Using the word investment to describe a car purchase is akin to saying Jumbo Shrimp.

 

Been reading up on some of the comments. Parents aren't buying me the car, I'm paying out of pocket for it. I actually do have a job that gets me decent cash for a car. Still spent some time talking to my cousin about the decision. The thing he told me about it is that its a high maintenance car, including the oil changes and the whole business about it. He has a good history with cars, not rotaries but has a good number of ties with longtime car owners even though he owns a modified toyota taco s-runner. My thoughts on car wise are going with a 3rd gen rx7 right off the bat even possibly a 2nd gen, mazda miata, an old beater ae86, or honda s2000. I'm personally up for the high maintenance of any vehicle and you wont see me driving around like most moron teenagers who absolutely have no idea what they are doing.

 

I bought an FC as my first car (FB as 2nd car) and I knew what I was getting into and was prepared for any and all problems that arose. I didnt have many major problems but that would probably be because I wasnt looking into heavily modifying the car. If you are really willing to get an FD or any other rotary car, be sure to take things slow and dont jump into modifying the car until you fully learn of all the stock components of it.

 

I am a very happy FD owner. As long as you can afford it, go for it. Its a great car. Not all FDs will cost 15k to get into. Mine was under 9. However, If you dont like to get dirty and go under a hood it might not be the car for you. Some hidden costs come via labor from shops that dont have a clue how to work on them.

buuut , if its your dream car and the right one comes along. Jump on it! You just might spend more time here at RX7club.com for help. =))

 

Oh..there are also threads on this site about useful tips prior to buying an RX-7. check those out. it could save you some coin.

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...threadid=68640

 

I Wish my first car was an FD3S.

Reality is, my first car was a 1.0 litre Vauxhall Corsa - and it wasn't even mine...it was my parents

To have and own an RX-7 as your first car is an admirable goal.

What tools do you have?

 

Well i just rolled my rx7.. I manged to walk away without injury my brother wasnt so lucky he'll be fine though

Dont buy an rx7.. Buy something else anything else.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I'm willing to get dirty & in the maintenance of the car. Personally I'm hoping to take up some trade school courses & also get a bit more informed on mechanics who know how to work on rotaries. I'm expecting to do the oil changes myself including using high performance oil.

 

Maintenance isn't that big a deal if you are doing it yourself. Just keep a close eye on the basics (fluid levels, etc.) and you shouldn't hit many problems.

My only advice is to avoid buying a car that has been modified. That is where most of the problems come from. Look for the most original, standard car you can find.

 

Depending on what the modifications are, it can either benefit or be a detriment. From a blanket perspective, modifications by unwitting owners are usually an attempt to fix a problem that they don't fully understand. A prime example of this is illustrated by Aaron Cake in "The Myth of the E-Fan" here: http://www.aaroncake.net/RX-7/efanmyth.htm

For a new owner wanting a FD, there are only a few parts I'd personally consider replacing as they are well known weaknesses:
Koyo Radiator: Should be your first modification, improved cooling is a godsend with a FD
Dual Oil Coolers: Again, the FD needs as much cooling as you can realistically give it. The dual oil coolers from the R1/R2 models make a big difference.

Compared to the FC, the FD's cooling capacity is quite a bit less as they shrunk the radiator down by about 30% and its stock single oil cooler is maybe half the size of the FC's cooler. This is why I say the FC is more forgiving, as it has more margin for error in stock form. More info about FD cooling issues and how to remedy them can be found in the 3rd Gen section.

 

Akagis_white_comet, I was warned by some of my friends that an FD with a high amount of mileage isn't worth buying unless you're willing to pursue a rebuild. Is this something to think about when buying an FD, or are my friends spouting nonsense?

I was going to warn the OP about this, but I realized I didn't actually know if it was something to be worried about or not...

 

I'll tell you a secret, and I'm not going to argue the point. I presume you'll come back with some comment about you'll be a responsible driver something, and I don't really care about your comment just think about what I am going to say.

Almost everyone on here has told you it's a bad idea to own this as a first car, the most common reason being money. Whatever. Money isn't that big of a deal, you can come by it, and do things slowly. But the part almost no-one has touched on is no matter who you are, if you're a teenage male you WILL at some point decide to do something stupid. Even if you're responsible 90% of the time, that other 10% is why insurance for teenage males is through the roof and why people die in cars.

I have an FC as a track car, and then I daily my Nissan Altima. I was driving my altima the other day, and I decided I was gonna go a little fast through a turn, I went maybe 5mph too fast (it was a really narrow turn, which turned into concrete/cement half way through) and I wrecked my car. I bent the lower control arm, and any time you bend your lower control arm you're going to break your swey bar link. I also bent the CV axle, and the rim + I ripped the tire when it got pushed back into the fender. I did the almost 2 weeks ago. I still can't drive the car because I can't afford the tires. I'm already $200 in on parts (doing all the work myself) and I need a new rim (I found a stock one for $45, otherwise I was looking at $72 ea for 4 new ones) and I need 4 new tires (I kinda needed new ones anyways, their pretty baled). So by then end of all this I'll be about $550 in for being stupid for less than 30 seconds. And I got lucky, I was less than 2 cm from wrapping my car around a street sign.

Anyways, not that you really cared about my story, but I'm a pretty responsible driver, 50% of the time I'm driving under the speed limit. Now my point is, my altima is a crappy fwd car, with like 115whp that I still managed to wreck going 25mph threw the wrong turn. If I daily'd my FC I can guarantee you my "responsible-ness" would drop at least 30%. And if I managed not to kill myself I'd be lucky.

I'm lucky I have a truck a can drive while my Nissan is broken. Otherwise I'd be SOL and I'd probably have lost my job because no-one else could take me to work. I've bought all 3 of my cars + all the work that has gone into them for less than you'd spend on your FD.

Cars are expensive, and if you want to have a life and hangout with your friends, don't buy a high-maintenance sports car. Everyone else is recommending hondas or other mazdas. And too be honest you don't really sound like you're a "mazda fanboy". I would recommend getting an older Subaru Legacy or Outback, great in the snow and if you get lucky you might even be able to find a stock turbo one. And Subaru's are one of the most reliable brands of car I have ever seen.

 

Thanks. Will do. Well I really don't go out much & have a huge life outside of school & work so I'm fine with the cost of it & all the extra time needed to be poured in to the maintenance. I have a higher preference with Mazda as my selection of car. I love the older rx7 models including the fc. Drove around I a Mazda 3 & it was a good car I will say. I would go with a car like that if I was looking for a commuter type vehicle over Honda's & Toyota's.

 

Thanks. Will do. Well I really don't go out much & have a huge life outside of school & work so I'm fine with the cost of it & all the extra time needed to be poured in to the maintenance. I have a higher preference with Mazda as my selection of car. I love the older rx7 models including the fc. Drove around I a Mazda 3 & it was a good car I will say. I would go with a car like that if I was looking for a commuter type vehicle over Honda's & Toyota's. Overall I like the rx7 over other Mazda's while Im willing to go with the Miata or even an Rx8 but I just prefer the rx7 hands down.

 

It looks like you're getting some good advice and things to consider. The most important thing I've learned over the years is to be realistic with your expectations and to have a second car available. Have a fun car is great, but the security of a back up beater is huge.

 

not to bombard the op, but what kind of things do you drop the money on?

 

Me personally nothing. I usually have a habit to just grab cheap food with my cash. Nothing major spent. Right now been going through some ads and my most available choice would be an rx7 and this isn't because I want it. Checked other vehicles I could get but they all are way more expensive than the stock fd with a fresh engine swap.

 

Sounds like me when I was 19, so fair enough. I just waited until I was out of school (and by school I mean high school) before buying an old and high maintenance car.

A 1st or 2nd gen would be a great introduction to the RX-7 and rotary. The only real issue with the FD is that it's probably the most unreliable car ever created and without question you'll be putting $5K into it above the purchase price just to get it running and on the road. It's a steep learning curve. But if you are that type of person to take on the challenge, remain focused and are ready to learn, then why not?

 

Get a 84/85 gsl-se for a first car! You will love it.Most of them will go 250k before a engine rebuild.

 

Only problem with a 1st gen is RUST. Be prepared for some metal work.

 

Sometimes you just gotta jump in like I did, Im committed to rebuilding my car and make it pretty sweet, I'm only 16 and this is my first car, luckily my dad has offered to pay for some of the parts as long as I let him drive it occasionally... lol. But for the most part I'm on my own because nobody in my family knows much about wankels or cares to learn about them. I think anyone could fix one of these cars but they have to realize they require some upkeep and lots of dedication to get them running smooth when you first buy one. I would also strongly recommend buying a different car for a daily driver, I live in Canada so using this car through the winter is out of the question. you can find a cheep mx6 for anywhere between 450-1000 if you are patient and look in the right places, this would be a great daily driver because your still sticking with a Mazda and they are relatively easy to maintain.

 

an fd for a first car lucky/crazy! they are very tempermental and require alot of care to keep in good condition. that being said i would never get rid of my FD. just dont try to impress your friends in it thats the best way to put her in a ditch. the FD doesnt need to prove anything to anyone its an amazing car!!!

 

Just go for it. I bought my first 2nd this last december just after i turned 19 and rebuilt the engine with virtually like no automotive experience prior to this whole ordeal. It's just a matter of commitment and dedication and doing everything very carefully so you don't screw up.

 

I have a FC, and am loving it. Definitely not the most economical car, maintenance and fuel wise, but prices are pretty good for a half decent car. Nothing beats the look on faces when you pop the hood, and see the little rotary, that just spanked them! If only car, don't do it, but worth investment.

 

There aint nothing cheap about these things!