Doing up a series 6/7 versus buying a series 8
 

Ok, I was weighing up getting a series 6 or 7 ($30-35k) then buying the 99 JDM front bumper, lip, turn lights, reinforcement bar and also the rear spoiler. The round tail lights i would just convert myself. The entire 99 front end and a rear spoiler is gonna cost approx $3000AUD. Now I'm not sure if it comes pre painted, but either way it won't match the car...
So I can either have them matched and painted or have the entire car resprayed, including the new parts. I'm leaning towards having the entire respray, because after all, 10yr old paint tends to be a bit faded, and dull, etc - particularly vintage red (what I want).
Has anyone done something similar? How much is a respray likely to be...i'm guessing $5k!! Would the car need to be sanded back and painted from scratch or is it possible just to give it a fresh coat of colour then clear coat straight over the top?

Has anyone done the series 8 "upgrade" or planing too? What's peoples opinions -- would you bother to repaint the whole car?

Anyway, such a project sounds like it would probably work out the same price as importing a series 8 in the first place :(

Here's a few pics of the best damn looking FD ever!! It has a fresh coat of series 8 vintage red. It is a 93' ex smashed car...

http://www.importspeedsouth.com/JoseRX7/IMG_1715.jpg
http://www.importspeedsouth.com/JoseRX7/IMG_1694.jpg

seriously, s8, for the right money - in the long run - is such a better idea

btw - sunroofs are for girls, and leather ain't for sportscars ;)

yeah, i was thinking the S8 would perhaps be the better choice because it would be roughly the same money. I do actually like the Aus delivered models better than imports though - i like the sunroof and easier insurance hassles too. The only problem with buying an auctioned S8....who know's what sort of problems the car could have, and it would probably take 3 months to get...

i m in the middle of doing it, i can only afford a front bar so far, not the rear spoiler yet, maybe will pick a different wing depends on price, JDM parts are VERY EXPENSIVE!!!!!! the font bar + park lights + lips coz me $2000 already, and i've asked the wing is another $1500. not sure where u can get ur parts.

how about the paint job mate? What year you driving, colour and how is the condition of your paint?

For the parts, try www.jt-imports.com and good ol www.rx7store.net

I wouldn't order through mazda australia

hope you've done the rounds tail lights! ;)

It's not hard to do and is an awesome "upgrade" to the car!!

I am sort of going down the same road with my car at the moment. But it comes down $$ in my opinion. I bought my car really cheap (off the folks) and since then spend 3K on paint (lot of work my self) 1K on S8 interior, and now close the 5K on rebuild. Car owes me close the 30K and should drive and feel like new. I’m now thinking about the Series 8 Kit but.....

If you buy a 35K Aussie model and do the mods you listed you'd be quite close to affording a 99 S8. You yourself have stated in previous posts how cheap you can get them now.

Have you driven a 280hp S8??? I’ve spent the last month driving around in my families one and it totally shits overs earlier FD's especially the Aussie ones. The acceleration is astonishing, and reliability is a lot better, and you get the kit, twin airbags, better turbo's etc.

I would work out how much money you have to spend. If you can get a cheap car (like me!) then go for it. Do the S8 thing and it will look the same, sound the same, and with some mods go the same or better. Sweet :) But if in the long run you can afford a series8 I would go with that.....you wont be disappointed!!

I’m actually thinking about trading up in the next 6 months or so. MMM, I'll have to see.

s8 =

Upgraded turbos (in some versions)
bigger brakes (on some versions)
better braking (elec. brake distribution on the type vi's)
Y-pipe
better downpipe (would probably replace this anyway)
better cat-back (ditto)
16bit ecu (and less problematic wiring set-up)
vastly better abs unit (16bit in the type vi's)
bigger radiator
longer-lasting engine (apparently, due to changed apex seal set-up)
better paint
spoiler
tailights
bumper
perfected suspension set-up
improved steering set-up
better brake ducting
nicer gauges (in the type vi versions)
better carpet (not as luxurious - but looks and lasts better)
twin airbags
better stock steering wheel
better seats (not that horrible leather seen in locally-delivered versions - that doesn't hold you at all on hard cornering, sticks to your arse when you are wearing shorts, and wears badly)



= if you can make all those changes (or even just the best of the lot) for the price difference between an s6 and an s8..........

i dont think i'll go that far as my pocket is not as deep, but doing the front bar with park lights, tail lights and rear wing will probably do me for the time being. i tiwll wait until i do it all up, then i think about the the whole car respray paint job.

get the s6/7 and do it up (pref S7)- $ for $ works out cheaper and faster & new paint job & cheaper insurance.

That RED is awesome!!!!! very very very nice...jims6 did you spray your car that red? S8...yummy....depending on price....does the price justify the S8 over the S6....when you want a stock car...prob yes....if you going to modify it...like mazdaspeed this and that...big turbo etc...etc....then I think a Series 6 would be the way to go.....

except you get an older car - mechanicals, interior parts, electricals - all with extra wear, tear and so on - the cost of ownership over the first 2-5 years spirals exponentially... price of the s8 looks better and better and better

I'd like to see a insurance quote - import vs local... twin turbos = expensive any way you look at it, I bet there isn't a significant difference. About the only real plus there is some of the mainstream insurers might consider insuring you.

I agree, and your not going to get a S7 for like 29K. More like 39K. It will probably have decent KM on it...most older FD are in need of a rebuild if original.

My opinion is if you going to spend $$$ on new motor, single Turbo's, paint, kits, flash interior (modify everthing) then it doesn't matter what you get as most things will get replaced anyway. Sort of like if you going to make it a show car or quarter mile machine. Buy a cheap Series 6 and go to town on it. Definately.

But it sounds like you dont want to spend that sort of money so getting a S8 with : near new more powerfull motor, good paint and interior, with the kit already on and that great feeling of trouble free motoring i believe that in the course of 2 years it might actually work out cheeper. You can get S8's for like 42K(well, judging of cannington's site anyway)

BTW i have no probs with insurace. With AON, 1.3K year, Comprehensive with 41K agreed value!!!!

I'm really leaning for a series 8 at this stage for the reasons mentioned by daioni. At the end of the day, doing a series 6/7 up to the standards of a series 8 it would be pretty much the same cost as a new series 8 ($40-43k after a respray). And at the end of the day you get an almost new car with new(ish) mechanics, low kms, and newer everything else. On the other hand a s6/7 is likely to have a number of bugs and the usual wear and tear of an old car. I'd like to see a stock 10year old car that is genuinely "immaculate and problem free". Another issue is that a S6/7 could be due for a rebuild any time soon after purchase, depending on the km's it's done...


I guess the series 8 would be smarter and cheaper long term...but... the only thing with the S8 option is that's a lot of cash to have up front, and also the general uncertainties that accompany auction purchases. The series 8 insurance would be much higher too...

Hey DaiOni, how much does a typical good condition 99/00 series 8 sell for over there (Yen, FOB)?

yeah mate, I meant "do it up" as in making it look like a shnazzy series 8 with new paint. How old are you? ...1.3k is cheap! I really feel the series 8 would be cheaper long run and be less of a headache, etc. Doing it up as in performace would be a much longer-term project :)

You'd have to be pretty hp hungry to want to do up an 8. Just the basic exhaust, intake and ECU should give an additional 45hp for approx $2500.

Also, make sure if your going to get a S8 ask for Type R, RS (lot better) or RZ etc.

A Lot of S8's imported ive found are RB, and RB-s. They look identical but have 265HP as they dont get the good updated turbo's. Still a fast car, but the 280's the one you want. Easiest way to check 265HP 1 oil cooler 280HP 2 oil coolers on either side.

:)

James (age 24)

yep, is the difference in fact just the turbos? I am guessing the best buy would be RS. Type R = $$$

24yrs, shit 1.3K is awesome! What's the age where insurance changes a shitload? .... is it 24 or 25yrs? do you mind me asking what your insurance record is like?

You'll find it's the other way round. Type R is the base 280 model. 16' wheels, standard suspension. RS gets the 17" wheels and the bilstiens. Price probably close. My folks S8 is a type R and the suspension actually feels softer than my S6. Its still very good however. It "bum squats" heaps when you floor it...like a power boat!

280 v 265 I think its Turbo's (with that special abrasive seal) , more boost, slight ECU tweaks because of this and the 2 Oil Coolers. DaiOni??

Insurance record is clean...no claims or acco's. Lots of fines however But yeah, most other companies were 3K-4K. Im not sure if it was a hook up but car was in Mums name for 4 years with AON..no probs then when we transfered the insurance over and gave the details. They just asked for my details, car at same addy etc etc and that was that. Amount upped by $200. It all looks fine and the details are correct but I would be scared to ring up to make changes :( Then again, my mate's TT Soarer is 1700 through them.

the recent rx7 issue of hyperrev, gave the following spread:

type I: 700,000 - 1.3mill yen ('series 6' 10.91 - 8.93)
type II: 800,000 - 1.5mill yen ('series 6' 8.93 - 3.95)
type III: 1mill - 1.7mill yen ('series 7' 3.95 - 1.96)
type IV: 1.2mill - 2.2mill yen ('series 7' 1.96 - 12.98)
type V: 2.2mill - 3mill yen ('series 8' 12.98 - 10.00)
type VI: 2.9mill yen - 4mill yen ('series 8' 10.00 - 08.02)

a couple of points though,
* prices vary wildly due to spec, condition, kms, even paint colour!
* these are dealership prices - there would be a slight reduction in price for an auctioned car
* though it's irrelevant to this particular discussion, you CAN pick up a s6 for significantly cheaper than 700,000 - but I'd say these figures are for cars that would be worth looking at. Of course, you get what you pay for.


Anyway, in short, if I was looking for a really nice type V at the auctions - perfect condition, low kms, maybe a few tasteful/appropriate mods - I'd want to have around A$30k in my back pocket

jezzuz, gotta type a little faster! :D

Jim, are you sure about the oil coolers?? I'm not. I'd have to go digging for some accurate info though.

Your R will be harder than a base spec series - especially if the R is a type II

thanks for that champ. I got confused with "spirit" R i guess. Wow, I will have to give AON a call when the time comes. I have never heard of them before. Thanks :)

thanks, I appreciate the time you took to type that out!

$30k + brokers fee, shipping, compliance, import duty, gst, ect equates to approx $40 :)

I know what you mean about series 6's....they are cheap as chips in japan...not fair!!! Hey I have always been told that japanese people don't like to purchase second hand cars and it is kind of "frowned upon" so to speak. Also that expenses and registration is more expensive?? How true is this?

Also, with auction cars, how do they know it's an R grade car? I mean is there a national registry where repair work and VIN must be recorded? ...Generally I would think it is very hard to identify a car that has had a decent panel repair. Do they sell for much less? Sounds like a good way to save a few grand simply if the fender has been replaced, etc!

I'm not sure of the particulars of the grading process, but if a car passes a stringent visual check - then prior damage is a bit of a moot point

" I have always been told that japanese people don't like to purchase second hand cars and it is kind of "frowned upon" so to speak. Also that expenses and registration is more expensive?? How true is this?"

It's not true at all.

Considering that japanese rego is once every two years, it doesn't make it too much worse than a 2 years of typical NSW rego and taxes


posted this before, but server crashed on me (luckily I was cutting and pasting)...

similar suspension differences (between specs) applies for s8s too - one of the main differences between base and upper spec models are the suspension settings

the turbos (*abraidable seals*) are the power upgrade - all having the previous y-pipe upgrade. 'ecu tweaks' - same ecu (16bit), but obviously a different state of tune

it's interesting, actually

- the original FD power output was an honest 255ps

- series 7 got the upgrade y-pipe which added 10ps making it 265ps (were the oz s7's upgraded though??? they seem to be missing a few other key upgrades)

- the base model s8's claim 265ps also. Does this mean they don't get the upgraded cat-back and thinner (more flow) downpipe?? one would have to guess so...

also: 265ps... add better flowing exhaust system, upgraded turbos, 2psi more boost... and only get an extra 15ps????????????????????????? I don't think so :D