Ichibahn

Hey guys, first post here. (i posted this in lounge too).

i just got done with a tour in Iraq and got out of the Marine Corps (woot, free at last). anyway, i came back with quite a few bucks and i'm going to school now which the government so happily pays for so, i want to blow my hard earned iraqi money on a new car.

so, my ultimate question is...why pick an RX-7? with my budget (under $20K), why buy a car that is going to be almost 13 years old (i really like the FDs)? i also live in california so, i'll have to deal with the annoying smog rules.

anyway, please keep the threads on topic and don't flame other cars (like hondas).

Mahjik

iTrader: (1)

If you have to ask, it's not a car for you. It's an enthusiast car. You just have to want it. If you don't know why you should pick an RX-7, pick something like an S2000 (which is a good sports car in it's own right).

RoninX

S2K or 350z both excellent choices .

check_ur_six

A one-year-old 2nd gen made me appreciate rotary power and the expense of maintaining one. I fell in love with the lines of the FD but had to wait nearly 13 years to afford a nearly new one. Read the FAQ and forums and then decide if it's for you.

chagar

As far as the RX7 goes it is a great car but expensive to keep even if you have the mechanical ability to work on it. I was 45 when I purchased the RX and that was my first performance car. Some things just take time.

I wanted to thank you for your service to our country. I think of our troops everyday and pray they will all come home alive. I was in Vietnam and when I got out I let the government pay for my schooling also. Looking back it was worth it, then just glad to be back in the world.

Congrats on making it back.

Natey

iTrader: (19)

I just traded my 91 FC for an FD about two weeks ago.

So far I've gotten two thumbs up, and a million "WTF was that?" looks. Even a guy in an RX-8 did a triple take on me as I drove past him.
I live in a town where I just may have the only 3rd gen RX-7, and I love this car. It's quicker than my supercharged Miata off the line, and I really haven't pushed it in the twisties because I really don't trust it at the track quite yet.

There's FD ownership in a nutshell:
Semi rare
Great looks,
speed and power to back up those great looks
reliability?....eh, well, they sure look good.

BMike

Dollar for dollar, in my opinion, its the greatest sports car ever made, and the best looking. I think to really own and appriciate an RX7 you have to be in love with it and willing to "put up with it". The FD3S and a 67 mustang are my two dream cars, so I've got 1 out of 2. And like chagar said, thanks for serving your country, and welcome home.

viciousNY

For me, the FD is more of an object of lust. It's lines and curves. The stance. The sound. It is a superb performance machine, but it can require some work, and due to its unique powerplant, that can get some people down. I suppose, like any other purchase, you really just need a burning desire to want it. I place a lot of value on aesthetics, so it is a sensible vehicle for me. Go with something that makes YOU happy. Good luck and thanks for you service!

Kento

Hate to sound elitist, but this basically sums up questions like this in a nutshell...

Ichibahn

thanks for the input so far. i can't say i'm in love with it yet as i have yet to drive one. i love the curves that's for sure and my neighbor has one and i love hearing it roll by. maybe i should ask him if i can test drive it >_<

GUITARJUNKIE28

have you not driven a c6 corvette? i do agree about the looks, though. fd's are sexy.

xblazinlv

Ditto, I have one, and I love it way more than my FD. Well, no I don't but it is definitely a lot more impressive dollar for dollar.

wutanec

Don't get an RX7. People thinks it's a mx6 haha . JK. I got a lot of thumbs up and people yelling "nice car!" but those are people who are car enthusiasts. Some people actually think it's a mx6 or a probe tho..... If you are not hard core RX7 enthusiast like us, i would get a S2000. it's gonna be fun to drive, reliable and get the same attention as an RX7 from people who dont really know cars.

BMike

Sure haven't, don't know anyone with one and I'd get laughed out of the dealership trying to test drive one I'm sure. (I'm 27 but I look about 17 and I don't have quite the bank roll to finance a C6) maybe if I drove the FD to the dealer and acted like I wanted to trade it...? lol

New to new I concede the point, the C6 is unrivaled in performance to dollars. But RX7s aren't new anymore, and a nice R1 can be had for 13k or less, I don't see C6s or even Z06 C5s comming close to that mark for some time.

tphan

In my case the question would be
Why keep the FD?

1. Whenever I am jonsing for speed...its satisfied my need. My most recent "fix" was last night.

2. The FD body is so dam SEXY even a C6 can't beat. Not too mention the tight racy interior canted console.

3. My 70 years old mother love to be in it every chance she get. Either she has good taste or it's special car. It is BOTH.

As for money...I burnt about $40K into my 94 Cobra...so enough said.

The Driver

iTrader: (4)

I've been in love with the car since I saw it. I've loved 7's since I was 10 an went on ebay looking to buy one loll. If you don't like the car at first or even just ehhh maybe that then it isn't for you. It is truely an enthusiasts car and a perfectionists car as well. Everytime I look at my 7 I think what can I do next not Eh it's done. I tend to think outside the box thats why I like rotaries in general. For a person looking for a cool car I would not reccomend a rotary, because I know a kid who has one and it's the dredded money pit. Go with an S2K, 350 Z or an STI. Supra's too far out of your budget (20K+) .

telum01

if your budget is 20k, i'd suggest getting a different car. and (no offense) you don't know what you're getting into. i swear by subaru's (i'm on my third, an '05 STi) and i have loved them all. i'd suggest an '02-03 wrx and drop some dough into mods. it'll be an awesome car and will be more practical than most at the same time. i bought my FD for $7000 (a total steal), but i've only had it for a few months and i've already dropped over $2k into getting it close to ready for semi-daily driving (it's currently inoperable due to a broken solenoid and a random as hell coolant leak). i've spent 5 years researching and looking for an FD, and it took that long to get it and be comfortable actually owning one. and again, not to be rude, but if you have to ask, the FD is not a car for you. good luck with your search and congrats on your new freedom (i've got 65 days left out of a 5-yr contract in the marnie crops).

vellj001

Why I drive my FD put aside the fact that I fell in love with here lines the day I saw her and till this day nothing look better. Put aside it power and uniqueness.

I diver my FD becasue it is an emotion everytime being good or bad its always an emotion I get out of my garage with her.

SINxSELEKTAH

iTrader: (2)

hmm..familiar post in the lounge section... but oh well

as i've stated before in the lounge...my gf likes my FD. everywhere we go, she notices i get good comments from a lot of people, old and young.

i love my FD and every penny spent towards it is worth it. i wouldn't give it up for the world

DrunkenBowler

1. It's a great sports car (handling and speed).
2. Unique (not many around).
3. Easy to work on.
4. Fun to mod (but expensive).
5. The girls luv it
6. I've dumped so much money into it now....I just have to keep it.
7. I'm not done modding it.

Julian

iTrader: (14)

I went to a Mazda dealer to drive an RX-8 (for a family car) and the saleman asked, "what kinda of Mazda is that" (the "Mazdaspeed" decal on front must have given him a heads up on brand). I told him, "one that will wet your pants .. get in and I will show you what a real sports car will do".

GUITARJUNKIE28

and 10 years from now, when c6's are less than half the price, they'll STILL outperform the fd dollar for dollar

rx7's are still my favorite, but performance doesn't lie.

RX7JCHIII

If you have only 20k to drop on one you might want to rethink it.....you can get another sports car with better reliablity for 20k.

BMike

You can tell me you told me so 10 years from now, lol.

RaPtOr-T

Oh my god, you just compared a car 13 years newer and about 35k dollars more and said it was dollar to dollar? Lets find a nice FD and put 35k mods into and see what performance says.