Kanan

Hello all, being new to the whole car owning/driving deal I was looking to get my first car... to be a '93 RX-7... Now with the winter coming up and snow being a possibility out in the tri-state area... I wanted to get some feedback from the RX7 pros... so if you could take the time to answer >.> would be really helpful... Even though I think I 'm gonna end up getting this car anyway I'm ->

1. Am I being stupid for wanting this car as my first car?

2. Will I have problems driving it in the snow/moderate to heavy rain (RWD issue normally but its gotta be doable)

3. Should I leave the forums and never return and take that as an answer :O?

4. This would be a car to take me from work to school and back to home and friday night dates... Is it practical for this?

5. Should I get another car, wait and get one of these? (been brought up but I want my damn RX7 already, ain't no other car work for me!)

thanks again :X

Snook

iTrader: (12)

This isn't a regular car it's a hobby.

go for a normal car and save yourself a lot of stress

mrcyclist

you have no idea concerning the dedication and fortitude necessary to own a FD! This is not daily driver, it will let you down if not maintained and most mechanical are clueless about these cars. My advice is to get something reliable first, then get a FD for fun.

Kanan

Well luckily I have a few connections with mechanics who deal with strictly RX7s, and I most definatley plan to keep it on constant survaillence maintenance wise, but yea ><; still in a rut about the car.

live2drive15

iTrader: (4)

Honestly I'm 20, got the FD when I was 18 and can say as a Daily driver you will probably go insane. Your love for the car will more than likely superceed your annoyances with the car that you WILL run in too. Eventually it will wear you down. But is it worth the headache? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Even if you get one that is in mint condition, you'll still have problems and could have bought something newer and more reliable and probably just as fast for the same amount of money. But if you love rx7's as much as most people who own one are, you'll go broke to be happy. Just like me. Now my car sits, unable to pass smog with more problems then I could even hope to afford to fix right now. She is awaiting my graduation and beginning into the real world of work and getting paid.

My advice put simple: If you are rich get what you want, if you are not wait until you can afford not only the car but have money to fix it when the time comes. Cuz it will. God have mercy on your parents pocketbook too.

MontegoRx

If you have an FD as a DD, and you end up needing to take it to one of your mechanic buddies specializing in Rx7s....

What do you drive to school and work in the meantime?

My advice would also be to get something more reliable and easier to maintain/learn than a the sequential headache knows as the FD. They're fun cars, but unless you know a TON about them, I wouldn't suggest it as a daily driver.

Kanan

I guess the headache about wanting to own one is one of many to come while owning one >_<;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; I wanted an RX8 but I don't have the 20k+ to spit out for a used one, let alone a brand new one, unless I get a car loan... Which the RX7 was going to be paid in full on the spot.

One new question: What kind of problems WILL I run into, if defy all practical logic and get one anyway.

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

At some point, you WILL replace the engine. Its going to happen. Whether it happens quick or later, who knows but it will happen.

IMO, a better car for you would be an E36 M3. Its fast, very reliable, good aftermarket support, and you can slap snow tires on it for the winter months. Honestly, many years ago when I bought my RX-7, the E36 M3's were a lot more money than the RX-7. Had they been around the same price, I would have bought one (and probably had a lot more money in my bank account ).

MontegoRx

Why are you wanting an Rx7 for a first car when you really want an Rx8... and if you can pay for an Rx7 on the spot?!? Put the Rx7 money down on the Rx8, take a 5 yr loan, and have a parent cosign. You'll owe about 200 per month, save on insurance, get a better rate, have a warranty...........

sereneseven

If 20K+ is to much for you than you really shouldn't go for a 3rd gen, sure you can find them for 10K, assuming you have this much and you buy it outright....what are you going to do when the motor pops? or the gearbox gets so bad you can't stand it???and all of the bushings are junk. Mazda has managed to pass porsche in theyre pricing for replacement parts I.E. if the motor mounts are junk(which they will be) yours looking @ $500 if you try to DD a third gen your going to end up having to dump at least +20K into it if you want it to be worth a crap, be it up front or on the backside. I understand the attraction to the car just be prepared before you jump in or you will soon find yourself taking the bus alot.

IRPerformance

iTrader: (41)

Definately not a first car. A turbo rwd car is a very poor choice in the snow. I wrecked my first one when I hit some ice and spun off the highway at 50+. These cars are old and parts are stupid expensive. Be prepared to spend several grand in maintenance a year as well as keep 3-5k on hand in case you need a rebuild.

jmadams74

You guys have pretty much said it all, but let me reiterate that an RX-7 and an RX-8 are not really substitutes. Both are wonderful cars (I have both) but built and intended for quite different occassions. Financially, you will end up ahead (waaay ahead) if you buy a new or good used RX-8 (although the engine recall is worrisome!). Later on, if you succumb to the realization that the RX-7 is one of the most unique and wonderful cars ever built (no matter how much it costs to keep it on the road). . .then go for it then! Good luck

bajaman

There are costs you haven't even considered. Unless you or your parents are wealthy, do NOT buy the RX-7. It WILL end up sitting broken down in your drive or back yard, that is a guarantee. Look....we can't always have the things we want, especially cars. When I was your age, ONLY an E-type Jaguar would have "worked" for me, but I never got it....and I am damned glad, as there is no way I could have afforded it, and quite frankly I didn't have the maturity to own one.
I won't even go into the ridiculousness of what an FD is like on anything but DRY pavement.
And if you are not experienced with high performance, turbocharged cars then I can GUARANTEE you that you WILL wreck the car. These cars will break their back tires loose with the slightest provocation in anything but dry conditions. Snow and ice? Fuggedabouttit! You will be sideways more than frontways and be a danger to you and others. These cars STAY IN THE GARAGE in inclement weather. There are countless threads along the lines of "Wrecked the FD last night, hit a slick spot...." and poof! One less FD on the road.
Do NOT buy an FD as your first car, you will regret it for all of your (likely to be SHORT) life!

Kanan

You guys who claim to have xyz problems that will burn a hole in my pocket... Are these modded cars, or as stock as they come cars? I can see why a stock car would produce so many problems aside from age but replacing aged parts is standard.... idk I've heard good and bad things and I feel like I'm still on the fence lol, thanks for all the input though, it is definatley opening my eyes.

sereneseven

^ yes replacing aged parts is normal......whats not normal is that on a 3rd gen with over 80,000 on it, will require you to replace alot of parts and the parts are a lot more than most cars....and if you don't have at least enough sitting around to do a motor ($3000-$8000) after the purchase you probably won't injoy it for long .

Kanan

Ahh, that makes a lil bit more sense to me lol, I mean everything else makes sense but I was just wondering about difference between your modded cars and stock cars cuz a friend of mine breaks his axels when he takes the thing out to drag (modded) :x. And I didn't plan to mod this car till wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy later.

The car itself is supposed to be a gift since my bday/xmas coming up.. I have an alt car (parents minivan) for the really bad weather (they don't usually go out past 6pm when I'm heading to work) and I've been saving up myself for my own car (prolly a, but wouldn't mind using it on the RX7 should the repairs be needed so quick after I got one...

I know I'm being hard headed and the day after I post I bought the car you'll see R.I.P XD but I definatley have my eyes wide open about this car, and while I'm still looking to get an RX7 I'm also looking around at other options. thanks again for the advice and warnings ;o

rynberg

I'm closing this thread, because we have several dozen of them accessible using the SEARCH function and because youth almost never listens to the wisdom of older and more experienced owners.

I'll give it one more try though.....do NOT buy this car in your circumstances.

Kanan

I'm listening to all the facts you guys are giving me, but then I have some people I've spoken to in real life contradicting what you guys have said... So the thread in all showed me about the dangers, they crossed the same path of "DON'T DRIVE IT IN SNOW!" but the guy said "they are pretty much trouble free" so while you can't see the other information I'm being fed I hope you can understand where I'm still on and off about it.

I'll say again: To the wise and powerful, I appreciate all your advice and warnings and I will definatley take them into consideration before I drop any wad of cash on a car, so you can all sleep at night you've kept a newb away from your cars for a certain period of time.

To the Mod: Sorry I didn't use the search function, but the phpbb forums search function blows so I don't bother using it often on other forums, so I apologize.