why do you think it is that so many people stop and take pics of your FD?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Its combination of these things:
- Outstanding shape of the exterior - timeless
- Aggressive look - with some 285+ in the back
- Nice interior , btw I can not stand supras interior
- low profile
- RWD
- Rarity
- Rotary Engine
- Most of them are modified and that adds up.
- Most of them are loud and that draw attention.
What is there not to like? Why Mazda did not put 3 rotor engine in it? We would not have to run so much boost.
In good shape RX7 should be valued lot higher than 10-11k. 18-19k would be reasonable for such beautiful car
..
- Outstanding shape of the exterior - timeless
- Aggressive look - with some 285+ in the back
- Nice interior , btw I can not stand supras interior
- low profile
- RWD
- Rarity
- Rotary Engine
- Most of them are modified and that adds up.
- Most of them are loud and that draw attention.
What is there not to like? Why Mazda did not put 3 rotor engine in it? We would not have to run so much boost.
In good shape RX7 should be valued lot higher than 10-11k. 18-19k would be reasonable for such beautiful car
..In good shape they do sell for 18k plus. Just check out autotrader. Typical FDs in the 10 to 13k range are:
Not garaged
Not well maintained
Once modified
Possibly repainted
Possibly hit at one time or another
Cobbled together with whatever parts the owner can find to keep the car limping around
Need tires
Have rust
need bushings
need various weather stripping pieces
Leaking various fluids
Don't boost properly
smoke
smell
etc.....
It's a delicate car that takes an eye for detail and deep pockets to keep up with it's care and maint. Lots of these cars are on owner #5 and beyond and some of those owners can barely afford gas much less a house with a garage or the means to properly care for it.
NICE FDs cost 16k plus unless you get a good deal which is rare and I've been saying for years you can only expect prices to go UP on nice ones not DOWN. Of the 8k or so that are still on the road possibly 2k are nice and that # is steadily going down. Imagine the value of this car when there are only about 500 nice ones left. Once I unload the Cayman I'll again be in the market for one of the few remaining nice FDs left and I already own 3. Why? because it's the best car in the world and I love cars
Maybe I'm slightly biased or in less friendly terms a dillusional crazy old bastard but I might just be right and if that's the case I want to own them ALL (evil laugh) 
In good shape they do sell for 18k plus. Just check out autotrader. Typical FDs in the 10 to 13k range are:
Not garaged
Not well maintained
Once modified
Possibly repainted
Possibly hit at one time or another
Cobbled together with whatever parts the owner can find to keep the car limping around
Need tires
Have rust
need bushings
need various weather stripping pieces
Leaking various fluids
Don't boost properly
smoke
smell
etc.....
It's a delicate car that takes an eye for detail and deep pockets to keep up with it's care and maint. Lots of these cars are on owner #5 and beyond and some of those owners can barely afford gas much less a house with a garage or the means to properly care for it.
NICE FDs cost 16k plus unless you get a good deal which is rare and I've been saying for years you can only expect prices to go UP on nice ones not DOWN. Of the 8k or so that are still on the road possibly 2k are nice and that # is steadily going down. Imagine the value of this car when there are only about 500 nice ones left. Once I unload the Cayman I'll again be in the market for one of the few remaining nice FDs left and I already own 3. Why? because it's the best car in the world and I love cars Maybe I'm slightly biased or in less friendly terms a dillusional crazy old bastard but I might just be right and if that's the case I want to own them ALL (evil laugh)
Not garaged
Not well maintained
Once modified
Possibly repainted
Possibly hit at one time or another
Cobbled together with whatever parts the owner can find to keep the car limping around
Need tires
Have rust
need bushings
need various weather stripping pieces
Leaking various fluids
Don't boost properly
smoke
smell
etc.....
It's a delicate car that takes an eye for detail and deep pockets to keep up with it's care and maint. Lots of these cars are on owner #5 and beyond and some of those owners can barely afford gas much less a house with a garage or the means to properly care for it.
NICE FDs cost 16k plus unless you get a good deal which is rare and I've been saying for years you can only expect prices to go UP on nice ones not DOWN. Of the 8k or so that are still on the road possibly 2k are nice and that # is steadily going down. Imagine the value of this car when there are only about 500 nice ones left. Once I unload the Cayman I'll again be in the market for one of the few remaining nice FDs left and I already own 3. Why? because it's the best car in the world and I love cars
Maybe I'm slightly biased or in less friendly terms a dillusional crazy old bastard but I might just be right and if that's the case I want to own them ALL (evil laugh) 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Whats your opinion of the Cayman? Ive considered them if/when I sell the trike. 996TTs can be had fairly easily in the low 30s and I really like the comfort and ergonomics with that car. However, I love small light cars, and the Cayman looks pretty sick with a nice set of wheels on it.
Maybe at the price you paid but I like them heavily modded, broken in, proven reliable etc...... Basically ready for a daily beating, track use etc.....
The car is a classic of classic design and an exotic. A car does not need to be expensive to be exotic ..
As to photos I have had professional photographers wanting to use the car as a back drop; the only car that I have ever seen draw similar attention is my GP edition Evora S, what with only a few hundred Evoras of any sub model in the US after 3 years of production it truly is rare and to some eyes and angles beautiful.
As to photos I have had professional photographers wanting to use the car as a back drop; the only car that I have ever seen draw similar attention is my GP edition Evora S, what with only a few hundred Evoras of any sub model in the US after 3 years of production it truly is rare and to some eyes and angles beautiful.
Recovering Miataholic
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 50
From: Fountain Valley, CA
At the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Miata (in Irvine, CA), Tom Matano stopped by our '94 FD in the parking lot and took several photos. My guess why he took the pics: it was the only FD there.
So after getting new wheels, the attention to my car grew once again.
That makes me realize people stop to look at the FD, because it looks good and RARE, THATS IT.
Sure you guys are going to tell your stories about how people know the history of the car, and actually adore what the car is etc etc blah blah. But that will probably total to .05% of the people doing so.
Going to car meets with the FD, and the stares are endless. When speaking to the people that come up to me, all i get is "that car looks soo good", "thats amazing" etc etc. Then when the conversation deepens, it all ends in the same thing, "i'd put a v8 in it", "cool but damn those engines are unreliable as hell".
I absolutely can not, as much as i want to, say that ONE person who acknowledged my car, acknowledged the car for what it is, with the rotary. They mainly are attracted to it for its timeless looks and rarity. Thats it. They have no interest or care whatsoever for the engine. This is a crowd of old and young, not just "kids".
That makes me realize people stop to look at the FD, because it looks good and RARE, THATS IT.
Sure you guys are going to tell your stories about how people know the history of the car, and actually adore what the car is etc etc blah blah. But that will probably total to .05% of the people doing so.
Going to car meets with the FD, and the stares are endless. When speaking to the people that come up to me, all i get is "that car looks soo good", "thats amazing" etc etc. Then when the conversation deepens, it all ends in the same thing, "i'd put a v8 in it", "cool but damn those engines are unreliable as hell".
I absolutely can not, as much as i want to, say that ONE person who acknowledged my car, acknowledged the car for what it is, with the rotary. They mainly are attracted to it for its timeless looks and rarity. Thats it. They have no interest or care whatsoever for the engine. This is a crowd of old and young, not just "kids".
I drive mine maybe once a week and everytime it never fails someone asks how much i want for it. Mine is beat up, needs paint and missing headlights cover. I always answer with 20k as i don't plan to sell it but if someone accepts i will just go buy another.
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