What would you rather buy?
 

Kinda interested in your opinions:

Say you had $16k to spend and you were in the market for a 3rd gen RX7. Would you rather buy one in good condition that doesn't need any work or would you rather buy a cheap one that needs work but still runs (for example blown turbos) and fix it up yourself?

For me I'd rather buy a cheap one and do all the work myself. What about you?

I'd buy one in decent shape with a blown motor and lots of miles. I'd strip it and start from the shell. Way I figure, no matter what FD you buy, they are all at least 9 years old.. Well, in the US anyway. :)

Kinda depends on how cheap and how poor of condition. Things add up quick, even the little stuff. Too many variables really, more of a case by case situation.

Also, it depends what your goals are for the car. Daily driver? or weekend monster? For me right now, I would say a project car, but when I bought my FD, definately a nice car that is ready to go.

Ok i guess i have to be a little clearer...but your right...lots of variables.

By project FD I mean something with typical problems of a 10 yr old car. Blown turbos, worn clutch, some dings/scratches on the paint.

I'd rather buy a cheap FD because then I'd be doing the fixing and I'd know the quality of the work done, the newness of the parts, and the confidence that goes with knowing how recent things were replaced.

For most people buying a fixer ends up being more expensive. A LOT more expensive.

Jeff

i would if i could but i dont have the funds for a project car. but with a modded car my main criterion was rebuilt motor/reliability mods.

i got mine for $16.5k its about halfway to what i want it to be already(a 450-500hp daily driver running on 93, 98 and higher boost on weekends) the previous owner got it for $10k and spent like $15k on it.

From my expirence, if you did the work yourself, the fixer-uper was cheaper.;)

That totally depends on what kind of skills you have, what kind of project car you bought and what you want it to end up looking like. Restoring an interior can end up costing as much or MORE $$ than a good paint job.

The great thing is I've got more experience than you and I can do it cheaper;). But then again I've got parts and parts cars, I've got motors, turbos, trannies, interior, exterior, etc. Parts just sitting around waiting for the right project car. Most people don't want to buy a wreck, sit on it for a year just to find another FD they can fix.

Yea I agree, when it comes to RX-7's you probably do have more expirence then me. You also probably have more spare parts then me too. What I ment is that if the car's body was not too good, I would be able to body work it and paint it for very cheap. I do all the body work myself. As for the interior, yea I can see that that would be more expensive to redo.

Buy the one in best shape you can find, IMO.

EX. 9K blown motor-turbos.
Fix yourself cost 5K for those parts, yet more trouble come up after intalling those parts, ie brake or sus. Also, time is valuable if you're working full time and have family.
16K and ready to go.
Polly another 2-3K for some smaller problems touch-ups if any. Also, time is for enjoying your new car. Plus, you can test drive it to see if it's in good condition.

POM HB

TurboJeff has some serious skills and most likely a very understanding wife.;)

Unless you've got the skills and the time buy one that is in good shape. Even so expect to spend, spend and spend.

i bought mine for $10,900 and don't regret it. it had lots of problems when i bought it and popped a motor within 2 months. i saw it coming, that's why i bought it so cheap. i figured since my list of mods i wanted to do were so extensive, i'd be replacing virtually everything that wasn't that great anyways.

sometimes i do wish i woulda found one with better interior condition because those parts aren't as easy to find. but the motor, drivetrain, and exterior are all parts i had big plans for anyways

If you got the money bye a mint one... If you don't got the money keep saving till you do... It will be well worth the wait....

Most people put tons of money into these cars and never get it back... Don't be one of these guys... Be the guy that spends $16,000 - $20,000 on a car that some one put $20,000 into plus whatever they paid for the car.........

No matter what you end up doing, you will have to put money into this car. So plan your budget accordingly

If you want to drop 16k on a FD and can afford it then why not.I'd rather buy a project FD and build it from scratch though and make it up to your likings.

rotaryrage: Great post!

I know some FD owners out there have some beautiful machines. Others have a little too much rice on them.

When I purchased my FD(for $12K), my plans were to make it a full track car, and today, they are still the same. She looks rough: mismatched spoiler, paint color doesn't match, scratches everywhere, broken plastic pieces everywhere, holes in the seats, clunk noise from susp. bushings, you name it, but mechanically speaking, everything is in good working order. My FD is currently a daily driver right now, because I cannot afford to ship 3 vehicles back to the states(mine, the wifey's, and another one?? No!) I have rounded up about $6,000 in 3 months, which means she'll get a stand alone (possibly Microtech LTX-8), and a strong rebuild engine (+porting maybe) for now. I am moving to the states soon, and it will be one of those garage projects (race track type, not rice trick guy) that I've always dreamed about. I wanted to do this with a DSM that I had, but life turned me around and gave me a full blown kick in the ass (totalled it). Wish me luck

an already nice FD, will end up costing you less in the long run, unless you know hot to do ALL the work yourself. You seem to be new to rotary, so i would suggest browsing the forums for a while before you make your decision.

If the comment was made for me I am not new to rotaries, but new to FD's.

Well i just sold my TII and im thinking about saving up around 5k and taking out a loan for 10 and buying one for about 15 hopefully with a rebuilt motor and a few mods. Then I'll go single most likely and buy like a jeep cherokee as a daily driver. Expensive hobbie but i already miss my boost.

Be prepared for the "money pit"..

ya issiac will be doing alot of work on it.

the first question you have to ask youself is, "do i know what im doing?"

cause anything else after that without an answer to that question will get you nowhere..

like lets say you want to buy a cheap fd and fix it all up yourself, do you know how to do it? would you trust your own work (if its at a beginner level) for a car that you're putting SO much money into rather than pay a little more and have a "trained, experienced tuner/tech" do it for you and prob have a warranty with it?

i, myself cannot build a car from scratch.. i wish i could but i cant.. i do, however, know how to do minor mechanic work here and there..so thats why when i bought my fd, i bought a pretty low mileage one (67k) with an already rebuilt motor with a warranty on it.. the interior is about an 8 out of 10 and the paint is pretty good for a 93. and the 5th gear is fine..

so its all about preference, experience and talent..

why buy an fd for cheap and do the work yourself when you total it all out when you're done and it comes out to more than if you would've bought one ready to go? and plus it would've saved you lots of time..

:D

Well I have gone the "buy one cheap ($5k) and fix her up route" although its in really good shape and runs great . Only interior prob is the seats but I have a set of new leather seat skins coming ($500) . I have already gotten my downpipe and midpipe and Im onto my Power FC , catback etc.

This is how she looked when I got her.
http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/421452315/8.jpg

The problem is that if you want to upgrade for performance and mod to your tastes, even if you buy a nice car for 16K you will spend thousands quickly. It is neverfuckingending. I still believe that is the way to go, especially if you are like me and depend on shops for the work.