Hankering for an RX-7 FD
Discussion
Morning all,
For some reason I'm finding myself having a big love in for an RX7 FD and looking for someone I could buy a reasonably priced unmolested version.
I recall a spectacular test drive I had in one aged 21 but at the time could in no way afford one. Now my age has doubled I've started to look back fondly at them, especially how good looking they are in standard guise but am struggling to see where I could get my hands on one.
I've tried the usual, ebay motors, autotrader and... here! but the few that look fairly original are now eyewateringly expensive!
Where else could I keep a look out for such an unmolested car?
TIA
For some reason I'm finding myself having a big love in for an RX7 FD and looking for someone I could buy a reasonably priced unmolested version.
I recall a spectacular test drive I had in one aged 21 but at the time could in no way afford one. Now my age has doubled I've started to look back fondly at them, especially how good looking they are in standard guise but am struggling to see where I could get my hands on one.
I've tried the usual, ebay motors, autotrader and... here! but the few that look fairly original are now eyewateringly expensive!
Where else could I keep a look out for such an unmolested car?
TIA
TwinExit said:
I think you left it way too late, should have looked for one 10 years ago.
I haven't been there for a while, you can try Mazda Rotary Club forums and check the classifieds. Also budget £2K a year on upkeep and repairs, as you would with any performance Japanese car of the 90's.
I know, right! But 10 years ago I had a UR quattro to keep me entertained which I had to sell in 2016 because of cash flow concerns (that ended up being unfounded) right before their prices exploded. Like sold for £10k then, can't find a similar condition one for much less than £50k now type thing! I haven't been there for a while, you can try Mazda Rotary Club forums and check the classifieds. Also budget £2K a year on upkeep and repairs, as you would with any performance Japanese car of the 90's.
I'll take a look at the rotary club, thanks. I'd all but forgotten about the RX7 until I was looking at RX8's and just how cheap they are and thought I'd look up the car it replaced and it reminded me how good looking they are as a car.
Here's to hoping I find something out there to sink my time and teeth into!
swampy442 said:
You wont need 2k a year to maintain an RX7, friend of mine had one for 2 years and it was utterly reliable, all he did was MOT it. But he didnt have and sikk garage modz on his though. Fantastic things to drive but if youre over 6ft tall, a bit of a squeeze
I ran an FD for 18 months as my daily driver and had no issues at all, I'm 6'3.The only other place I'd look is here https://fdoc.co.uk/forum/ - FD specific owners club.
I sold mine for £21.5k last autumn, I'd budget £25k if shopping for a half-decent one. Mine was >100k miles so well used, but well maintained and looked smart, original exterior but a few engine mods underneath to keep it running reliably on track.
You'll have to be patient though. There were never that many cars but when they were cheap, they used to be passed around like hot potatoes between owners who couldn't afford to run them, so there were always a fair few up for sale. Now they've found owners who can afford to run them, they tend to hang on to them for long periods - I had mine for a decade and that isn't unusual. The weakness of the pound doesn't help either, when it was stronger you could get fresh imports cheaper. Wait for the right car, and then pounce!
They are worth it, still quick today with minor mods, the perfectly balanced and adjustable handling gets better the harder you push, they look great and they're an iconic car from that special era for Japanese cars. I see values going up not down in future.
In terms of interior space, I had a smaller dished steering wheel which freed up enough space for my knees.
In my experience £2k a year sounds about right, albeit I did take mine on track from time to time which probably drove some of the cost, if it was only road use you may get away with less. Rust is becoming an issue, and parts do fail from being 30 years old now.
If you get one I strongly recommend Rotortorque in Rayleigh to look after it. Most rotary places aren't very good, so it's very important to go to the right people with these.
I sold mine for £21.5k last autumn, I'd budget £25k if shopping for a half-decent one. Mine was >100k miles so well used, but well maintained and looked smart, original exterior but a few engine mods underneath to keep it running reliably on track.
You'll have to be patient though. There were never that many cars but when they were cheap, they used to be passed around like hot potatoes between owners who couldn't afford to run them, so there were always a fair few up for sale. Now they've found owners who can afford to run them, they tend to hang on to them for long periods - I had mine for a decade and that isn't unusual. The weakness of the pound doesn't help either, when it was stronger you could get fresh imports cheaper. Wait for the right car, and then pounce!
They are worth it, still quick today with minor mods, the perfectly balanced and adjustable handling gets better the harder you push, they look great and they're an iconic car from that special era for Japanese cars. I see values going up not down in future.
In terms of interior space, I had a smaller dished steering wheel which freed up enough space for my knees.
In my experience £2k a year sounds about right, albeit I did take mine on track from time to time which probably drove some of the cost, if it was only road use you may get away with less. Rust is becoming an issue, and parts do fail from being 30 years old now.
If you get one I strongly recommend Rotortorque in Rayleigh to look after it. Most rotary places aren't very good, so it's very important to go to the right people with these.
samoht said:
The only other place I'd look is here https://fdoc.co.uk/forum/ - FD specific owners club.
I sold mine for £21.5k last autumn, I'd budget £25k if shopping for a half-decent one. Mine was >100k miles so well used, but well maintained and looked smart, original exterior but a few engine mods underneath to keep it running reliably on track.
You'll have to be patient though. There were never that many cars but when they were cheap, they used to be passed around like hot potatoes between owners who couldn't afford to run them, so there were always a fair few up for sale. Now they've found owners who can afford to run them, they tend to hang on to them for long periods - I had mine for a decade and that isn't unusual. The weakness of the pound doesn't help either, when it was stronger you could get fresh imports cheaper. Wait for the right car, and then pounce!
They are worth it, still quick today with minor mods, the perfectly balanced and adjustable handling gets better the harder you push, they look great and they're an iconic car from that special era for Japanese cars. I see values going up not down in future.
In terms of interior space, I had a smaller dished steering wheel which freed up enough space for my knees.
In my experience £2k a year sounds about right, albeit I did take mine on track from time to time which probably drove some of the cost, if it was only road use you may get away with less. Rust is becoming an issue, and parts do fail from being 30 years old now.
If you get one I strongly recommend Rotortorque in Rayleigh to look after it. Most rotary places aren't very good, so it's very important to go to the right people with these.
Thank you for your detailed response. Taking a look at FDOC now I sold mine for £21.5k last autumn, I'd budget £25k if shopping for a half-decent one. Mine was >100k miles so well used, but well maintained and looked smart, original exterior but a few engine mods underneath to keep it running reliably on track.
You'll have to be patient though. There were never that many cars but when they were cheap, they used to be passed around like hot potatoes between owners who couldn't afford to run them, so there were always a fair few up for sale. Now they've found owners who can afford to run them, they tend to hang on to them for long periods - I had mine for a decade and that isn't unusual. The weakness of the pound doesn't help either, when it was stronger you could get fresh imports cheaper. Wait for the right car, and then pounce!
They are worth it, still quick today with minor mods, the perfectly balanced and adjustable handling gets better the harder you push, they look great and they're an iconic car from that special era for Japanese cars. I see values going up not down in future.
In terms of interior space, I had a smaller dished steering wheel which freed up enough space for my knees.
In my experience £2k a year sounds about right, albeit I did take mine on track from time to time which probably drove some of the cost, if it was only road use you may get away with less. Rust is becoming an issue, and parts do fail from being 30 years old now.
If you get one I strongly recommend Rotortorque in Rayleigh to look after it. Most rotary places aren't very good, so it's very important to go to the right people with these.
I bought mine from HJA - Harlow Jap Autos. So if you are serious then drop them a message and see if they have anything coming in. Unfortunately if you want a late model relatively unmolested (but mine has been modified in the past, Jap life yo) Then my number began with a 4. I am pretty sure it won't have depreciated at all since buying it at the end of 2021.
Mine was in a lovely condition but being 22 years old she still needs some refreshing. So Ohlins fitted circa £2k. Currently booked in to have all the suspension bushes and other underside bushes done, this is probably the second most expensive job after getting an engine rebuild as the bushes themselves are roughly £1200-£1400 alone, I am looking at you pillowballs.
But after she is in the condition I want her, I don't think she will cost much a year. Oh and don't be put off by certain things, like if the car still has a rear wiper. Take it from a man who has been chasing down RX7 leaks, if its been removed, that is a great thing
Mine was in a lovely condition but being 22 years old she still needs some refreshing. So Ohlins fitted circa £2k. Currently booked in to have all the suspension bushes and other underside bushes done, this is probably the second most expensive job after getting an engine rebuild as the bushes themselves are roughly £1200-£1400 alone, I am looking at you pillowballs.
But after she is in the condition I want her, I don't think she will cost much a year. Oh and don't be put off by certain things, like if the car still has a rear wiper. Take it from a man who has been chasing down RX7 leaks, if its been removed, that is a great thing
Prices are only going one way now. Few cars turn heads like them and they are great to drive. Fantastic cars but I wouldn't buy one needing lots of fixes or one that has been modified extensively. You won't find a specialist on every corner and parts in ECP. That means buying in vgc and maintaining it. I think £2K a year is too high for a good car. If you're spending that every year you didn't buy a good car in the first place. As has been said, they went through a cheap phase when many were neglected if not outright abused. There's an informative thread on FDOC regarding a car that has had a fortune spent on it and has a large number of issues to resolve.
I'd say budget £1K a year and some years you'll win and others you won't but if you take an engine rebuild out of the equation - which you should be able to if you buy a good car - I'm struggling to see how the car would cost £5K in maintenance over five years. That assumes it's a weekend car of course and if you're going to use one every day in all weathers then all bets are off. Likewise if you're going to start modifying the car.
It's one of the few cars I wouldn't be happy to sell as I know it would be incredibly hard to find another one. I have a 1999 RS in red with under 50K miles and original apart from a Racing Beat exhaust. I had it professionally rustproofed and it only gets wet when it's washed. You'd have to offer me a very big number to prise it from me and I intend to hang on to it for as long as possible. The only other mod I would consider is a wheel change but no rush for that.
I'd say budget £1K a year and some years you'll win and others you won't but if you take an engine rebuild out of the equation - which you should be able to if you buy a good car - I'm struggling to see how the car would cost £5K in maintenance over five years. That assumes it's a weekend car of course and if you're going to use one every day in all weathers then all bets are off. Likewise if you're going to start modifying the car.
It's one of the few cars I wouldn't be happy to sell as I know it would be incredibly hard to find another one. I have a 1999 RS in red with under 50K miles and original apart from a Racing Beat exhaust. I had it professionally rustproofed and it only gets wet when it's washed. You'd have to offer me a very big number to prise it from me and I intend to hang on to it for as long as possible. The only other mod I would consider is a wheel change but no rush for that.
£2K a year is a rough average if you keep the car in good driver's condition for more than 3 years (i.e you are not hot potato'ing to the next owner to foot the bill for things you decided to put off)
Yokohama Advan tyres alone will be £800-£1K+
Brake discs and pads if they are stock are £1K for decent brands or OEM (more if you have an aftermarket BBK)
Suspension damper struts, ARB links, bushes etc = ££££
Turbo(s) and general plumbing + wiring as found in 90's turbo engines = ££££
Servicing (oil/belts) = £100-£200 per year
Unxpected MOT failures = £££
Upgrades = £££££££££
All adds up.
Yokohama Advan tyres alone will be £800-£1K+
Brake discs and pads if they are stock are £1K for decent brands or OEM (more if you have an aftermarket BBK)
Suspension damper struts, ARB links, bushes etc = ££££
Turbo(s) and general plumbing + wiring as found in 90's turbo engines = ££££
Servicing (oil/belts) = £100-£200 per year
Unxpected MOT failures = £££
Upgrades = £££££££££
All adds up.
Edited by TwinExit on Wednesday 12th April 13:21
TwinExit said:
£2K a year is a rough average if you keep the car in good driver's condition for more than 3 years (i.e you are not hot potato'ing to the next owner to foot the bill for things you decided to put off)
Yokohama Advan tyres alone will be £800-£1K+
Brake discs and pads if they are stock are £1K for decent brands or OEM (more if you have an aftermarket BBK)
Suspension damper struts, ARB links, bushes etc = ££££
Turbo(s) and general plumbing + wiring as found in 90's turbo engines = ££££
Servicing (oil/belts) = £100-£200 per year
Unxpected MOT failures = £££
Upgrades = £££££££££
All adds up.
I think your figures are fine if you have bought a car that needs work but for a weekend car, I would not buy one without new or nearly new tyres, brakes and pads in excellent condition, all running gear sound and a new MOT, or without discounting the price to fix those things.Yokohama Advan tyres alone will be £800-£1K+
Brake discs and pads if they are stock are £1K for decent brands or OEM (more if you have an aftermarket BBK)
Suspension damper struts, ARB links, bushes etc = ££££
Turbo(s) and general plumbing + wiring as found in 90's turbo engines = ££££
Servicing (oil/belts) = £100-£200 per year
Unxpected MOT failures = £££
Upgrades = £££££££££
All adds up.
Edited by TwinExit on Wednesday 12th April 13:21
As a result, the only costs you would need to budget for would be servicing and unexpected failures, Upgrades are a completely different ballgame and can't be considered as normal running costs. Bushes, tyres, brakes, pads and suspension components are not going to wear out in three years for a car that gets occasional use, which is where my figure is coming from.
I accept that if you buy one that needs all of the things you have listed, and they would be identifiable at the time of purchase, then you'll need at least £6K over three years to put it straight and maintain it. That's the problem with half the rubbish being punted for £25K and more now. High miles, loads of wear and tear, patchy history and a host of mods. Those cars are money pits for the unwary.
Unreal said:
I think your figures are fine if you have bought a car that needs work but for a weekend car, I would not buy one without new or nearly new tyres, brakes and pads in excellent condition, all running gear sound and a new MOT, or without discounting the price to fix those things.
What you say there is just general common decision making when looking for a car, but the costs for those areas are at-best deferred a few years down the line. Pay now or later, in either case you still have to pay to play.Unreal said:
As a result, the only costs you would need to budget for would be servicing and unexpected failures, Upgrades are a completely different ballgame and can't be considered as normal running costs. Bushes, tyres, brakes, pads and suspension components are not going to wear out in three years for a car that gets occasional use, which is where my figure is coming from.
I accept that if you buy one that needs all of the things you have listed, and they would be identifiable at the time of purchase, then you'll need at least £6K over three years to put it straight and maintain it. That's the problem with half the rubbish being punted for £25K and more now. High miles, loads of wear and tear, patchy history and a host of mods. Those cars are money pits for the unwary.
Occasional use is a subjective matter, it's not useful advice to frame a car's running costs artificially low by only clocking 20 miles a weekend, not doing more than 35% throttle, gentle on the brakes. There are some who slip the local friendly MOT man £70 for a cursory check & pass and then lock it up 10.5 months a year. You can also argue that a car undriven for too long is not good mechanically either...I accept that if you buy one that needs all of the things you have listed, and they would be identifiable at the time of purchase, then you'll need at least £6K over three years to put it straight and maintain it. That's the problem with half the rubbish being punted for £25K and more now. High miles, loads of wear and tear, patchy history and a host of mods. Those cars are money pits for the unwary.
Put some real miles out in the wild, put some engine load onto an older car, things get exposed fairly quickly and the running costs you face becomes aligned with a typical £60K sports car ... but unlike a new car, you have no warranty to protect you against engine and transmission faults which can & do happen with the rotary powertrain.
Sometimes upgrades are a necessity with 90's Japanese cars, some OEM parts are discontinued or extortionately overpriced, then there are common fault areas of a given vehicle that were never fixed from a manufacturer re-call and is addressed in the aftermarket.
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