any reason but one: you realy realy want this car bad. otherwhise, chosing FD from a list of possible purchases is not a right thing to do.
FD is not a car to buy for any reason but one: you realy realy want this car bad. otherwhise, chosing FD from a list of possible purchases is not a right thing to do.
Drive to Live
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: texas
i would not recommend you buying it just yet, it would be best for you to wait when you have a job, more wisdom, and more experience driving a vehicle like the FD.
if you have inexperience with fast cars this one may show you some harsh realities if you are not careful.
recently came out on newspaper that this guy saved up for YEARS to get a dodge viper...first day of ownership he totaled it due to inexperience. im not saying this WILL happen to you, but thats just an example as to what MAY happen if you are not responsible.
get an FC for now, its cheaper to fix up, less powerful but still pretty quick, and its a great car to start with. hell, you can learn about the rotary with it as well and it'll prep you for maintaining the FD. once you are good and ready then the FD will be for you
if you have inexperience with fast cars this one may show you some harsh realities if you are not careful.
recently came out on newspaper that this guy saved up for YEARS to get a dodge viper...first day of ownership he totaled it due to inexperience. im not saying this WILL happen to you, but thats just an example as to what MAY happen if you are not responsible.
get an FC for now, its cheaper to fix up, less powerful but still pretty quick, and its a great car to start with. hell, you can learn about the rotary with it as well and it'll prep you for maintaining the FD. once you are good and ready then the FD will be for you
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: toronto
thanks for all the replies guys and i think im gonna buy a 2000 honda s2000 and get used to driving it then buy a 7 there are to reasons for this insurence is cheaper and its slower which my parents really prefer
i was also thinking to get a mustang and my mom thought i was crazy dont no y lol
i was also thinking to get a mustang and my mom thought i was crazy dont no y lol
From experience...
My first car was a Mustang. It was my dream car for as long as I could remember. It was cheap, disposable and couldn't handle to save its ***. That car taught me to respect the road and driving in general. Get too jerky on the wheel, and the back end comes around. Goose the pedal and the back end comes around. Not paying attention in snow or ice, and the back end comes around.
I'd say the s2000 would be the safer car, but a Mustang would definately be a lesson learned.
My first car was a Mustang. It was my dream car for as long as I could remember. It was cheap, disposable and couldn't handle to save its ***. That car taught me to respect the road and driving in general. Get too jerky on the wheel, and the back end comes around. Goose the pedal and the back end comes around. Not paying attention in snow or ice, and the back end comes around.
I'd say the s2000 would be the safer car, but a Mustang would definately be a lesson learned.
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Keep in mind that everything everyone said about the FD applies to the AP1 as well. The S2000 is NOT an easy car to drive at its limits and still has way more power than you need in turns. Any newer performance oriented car needs to be respected regardless of make or model, RWD more so than FWD or AWD.
As mentioned above, older sport compacts or older rotaries would be easier and more fun to toss around for someone learning how to drive. I love my FD to death but I would not hesitate for a second to tell someone that pushing a slower car to its limits (which might still be painstakingly slow) is more fun than driving a fast car moderately fast. I tooled around so much in my '94 Civic, moved up to a '88 NA FC, upgraded to a Caterham, then upgraded to a '98 ITR and it was a blast.
Two conflicting schools of thought are you take baby steps and progress to faster cars as you become a better driver, or you get the best car you can afford and hope you skill catches up with the car one day. Seems like you're after the latter so be patient. I'm still not used to my FD enough to get anywhere close to its limits. Have fun.
As mentioned above, older sport compacts or older rotaries would be easier and more fun to toss around for someone learning how to drive. I love my FD to death but I would not hesitate for a second to tell someone that pushing a slower car to its limits (which might still be painstakingly slow) is more fun than driving a fast car moderately fast. I tooled around so much in my '94 Civic, moved up to a '88 NA FC, upgraded to a Caterham, then upgraded to a '98 ITR and it was a blast.
Two conflicting schools of thought are you take baby steps and progress to faster cars as you become a better driver, or you get the best car you can afford and hope you skill catches up with the car one day. Seems like you're after the latter so be patient. I'm still not used to my FD enough to get anywhere close to its limits. Have fun.
THe FD was and currently still is, my first car. And I must say, it has tought me about life, sacrifices etc... I have been through a lot with my FD (love hate relationship ) funds is very important, but my FD has made me a better person in relation to responsibility and seeing reality. The FD is not just a car... its an experience... a pleasure. If you do get a FD, please don't be a tipical young driver and drive very stupid....
) funds is very important, but my FD has made me a better person in relation to responsibility and seeing reality. The FD is not just a car... its an experience... a pleasure. If you do get a FD, please don't be a tipical young driver and drive very stupid....
good choice with the S2000, u wont regret it. Save the FD for when u have more money and experience. In the meantime, enjoy good gas mileage, amazing reliability, incredible handling, peppy power, and good looks (of course not as sexy as an FD but...haha
)
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,678
Likes: 97
From: Bay Area, CA
Keep in mind that everything everyone said about the FD applies to the AP1 as well. The S2000 is NOT an easy car to drive at its limits and still has way more power than you need in turns. Any newer performance oriented car needs to be respected regardless of make or model, RWD more so than FWD or AWD.
An S2000 would be a terrible first car, particularly the early ones because they were just too balanced for the average driver - let alone a beginner. The phrase 'unintended rotation at the point of disappearing talent' was invented for the S2000.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 0
From: Houston, texas, Tomball Texas x
Your parents are 200% right! I bought my 93 FD last year ,I'm 44 years old and this car is a money pit 
My son was hoping to get it for his first car back in may (he turned 16) but I felt that giving him this car was like handing a gun to him.I got him a 92 celica GT his very happy with the car and so is the old man.
My son was hoping to get it for his first car back in may (he turned 16) but I felt that giving him this car was like handing a gun to him.I got him a 92 celica GT his very happy with the car and so is the old man.
Ahh 17 years old.
If it were me, I'd buy 2 cars. I'd spend $3-4k on a daily-grind beater/transportation appliance with 4 doors. That gives you dependable wheels to get you around, to from school/work, with decent reliability and gas mileage.
Then, I'd take $1-2k and buy a nice set of tools.
After that, I'd sit and wait, and wait, all the while earning more money, researching your choice, learning what goes wrong, what to look-out-for, until the perfect RX-7 came along. One that was well kept but with a blown engine, or maybe needs a clutch, in the $6-8k range and I'd buy that and turn it into whatever I wanted...either reliable daily driver (and sell the beater) or fun weekend machine with some modifications.
That way you'll know the car inside and out and she'll be your baby...you won't take it out and wrap it around a tree the first day you get it running. You won't be scared of maintenance costs because you'll be able to do your own work. And when birthdays or gift giving holidays roll around, you'll always know what to ask for too.
Generally, cars are the opposite of investments, so whatever money you spend it's pretty likely that you won't get it back...buying something cheap and broken and fixing it yourself is one way to minimize that. You may even be able to make money if you're savvy enough.
If it were me, I'd buy 2 cars. I'd spend $3-4k on a daily-grind beater/transportation appliance with 4 doors. That gives you dependable wheels to get you around, to from school/work, with decent reliability and gas mileage.
Then, I'd take $1-2k and buy a nice set of tools.
After that, I'd sit and wait, and wait, all the while earning more money, researching your choice, learning what goes wrong, what to look-out-for, until the perfect RX-7 came along. One that was well kept but with a blown engine, or maybe needs a clutch, in the $6-8k range and I'd buy that and turn it into whatever I wanted...either reliable daily driver (and sell the beater) or fun weekend machine with some modifications.
That way you'll know the car inside and out and she'll be your baby...you won't take it out and wrap it around a tree the first day you get it running. You won't be scared of maintenance costs because you'll be able to do your own work. And when birthdays or gift giving holidays roll around, you'll always know what to ask for too.
Generally, cars are the opposite of investments, so whatever money you spend it's pretty likely that you won't get it back...buying something cheap and broken and fixing it yourself is one way to minimize that. You may even be able to make money if you're savvy enough.
Last edited by Trionic; Dec 18, 2007 at 09:51 PM.
you do not want to own an FD as your first car, your first turbo car, your first RWD car, your first rotary, and your first turbo rotary all at the same time...
bad things will happen.
bad things will happen.
Newbie
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: minnesota
I think the best first car should be front wheel drive, be very underpowered, and should understeer like a pig. Learning how to react to different driving situations is far more important initially than the ability to handle a car at its limits.
An S2000 would be a terrible first car, particularly the early ones because they were just too balanced for the average driver - let alone a beginner. The phrase 'unintended rotation at the point of disappearing talent' was invented for the S2000.
An S2000 would be a terrible first car, particularly the early ones because they were just too balanced for the average driver - let alone a beginner. The phrase 'unintended rotation at the point of disappearing talent' was invented for the S2000.
