Why do I put up with this POS?
 

I dont know....

Sometimes lately I have been really longing to have a new car. I have been pricing new and used S2000's and 350Z's. My friend will sell his 02 S2000 to me for 25K it has only 17K miles.

I think the 350Z would make a really nice daily driver for me. For a daily driver Its pretty fucking nice. I'm not going to be one of these 350Z morons that think it makes a great track car or should even try to compete with what the FD does best..but I can see driving and not hearing alot engine noise, road noise, bumps, etc. Also its brand new..etc. The near 40K price tag is hard to swallow for a fully loaded model though. A stripper is about 27K, its nicely equipped, but no LSD.

I get so frustrated with my car. I admit it really puts a smile on my face sometimes, but there is always something wrong. My car doesn't start when its hot. well...when the water temp is hot enough to turn the fans on it takes 2 times to start it. the car does not do the accelerated warm up when its hot. My powerlocks stop working, my dash vents (the ones toward the windshield) are cracked to hell. My rear suspension on both sides squeel like a pig in the slaugher house (despite replaceing shocks and 8 bushings), my passenger side wheel sounds like a bass drum when I try to stop the car. ihad my power FC installed 18 months ago and then my AC did not work in position 3. No big deal. When I got my new engine, it decided to only work in pos 1. Now position 1 stop working. Sounds like I have a rattle snake hidden in my dash and both my doors. Drives me nuts. Every time I remove a plastic piece from the interior the plastic clips break. My car has more silicon in it than your average Hollywood Diva. Lets discuss that. both my headlight covers are held on by silicon, both my damn speaker covers are, my center dash a/c vent is, the locking mechanism for the rear seat bin, the hinge that holds the cargo cover in place. My damn gas tank door broke and was glued with epoxy till I finaly got a used one. The handle to the door pocket is broke, the lower console has the shiftboot and all the buttons (defrost, blanks, security, etc) held down by silicon. There are alot more, I just cant think of them now.

I want to give up..and then I see my car and its like "WOW". I hate Mazda. Its like a drug. Who the hell would buy a product that breaks like this?

So I bought a new rear upper control arm for my car, the new plastic pieces for the dash and i'm going to get my door lock fixed in a few weeks and im gonna jury rig the AC so it works with out the ECU, but also stops the compressor when I hit boost.

Just shoot me, please.

TO be honest, the rx7 was really not meant as a daily driver. More of a weekend car... or every other weekend.

But we feel the pain man.

Installing PC-680 Battery = daily driver or else. :D

I like daily driving it, I'm just tired of stupid little things breaking and stuff. I mean..it never lets me down..it just breaks and makes noises.

ZB, live widdit!!
LOL!!

Hey, I'll tell you what tho. If you're thinking about selling your FD, there prolly isn't a better time than the present. Your FD should be worth more when it's running. If you wait till it can't run to sell it, then you might be SOL.
Yes, I am the king of pointing out the "Obvious".
:peace:

If I had money like you I would just replace every part that broke with a new one and then the car would be brand new. Think about how much this stuff that annoys you will cost to fix? It's like nothing your pfc costs more alone. Just fix it don't keep putting up with it and bitching

oh I have no plans to sell it. but I may get another car.

LOL Like I'm made of money.

None of the FD's I've owned have had any issues with trim / rattling / little things breaking. =)

Buy new plastic clips, stop rigging everything with silicone.

that is so Ideal.

The clip that holds the cargo net is $220.00, they dont sell it without the cover.

each of the headlight covers are $100 and need painted. If I get a used one, it will be brittle too.

the plastic clips that broke from the center console require a new console, another couple 100 bucks.

Any questions?

I guess the-7-does lose :(

\Oh wait never mind I missed the part that you said that you would never sell it.


So it is The -7- CAN'T Lose!!

no...the owner does.

You know you are not alone. I look at NSX's I think not a bad looking car... And that's how it begins

Everytime I walk by my car or see it, I get that "new car" feeling you get when you buy a new car. Jokes over, it's not new to me anymore and being a '95, it's definitely not "new"

So why do I get that feeling??? I have no idea, and that drug you talk about...

these cars are the sh!t!!! Go take out your WI and redesign so it deflats the pressure in your tires before a launch and reinflat at 3218 rpms and quit moaning about your 10 year old creeks.

Its over 10 years old, you're bound to have to replace things.. am I the only one that fixes things with new parts if they break? Then again, not a lot has broken..

I drove mine everyday for 3 years. I really liked driving it all the time, but it is a total needy bitch.
If you want it to stop breaking, you have to start taking things off it, and simplify it. You can't break what you don't have.
I've never had any problems with the interior, but mine started rattling a little after 3 years of the Hell hole that's known as the Boston road system.

Why not buy two FD's make one a full on daily driver. Only R mods. And mess around w/ your current one.

I understand the mileage issue. I do have 171,000 on my chassis. Its not the point about buying new parts...I mean just today I ordered about 500 bucks worth of new parts (upper control arm, plasic knuckle covers for the seats, dash vents, etc).

I just needed to vent.

cause it will have the same problems, lol. its not my mods that are causing these issues.

it won't if you get a good one.

David David David..... Wasn't it just a few moments ago when you were sitting in my passenger seat going to Fremont Mazda and you commenting on how nice everything is? Like you said before it's just a nice solid feeling that those interior parts are the ones that you love the most. None other cars can have what the FD has, a billion plastic pieces, some solid and some not so solid.

It's a great car and all, some get lucky with their FD (NeoFreak) and have minimal problems while others (ZeroBanger) have a whiny and materialistic biatch to deal with.

We all know you have the funds for a new car so if you're really up for it I'm sure we'll all be here to help you choose the daily driver that'll suit your taste.

-Dan

anyone ever hear a totally stock one drive...QUIET!!!

put those precat's back on!

I'm sure part of the problem is 171,000 miles. I doubt Neo has that many. I have a few rattles in my interior, I know i can fix those easy when I figure out where they are. I guess what I am bitching about is how fragile everything is.

I'm getting my suspension pieces ordered now.

It sucks doesn't it? Especially after you sit in these newer "sporty" cars.

Compared to the newer batch of "sporty" cars, the FD, IMO, is not a good daily driver. Drive around in a C5 for 3 hours in 100+ degree weather and then do the same thing in an FD (and to those people that say C5's are everywhere, would having more FD's on the road make it any worse? nope.. It would still be the same car). Night and day difference in comfort level, plus you won't be starring at your temp gauge the whole time. ;)

We are dealing with cars that were manufactured 10 years ago, and designed even older than that. It's easy to get upset when comparing it to newer cars that in stock form are putting down some very good power with all the added luxuries we would like to have from time to time. We have to keep the age of our vehicles in mind to keep everything in perspective.

I just wanted to chime in saying I drive my rx7 as a daily driver as well as the previous 3rd gen I owned. I think it is a kick ass car and is VERY reliable if tooken care of right. You treat it good, it treats you good. I have never had a major problem with my car other than window actuators dying, and a small overheating problem that I fixed.

You simplified your car a great deal with that big frickin' turbo. :D
That's the secret.
Less is more when it comes to these cars.........i'm utterly convinced of that.

I recently sold my modified e36 BMW for the 3rd gen. I won't go back! I might get a cheap car to put-put around in, but I don't think I will ever spend a ton of $$ for a car like that again. Before the BMW I had a few TIIs also.

While the BMW was a very capable street car, it did not give me the pleasure that driving this car does. No other car that I have ever driven has the incredible steering response of this car. The steering feel and communication is second to maybe the 911 or NSX.

You wanna turn? Sure how many millimeters should I clip that apex by? You want to blur the trees around you? Mash that mother fuckin throttle down. You wanna blow away most cars around? Same thing. Shifting? My tranny has a real sweet feel to it. Shifts are crisp, a little heavy, but I like that direct feeling gear shift.

The other bland cars make some good daily drivers, but they will never replace what the 7 (especially the FD) gives back to the driver. It is one of the best driver cars around. In its price range, it is the best.

You think you're sick of fixing the 7, try a BMW. Everything is custom tools and prices are fucking expensive. I'd say dollar for dollar, they are more expensive than the 7.

It is a 10 year old car and there are certain items that we all need to address, but honestly your list ain't that bad. Besides, it can give you a nice occasional weekend project for you to enjoy. Some less enjoyable than others, but I think most 7 owners enjoy playing with our cars.

Keep your 7. You will regret selling it. Get an inexpensive car to put-put around in when you want a break from the 7. I think I might look for an old cheap Subaru or something at some point.

I'm not selling it.

I guess its time I accept the fact that It is what it is.

My FD doesn't make any strange noises, 130K on the chassis, but I am so so so glad I have other cars to drive around. I dont know where you are looking ZeroBanger, but I think the MSRP on the 350Z track model, with LSD and spoiler package is 31,000. The fully loaded Touring (the only one you can get with leather, at least for 2003) is 34,000. The MSRP on my demo (that I drive to work) is 37,000 it is a fully loaded Touring with indash navigation, but I probably wont have it for much longer because the 350Z's get sold in less than a week of getting them, our convertible touring sold for full sticker the same day we got it off the truck. They hold their value well, the low end torque is great for driving around. However I love my RX-8 more, but my girlfriend gets to drive it most of the time since I get a demo. The RX-8 is fully loaded with nav, we paid 32,000. I like its handling more than the Z, and it has enough low end power and good gearing to be fun to drive around, and having the extra seats and doors is really needed when you own 5 cars and they are all 2 doors... I will take the RX-8 over the 350Z in a heartbeat. But they are both awesome.

I drive my Honda delSol VTEC (160hp) everyday and take the FD out on weekends and for trackdays. It works for me, for now :)

we all know your pain, but thats part of the car, it allows you to get to know your car.

My good friend darril...(forced on this forum) used to tell me ...

"Owning a FD is like dating a supermodel with a bad crack habit".

Anyone ever think about manufacturing all the FD parts? and making a fortune off the FD owners just a thought...

HA! I do the exact same thing. ;)

Well, that's silly. Say I had a "daily driver" and the FD was my weekend car. So, its time to drive to work...if the FD is working properly, why the hell would I NOT want to drive it??? I could have a nice, practical daily driver car and it would get ABSOLUTELY NO USE unless the FD were to go down...which it does of course...Zerobanger man, I feel your pain.

There's a song out now by 3 Days Grace called "I Hate Everything About You." I think it sums up the relationship between me and my car (the song lyrics, not the title only!).

jds

Mazda got there first.

Not the owner.... only the owners wallet... ever since i purchused my RX's i've had nothing but moths fly out of my wallet.... oh well.... I LOVE MY RX's!!!!! i'll never sell them.

Bureau_c, thing is I work/live during week in another city and I need my car in city traffic often. I think RX7 can't compete with delSol on morning startups and smooth drive out of the parking lot without warmup, fuel consumption and the fact many would envy the car and key it or something. During week I need my car to get me from my apartment to work and back, to grocery and back, etc... On weekends I come home and get all excited jumping into my FD :)

david, you and i are on the same page. heres my story: im 22 and own a heavily modified FD. i havent been to college yet and i know that selling my FD would get me there. . . sometimes i feel that having an education is worth more than driving a car that. . . wait. . . barely driving a car that needs more attention than my 5 year old sister.

i often look at other cars and think about how nice it would be to have one. . . the number one on my list right now is the chrysler crossfire. because i know i couldnt do JACK to it. but it costs 34k. . . . ouch.

its still in the back of my head. . . sell the FD, drive the vw gti that you already have, and get your dumbass into college. . . . or keep the FD and struggle for even longer. wow. . . hard decision.

paul

Dude, that is so right on the money.

David: I have the perfect solution. Buy a second FD! You'll have all the spare parts you need. You know everything you need to know about the car. While one is being repaired, you just drive the other one. I'll sell you mine when Rick gets finished with it at a 50% discount to what I have in it. :) Tom

Ok, I'll put my 350Z on hold and buy your car. :eek:

Done! The odds of me retaining my driver's license have now improved dramatically!! :) :) Tom

You never get temped with your new 911 turbo?

With all wheel drive, it's very hard to get the Porsche sideways around town. With the 7, I'm sideways all the time!! The police hardly notice you if you don't break traction. :) Tom

Sold my Del Sol to tha' folks in order to pay for *part* of the FD... :D

Daily driver = El cheapo '96 Subaru Impreza L wagon
;)
FD 0wnerz seem to think alike sometimes...

Napa's got a pretty good selection of clips. No need to buy entire consoles.

Go read about some kills. Make sure one of 'em is yours.

1. Thats a lot of miles on a mostly plastic car.

2. Get a mid-milage 94. There are lots of inprovements. I don't have any of those problems....yet.

You know, no matter how you look at it, cars nearly 10 years old and more are border line project cars.

Little AND big things are bound to break. Especially with the amount of stress FDs go through, and the fact that Mazda had a few quaility control issues back then doesn't help, either.

Projects cars are a Love or hate thing. You either Love it and learn to live with it's age and TLC it needs or you hate it, throw it away, and get something new.

So what's it gonna be? :)

Hmm, I find it interesting how many people have both FD and delSol or CRX. Fascinating.

I love them both although delSol can't really compare to FD, it had never let me down.

Kind of like a wife and a mistress :D