New user and some dumb questions about FDs and their value
 

Hi all,

My dream car is an RX-7 FD but I'm well aware they are pricey to buy and maintain. I'm still in my 20's and just getting my feet wet in working on cars, so I'm thinking of buying an N/A FC as a project car to work on myself. I'm not in the ideal financial situation to be able to maintain an FD, so I plan on waiting until I'm older and have saved more to buy one. That said, I've heard FDs will rise in value, but I'm unsure how fast/soon? I'm hoping they don't reach prices of up to $60k in the US like the Supra TT are ): FD's won't get to that level, will they?

Maybe one day I could import an RX-7 from Japan, convert from RHD to LHD, and install USDM exhaust/emissions parts to pass smog (I'm in California, emissions are strict...), but I still have to do more reading on how importing works.

Thanks all.

I bought my FB for a few thousand, any rx7 is worth it.

I seen a cheap fd recently..

Honestly, they will reach $60k and above, the question is when. Some sales have already been close to the $50k mark. However these are for the low mileage collector type cars. There are still lots of solid vehicles in the $20k-$30k price range. An interesting read is Fritz's thread here:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-gene...-more-1111539/


Regarding importing from Japan, as per the other thread you read and replied to me - this can be a bit of a gamble:

My advice for anyone on a tight budget is to either keep saving, or consider buying an FB or FC. That way you can enjoy having rotary car whilst learning some mechanical skills you can apply in the future on that FD.

Also, I would only have an RX7 as a secondary vehicle, rotary aside, these are old cars and things break. No one needs that headache from their daily driver!

Best of luck with your search - have patience, the right 7 will come along!

While SOME FDs may reach that value the vast majority of them out there have been rigged/ragged/swapped/hacked or generally neglected and never will. If you have some mechanical ability and don't mind putting in the elbow grease and legwork to make it happen the ugly-duckling-to-swan FD's will be out there forever.

100% agree with Feed Aflux on any rotary being a secondary vehicle. If it came down to keeping my regular DD truck or my FD, I'd be keeping the truck 10/10 times because I have life to live, stuff to do and places to be.

Honestly, I feel like the rotary car that is the most fun is the rotary car you own and don't give a crap about. Buy something cheap as a second play car, learn your way around the engine, and beat on it whenever you want as hard as you want and just have fun. Then if you're still into it down the road buy a FD that needs some work and get it done.

Skeese

Sorry, I didn't mean to be redundant here..I must have forgot about that part. Weren't there only like 1500 spirit R's produced, so they'd be quite expensive, right? Unless no one wants them, which I kind of doubt.
Are you saying you went over $10k on the rebuild, turbos, suspension and brakes and that cheap parts are around $10k, or that skimping out on the rebuild and parts would cost you 10k in problems?

Thanks Skeese, the rotary will absolutely be a second car, I have a little hatchback as a dd for now haha.

The day for an FD will come eventually...

Yes Spirit R's are expensive and will be VERY expensive by the time the USA can import them - for sure >$60k maybe >$75k in my opinion.

Check post #1605 in the thread I liked above, one already sold for $55k USD.

I am saying that the work I had done on my allegedly "good" condition import (engine rebuild plus new brakes and suspension), for a normal build would be around $10k. By which I mean just replacing stock like for like. These are costs you should prepare for if you plan to import a car. Also doesn't hurt to prepare for these types costs buying any FD. Best case the car is fine and you keep the money in your savings account :)

On my build I went way over 10k on these parts......as in 10k would barely make a dent the cost of my build, and I have many more $10k chips to spend to finish it! Most sane people would avoid the rabbit hole I am going down like the plague :egrin:

they're going up.... they can still be found for 15-20 but for a good condition clean one running, i'd expect to currently pay around 22-25k depending on mods/condition/color ...etc
^FD's

FB/SA's have been on the rise too! you use to be able to scoop one for 500-1k or 1500 for a clean one, now reserve isnt being met on BaT at 7k + !!! GSLSE's are pulling in 8-12k !!! REDICULOUS, base models are at a premium 3-5500. I cant speak for fc's though as im not in that market, but i think they're slowly on the rise too

Again...."Price" and "Cost" are two VERY different things.
You can buy, I don't know...a $6000 roller or $12K FD with the engine going out? Then spend $20K or more piecing an "OK" car back together. And IF you have skills and a space, you spend the next several years searching, sourcing, assembling and sorting all the issues that you end up being so over the car and sick of looking at it that you end up selling it for far less than you've spent...never having enjoyed it.
Or buy a solid, decent running car for $20k or so, enjoy it for the same amount of time spending maybe $3k or $4k on maintenance and personal mods. "Price" and "Cost".