Grengostarr

hello everyone, this is my first of hopefully hundreds of posts on this forum, and i have a few unintelligent questions that need to be answered. I currently drive a Acura integra gsr, and i am at the time where it is time for a new car but, i drove my buddies fc, and i was amazed with it, and the more and more i look, the more i like the fd as a whole. it is beautiful and has the capability to be a superior handeling and massive power hungry monster of a car. but im not trying to be the average idiot that just jumps and buys a car because its sweet. Im trying to learn the basics of the vehicle and what maintenance is needed to upkeep the motor and everything else involved, and also what to look for when looking at a potential purchase. And also the major difference between the twin and the single turbo models as far as power capabilities and reliability issues. And also the body differences throughout the years. i would be more than happy to use the search tool, as in that is what pretty much everyone tells noobs to civilized forums, but i dont even know where to begin, so if someone could point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

-greg

black_sunshine

Look for all the typical car stuff first (obvious leaks, malfunctioning electronics, ect...). Then, depending on what you want, I reccomend this:

If you're getting a 3rd gen (FD), check how many miles it has on it. If it's got more than 75,000, I'd be really careful if the engine hasn't been rebuilt yet. Try to get one that has a fresh rebuild (and they can supply proof of that). Same applies to S4/S5 (87-88 Turbo II's), except bump the mileage up to around 100k. 86-88 N/A FC's should have a rebuild anywhere between 100k-175k miles. Oil changes every 3000miles a must, make sure it doesn't try to overheat, and if it's modified, make sure it has all the mods and dyno sheets to back-up the claimed performance (if any). Never take the owner's word for anything. Just basic car-buying rules.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope you're at least somewhat mechanically-inclined. It varies greatly from car-to-car (some cars have lots of problems, some don't and never will), but in general, it WILL have at least one problem with it. Absolutely make sure it does NOT HAVE a "3000-4000rpm hesitation." It's usually easy to fix, but for a newbie, it can be a major headache (do a search for "hesitation" to get an idea).

They're great fun cars, and only YOU can decide wather you have a good rotary experience or not. Play it smart and safe, and they'll offer many years of excitment and joy.

for an FD, I recomend any non-93 touring. For a turbo FC, get an 89-91, and for a N/A FC, either an 88 GTU or an 89-91 GXL (I can hear it now, lol). If you want a minimalist car, get an 87 na without a sunroof. There's a sticky in the 2nd gen forums reguarding equipment and stuff.

Grengostarr

thank you very much for the input