Okay, I always read that Base models were more desireable for modding but I have yet to see an explanation. I am thinking about buying a touring with 59k for 15,000 but I was just curious if the only reason the touring was less wanted because of weight issues, or was it the bose, or suspension?
Any help is appreciated.

 

touring has a softer suspension, plus it's a little heavier due to bose system, leather seats, rear wiper and some others... it aslo lacks an extra oil cooler compared to the R models.

 

The Touring is slightly heaver because of the STD sun roof, rear wiper, Bose System and Cruise control - all of which are desirable or can be removed
The base & touring suspensions are the same - The R-1s had much stiffer shocks, and for 94+ R-2s smaller rear roll bars and shocks that while still stiffer than Base/Touring are softer than the R-1's

 

Okay thanks, I appreciate it, Ill keep this in mind and go ahead with the purchase after bank confirms. As for suspension they are all to soft for me So its all getting replaced.

 

I've driven the R1's before and noticed no difference in the ride compared to my Touring.. I happen to prefer the little extras on the Touring also. *shrugs* Go for it!

 

How hard/expensive/worthwhile is it to add the oil cooler, rear wiper, and stiffen suspension to R1 level?

Dave

 

You can pick up the second oil cooler from a parted out R1 for about $250 or so..rear wiper should be considerablly cheaper..you can get aftermarket suspension parts for < $500..

So all in all for about $800-$1000 you could conver your touring to be essentially R1-style..

Is it worthwhile, that's your call..

How hard? No idea..

 

downfalls of tourning
-no 2nd oil cooler
-no front strut bar
-no front and rear spoilers
-heaver
-softer suspension
-frame is not has stiff since it has the sun/moonroof

 

I have a Touring. Personally, I like the Sunroof & leater seating and the power windows... Regardless of which version FD you buy, you are probably going to want to upgrade the suspension. IMO. You may want to lower it or run Plus 1 or 2 sized rims. So, I don't think not getting the R1 suspension is a big deal.

However, the stock touring suspension really sucks! I felt a HUGE improvement after I upgraded to adjustable shocks and lowering springs.

My .02

John

 

Nothing a few modifications wouldn't fix. And as far as frame rigidty due to the sunroof. You would never notice the difference. Touring is better than base the base model IMO...

 

Hell no. It's the other way around.

 

Yeah I am deffinately going for it, does anybody in here know of a black touring with 59k on it near monterey area for sale that could tell me anything about it (hear-say?) Also if anyone could run the Carfax for me and email it to me that would be cool.
JM1FD3316P0209340

Thanks

Also, as soon as an ongoing suit is settled I will be doing more than enough mods to make it difficult to distinguish what it used to be.

 

Have you ever ridden in a R1? The Touring suspension is stiff enough already.

The Touring models adds about 60-80lbs over the base/R1s. If you plan on modding you car, there is no real reason to hold out for a base/R1.

My Touring has, compared to a R1/2:

Koni adjustable shocks
H&R springs
Cusco strut brace
Sparco Roadster seats (the R1/2s have a 'suede' seat material vs leather on the Tourings)
99 lip (to be installed)
99 adjustable wing (to be installed)

The only thing I'm missing is a 2nd oil cooler, but I have a competition aluminum radiator already with future plans to do aftermarket oil coolers. Sway bars are also slated for later.

 

GOOD NEWS! CARFAX search results confirm this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340) qualifies for the $5,000 CARFAX Clean Title History Guarantee. By ordering this CARFAX Report, you have significantly reduced your risk of purchasing a vehicle with a costly hidden problem.

Section #: Section Name: Section Results:
Vehicle Specifications JM1FD3316P0209340
1993 MAZDA RX7
Title Check Clean Title History Guaranteed
Odometer Rollback Check No Odometer Rollback Detected

Problem Check No Problems Found
Registration Check Checked 7 types of vehicle registrations
Vehicle History Details 7 Total Vehicle History Records Found



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NOTE: This vehicle has not been inspected by CARFAX and it may have problems that have not been reported to CARFAX. CARFAX recommends a vehicle inspection by a professional mechanic.

How did CARFAX analyze this vehicle's history?





VIN: JM1FD3316P0209340
Year/Make/Model: 1993 MAZDA RX7

Body Style: COUPE
Engine: 1.3L ROTARY TURBO FI
Fuel: GASOLINE
Driveline: REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Carburetion: TURBO FUEL INJECTED, 1, 2, OR 4 BARREL CARB
Cylinders: R
Manufactured in: JAPAN

GOOD NEWS! CARFAX search results confirm this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340) qualifies for the CARFAX $5,000 Clean Title History Guarantee.


CARFAX analyzed this vehicle's title history to determine if any title documents were designated or marked with the following problems:

Problem Titles Checked: Results:
Salvage/Junk Checked - No Salvage/Junk Title Found
Rebuilt/Reconstructed Checked - No Rebuilt/Reconstructed Title Found
Flood Damage Checked - No Flood Damage Title Found
Damage Disclosure Checked - No Damage Disclosure Found
Manufacturer Buyback (LEMON) Checked - No Manufacturer Buyback Found
Exceeds Mechanical Limits (EML) Checked - No EML Found
Not Actual Mileage (NAM) Checked - No NAM Found

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GOOD NEWS! CARFAX search results on this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340) did not uncover a potential odometer rollback. CARFAX analyzed this vehicle's reported odometer readings to determine if any reading is less than a previously reported reading.

Date Reported: Odometer Reading:
06/25/1996 19,118

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

08/10/1996 19,314

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02/28/1998 39,045

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02/26/2000 49,608

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04/05/2000 19,388 Reported on 08/23/1996




GOOD NEWS! CARFAX search results on this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340) did not uncover any of the following problems:

Problems Checked: Results:
Accident Checked - No Accident Record Found
Salvage Auction Checked - No Salvage Auction Record Found
Failed Emissions Inspection Checked - No Failed Emissions Record Found
Fire Damage Checked - No Fire Damage Record Found
Crash Test Vehicle Checked - No Crash Test Vehicle Record Found
Grey Market Vehicle Checked - No Grey Market Vehicle Record Found
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CARFAX search results on this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340) identify the types of state motor vehicle department registrations, other than private, that appear in this vehicle's history.

Registrations Checked: Results:
Lease Checked - No Lease Registration Found
Rental Checked - No Rental Registration Found
Government Checked - No Government Registration Found
Taxi Checked - No Taxi Registration Found
Fleet Checked - No Fleet Registration Found
Commercial Checked - No Commercial Registration Found
Non-Profit Checked - No Non-Profit Registration Found
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The CARFAX database contains a total of 7 vehicle history records on this 1993 MAZDA RX7 (JM1FD3316P0209340):


DATE
REPORTED ODOMETER
READING INFORMATION
SOURCE GENERAL
COMMENTS
04/02/1993 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Title issued


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

06/25/1996 19,118 Auto Auction
Pacific SW Region
Vehicle sold


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

08/10/1996 19,314 California
Inspection Station
Los Altos, CA
Passed emissions inspection


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02/28/1998 39,045 California
Inspection Station
San Francisco, CA
Passed emissions inspection


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02/26/2000 49,608 California
Inspection Station
Eureka, CA
Passed emissions inspection


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

02/26/2000 Vehicle Repair Center
Eureka, CA
Vehicle serviced


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04/05/2000 19,388 California
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Salinas, CA
Title issued
Odometer reading recorded on 08/23/1996


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NOTES:

Click here for a complete CARFAX Glossary.

You have significantly reduced your risk of purchasing a vehicle with a hidden problem. However, CARFAX has not inspected this vehicle. There could be other potential problems with this vehicle that have not been reported to CARFAX. CARFAX recommends a vehicle inspection by a professional mechanic.

Not all titles issued represent a change in vehicle ownership. For example, a title could be issued to reflect an address change or correction.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice find man. I would personally go with the base model. anyways good luck with it

 

Touring has some obvious advantages for those that prefer the extra Touring features, but these are the disadvantages that I can think of:

- reduced headroom from sunroof (especially if you are tall and/or plan to wear a helmet in the car)
- heavier, and I think some of it is from more sound deadening material
- the leather seats don't seem to wear as well as the base seats, and you are more prone to sliding around
- the Bose system presents some upgrade challenges if you intend to add some stereo stuff

I would think that any car would need new shocks at this point, so the stiffer R1 shocks probably aren't worth much if you are buying a whole car.

-Max

 

Personally, I think I've got the best of the lot -- the PEP package (late 94 and 95 only). The PEP package came with leather, cruise, sunroof, and possibly foglights (not sure if fogs were a stand-alone add on to the PEP package or not).

Pros of PEP:

*R1 stuff is relatively easy to add and except for strut brace is essentially non-functional. I would say the second oil cooler is only functional for hard racing, not street driving. The spoilers do add a little bit of downforce but also add a significant amount of drag, totally useless in street driving.

*I LIKE having cruise control and a sunroof.

*No Bose, which doesn't sound that spectacular, is heavy, takes up most of hatch, and makes upgrading the audio difficult.

*No rear wiper which I find pointless and ugly.

Cons of PEP:

*for racing, the cloth seats of the base model are much grippier. I find I slide quite a bit even in street driving.

*as Max said, if you are taller, a sunroof = trouble

*that's about it

To me, it's much easier to add the R1 bits to a PEP than the other way around. Good luck with your purchase, you'll be happy either way (unless it's an auto -- totally unacceptable IMO).

 

I have a touring and am tall (6'2") and take my car to the track. That all = bad for me. I have to take the pad out of my racing seat, scoot down a little and the seat belts (4 point harness) don't fit where they should.

I am very seriously considering taking out the headliner, sunroof assembly and securing the roof panel in place (somehow) because this seems to be the cheapest most reasonable way to keep taking my car to the track. I love driving this car on the track and I just don't think any other realistic option would make me happy.

Anybody have any experience with removing a sunroof?

Tom

 

Thanks for all your replies. I will be purchasing the FD on Weds. From what I have seen $15k for a car with 59k miles is a good deal and I am very happy. Maybe I'll try to get some pics up, trust me its beautiful. As for all the arguments about 17 y/o kids owning 3rd gens, I think those guys were just jealous that they didnt have them when they were at that age.
Thanks

 

Good luck with the FD. I picked up my '93 Touring back in July of 1998 (w/ only 39K miles) for $14,900. I have loved the car since! Once you start modifying the car, you won't be able to stop (unless your finances stop you). :-)