Title says it all has anyone sold their LHD FD since this RHD mania started?

I sold mine just before the JDM craze and I am wondering because here I haven't heard of any sales.

 

i bought my usmd rx7 07 nov

 

I'm looking to buy an FD, have been for a few months now actually. I can tell you, you get more value for the money with RHD. Importing a car from Japan is thousands of dollars cheaper.

The FD is an amazing car for sure. But one of the reasons it's maintained its value was because of its rarity. You just can't sell LHD FDs for the same price anymore and expect to sell it with RHD cars costing so much less. Maybe in a few years when the JDM cars become more rare making them harder to get. But right now is not a good time to sell an LHD imo.

 

Interesting topic.
Yes, I do agree that the marked for domestic FDs has deminished a bit, and people expecting $25k, probably won't get it.

But, domestic and JDM FDs cater to a differenty type of buyer. The rotary ethusiast that wants a clean, well maintained and mechanically sound FD, will wait for that special LHD model, sold by a reputable owner, to come along. They will generally also pay what is expected $18-20k+. I'm one of those people.

I don't know what motivates people to buy JDM (usually just from pictures alone) aside from price and the hope that they get a car that won't blow up right after it's off the boat. What else can it be?

 

There are many guys around that simply wouldnt "settle for a rhd". A canadian lhd is way more rare in its production numbers, reflecting on its value.

Most of the guys buying the rhds are younger and have less money to spend on the car initially aswell as money to maintain them. This is why most of them seem to be in less desireable shape and need thousands of dollars in maintenance and repair.

 

I've seen some pretty sweet JDM FD's around, although it does seem to be pretty common for them to need rebuilds within a short while of arriving. I suspect as much as anything, since it even seems to happen on well-cared for, low mileage ones, that it comes down to prolonged storage/transport without proper prep - particularly sitting outside in storage yards and around ports - damp, maritime environments. There are, also a fair number of RHD's I see that are fairly thrashed looking (paint, body & trim, bad ricer mods) - but that also seems to be becoming more common for LHD's - they are getting to be an old car, so even with a specialty item like an RX-7 it's inevitable some people are going to spend more than they can afford to buy them, and not be able to afford maintenance or restoration, or just not care that much.

In any case, my perception here on the forum is there continues to be the same, low number of Canadian/US LHD FD's selling over the last year or so - and that prices (at least asking prices) haven't come down significantly. For me, LHD would be the only option, not just a preference - I couldn't squeeze my long-legged, 6'3" frame in a RHD

 

A friend of mine just bought a LHD FD a couple of weeks ago. RHD was not an option. I can also say for myself I would never even consider a RHD car unless I lived where that's what you drove.

 

I waited for a while to get a LHD , but i could not find one that was not overly priced in my mind, so i picked up a RHD.
i definetly would rather have a LHD but, and i make enough money to get one but i just fiqured the price is to high.

yes there rare and all but still, just my 2 cents,
maybe after i get my house and tacoma ill turn around and sell my RHD and get a LHD.

 

Alright I was just looking because I feel like getting a project car but am wondering how my FD would fare on the market today.

I sold my last one for 22,500$ and it was a VR 93 Touring w/ 106km's with all bolt ons tuned, great compression, no water sealing problems.

Now this one has 120km but freshly repainted, with a Sanai kit, full bolt ons, Superpro full kit installed, new brakes, lines, clutch, flywheel, PFC of course, Noltec motor mounts, Cusco strut brace, Greddy coilovers, Enkei RPF1's etc etc. But if there are still knowledgable FD wanters out there I guess it is good for me, maybe there is hope for when I wanna sell my car someone will pay the price.

For the guy who said RHD has more value for money I disagree. When you look at a list of parts people seldom remember that those parts are far from new and also if you have to do a rebuild not long after owning the car then it has to factor into the price which makes it not such a good deal overall anymore. For me personally the safety issues of driving RHD in Canada mean no matter what price I wouldn't buy it.

 

Good points guys. There will always be a buyer for whatever you're trying to sell.

But for me it's more about the car then which side the steering wheel is on or a production number. I'm not a collector, I want to drive the car. So for me to get the most for my money at this point in time it's JDM.

As for hoping the engine won't blow once it's off the boat, I think that's the risk you take with any rotary lol. "Always have $4-5k on hand for an engine rebuild" is the advice I'm always given.

Just because the car is coming from Japan doesn't mean it wasn't well maintained.
While doing research on a particular importer, I came across someone who said the car they had imported came with everything that was ever done to the car, even gas receipts lol.

 

When purchasing a RHD, i think it is a lot simpler to just plan to rebuild the engine, and bodywork/repaint once you get thecar. and in fact, in most cases, even after this you do spend less than a clean LHD. it is a simple matter of supply and market value.
The domestic FDs are lower in supply and higher in market value; it is not really necessary to generalize the "condition" of RHD vs LHD cars.
i'll say though that you can find LHD FDs where you don't need to put any effort/investment into getting it clean, they already come that way. i'm sure a 20k RHD would also, but haven't seen too many of those.

Alas, after looking at FDs i have decided to betray the rotary fold and spend my money elsewhere.
maybe some day...(i would probably never buy an FD "on the cheap", i want to start with a clean product).

me personally, i would rather drive on the left side here. [among other reasons] i like my Tim Horton's drive-throughs too much.

 

I'll sell you my FD for 18k, its LHD

 

My FD is RHD and I do consider myself a rotary enthusiast. Also, for the record, this FD of mine is not my first RX-7, but it is my first RHD car. That being said, before the buying my FC, I owned an Eclipse. I thought the car was all right, but it being mostly an American product with a Japanese badge on it, I felt a little wrong driving that. I saw an FC that was more to my liking. I loved it very much so, but once I exceeded it's limits and felt I wanted more performance at the track, I then decided to buy an FD. I looked online in the US and found plenty of very well kept FDs, but I asked myself if this is what I was looking for. Money wasn't too much of an option. I was willing to pay up to $20,000 for an FD and sell of my FC for extra cash, but it was the burden of buying such a pristine condition vehicle. I wanted to go to it's roots to throw a tribute at the car I've grown to love. Now, I own a JDM FD. I still paid a pretty penny for it, as I specifically wanted a stock FD. Since then, I've thrown $10000 into it with proper reliability mods and a fresh rebuilt engine with new everything and I couldn't be happier with it. I just wanted a RHD FD and I do want a RHD FC for the same reasons.

It also comes to the issue of me not wanting to track a car that is valued higher... in the back of my mind, that thought alone will prevent me from being more aggressive through the turn, thus lowering my lap times.

I also want to go all out on my RHD FD to compliment it's roots and continue to use it as a tribute to my favourite car. I do, however, plan on buying a LHD FD later in life for city cruising and I plan to keep it stock.

I know some people buy JDM FD's solely because it's cheap, but the only problem I see in that, is that they budget for $14,000 and the buy an FD for $13,500. There is a LDH FD in my city selling for $26,000. I think that's absolutely ridiculous. Before everyone comments, the car is not mint

that's my story and insight.

 

stealin business time!
ill sell you my FD for 16k, its LHD too
also, for ppl that cant shift with their left hand for ****, ( like me)
drivin RHD is a killer, feels weird too, till u get used to it i guess and without a short shifter, id probably shift from 2 to 5 once outta 10 times

 

Just curious, why do 7 rockets and Zhe wanna sell your FD? u guys wanna change cars?

 

7_Rocket is gonna go with a Hero Honda 180cc, back to brown

 

for me I'll only buy domestic market cars. I have no need or want to buy a JDM. If i did buy a JDM it would be for shell only to turn into a drag car and convert over to a lhd. In a market saturated with jdm the lhd is rare in my eyes and still worth up to 26,000

 

^ Even if it's falling apart? I can hook you up bahaha..

 

And I'm just throwing it out there. I have a clean 93 LHD silver one

 

nah im just sayin im sellin my for cheaper so dom has to keep his and ppl wont be sad

no seriously, i dont wanna sell mine, too many plans for it, theres a big list and it gonna rape me fianicanically, im so broke i cant even spell anymore :S
maybe i should sell the car

 

i would never buy a RHD. unless it's a car that is unavailable here (R32 GTR).

reason for my logic is that, if you can get it in LHD; you might as well get it in LHD because that's how we drive in Canada. Traffic moves to the right here, not to the left.

I will get an FD someday, and when I do.. it will be a LHD, RHD will not be an option for me. I want a BB R1 or R2. hahaha