ok, please take a look at this thread!! FD's are great cars if you know how to handle them and their limitations. if you dont then here:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...96#post3902596

-Roman

 

I would suggest going with a 2nd generation Turbo II. Much much cheaper to maintain, more reasonable power levels, cheaper insurance, and cheaper overall. Great fun for twisty roads, good straight line acceleration (especially for a 17 year old driver) and a damn good autocross/track car. I bought a TII as my first car and have not had to sink much cash into it. Nor have I had any close calls while driving it. and my insurance is only $500/year. Reconsider which RX-7 is right for you.

 

Im 17 as well. I bought a '91 turbo II for my first car. I loved it, and decided 4 months ago to step up to an FD. I bought one knowing it had a motor on its way out. But I picked it up for pretty cheap, and the body and everything else is in prestine condition. Im currently mid way through replacing the engine. It hasnt been as tough as I thought it would be. So if your mechanically able, i would suggest something like that. It will be cheaper in the long run, and you will be able to build it to the specs of your liking, and you will know it was done right.

About its level of performance...Trust me, if you havent had experience with lightweight, high HP, RWD cars, this one will take you on a one way ride to being carless very quickly. I have grown up the local track racing with my dad. He has a chevy c-5 zo6, and it was one of the first cars I learned to drive. This proved to be very very very helpful with controlling this car. Plus I have taken many driving courses. (I would highly suggest something of this sort, and theyre fun!)

The FD is an amazing car. Its beautiful. Its fast. It handles, It brakes....The list goes on and on. It you choose to join the club, just make sure your properly prepared, or it will be a big mistake!!

 

it's really great that you are trying to find advice about whether or not your car is worth it...but really, do you think if someone told you, "don't get it. it's not worth it" that you would listen? haha probably not...usually if you have your heart set on something, you're going to just keep justifying yourself and rationalizing until you do what you want. i know the feeling, it's so hard because rx7s are getting pretty old now..and they keep getting harder and harder to find for decent prices..so it's almost like you can't wait to jump at every opportunity you get.

so i think the question doesn't really lie in if other people think it's worth it [of course we'd all say yes!], but if you think it's worth it...to spend your money and your time working on the car and whatnot.

despite all that..i'd say it's definitely worth it! to be able to drive one of japan's most beautiful and top sports cars will compensate for an empty wallet =)

 

Check your insurance rate, especially in NJ. If your getting a loan thru a bank i bet your monthly vehicle payment with insurance will be around $600-700 month then expect some months you'll have to pay shop fees. Good Luck. I'm glad i payed mine off, i had a bad two years of sh**t breaking.

 

That depends, do you like to have money to do things with your girlfriend? (Do you HAVE a girlfriend, and if not have you considered why? Hint: most chicks dig a well-dressed sociable guy, not one who expect the car to bring in the girlies) Do you have money to go out and have fun without being the cheap bastard? Do you buy good food? Do you want to have decent place to live, or a comfortable daily car, or money to pay for vacations, engagement rings, computers, sports, clothes?

Sure, you can give into your impulsive side and trade off some of these things for the car. I did. But it's entirely crazy to trade off all of them. Anyone who does wouldn't be smart enough to ask the whole question to begin with. There is nothing wrong with that, but I think the OP seems more inward than that.

 

if only the parents knew they were getting themselves into... I hope you have enough to pay for your own insurance at least after you are done with basic maintenence fees for a FD...

 

I have owned my FD for 16 months, and i am 20 years old. I know exactly what you are going through, and beleive me at your age you probably can't sleep well at night from all the excitement! The FD was my first car, I also learned how to drive manual on this car. I never looked at the negative sides of the FD when I was buying, and I'm glad I did not.

It all depends on how much money you have? I saved 3 years for the car and paid cash, and I worked hard for the money and before I knew it I went from a lot of money in the account to very little. Remember i have been fortunate because I have had no problems with the car, and nothing has broke. But once you start upgrading the $$$ leave very quickly! I am now saving so that I can do more mods, but it all takes time.

I know you are in love with the FD, I don't blaim you. It is one of the best cars ever produced! But remember don't rush into buying one, especially if have to take it on payments. Make sure that it is in great shape, and that it runs strong.

Payments, insurance, gas, repairs/maintenance will be tough, even if you pay cash for the car the others add up quickly.

In conclusion: I got a feeling you will get the car, but read everyones posts and re read some if neccesary. This car is expensive in everyway you look at it, you will get frustrated at times, you could be broke some months, some days you will just want to give up and cry. But you will have one of the most unique cars ever made, a rotary monster that will turn heads, and drive like nothing else!

 

hahaha. i AM a girl. megumi is a girl's japanese name =). unless the "you" is not directed toward me =)

 

...Just maybe you'll be OK with it.
1. I bought my '93 RX-7 two years ago when I was 59. That's right, FIFTY NINE YEARS OLD and therefore fairly mature in my driving.(I'm a retired teacher and loved the 3rd gen RX-7 ever since my doctor friend bought it new)
2. I paid $18,000. for it W/ 12,000 ORIGINAL miles on it and STILL have spent $3,000. on NECESSARY replacements like all the vacum hoses, a Fluidyne radiator, boost guage, etc. Not to mention another $3,000. on new wheels & tires, etc.
3. I've raced SCCA SOLO II (autocross) before I bought it and have some car handling experience. It is a great handler but can't defy the laws of physics.
4. BEFORE I BOUGHT IT I read everything on the car's weaknesses and maintenancethat was on the internet or in books. I went in EYES WIDE OPEN.
5. I still love it (make that "obsess over it") but I worry it may bight me in the *** with a "GOTCHYA" problem like needing a new tranny, engine, etc.
6. It IS an EXOTIC CAR (as in Porsche, Jaguar, etc.) for a little money up front and a lot of $$ of upkeep.
7. TRUE RX-7 owners admit it is a fine kind of madness but we truly love the car.
(As much will likely never be said about the RX-8) YA GOTTA LOVE IT even when it breaks your heart and wallet.

Get a Miata, soup it up W/ a supercharger, etc. go to college and when the NEW RX-7 comes out you'll be ready to buy a supercar.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/3rd-gen-safe-car-383844/

Take a look at that

-Alex

 

NOPE NOT WORTH IT. give up while you can. it will only hurt you more than will you benefit from it. and that's fact

just wait till you graduate from college w/ a usable degree or from an entrepreneurship that you could start.

i see a lot of college kids trying to get rid of their FD's. it's very hard to focus on both car and education. you may be jack of all trades, but master of none.

 

Well i plan to buy it for cash, i have enough saved and the guy is sure to lower it for straight up up front cash. As for engagement ring that dgeesaman mentioned, nope, i don't plan on getting one anytime soon because A: i'm only 17 lol, and B: the only thing i'll be able to afford after the FD is one of those $0.50 machine rings that are shiny and full of plasticy goodness. Well as i said before, i'm going to look at it with a few people, including my father and we'll take a look at it from front to back, bottom to top (you get the idea). Also i'm not sure of the insurance cost because i haven't checked yet. I thought to myself that it shouldn't be THAT high considering the year and mileage of the car. If it is, i'll have to think up of something to do. Till then, i'll be obsessing about the beast and getting countless nightless sleep (hence why i'm posting here at 4:18 AM lol) If it goes down the drain, i'll look for something else myself, maybe a 3000gt in good condition and mod it.

Well thanks for all of your advice, tips, help!

 

Check the insurance cost first. Your age is going to have the biggest influence on the cost for a long time.

 

think about it. if u do decide to get it be easy with her i had mine for a year and it sat for the second year it ain't cheap in the last 2 mos ive spent over 7k on her not including the price paid for it. good luck there's nothing else like the feeling of the fd

 

Some guys get married at 18, some find that woman and want to marry her within a year. Just one thing.

You NEED to check the insurance. The guy I bought from was tired of paying crazy insurance rates - he said most of the very short list of NJ insurers won't even cover it, and he was over 30. You're in Jersey - you need to call your provider FIRST. Just take a VIN and get a quote.

Dave

 

dont get the car. you dont know **** about it and it would just be a waste of a perfectly good fd.