Thinking of buying a FD

[Jayteevtr]

Hey guys, been reading through the forum for a while and must say love the cars on here they\'re stunning. Im now beggining to save up for an rx7 being only 19 as well im guessing insurance wont be particularly friendly (hopefully someone will know of some decentish insurers). Anyway i digress, basically looking for advice on mainly the ownership aspect, i gather these are expensive cars to run day to day. Just trying to look at wat kind of costs i would be expecting with replacment parts should they go wrong and also the prices of modifications. Currently i own a Saxo VTR which is ok and is going to be track prepped. As you probably know they are cheap as chips to fix when they go wrong i the grand scheme of things so just trying to see what i will be letting myself in for, and make no mistake i will be letting myself in for it as i will own an FD. So to summarise sorry about the essay but just looking for some advice on the maintanance costs and the "modifying costs" and you seem like the people to ask so thanks in advance guys. Cheers.
Ant.:Giggle

[SiH]

First of all, welcome!

Secondly, first things first - you need deep pockets to run an FD properly.
Mods, servicing, service parts, etc, are all at the nastier end of not cheap

You can run an FD on a budget, but it won\'t be a happy  car - I\'m not just talking the inevitable fuel costs, but parts (especially compared to some other JDM cars) are pretty darned expensive. Only thing that\'s cheap is SH exhausts!

I\'d hate to add up what I\'ve spent on mine, but I know it\'d probably be grounds for my other half to break off he engagement!

Totally, totally rewarding though - I\'ve owned a fair few other JDM cars (MX5, DC2, S14a, AW11) and none of them come anywhere near giving me the buzz that my FD gives me.

I\'d say a good guide is to sit down, write up a list of what you want to do, work out the costs, and tbh, I\'d probably double it. If you reckon you can afford this, go for it.
If you reckon it\'s going to be tight, I wouldn\'t consider it for the mo.

But before that, check the insurance...!

[D2BBA]

Hi and welcome bud,

It may be best to work your way up to the FD.  Why not go for a normally asperated FC RX7 first.  That will be cheaper for you to run, youll get rotary experince 9fixing stuff etc), more predictable power and a bit of a learning curve.  

Jumping from a VTR to an FD sounds a bit much

Chris

[noyzboy]

Hey guys, been reading through the forum for a while and must say love the cars on here they\'re stunning. Im now beggining to save up for an rx7 being only 19 as well im guessing insurance wont be particularly friendly (hopefully someone will know of some decentish insurers). Anyway i digress, basically looking for advice on mainly the ownership aspect, i gather these are expensive cars to run day to day. Just trying to look at wat kind of costs i would be expecting with replacment parts should they go wrong and also the prices of modifications. Currently i own a Saxo VTR which is ok and is going to be track prepped. As you probably know they are cheap as chips to fix when they go wrong i the grand scheme of things so just trying to see what i will be letting myself in for, and make no mistake i will be letting myself in for it as i will own an FD. So to summarise sorry about the essay but just looking for some advice on the maintanance costs and the "modifying costs" and you seem like the people to ask so thanks in advance guys. Cheers.
Ant.:Giggle

Don\'t do it.
Stick with the Saxo otherwise you will:
Never pass a Shell station without thinking "Should I have stopped and filled up"
Always be parking at the furthest, emptiest end of the car park in case someone door-bangs your pride & joy.
Looking at the speedo and worrying about your license as the car hits three figure speeds without you even realising how quick you are motoring.

These cars are dangerously addictive...be warned. Your wealth could be seriously impaired.

Martin H

[RobMatthews]

fc\'s are well cooler old skool motoring(coming from someone with 2fd\'s in the garage),you\'ll imo get more respect from the older generation as more of a diserned(right word?) driver rather than a little boy racer trying to impress,the insurance will be a lot better for you to i would think and cheeper price of cars,as has been said i dont need to know you to say you would be a bit silly going from a 110-120bhp fwd to 280bhp rwd car that you really should build up to,that said i do see a trend of people going from fd\'s to fc\'s? me myself do like the look of the fc t2\'s.

good luck with your search though.

[davyv]

Don\'t do it.
Stick with the Saxo otherwise you will:
Never pass a Shell station without thinking "Should I have stopped and filled up"
Always be parking at the furthest, emptiest end of the car park in case someone door-bangs your pride & joy.
Looking at the speedo and worrying about your license as the car hits three figure speeds without you even realising how quick you are motoring.

These cars are dangerously addictive...be warned. Your wealth could be seriously impaired.

Martin H

 

Spot on mate.

[grinder]

Welcome to the club - before you even start to look - get some decent insurance quotes

i reckon you will be looking about 2-3K to insure an FD

as people have said - why dont you try an FC EGI first - still about 150 bhp , cheaper to buy and insure and it will give you an insight into rotary ownership

or even a TII - running about 200bhp and again should be a bit lighter on the insurance

BUT - if you have a bottomless pit of money - then the FD should be fine

[nuki]

im 20 year old... spending roughly £700 a month running my fd as my daily driver.. £100+ a week petrol.. then theres car tax etc etc and adding small mods as i go on... oil change every 5 weeks.. New tyres £200+ for the rears.. had to do my clutch...had to buy an alloy radiator etc etc expensive cars... worth it.. but expensive. Remember buying it and  insuring it is the easy bit.. Maintaining it to be a happy car and live to its potential is difficult.When i had a saxo i was rich.. £200 a month on petrol. no bills no nothing living the life on not having to worry about money really... but Trust me!!!!! it ALL changed when i baught the FD lol

[nuki]

its quite hard to me to give a perspective of what’s involved but here goes....I have owned my FD for 5 months and basically to just set you in my shoes and give you a small idea of my car funds as im sort of the same age as you and didn’t know anybody who owned an Rx7 when i purchased mine and had no idea how a rotary engine worked etc etc.. Adding small mods as i go on WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP compared to a saxo at all so dont even compare modding an FD to be anywhere near modding a saxo like i did because i felt an idiot after in the 5 months of owning the car ive had to replace/upgrade
Firstly... £2000 insurance upfront One off payment as they wouldn’t offer monthly payments!
£400+ a month petrol as this is my daily
£200+ for rear tyres and now require another set for the back this month..
£200 for the intercooler
£210 for clutch
£100+ in silicone hosing to renew old pipes on the rats nest
£240+ for alloy radiator fitted
£50 for AST removal.
£50 here and there for solenoids/check valves
£25 for engine oil and filter ever 5 weeks..
And these little upgrades are the cheap and simple ones i can read off the top of my head not including the £50 here and there which happens every week..
Would dread to think how much this could cost if a mechanic was charging labour on everything.
Or if you become unlucky and run into engine failure or something along those lines...
but lucky for me now after 5 months of struggling owning my fd there are now 4 of us in a small local community who all have FD\'s which we help out each other and get the jobs we need to do done successfully every time..
i could keep going with the list of mods i have more or less had to carry out and anyone on this forum could and you would be scared.
Also not to mention the police attention i get and harassment that is involved with me owning my beast
.. dentist/gym has had to be put out the window but when you see me in the pic you think he must be well lucky driving that FD...I might be lucky to own an FD at 20 but it comes with a price!.. but everything I have done I have done myself not had money inheritance or anything. But i do hope you make the right choice and don’t end up wishing you had never bought a rotary fd that you cant keep up with and get bogged down and upset with... good luck dude! I will just keep struggling on until i get a pay rise
My car is a baby as it stands and MUCH more money needs to be spent...
ECU- £600..
Mapping-£300+
de-cat £100+
the list is endless.... But i hope this helps mate! Because this is my experience of my FD

[trotter]

its quite hard to me to give a perspective of what’s involved but here goes....I have owned my FD for 5 months and basically to just set you in my shoes and give you a small idea of my car funds as im sort of the same age as you and didn’t know anybody who owned an Rx7 when i purchased mine and had no idea how a rotary engine worked etc etc.. Adding small mods as i go on WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP compared to a saxo at all so dont even compare modding an FD to be anywhere near modding a saxo like i did because i felt an idiot after in the 5 months of owning the car ive had to replace/upgrade
Firstly... £2000 insurance upfront One off payment as they wouldn’t offer monthly payments!
£400+ a month petrol as this is my daily
£200+ for rear tyres and now require another set for the back this month..
£200 for the intercooler
£210 for clutch
£100+ in silicone hosing to renew old pipes on the rats nest
£240+ for alloy radiator fitted
£50 for AST removal.
£50 here and there for solenoids/check valves
£25 for engine oil and filter ever 5 weeks..
And these little upgrades are the cheap and simple ones i can read off the top of my head not including the £50 here and there which happens every week..
Would dread to think how much this could cost if a mechanic was charging labour on everything.
Or if you become unlucky and run into engine failure or something along those lines...
but lucky for me now after 5 months of struggling owning my fd there are now 4 of us in a small local community who all have FD\'s which we help out each other and get the jobs we need to do done successfully every time..
i could keep going with the list of mods i have more or less had to carry out and anyone on this forum could and you would be scared.
Also not to mention the police attention i get and harassment that is involved with me owning my beast
Finally someone with the same wing as me!!!! lol

As has been said above mate, unless you have a LOT of disposable income dont even think about it. You won\'t enjoy it and you\'ll end up hating it which will be a massive shame.

But if you do, first things first, get some representative insurance quotes. I was 23 when I got mine with 5years ncb and was still paying nigh on 1400.

[Bobbit]

I went from a VTR to an FD, i was lucky quite a few times when the backend stepped out, i promise that the same will happen to you if you do make the jump. I\'d say go for a less powered RWD and get experience before going for an FD. You might not be a lucky as my and end up in a ditch or worse in hospital.

[turbo boy]

I hadn`t driven or owned a car in 5years before i got my fd, my means of transport was and still is a cannondale mtb! I brought mine with hardly any knowledge at all, i didn`t even know of this forum! My mate had to remortage his house to repair his fd and im on my 3rd loan and second credit card, but when its back on the road it`ll be all woth it. I tell you one thing tho, moist thongs are gonna drop!:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man

[trotter]

I hadn`t driven or owned a car in 5years before i got my fd, my means of transport was and still is a cannondale mtb! I brought mine with hardly any knowledge at all, i didn`t even know of this forum! My mate had to remortage his house to repair his fd and im on my 3rd loan and second credit card, but when its back on the road it`ll be all woth it. I tell you one thing tho, moist thongs are gonna drop!:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man:Ladys-man

The girlies do love \'em!

PS: if you go for one with the back seats and you take a load of girlie mates taxi-stylee, when you reach round to move the passenger seat forward you always get a cheeky glimpse of knickers as they get out the back....a small point, but an important one :Tongue1 :Tongue1

[Bobbit]

The girlies do love \'em!

PS: if you go for one with the back seats and you take a load of girlie mates taxi-stylee, when you reach round to move the passenger seat forward you always get a cheeky glimpse of knickers as they get out the back....a small point, but an important one :Tongue1 :Tongue1

LOL, very true bud. Works like a charm :Giggle

[rs200tez]

I sold my TVR Cebera V8 to own my FD - oh I do miss those cheap maintenance bills!!

In all seriousness, an FD is an out and out performance car and therefore the bills (like any performance car) will be higher than a std Focus for example. What is crucial is that you start with a good reliable FD base - take someone who knows RX7\'s before you buy. If at all possible if you find the car you like, ask if the owner is happy to have it inspected by one of the rotary specilaists (RX Motors, Haywards etc). In addition you have the added "rotary" complexity that many performance specialists just wont have the inside knowledge on. Drive as many different FD\'s as you can before you buy so you know what feels good.

Start off with a good car (with reliability mods) and that should help reduce maintenance bills.

Worth every penny though.