ghowell13

I have to agree, go ahead, sounds like fun, and you will enjoy driving a drive's car on the trip. but packing will be a bit tight, and it is a bit cramped.....

JConn2299

No prob. If you're up to date on your routine maintenance (changed the fuel filter in the last 15k miles? ) you'll be fine. I drove the car down the entire east coast this summer without so much as a hiccup.

The real problem with such a trip? Space. Two people in the car for an extended trip, and one of them being a woman.....space is going to be at a premium.

Section8

iTrader: (6)

I've made a couple of 600 mile round trips since I got my FD, and it's done fine, even with an Autox in the middle of the trip. If your car is properly maintained, and you've done the reliability mods as you say, you should be fine.

Now comfortwise is a different story. I've been fairly comfortable in my car, but we haven't driven it for longer than 5 hours at a stretch.

DaveW

My wife and I have done several week-long vacation trips in our FD. Other than planning how to pack everything, we've had absolutely no problems. It is really NOT uncomfortable!

Fritz Flynn

iTrader: (263)

I just read somewhere that the RX8 set some sort of speed endurance record.

Rotaries may have a few little problems but going long distances is actually one of there virtues

Have FUN

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

I agree ^. But 4000 miles? Reliability concerns aside, my trips are generally a few hundred miles.

alberto_mg

Take it!

I drove mine NY to Montreal, NY>PA, NY>VT, NY>DC etc etc. Car is great on long trips IMO. It is fun to drive and the seats are great and its a whole cooler than driving some econobox wanna be sports car. Gets decent mileage (350 highway cruise to Montreal) too depending how heavy you are on the go pedal.

Just make sure that everything is on the up and up before hand and you'll be great.

diablone

iTrader: (2)

Well it's a good thing you decided to throw your uneducated two cents in by relating it to an NA rotary.

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

Why not drive it? granted, i don't own a FD, but like was stated earlier, why own the car if you're not gonna drive it? any car, i dont' care what it is, has a pretty good chance of something major going wrong after 50,000 miles. case-in-point, the minivan that i drive while i'm at school, bought it from my grandparents. every scheduled maintainanace was done on time, either at the dealership or at the couple of shops that my grandpa trusts, and the tranny went out at about 60,000 miles. 1994 Mercury Villager. taking any car with close to, or over 50k miles on a roadtrip like that, you're taking the chance that something major will go wrong. if you have all your maintainance up to date, get AAA for the towing just in case, and take the 7. what have you go to loose? a little time if you break down? some money? packing and personal space? personally, those risks would be well worth taking if i could drive a car that i love on a roadtrip like that.

RacerX_IU

id do it. if you were to break down anywhere im sure someone on here would come to your rescue. Car sounds like its in good condition, go for it.

KaiFD3S

iTrader: (37)

just do it and have a blast...

150kFd

Do it. You only live once. I've driven my 93 to Chicago from San Francisco and back twice in the last 3 years and this is AFTER I had over 100,000 on the odometer. Not a single problem. When you stop for a meal or something and the car cools down check your fluids before getting back on the road.
If you had an upgraded radiator and new hoses that would probably help your peace of mind too.

FD3S LIGHTNING

I would drive it but I would be worried that IF i do breakdown and have to get it towed, will the towtruck mess up my bumper?

Sgtblue

iTrader: (16)

^Not to worry, all reputable tow companies now use wheel-lifts or tilt-bed trucks. Nothing is placed against your bumper and the weight of the car remains right where it should be, on suspension.

FD3S LIGHTNING

what about the angle of approach? Sorry about all the ?'s. I have the CW N1 now so I know my bumper a lot lower.

93FD3S

Mejogirl from San Antonio what a coincidence..!! :-) But yeah I would drive it especially if you don't have large after market wheels and a bodykit to worry about. Just do an oil change and bring a couple extra quarts of oil. And of course remember to check yor oil level so often.

`sl!mXP

ouch lol

I drove my FD 800 miles from buying it to get it home without any problems - hell I wish it drove as good now as it did then

neit_jnf

iTrader: (17)

I drove mine about 1100 miles from TX to MI last summer no problems

Mazda99Nikon

Thanks for all the replies!

Looks like a go. I travel light, two pair of jeans, a couple of shirts. The wife on the other hand .... do they make a trailer hitch for RX-7s?

I'll send some digital postcards ... if she doesn't back out and take the Solara. LOL.

jpandes

You will have more fun onyour trip if you take the RX7. Drivng = pleasure. Your wife is a keeper for suggesting it.

DamonB

Yes they do

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/trailer-hitch-install-39691/

zullo

Nah, wrong tool for the job, imho.

IF you were to have a problem out in the middle of nowhere and say, lose a seal, who is going to fix it? Where would you have it towed? I've been stuck enough times with small town mechanics fixing broken down cars, that I shudder to think of one working on my FD.
Cars on long trips can and will break down, rotaries or not.

"Hey Wally, he says this thang ain't got no pistons... and lookee here, its got two raderator caps. Gyawd dawg"

Save the Mazda for day cruises, the twisty runs through the hills, within a few hundred miles of a trusted mechanic. Its not worth risking it on the long boring-*** straight and potholed highways through the midwest. The Solara will be gentler on your backs, you'll be able to hear your music and each other, you won't be mentally exhausted from watching your temp and oil pressure (and speedometer), you'll be able to pack a cooler of food and drinks, etc etc. On the long trips, "comfort is key".

And imagine getting home and seeing your beautiful shiny FD in the garage all healthy and waiting for your next romp in the country.