i have a 1991 RX-7 and i feel it's about time to step up to the big dog. I want to know are they are as hard to maintain as everyone says. What are some problems you have expierenced? Is it worth me getting one?

 

at first it was just little things that were crapping out...like those little vacum hoses coming off and things like that....after that nothing else has gone majorly wrong...except that little detonation incident..oh well, c'set la vie....and hell yeah it's worth getting one.....

 

i have a guy that works on rx-7's and he was going to do a TII conversion on my second gen but then i started thinking he could prolly help me maintain a third gen.

 

As your mechanic goes, 3rd gens are a whole different ballgame from previous generations. Example....You have to have a good bit of either experience or time to diagnose the turbo control system. Unique cooling system problems, much greater density and expense of parts underhood....

If you, and the previous owners, have kept up with the scheduled maintenance items like oil changes, coolant changes, etc, and made sure it hasn't overheated, then you should have few problems. But then again, people have maintained their cars perfectly, and lost turbos or apex seals for no reason....

My suggestion is to get a warranty.



Forrest
http://www.***-internet.com/fd3systems

 

Its worth the little headaches, but nothing major has gone wrong with my car, owned it 8 plus years now, last 4 have been at 295 to 334 rwhp. Granted its my weekend toy and only has 70K on it, but when I do drive it, its driven hard redline 4th gear runs....fun.

Tim

 

Redline ANY gear is always fun

The FD is an incredible car to drive. Unfortunately, it was underengineered in one too many spots.
Thus, only allowing the hardcore guys to truly appreciate the FD. If you don't mind having a car on your hands that always nees some type of tweaking somewhere, then you'll be ok.

I think I speak for most people here when I say, that when I drive the FD, any negative thoughts about it go out the window

 

3rd generation RX7s are actually a form of mental illness. I think it falls somewhere between obsessive compulsive disorder, and paranoid schizophrenia. God i love it.

 

There's always something with the FD. Performance wise it is usually a boost issue so if you go single or non-seq. that eliminates a lot of problems already. The engine will probably go by coolant seals or a previous owner overheating the car or not modding in stages - reliability mods, fuel system, you name it and it needs replaced or upgraded (radiator, AST, bushings, vacuum lines) - the list goes on. Ripping paint off cars on the highway has always pleased me and I can say that it has been well worth that - but I'm soon ready to move on to something slower and more reliable.

 

something slower and more reliable.

WTF?
Why yourb logic is beyond me. For the slower and reliable reason just get a second car works wonders.

 

yes a second beater car or a daily driver works wonders. It'll get you better gas mileage and saves the RX7 it's "lifespan"

i think most FD3S owners have more than one car??

 

I am thinking about getting an FD. I would be using it as a daily driver, however occasional maintainence work would not be too much of a problem, I can go a few days or even a week or two without a car. Between me and my dad we can fix just about anything car related. I plan on changing the oil regularly and not making any performance mods that may shorten the life of the engine. Is an FD the car for me? (I plan on getting one with a new engine and turbos)

-Charlie

 

Classic.

 

well i have the funds to have the engine rebuilt and ported the second i put my hands on it so this would eliminate most problems it had am i correct?

 

Usually the engines die out due to overheating and blowing the coolant seals. You can easily protect against this with a few mods...temperature gauge, radiator, aluminum ast. I don't understand why more people don't get water temp gauges when the damn motor is so prone to dying from overheating? I don't know about anyone else, but if I saw my Greddy gauge tell me that my car is at 110 degrees Celsius and my fans aren't dropping the temperature, it's time to turn it off and get it towed. I just don't understand, it comes down to a lack of good judgement. Keep the car stock if you want it to last longer.

 

Very fun car I love it!! It's obvious by what keeps being said here that you either need a good mechanic or be mechanically inclined. Seems like there is always something to tinker with. I have always enjoyed learning and tinkering with my vehicles, so the FD is great for me. And yes, I bet most people here have another car besides the 7 . Tom

 

^

 

^bump

 

What's this 3K hesitation problem i keep reading about?

 

I bought my car w/ 48k miles on it and I have had it for a year now. I've done the routine maintance things, ast, fuel filter, oil every 2500, spark plugs. I have had no problems w/ my fd and I love it. Everyone says how they are a pain to maintain but they really aren't. Just needs a little more love than most cars.
The 3k hesitation you keep hearing about is when you get on the gas and at about 3k rpm you'll feel your car almost bog down then right after that it'll be fine. A power fc or a haltech will help solve the problem, but i heard that it really never goes away. Nick

 

I've had my car for 8 years now. Don't get one. Let me give you an analogy:

Imagine that the FD is Windows 95. What do you need with this virus-disguised as an operating system? A MCSE punk sitting next to you. The FD will stop running for no reason; you'll have to turn it off while you're going full tilt on the hiway and restart it. You can ask your MCSE (i.e. the mechanic) for help and he'll just walk you through a restart.

Seriously, it'd better not be your only car; you'd better be a good mechanic and got deep pockets for the preventive tune up every 40k (a reman engine ). BUT I WOULD STILL GET ANOTHER ONE.

 

I can't even imagine my car going dead while I'm driving it or going dead when I'm driving hard, so I can't speak for Pomanferrari's sitaution, but its not the norm. I'm actually sorry his car doesn't run properly since he'd be grinning ear to ear like me when I get in the car. As often as I hear some problems with the car, we all tend to exaggerate to some extent to make the point seem valid or more interesting. I hope you do get the car and see what I feel every time I drive it. Others might get the same joy out of a camaro, mustang, etc, but for me its the FD and its a lifetime committment (at this point in time) tha I plan on keeping.

Tim

 

omg i want one sooooooooo bad now.

 

That's it im selling the second gen and working my *** off ill have my bad mother ****** by november or december. I can't wait.

 

H.S. Dead on the money!!!!!!!

 

yep