of course rx7

 

i'm starting to lean away from the FD.

I've been searching/researching websites...and my main fear is the reliability issue. even though it would be a third car, I want to have time to ENJOY it, and if it's constantly being worked on - it won't be enjoyed..it will be more of a project car and less of a toy. another fear is the $$. if i find a good one for 15-20k... and the motor did blow, to rebuilt it right...given that I can't do it.. i'm looking at 5-7k in rebuild fees/labor..

an RX8 would be way slower, but if I got a new enough one, i'd have a bumper to bumper warranty. i could spend a couple grand and put on some mazdaspeed suspension parts, NOT void my warranty, and have a fun car that handles like it's on rails.

the 911 fantasy is a lot like the FD. it would be fun, but repair costs could kill me.

honestly, the one alternative i'm toying with - S2000. honda lease rates now are pretty cheap. i believe with about 1500 down...i could be out the door, with tax, for as little as $370/month for a lease. full warranty.. and i've driven a bone stock 2008 S2000 at the local dealer and it's quick enough to keep my happy and bone stock it needs no suspension mods. it's firm/harsh and corners nice. might be the best compromise in terms of fun/affordable and reliable. totally impractical..but i have my 4 door for those days.

we'll see. i still want a rotary...

 

reliability is a big issue for FDs. you really want to find one that hasn't been tinkered with and that is truly bone stock. and, that is very hard.

well, i've already made my recommendations n my earlier post re: FD vs. FE

Re: s2000. Never driven one, so i can only comment on observations as a non-owner. best motoring seems to love it, as it performed really well in slolem + skid pad tests. it's a bit more expensive than the rx-8, smaller, and more common on the road. style-wise, personally i like the rx-8 better. but, everyone's taste is unique.

p.s. on that red FD- it looks nice, but i don't like the wheels. they don't look aggressive enough.

 

It sure ain't fun when your car sits in the garage over a puddle of oil. Fast is not defined by how fast the flatbed truck is carrying the FD to your local rotary mechanic before the shop closes. The local rotary mechanic will be very happy that you are paying his kid through college and his weekend sail boat. And it is no fun when each time you want to start up the car you say a little prayer.
If you want a nice unreliable car, get a 964. But if you want to relive Vin Diesel days, then can't beat an FD.... or a Supra... or a Talon.

 

I own a 93 fd3s + a fc3s(89 gtu) and love them to hell! I bought my FD from a Mazda dealer for 5,500 with a blown motor. $16K and a lot of sweat and tears I would never sell it well maybe if Mazda comes out out w/the new 7. Buying a fd from someone you dont know is a crap shoot. Plus not to mention you better have some sort of ad fd fund cause your going to need it.
I just recently bought brand new 8 and man this out handles the fd not by power though. I dont know why I waited this long to buy one. My wife is not afraid to drive 8 like she is w/ the fd.
I would say go with the 8 less maintenance and heartaches.

 

hmmmm you have two great cars here, short answer get the Rx-8 .

the fd is an amazing car, its great when its all in order and i think that the reliability issues are a little over blown, granted things will break with age and things will go bad if you don't stay on top of things. if you keep the 7 relatively stock you should be ok. but if things go bad (old part breaks, bad previous owner, just bad luck) you dont want to be put in the situation of having to shell out the extra money to get it all fixed up. if i could have an Rx-8 or a Rx-7 brand new, i would take the Rx-7.

that being said the Rx-8 will be most likely the easier of the two to deal with. one of the main factors being the existing warranty. its not the all out sports car that the 7 is but it still is a great car in its own right. it has good power, handles very well, has very good brakes and is fun to drive. also it is comfortable to drive daily if need be. also the 4 seats is an advantage when it comes to non performance, i allows you to take some friends to dinner or something. the interior will be nicer and more comfortable. its just easier to deal with.

you seem to be worrying about reliability a bit, so i cant really recommend the fd. i love mine but it really hasn't been all that reliable ( i dont care personally, its all fun to me). many 7 owners get a strong bond with their car because of the money and hours and sweat that they put into it, and i kinda feel it too. i love the Rx-7 but you should get the 8. its the better choice for you because of the reliability of a newer car along with the factory warranty.

 

RX7 FD- If you want a project car and a weekend toy and have $$
RX8- if youre wanting practicality and reliability.

Pretty easy summary of my opinion

 

thanks guys. in my fantasy I want the super cool FD. it would be fun. but part of that is the illusion that it would be all roses...driving around in this super cool super fast car. then if I think about the likely REALITY of what would happen if I bought an FD,I think of driving it, and then having the motor blow, or it won't start, etc...and then i go to the mazda dealer and they can't fix it...having to source a rotary specialist for an FD.. and then more and more $$$ out the door to keep it running. i'd spend more time fixing it, and repairing stuff and less time just having fun with it.

an RX8 would not be as fast, would still be fun, and since i could get a much newer car, i'd have hte warranty. since the RX8 gets little to NO power gain with power mods, i'd probaby do no mods, but more maybe some mazdaspeed suspension stuff to make it allthe more a canyon carver on rails.

 

I really thought you were on to something there for awhile.
Sure an RX-8 will problably be more reliable. But you already have reliable transportation. If you have some extra $$ go ahead and buy yourself what you really want. You only live once. Sure when an older car breaks you have to fix it. But some of these cars are more reliable than you might think. I've had my 911 for five years. 1 clutch and just regular maintance is all it's ever needed. Sure I was frightened about all the repair costs I had read about. Mostly from people who had never owned one. If you lived nearby I'd gladly give you a ride in my 28 year old, tail heavy, smelly, loud, crude Porsche. By the way, get the Targa.

 

correction......with time and $$ the RX8 CAN BE FAST.......Look into FI or a 20B. You would have spent the money on an FD, put that cash into the reliable practical RX8 and MAKE it fast........

 

My last RX-7 was an 88; my new RX-8 handles much better. When the time comes, I may work on it. But the 8 is a better platform, IMO.

 

Theyre two completely different cars IMO. Way different, different purposes and platforms. But that doesnt mean an RX8 doesnt have the potential of being a beast like an RX7. Thats the point Im trying to convey, Ive always had a bad spot for people who bash RX8s and call them slow. They werent meant to be fast but can still be land rockets if you have $$. Is there anyone here who honestly disagrees with that? lol

 

Put it this way: I have an 8 and now I want both

 

The reliability issue with Fd's is more year based than what most people think.

Here's my background. I've owned a total of 4 different Rx7's since 1991. An 81 GSL 12A.....84 GSL 12A....91 vert---and my 94 touring. I bought my Fd used back in Jan 2003 with 65,000 original miles. It was a two owner garage kept vehicle. I paid $13,500 off ebay for it. Currently this car has 108k and a blown engine. I blew it back in Nov 2006 due to over boosting (my fault). I currently have a 20b sitting in the engine bay that should be running next month. Up until blowing the engine, I had to replace the clutch, put in new pillow ball bushings, and new diff mounts. That's it! Earlier in it's life, my car had the Mazda factory recall done on the vacuum lines. Up until me blowing the engine, everything worked as it should. Seq turbo transition and everything. The key with these Fd's and even Rx8's is the year you choose to purchase used. 1st model year cars always have the most problems and sometimes never receive all the updated parts from the newer versions that come out years later. I compared my cars warranty history with that of a 93 model fd and was shocked at how much longer the pages where. Easily my car had 1/4 the problems of the 93 model. You know the same can be said about the Rx8's. 04 and 05 Rx8's aren't very reliable either. I should know as I manage a Mazda parts department and have access to vehicles service history. I have yet to have 06 or newer Rx8 come to the dealer for the average problems you find on the earlier models.



With that said, if you still wanna consider an Fd, find a 94-95 model. Since these versions cost nearly 40k brand new, these models typically have original owners that keep them longer. These will mostly be garage kept and in much better/un-abused shape. My car still has soft leather thx to my original owners. Now for an Rx8, I would strictly go with the 06 and newer models.

 

the fd's reliability problems were often blown out of proportion. With the appro. mods you could easily have a good, relativly reliable oil burning supra killing monster.