SNE2040

I'm 17 and i found a decent priced one. ~65k miles '94 FD. The car is completely stock. I was wondering if it is even worth getting for me? I'll be spending all my saved money and would like to know if i'm going to be stuck with an undrivable car after a short time. I'm new to Rotary but i know that i have to keep a close eye on the oil level and consistently change it, and other things such as tires. Besides that, will i have to do anything big to it, such as rebuild the engine? I don't want to be broke and carless, so i'd like to know in advance if there is anything that i should be looking out for.

Also yeah, i expect flames, threats, etc for not fully using search for this (i've read the daily driver threads and imho, if i can't use it daily, what's the point of having the car)

Thanks in advance!

ROTORhead93

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/faq-3rd-gen-other-useful-links-68640/

Read that

ALL of it

It will tell you everything you need to know before buying one.

And if you do get one, as long as you maintain it properly and dont push it all the time the car will be ok. Of course there are always things that will go wrong as with any car, just be on the look out for any possible problems and get them fixed as soon as you can, and the car will be fine.

Anyways, good luck with it and treat it right, otherwise you wont be too happy.

Good luck.

apex_sideway

You'll never know until you get one If you like to have money to do stuff with and you hate being broke then don't get one. If you like having a car that's fun as hell to drive and puts a smile on your face everytime you see it then go for it.

ijneb

If you are spending your saved money to get this car, don't do it.
If you dont want to be broke, dont do it.
If you dont want to be carless for weeks to months at a time, don't do it.
If you cant justify spending $3K on a rebuild because the guy at the gas station put the 87 in the 93 tank, don't do it.
If you have no experiance driving RWD/high HP cars, don't do it.
If you think your bigest concern is keeping an eye on the oil and tires, don't do it.
If you answer was no to any of these questions, don't do it.

SNE2040

Well i'm going to go see the car sometime this upcoming week with my father and my friend so we'll see if it has any problems and what needs to be done to it. If it's in good condition, i might get it then (and smoke my friend's modified Eclipse GSX =] )

crazyrx7

^^^^^Here we go again. Looks like there will be another rx-7 parting out right away. Don't underestimate the power of this car kid. You will quickly loose your back end if you're not careful. Don't ever race on wet/damp roads because thats a recipe for disaster.

R.K.

`sl!mXP

I could not agree more, your 17 and really you have no idea what your in for. I'm 18 bought 7 just a month or two ago, I consider myself a pretty decent driver - I work at a porsche dealership and deliver cars all day but the rx7 is out of my league. The one I got is streetported and done up with a brand new rebuild though, so I would compare it to a 996TT in terms of power but it loses traction much easier (less weight on the rear and less weight in total - smaller breaks too)

Believe me, you may think you are ready but your not. I already lost control of the car once and bent a rim - im lucky it wasnt worse. Also if your 17 I would suggest buying one with a recent rebuild if your going to be broke afterwords.

If your anything like I am, these words wont mean anything to you because your already too in love with everything about the car, which is alright, but just know what your in for. This is a car that is above your skill level, I dont care what you say about your driving, I'm about your age and work at a porsche dealership and it was more then I could handle.

My advice, be careful, please, just keep a level head and common sense.

evil7

Dibs On The Tranny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sicass7

Hey I Have A Good Story. Last Night I Was Hangining With My Friend And He Has A Modified And Tuned 04 Wrx. So We Are Going Over The Coronado Bridge Out Here In San Diego, And This Kid In A 99' 2.5 Rs, Tries To Catch Up. Well We Are Going Around A Designated 40 Mph Turn At About 60, And This Kid, Trying To Catch Up, Floors It, Thinking His Awd Subee Was Going To Pull Him Through It.
Well Needless To Say He Spins Out Right In The Middle Of The Bridge. And This Was At 6:30 Pm So Traffic Was Pretty Dense.
And By The Way, This Spot On The Bridge Was The Spot Where About 7 Or 8 Months Ago, A Guy In A Dodge Ram Crashed Into The Guard Rail And Fell 100 Feet To His Death. So As Much As You Say You Wont Go Fast You Will. And When You Do I Want Your Tranny! Later

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Your savings will be gone and you'll be stuck. I'll bet my new tires that you're absolutely stuck within a year, and if you manage to get by, for the next 5 years every job and dollar is tied to it.

You'll be looking out for about 100 things on this car. Oil level is no on that list.

Well, for one, you're in Jersey, so any snow or slush and you won't get there. And since you're young and dumb, probably try anyway and end up in a ditch.

Get a daily driver car, learn to work on it - change oil, coolant, brakes, belts, etc. Keep saving money and building experience. Then buy the FD. You'll have a much better time.

Dave

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

That wasn't a very good story.

Interesting point though - pickups and SUVs will win in any accident with a car, but against concrete and railings the flip over and kill everyone inside. Especially with any lift over stock. A car would have stayed on the bridge.

Dave

WolfpackFD3S

I have only owned a FD for about 4 months. My biggest recommendation is too find one with a good rebuild. Actually find out who did it and see if they do good work. Mine had a subpar rebuild and I found out later it had low compression (that was my fault though, should have had a compression test done before checking the car out). It doesn't matter though, I still would have bought the car since I love it. If you will be broke after buying the car I don't really suggest getting it. 93 octane is expensive, parts are expensive, and finding a good rotary mechanic is hard to find too. I have replaced a lot of the aging parts on my car with new OEM parts. These are relatively cheap seperately but after a lot it builds up. Was going to rebuild engine due to low compression, but eshaft bolt wouldn't come off (snapped the breaker bar trying to get it off). So now I have to get a new engine. I have the extra money to spend so I am ok with it cause I love the car. By the way I am about to turn 20, this car is a beast, it can be scary. Good thing I am used to scary, drive a 2004 Suzuki GSX-600R as well . Hope that helps you to see a little what is involved with these cars (not saying you will have to replace/rebuild engine just saying it could happen). Good luck.

-Rob

Wargasm

SNE2040, this is a story that plays out several times per year here... young person finds a great FD and spends a lot of money on it... then the engine blows or worse - a wreck happens.

No more car, no more money. Oh, and they're probably still making payments. Before you say, "oh I have CASH!!!"... if you have 10-15k cash sitting around, do you realize how much smarter it would be to invest that money?

My first car that I ever owned was 6k and I didn't get it until I was about 21. You're young... buy a cheaper car!

RX7 RAGE

iTrader: (22)

Don't get this car. Get something more reliable and in the future, when you can afford it I'd reconsider again.

`sl!mXP

its the stuff no one wants to hear - but its good advice :\

I think the picture that is being painted is a little askew, that the rx7 is something that if you drive you will kill yourself instantly and lose your money just by sitting in it.

wait.... actually on second thought lol

DGblk93

The car was my high school obsession. I waited 12 years till I bought it because there were more important things to spend money on. I lived in the Philly area my whole life - you just cannot drive this car 12 months out of the year. It's not practical. Not that you really care about that. Make sure your dad can help front some money if the car takes a **** on you. BTW - how much are they asking?

cloead

The weekend.

SNE2040

Thanks for all of your suggestions and ideas (and dibs on the tranny -_- ) Like i said before, i might not even get it, depending on the condition of it. Also i won't like, i'll push her once in a while, epsecially if some obnoxious civic goes by me with a 2ft wing and 4" exhaust, but i won't push her during bad weather conditions.
They're asking for 12k OBO (i think the guy will give in for 10k upfront cash).

spike.spiegel

When I bought my fd, I stayed away from ones with ~60k on the original motor. I think that's about the average life for these motors, so you should expect to pay for a rebuild within 10k. If you're ok with that, then go for it. I would have a beater lying around though for when things go wrong.

About the being 17, this is a lot of car and you'll have be smart. I'm sure there are smart 17y/o's and dumb ones. Just take it easy in corners until you learn exactly how the car behaves. It might be a good idea to take it to auto-x a few times so you can learn more about the limits of the car.

Make sure to get it compression tested before you buy it so you don't end up having to rebuild right away. I think the biggest problem with using the car as a daily driver is paying for gas. Good luck

Rx-7Addict

iTrader: (2)

I would only buy that FD if you can afford the car and 1/2 of the cars price. So if the car is 16k, be able to afford 16k + 8k for repairs in the next 2 years or so

these are expensive cars to fix and maintain and modify..

papsmagu

iTrader: (19)

if that is the only time you are going to push the car, then you'll push it all day long. there are millions of hondas with 2 ft wings and 4" exhaust out there! this is why you have to have a level head and ingnore these guys. most kids who own hondas don't know what an FD is or what it can do. they will try you all day long, this tempation will lead to disaster.

nevertheless, if you get the car...good luck

Comptech

Agreed!

I have been without my car for 3 months now and more to come. They are fun to have when they drive thou.

SNE2040

You've got a point, man. In NJ, i see all these guys with honda's who like to intimidate people and act cool by revving their engine while their engine sounds like it is about to explode. I could care less about them, yes they're annoying, but i'm not buying the car for THAT reason. I love the way the FD look and perform, despite the reliability issue. I'm going to try and not push her hard until i get her mods that will increase her life and durability.

dgeesaman

iTrader: (7)

Do or do not, there is no try.

Dave

weetbix13

SNE2040... i've said that before too.
"i won't push her, except for a couple of little occasions"... these things are beasts and feel great to drive, fast.

you'll drive her hard, you won't be able to help it, i've been there.
make DAMN SURE you have $$ for repairs cause your pushing the engine shortens its life... my car (as i've said in many threads to people looking at getting in) i had for 6 days before it shat the engine, it's now been in my garage 12 months waiting on me buying parts slowly.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE IN FOR!