I guess when I say "Is it possible," I mean, is there any miniscule amount of money left in the budget after you pay for that FD every month?

I drive a NA 300ZX now and I'm thinking about trying to pickup a FD next summer, when I will be working full time... Keep in mind, I will be attending community college that is about 10-15 miles away from my house.

I was just wondering how hard you have to work to afford an FD while being a student in college... I have a huge passion for the FD, but I don't want to buy one only to have to sell it a few months later because it's throwing me into debt..

 

Stay away!!!
Keep what you have and dump all your hard earned money on an fd when you're done with school. Just my $.02

 

There is a way my young padawan! You must get a daily beater!

 

LOL!!! Here's the problem I think having a daily beater along with an FD pose. If/when your fd is down for whatever reason, you suffer from "daily beater syndrome"(1.) In other words, since you'll have a good driving beater to take to work/places everyday, you'll leave the fd just sitting in your garage or parents' house untouched for a while. That = dead money.

(1.) Phrase compliments of MaxCooper

 

Once I get settled into my job I'm going to trade in my car and buy a fd. Just depends on how much you are willing to sacrifice =) I already spend less that $5 a day so I can save money to get an fd and have two jobs. If that isn't commitment I don't know what is.

 

Ah, but you see, that's not true! When the Z was down... I couldn't STAND driving my parent's Grand Prix.. ugh, I hated that thing. I had to get my Z back asap! The only diff was I wasn't spending any money because I had already spent it, which was why the Z was down (Suspension... car was on blocks).

 

Another problem with Daily Beater Syndrome is you can afford the time to do massive, time-consuming upgrades. Like removing EVERYTHING in the engine bay to repaint it, re-doing half the wiring harnesses in the car, might as well do bushings while it's in the air...

One year later, my car does actually run....

Dale

 

Ditto on that one....

 

i think you would be fine, if you leave it close to stock. downpipe, catback, airfliter. maybe a ast and radiator you should be fine. just don't get greedy and run to much boost with out supporting mods.

my fd is my daily driver... why buy a car your not going to drive..

 

I have to say is, It how much you want it. I got my FD
when i was 16 (Now 18) and it took me some time to
build it. But i don't really regret buying it at all. Its been
my whole life but well worth it. I have about $50k in my
car now and it keeps on going up.

On my second motor.

And thats my $0.02 cents.

JP

 

I just want downpipe, catback, intake, radiator, 3mm apex seals (just in case ), boost gauge, hks ssqbovs (They make those for the 7, don't they?), jspec tails, and non-popup headlights, if they're not too expensive..

 

Pop up headlights are expensive $600-$1400

Just so ya know.

Go here for some prices. www.rx7store.net

HKS SS BOV

JP

 

That's a nice looking Z. What kind of mods do you have in it now?

 

What he said...

 

JWT Pop Charger Intake
Brullen Exhaust
Stillen GTZ-R Front Fascia
Kaminari Rear Spoiler
Stillen Cross Drilled Rotors
Otto Racing Front and Rear Strut Tower Braces
Eibach Springs mounted on Tokico Illumina 5 way Adjustibles
Adjustible Tension Rods
Adjustible Camber Arms
Adjustible Rear Upper Arms
20% Tinted Windows
Reverse Indiglo Gauges
Clear Corners
Alpine Head Unit
Diamond Audio Components and Coaxials

I've put a lot of into her, but since she's not a Twin Turbo, I either want to sell it and buy an FD next summer or drop a Twin Turbo motor into it... I only want to drop the TT motor in it if I can't afford a FD, though.

 

The only reason we can afford to own FD's,..is because we are all millionaires!!. BUT,..we were billionaires when we first bought our FD. STAY AWAY grasshoppah.

 

Haha trust me man im a student i have 3 jobs its not fun my FD uses more gas in a week then i do for food sometimes not to mention saving for mods. Dont do it unless ur willing to just live like a bum other than ur extaordanarily nice car. I just love the FD that much

 

In my case having a daily beater is a blessing. Makes me appreciate my FD even more. Instead of getting "burnt out". Take it out on the weekends and just cruise, and let her rest on weekdays.

 

That's an awesome concept to have SoCal, but the issue is what happens when the FD goes down for any particular reason. Have you had your FD down for more than 6 months at a time because your beater seemed pretty reliable? As soon as an FD goes down, and there is a daily beater in the picture, the FD will get modded to no end.

 

i do that. ive been driving an FD since high school, im a junior in college now. good thing i can walk to school in a matter of minutes every day

 

This is exactly what will happen. Do a search for this subject, the question gets asked often, you'll get a lot of good advise.

I'm 25 with a great paying job, and I have trouble affording this car (daily driver). My $.02 is don't do it. If you have some money lying around, throw the twin turbo engine in your z and be happy to still own a nicer car than most other students....

 

Don't do it. The only reason I am able to do it, is that I have a load of cash. Taking out a loan big enough to really cover the car (18k for a 13k car) would be nearly impossible, and the payment would knock you off your feet.

Even without that, if the car goes down, how are you going to get to school? I just happen to live right next to campus so it's not a problem.

 

okay is there anyone with any SUCCESS stories ? this is pretty saddening.

are all Fds like this ? anyone besides mako got a good running car ?

 

Mine is running well, but there is always the possibility.

 

I bought my car as a total from a muffler caused fire with a blown engine and total lack of care over its first 61,000 miles. I put about $11,000 into it in getting it running and cleaning up the missing/busted parts. I've got about 5500 miles on it and it has been reliable. I use it around town and short road trips for my daily driver. The only nagging problem has been high running temperatures on very hot days. All this said, I do have a pickup and my wife has a sedan for backup.

No, it wasn't an economic decision to fix it up. Yes, I would do it again for the fun and faithfulness the car has given me for saving it from the crusher.

Good luck with your education.

Steve