You simplified your car a great deal with that big frickin' turbo.
That's the secret.
Less is more when it comes to these cars.........i'm utterly convinced of that.

 

I recently sold my modified e36 BMW for the 3rd gen. I won't go back! I might get a cheap car to put-put around in, but I don't think I will ever spend a ton of $$ for a car like that again. Before the BMW I had a few TIIs also.

While the BMW was a very capable street car, it did not give me the pleasure that driving this car does. No other car that I have ever driven has the incredible steering response of this car. The steering feel and communication is second to maybe the 911 or NSX.

You wanna turn? Sure how many millimeters should I clip that apex by? You want to blur the trees around you? Mash that mother ****** throttle down. You wanna blow away most cars around? Same thing. Shifting? My tranny has a real sweet feel to it. Shifts are crisp, a little heavy, but I like that direct feeling gear shift.

The other bland cars make some good daily drivers, but they will never replace what the 7 (especially the FD) gives back to the driver. It is one of the best driver cars around. In its price range, it is the best.

You think you're sick of fixing the 7, try a BMW. Everything is custom tools and prices are ******* expensive. I'd say dollar for dollar, they are more expensive than the 7.

It is a 10 year old car and there are certain items that we all need to address, but honestly your list ain't that bad. Besides, it can give you a nice occasional weekend project for you to enjoy. Some less enjoyable than others, but I think most 7 owners enjoy playing with our cars.

Keep your 7. You will regret selling it. Get an inexpensive car to put-put around in when you want a break from the 7. I think I might look for an old cheap Subaru or something at some point.

 

I'm not selling it.

I guess its time I accept the fact that It is what it is.

 

My FD doesn't make any strange noises, 130K on the chassis, but I am so so so glad I have other cars to drive around. I dont know where you are looking ZeroBanger, but I think the MSRP on the 350Z track model, with LSD and spoiler package is 31,000. The fully loaded Touring (the only one you can get with leather, at least for 2003) is 34,000. The MSRP on my demo (that I drive to work) is 37,000 it is a fully loaded Touring with indash navigation, but I probably wont have it for much longer because the 350Z's get sold in less than a week of getting them, our convertible touring sold for full sticker the same day we got it off the truck. They hold their value well, the low end torque is great for driving around. However I love my RX-8 more, but my girlfriend gets to drive it most of the time since I get a demo. The RX-8 is fully loaded with nav, we paid 32,000. I like its handling more than the Z, and it has enough low end power and good gearing to be fun to drive around, and having the extra seats and doors is really needed when you own 5 cars and they are all 2 doors... I will take the RX-8 over the 350Z in a heartbeat. But they are both awesome.

 

I drive my Honda delSol VTEC (160hp) everyday and take the FD out on weekends and for trackdays. It works for me, for now

 

we all know your pain, but thats part of the car, it allows you to get to know your car.

 

My good friend darril...(forced on this forum) used to tell me ...

"Owning a FD is like dating a supermodel with a bad crack habit".

 

Anyone ever think about manufacturing all the FD parts? and making a fortune off the FD owners just a thought...

 

HA! I do the exact same thing.

 

Well, that's silly. Say I had a "daily driver" and the FD was my weekend car. So, its time to drive to work...if the FD is working properly, why the hell would I NOT want to drive it??? I could have a nice, practical daily driver car and it would get ABSOLUTELY NO USE unless the FD were to go down...which it does of course...Zerobanger man, I feel your pain.

There's a song out now by 3 Days Grace called "I Hate Everything About You." I think it sums up the relationship between me and my car (the song lyrics, not the title only!).

jds

 

Mazda got there first.

 

Not the owner.... only the owners wallet... ever since i purchused my RX's i've had nothing but moths fly out of my wallet.... oh well.... I LOVE MY RX's!!!!! i'll never sell them.

 

Bureau_c, thing is I work/live during week in another city and I need my car in city traffic often. I think RX7 can't compete with delSol on morning startups and smooth drive out of the parking lot without warmup, fuel consumption and the fact many would envy the car and key it or something. During week I need my car to get me from my apartment to work and back, to grocery and back, etc... On weekends I come home and get all excited jumping into my FD

 

david, you and i are on the same page. heres my story: im 22 and own a heavily modified FD. i havent been to college yet and i know that selling my FD would get me there. . . sometimes i feel that having an education is worth more than driving a car that. . . wait. . . barely driving a car that needs more attention than my 5 year old sister.

i often look at other cars and think about how nice it would be to have one. . . the number one on my list right now is the chrysler crossfire. because i know i couldnt do JACK to it. but it costs 34k. . . . ouch.

its still in the back of my head. . . sell the FD, drive the vw gti that you already have, and get your dumbass into college. . . . or keep the FD and struggle for even longer. wow. . . hard decision.

paul

 

Dude, that is so right on the money.

 

David: I have the perfect solution. Buy a second FD! You'll have all the spare parts you need. You know everything you need to know about the car. While one is being repaired, you just drive the other one. I'll sell you mine when Rick gets finished with it at a 50% discount to what I have in it. Tom

 

Ok, I'll put my 350Z on hold and buy your car.

 

Done! The odds of me retaining my driver's license have now improved dramatically!! Tom

 

You never get temped with your new 911 turbo?

 

With all wheel drive, it's very hard to get the Porsche sideways around town. With the 7, I'm sideways all the time!! The police hardly notice you if you don't break traction. Tom

 

Sold my Del Sol to tha' folks in order to pay for *part* of the FD...

Daily driver = El cheapo '96 Subaru Impreza L wagon

FD 0wnerz seem to think alike sometimes...

 

Napa's got a pretty good selection of clips. No need to buy entire consoles.

Go read about some kills. Make sure one of 'em is yours.

 

1. Thats a lot of miles on a mostly plastic car.

2. Get a mid-milage 94. There are lots of inprovements. I don't have any of those problems....yet.

 

You know, no matter how you look at it, cars nearly 10 years old and more are border line project cars.

Little AND big things are bound to break. Especially with the amount of stress FDs go through, and the fact that Mazda had a few quaility control issues back then doesn't help, either.

Projects cars are a Love or hate thing. You either Love it and learn to live with it's age and TLC it needs or you hate it, throw it away, and get something new.

So what's it gonna be?

 

Hmm, I find it interesting how many people have both FD and delSol or CRX. Fascinating.

I love them both although delSol can't really compare to FD, it had never let me down.

Kind of like a wife and a mistress