| Eternal Remorse |
Ladies and gentlemen,
I come to you with a question. A question which is normally answered very subjectively. As an example, if I were to tell a Christian or a Catholic that I was thinking of taking up religion, they would say good on you...and tell you to go with their branch of gods.
If I were to ask a frenchman which..I dunno... cheese was the best, and which I should buy...he would say to buy French cheese.
Subjective answers to subjective questions.
So I come to you with a question, knowing full well that the answer to it will probably be yes. What I am essentially looking for is the why behind such said answer: I am looking for the objective .
Causality is the basis for all decisions. I base my decisions on how it will impact the future...mostly my future because I'm selfish.
So now, my question is this:
I have been looking at RX-7's...mostly 92 & 93's, Japan imports...and am wondering if it is a sound investment...money not being an aspect of the investment...
Are parts readily availlable? What do you average in a year for regular maintenance (assuming summer driving only)? Any normally defunct parts that I should know about?
I appreciate any help that anyone can give me on this, and take you time, as I am starting the research now, and am looking to buy throughout spring 08.
Thanks! |
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| Dan_s_young |
It seems like alot of people are getting these cars and excepting a good daily driver. In reality I would describe these cars as a pretty high maintenance fun weekend car, track car, or a project car.
The truth is you never know, third gens come with factory twin turbos, which are known to "engine problems" ALOT sooner than some of the N/A rotary counterparts (obviously). If you are mechanically inclined, not afraid to do alot of car work and research yourself, I really recommend it. But if you are just expecting to buy a fast car, for cheap. Expect it to need work over time. It is impossible to give you an estimate to keep it on the road. Every car is different and requires different work, but replacing items such as the turbos, the short block/rebuild, are not cheap.
I would describe RX-7's as being an excellent project car, they have alot of potential. But as far as cheap and reliable go, most owners can tell you otherwise (there is always exceptions, it's hit or miss with used cars). |
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| ehos |
Bad investment money wise. Great investment of time and enjoyment.
Buy it, you only live once. |
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| Mobius |
| If you're going to buy a JDM 7, find one thats already landed, so you can look over it yourself. If not, expect to rebuild the engine/turbo's at a minimum. Not that you'll necessarily have to, but have a budget for it. |
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| ehos |
Whoo, buying a FD sight unseen. THIS should be fun! :)
(Newbies buying FD's sight unseen is going to be hilarious...) |
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| Eternal Remorse |
quote:
Originally posted by ehos
Whoo, buying a FD sight unseen. THIS should be fun! :)
(Newbies buying FD's sight unseen is going to be hilarious...)
This is the feedback I wanted. Because if there was ever a noob forum, that is where I would have gone. I have no problem saying this. If I hear comments such as this, and it dissuades me from losing 5 - 10 K, I have you to thank....although you coulda let me down a little bit more easy... :asshole:
All kidding asside, this now seems to tell me that it's a bit much to start out with.
If anyone has anything else to suggest for a different vehicle, I would appreciate it...and I don't mean a 92 Dodge Shadow with a peeling hood, or 94 probe...
I can already see the sarcastic/joking responses.
Keep in mind that my mechanical inclination is around a 6, my buddy's is 9, and my willingness to learn is a 10.
Thanks! |
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| ehos |
My advice to you was 'go buy it, you only live once.'
My advice to buying a FD UNSEEN, without prior knowledge of FD's is, 'this should be fun.' It mostly refers to the 99% of the 'stick on' kids that just want to turn the key and go go go. But can't even change their own oil...
Don't buy it sight unseen like Mobius said, let them bring some over and have a looksee first. If you REALLY want to buy it sight unseen, and you don't care about the money or you're willing to fix problems yourself, go for it. EVERYONE started at the beginning at some time.
I started with FB's, then FC's and finally a FD. Jumping to a FD is not such a huge deal, but you will need some time, money and patience.
For example, I can diagnose/fix vacuum/solenoid leaks but it takes me a long long time. I could pull and R&R a rotary by the time I fix a pesky vacuum leak :) So, we all have our weaknesses.
My advice stands, go buy it. You'll love it and you'll obsess about it. There's no other car like it. |
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| Mobius |
quote:
Originally posted by ehos
You'll love it and you'll obsess about it. There's no other car like it.
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| Wookey |
Its pretty much a disease. Once you drive it, you get the bug. I've owned 3 FC's before i bought my FD. I've had other cars in between the last 2 FC's and my FD. And honestly, there is no car like them. Once you drive one you'll be hooked.
And if you haven't heard, they are like a woman, possibly worse. They do bite back, they do go on the rag at some point and will most deffinetly empty your wallet. But in the end, if you can afford to keep the bitch, you will love her to death.
:thumbup: :beer: |
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| Eternal Remorse |
Thanks guys. All this is a bit much to take.
On one hand, I want to drive one. Every single person, whether saying to get one or not, is saying that as soon as you drive one, you won't go back.
On the other hand, because I know very little about engine and have limited access to tools, maybe I should start off with a newer vehicle.
I think my first step is to maybe take a look at one up close and talk to more people like you guys that know the vehicle. Maybe I'll take a trip to check out one of the 4 that are landing. |
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| SilviaDrifter |
| i say get it.....but research alot before buying it |
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| ehos |
Or if you're going to import one, get one of those $8-9K FD's from auction.
I mean, that's what the importers are going to do, then mark them up to 12-15K and sell them to the kiddies. Beat the rush... |
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| Eternal Remorse |
| Are there auction houses that deal with imports? I know there's a big one on the West end, and of course Osman, but I haven't seen much roll through there besides a boat load of trucks and cavaliers.... |
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| 4kruzn |
quote ehos.
"My advice to you was 'go buy it, you only live once.'
My advice to buying a FD UNSEEN, without prior knowledge of FD's is, 'this should be fun.' It mostly refers to the 99% of the 'stick on' kids that just want to turn the key and go go go. But can't even change their own oil...
Don't buy it sight unseen like Mobius said, let them bring some over and have a looksee first. If you REALLY want to buy it sight unseen, and you don't care about the money or you're willing to fix problems yourself, go for it. EVERYONE started at the beginning at some time.
I started with FB's, then FC's and finally a FD. Jumping to a FD is not such a huge deal, but you will need some time, money and patience.
For example, I can diagnose/fix vacuum/solenoid leaks but it takes me a long long time. I could pull and R&R a rotary by the time I fix a pesky vacuum leak So, we all have our weaknesses.
My advice stands, go buy it. You'll love it and you'll obsess about it. There's no other car like it."
"Or if you're going to import one, get one of those $8-9K FD's from auction.
I mean, that's what the importers are going to do, then mark them up to 12-15K and sell them to the kiddies. Beat the rush..."
WOW... ehos... crazy mixxed messages. first tell him hes crazy to buy one sight unseen then tell him to go out and risk everything buying one at an auction house in japan with no help..... you my friend are an ass.
On our last trip to Japan we saw maybe 20 fd's legal to import. at least 4 of those had blow or damamged engines. none of which were listed as such on the auction sheets. if your worried about buying a dud with no help fixing it..... do not buy one brokered from japan by your self. there are way too many risks. i have been building rotory engines for over 15years now and built litterally hundreds of them. pm me and ill explain a bunch more about the rotory. |
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| SilviaDrifter |
quote:
Originally posted by 4kruzn
WOW... ehos... crazy mixxed messages. first tell him hes crazy to buy one sight unseen then tell him to go out and risk everything buying one at an auction house in japan with no help..... you my friend are an ass.
On our last trip to Japan we saw maybe 20 fd's legal to import. at least 4 of those had blow or damamged engines. none of which were listed as such on the auction sheets. if your worried about buying a dud with no help fixing it..... do not buy one brokered from japan by your self. there are way too many risks. i have been building rotory engines for over 15years now and built litterally hundreds of them. pm me and ill explain a bunch more about the rotory.
Conroy its rotAry ;) |
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