I'll go along with the crowd and suggest the Camry or perhaps another car. I'm from your neck of the woods, and when you finally see a Red TII with "Drift MB" stickers at an autocross event, you will know that my "excellent condition" TII I bought 6 months ago is finally reliable enough to drive more than 50 mile trips.

These cars suck money. The chassis are constantly having issues, (bushings, electrical) they are tempermental, they drink gas like crazy. They are semi-costly to insure and property tax is decent on them tho.

You will need to make a choice here, do you want to go out and hang with your friends, have money to go out with girls, party and do all that fun stuff. Have your own transportation at all times, have money for cool stuff like CD's, games, clothes, food.
... or own an RX-7.

You won't be able to do both, especially if you are not working on the car yourself.

For the autocross, I'd suggest picking up a 90's Sentra SE-R (decent power, LSD, reasonable handling), possibly a S14 240SX SE if you have to have the RWD, or a Civic or Integra. I don't recommend a S13 240SX since I've owned one of those too and you will have a lot of the same age issues that you have with the RX-7, the only advantage is that the parts will be cheaper for the S13.

I know you didn't want to hear any of this, but based on my own experiences with trying to keep a car in competition-worthy form, you will do much better with a newer car with less expensive parts. The way the cars are classed you can use that to gain valuable seat time and experience, then move up to a more difficult class later on.

I like to think of my RX-7 as the high-maintenance girlfriend who is a total b**** and most of the time you wonder why the hell you put up with her, but then she rocks your world like no-one else has, then you realize why you put up with the rest of her crap.

My 2 cents.

 

It will change your life because once you own a 7 you will never want to own any other car. If you have enough money to maintain it and put up with it's 16-18 MPG then buy it, it looks ridiculously clean and beautiful but again YOU have to choose whether or not it is cost effective for you. Y+We can give you all the info you want but in the end you are the one who has to choose. It is a given that a 98 Camry will give you less maintenance issues than a 14-15 year old car(given that the GTUs came out in 89 and 90 only)...Honestly if you know you will struggle with the maintenance then walk away, if you think you can make it then buy it. Make sure you take care of it and keep taking it to the mechanic that sold it to ya for best maintenance. Good luck and make the choice you think is right.

Lets put it this way;
that GTUs= girls, lots of girls but no money to take them out.
Camry= not as many girls but if you have a good personality you will actually be able to take a few THEM out.....AND you have a backseat....but that's another thread.

 

TRU DAT! Or get a Jspec for $1075 at Jspecautosports.com and get a good shell for $400-$800.

 

You got it right.......

 

Once again, you have a Turbo, not a N/A. N/A is more reliable than turbo.

 

good point also.....i think after what we have told him he should be able to make his own decision.....we did the best to help him and it's on him now.

 

you guys seem to really want to help me out with advice and all that. i think unless my dad really wants to help pay for it ill go with something else.

i have good news for myself though...

just now i went to look at an fb that lives a couple houses down from me. i have been meaning to go look at it for the longest time now. turns out its a gsl-se (awesome), black, and 98,000 miles. the owner never drives it and it sits in the garage. im thinking i can go over there and i doubt it will start up so i could get it for a hundred or so (im hoping) take it to the guy i was gonna buy the gtu-s from and have him get it back to life. i would even have enough for a full rebuild if i needed it. the car looks very well maintained from what i saw. i didnt get to talk to the owner because they werent home. its 2 lesbians that live there, haha.

so hows that sound. next time they are home im going over there. if all goes well, they will be happy to get rid of it, i go to try to start it, it doesnt turn over, i ask for it for $100 mabey (hoping they just want to get rid of it cause thats still kinda low), pay for it right then and there.

and i can always see if the guy with the gtu-s wants to make some sort of trade since i kidna need a car within the next couple weeks, he could have the se to work on later, and i could buy the gtu-s from him for half the price at least. (hes selling an se right now for 2500 and i dont even think its in that great of condition and the one in my neighborhood looks so clean besides the dust on it)

 

The wisdom in this thread is true. Listen well.

I can honestly say owning a '7 has changed parts of my life. Aside from the month spent rebuilding the engine, my daily schedule now goes something like "Work, go home, work on car, take car for test spin, work on car more." There's always *something* you either need to replace or want to upgrade. My weekend plans now involve figuring out how much work I can get done in a day. This weekend, I'm pulling a good number of pieces out of the engine compartment & redoing a bunch of stuff. Why? Because I want to redo it properly.

-=Russ=-

 

That's why the AAA card and the cell phone are always near...

 

I know, I was just jerking your chain...

Brit cars are the most fickle cars you could probably own, but the old ones are the easiest to work on too.

My Healey will run all day and is quick for it's era. The beauty of it is it's a raw sports car like the old days with no roll up windows, no such thing as a radio, and ground is Positive not Negative. This car has 3 1/2 inches of ground clearance, so driving over speedbumps are unheard of, but thru the 1950s-1960s this car was the WRX of the rally circuit. No one could touch it...

Mike B

 

The big problem is how many Kids with owning a first car know how or even cal afford to properly maintain a high performance sports car that already has 117,000 miles on the clock.

Best bet on that first car is get reliability that you can tweak as you go. You might end up in a different class than the Rx7 in autocrosses, but I have seen some pretty fast Camrys and Maximas running cones...

Mike B

 

Yo, I got my car completely dead. Cost around 6kish to restore it to a GOOD running condition. I woulda been better off just getting a camry, but i wouldnt know **** about rotarys, or had so much fun working on mycar.. I say go for the seven if you are looking for something more interesting (and your family isnt broke) but if you dont really care about looks/fun and just want point A to boint B with decent milage, get the camry. If it was me, Id get the 7 easy.
*edit, buy an FC from somebody whos not making 250% profit
*edit#2, dont buy an automatic Convertible, those are SLOW AS HELL (its what is started with) mine is pretty quick now,(see sig) even in its n/a form (no turbo), but im still going to go turbo

 

Actually most of the issues that I'm struggling with are issues that are common between both versions of the car. Alternator, grounding, wiring, suspension, bushings, brakes, clutch, and chassis parts failing. He may luck into a car where all of these issues have been taken care of... but let's face it, 9 times out of 10 he won't and some of these things can cause him major downtime and big expenses... especially when he's paying a premium price for that GTUs.

The turbo may put more stress on some of these components, but they are mostly problems that affect both versions of the car, and are typical issues on a car over 10 years old. If you read further, you will note that I don't recommend to him any cars of this age due to having the same issues with my S13.

This is not just my personal experience. I work at a tuning shop in my spare time. I see kids with these older cars every day, and they are spending their money on gaining 10-15 horsepower on their engines, or spending big money for a swap to be faster. Meanwhile the car has no brakes, the suspension is shot, their fuel system is failing, their cooling system is on the verge of going, the electrical systems are a mess because of someone who put in a stereo 2 owners ago... the car is not structurally sound.... the list goes on...
All of these cars are practically a fatal accident waiting to happen, because they are just plain worn out, and owners that spent the money to keep them up are very, very rare, that's usually why the car is being sold in the first place.
I find it frustrating that I can talk to these kids and tell them that the car is a system and as strong as it's weakest link... but usually all they care about is gaining a little speed in a straight line, regardless of whether the car can handle it or not.

Sorry for the personal rant there... but here is a kid that is actually listening to us and asking for this honest input from us, and I wish that there were more like him. Most kids would've come on with "how do I make it fast" questions, and not listen to the rest of it.


fc3sdrifting:
I would say get the Camry and then look into getting that FB that you were looking at... then you have a fun toy you can play with that you are not dependant on. An FB would be a blast to autocross.

 

if you want something a little more reliable, with more power, RWD, drifting capable, maybe you should look into a 240sx either s13 or s14... s13's have about 145hp , and s14 with 155hp stock... usually get a s13 in the 2-3k range, and s14 anywhere from 4-7k depending on condition... or you could always buy my s14 :P But I don't know... if you can talk the guy whos selling the GTUs down in price... maybe... who knows... but you should at least get the car completly checked out ... Check this site out... http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/buy1.htm .... and after you read it, make a check list, and do it ! can never be too sure

 

DoriftWolf makes a good point. Engine mods are the first thing that comes to mind, but stopping the car & making sure it goes where you point it (unless you deliberately don't want it to do so) are more important for a vehicle than raw speed.

The biggest problem is that people want impressive numbers. "What's it run in the quarter?" "What's it dynoing at?" "What's it's 0-60 time?" Unfortunately, raw acceleration does not a good car make. Look at funny cars or dedicated drag cars. 1/4 mile in 4 seconds at 200+mph? Supurb. Handling? Whassat?

Also, it's wonderful that you're listening and responding intelligently to the advice here. SO MANY THREADS are "how can i make it fast 4 cheap?" followed by "no i dont' want to spedn money, i want cheap fast, k?" after ignoring a bunch of responses.

Look into that FB. As I've learned, a '7 as a daily driver is... questionable. Doable, but probably not the smartest thing - when it breaks, you have to fix it quickly, and you can't leave it on jackstands for a few days while you redo suspension or such.

-=Russ=-

 

Even if you do get a hold of a reliable 7... the gas.... ah god.

My weekend.... $100 in 4 days. Lets just say I had a nice long cruise on 1 day, the rest of the days was just meeting up with friends and doing errands.

Then again, I'm putting in 91 so that bumps up the costs a bit more... still no regrets to getting a TII though.

 

did noone read my post about the fb? oh well, go back and read it if you havnt and tell me what you think. im actually going to talk to the owner right now.

 

For issues with FB see posts above.......it IS cheaper and it might be easy to get it running.....but the same issues apply...... I say do it tho......it's cheap enough where you can resell it for more just because the body/interior in in supposedly great shape.

 

Sorry to get off track, but what model Healey do you have? My dad used to have a '64 Austin-Healey 3000 Mrk III. That car was a total blast, but it was definately a garage queen.

 

Observations thus far;

1.) Name: fc3Sdrifting
2.) 1st car owned
3.) Lack of mechanical expertise
4.) Car costs 5k
5.) Buyer has 0.8k

Instead of going any further I will respond on these 5 items.

The name fc3sdrifting if this is your first car leads people who don't know you to believe that;
a.) You are irresponsible
b.) You watch too much Japanese Television
c.) You intend to put this car through the most abusive lifestyle it can lead with the exception of Rally Driving.
d.) You will be on the boards in not too long asking for help because your car won't run, or posting pictures of how it careened into the side of a guardrail as you dori dori'ed your *** down the local twisty mountain pass.

The fact that this is your first car and you are young leads people who don't know you to believe that;
a.) You have little to no knowledge of cars.
b.) What little knowledge you may possess is non-existant when applied to a rotary powered vehicle.
c.) You are an inexperienced motorist.
d.) Your inexperience is made twice as dangerous when it is put into the seat of a powerful RWD sportscar.

Because you have a lack of mechanical expertise it will lead people who don't know you to believe that;
a.) The car will be poorly maintained.
b.) When things break you will not have the ability to repair them.
c.) If you really need something to be fixed you will be shelling out loads of dough for someone to do it for you.
d.) You will need lots of money to keep your car running.

Because the car costs $5,000 it will lead people who don't know you or the car to believe that;
a.) The car is in perfect running condition due to it's high asking price.
b.) You are getting ripped off.
c.) You have no skill in bargaining.
d.) The car is a rarer model than it is.
e.) It is either in mint condition or has lots of performance upgrades.
f.) You do not know how to properly gauge the value of the car and get a better asking price via checking the normal wear and tear items of the car.

Since you only have 0.8k after working all summer it will lead people who don't know you to believe that;
a.) You do not have the means with which to support this car.
b.) You will not be able to pay a mechanic to fix the car when it breaks down.
c.) You should be thinking about a car that is more reliable and less expensive.
d.) A sports car should not be your first car if you have less than a grand saved up.
e.) You should keep saving and have enough for the car and all of it's other secondary expenditures, then when the time is right buy a 7.

Of course none of us know you personally and this is all based upon pure assumption. None of it could be true or all of it could be true. In the end you will have better luck with a Camry. These cars are fun.....when they run, however if you aren't completely committed to loving the car even when it sits in your garage for months, it is simply a thorn in your ***, otherwise known as a bad invesment.

--Fritz

 

yea man... really gotta consider maintence costs... unles of course your parents are paying for your gas... get the camry and fb! lol drive around in the camry for awhile, and at the same time buy the FB and learn to work on it! perfect solution!

 

I get ~30 MPG cruising on the highway, and about 17-19 in the city. The car is terrible for gas in traffic, and if you drive it hard alot.

My vote is find an s4 N/A.

 

I agree, a powerful RWD sports car is a very bad choice for a first car. My first car was an '89 Mustang GT, and I totalled it and nearly killed myself. I know this is an extreme example, but it shows what can happen when an inexperienced driver has too much car.

 

also.... RWD + and/or (power) + snow = bad
still doable... but man... its really a bish less you got ALOT of extra weight to help keep the car down.

 

hmmmmmm. a lot of your assumptions dont really apply. first my name on the boards really is just a name. i take damn good care of anything i own that i love. and about the irresponsible thing, a friend of mine only lets me drive his car and thats without him in the car, and not just around the block, but a good 20 minute trip through heavy traffic. and its a 5 spd mustang. he trusts me because he knows i respect his **** and dont drive like a fool.

about the money thing, my parents will help me out. i just needed a job and some money to put down for it. about the reliability thing, if it breaks, i know a rotary mechanic i can take it to, and i always have rides if i need them cause thats how i get around now.

the reason i was pushing towards the gtu-s even though the price is too high is because i need a car very soon and i have been looking for a long time, im about to start school in a couple weeks.

i really wouldnt be satisfied with settling for teh camry when i could have an rx7. even if i cant drive it for a month strait i'd still be happier.

about not having knowledge of cars or whatever you said since this is my first car, well ive been obssessed about cars my whole life and been researching and **** forever. i know a lot just by reading and watching. yeah i havnt actually used my hands and worked on a car yet, but that doesnt meen i dont have the potential. i rebuilt a pontoon boat, got the 20 year old engine running again and even had to make some homemade parts that were missing. got all the electrical **** working again too. and thats just buy figuring it out myself. i didnt have a manual or anyone showing me what to do. sure its different than a rotary engine or even a car engine at that, but that doesnt mean i cant step it up and work on the rotary.

.................................................. .................................................. ...............................

now heres where im at now...

i went to talk to the owner of the gsl-se today, i can see the car from my house. she is the original owner and was actually about to buy an rx8. 98,000 on it, garage kept, clean as hell on the outside. seems like she had a little knowledge on the rotary so thats good.

the only bad thing is that her nephew just turned 15 and was looking for a car and was thinking about buying it. but she or her brother thought it would be too fast for his first car so thats good. and i dont know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but she said she drove it a month ago to get the brakes worked on and some other stuff because she thought she would be selling it. i was actually hoping the engine wouldnt start and she could sell it to me dirt cheap and i could just get it rebuilt and mabey help out with the rebuild so i can get some more knowledge. im going back over there later this week cause she wants to look up what they price at and stuff and shes driving it somewhere to try to get an oil leak fixed. but then again, hopefully its locked up from sitting for a month and she will just settle on selling it for cheap.

the other thing i was thinking of is that if it doesnt run then i could buy it from her, and make sorta of a trade for the gtu-s, and buy it for $2500 or something. hes selling an se right now for $2500 and i doubt its as good condition as this one is unless the engines make the difference.