foxy_s2k

Sadly no, no pic. I know its red. <shrugs>

Wanna know how much money we're talking for these cars, just as a 'by the way', you'll have a good ol laugh at this.

Both of these cars would cost me 20,000 euro (agreed to pay 19.5 for the AP1), at todays prices that's $25,300, and that's a low price for the car here. I know the S is much cheaper there, but what about the FD? How much would you expect to pay there for a stock, but immaculate, very low mileage 95 FD?

2007 Zx-10

a pristine low mileage '95 FD here could easily fetch $25k, but higher mileage '93s and '94s in ok shape generally sell for about $15k or less

'95s are rare in the U.S., note the sales figures at the bottom of this link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_RX-7

a prsitine low mileage AP1 here would likely get about $16-17k (?)

foxy_s2k

Yeh, but this AP1, while in good shape, is neither pristine, nor low mileage, unless you consider 50,000m low. From what I've seen, I'd be looking at more like $12-13. In fact, the difference is so great, it may even be worth importing one!

2007 Zx-10

After all the reports of oil useage associated with with AP1s, I wouldn't be shopping for one just for a 1k higher redline. My AP2 doesn't use a drop of oil.

Jacques79

Bleah adding a little oil once every 2 weeks is no big deal.

2wheelsmoker

Realistically, expect to spend $30k to keep an FD running nice for 2 years. An AP1 will cost you much less. If you can afford that much for a car and are willing to put the effort to keep it pristine, I think it's worth it. I automatically assume any FD I'd get is a time bomb and won't trust it until I do what is necessary for me to feel comfortable.

Just treat the FD like an exotic. It will break something at some point. Are you willing to spend the money to keep it running right? Are you willing to deal with the car being out of commission? There are many other cars out there with similar performance numbers where you won't have to put up with the hassle (notice how I left out price).

This is a car for someone willing to put elbow grease in to it. If you like being rewarded for hard work and hefty investments, you can be an FD owner. The sky's the limit... just like any race car .

foxy_s2k

Yeh, I'm cool with that. I definitely think the extra 1k rpm is worth a little extra maintenance. If you think about it, it's a full third more vtec!

2007 Zx-10

that's not really the issue, it's the deposits it leaves on the combustion chambers: four stroke oil is not designed to burn

2007 Zx-10

pure nonsense...the only added cost I had with my bone stock FD for 70k was plugs, a new radiator, more gas, and more frequent oil changes...I daily drove it for almost a year straight

if you buy someone else's abused car (which is typically the case, because young kids buy them who can't afford to take care of them) then yes, costs will be higher

foxy_s2k

Well, I'm no kid (32 in a few weeks) and it's not that I couldn't find the money if I needed it, it's just that there are definitely other things I'd rather spend my money on. I'm pretty careful about the way I buy cars too.

But anyway, if it left me by the roadside just once in two years, that would be once too many. And I know I would drive it hard enough that something would eventually give, so the S is definitely the right choice for me. When I get to a position where I can afford to run two cars (in Greece, teh number of cars you have can significantly affect your income tax level and threshold, you need to be pretty wealthy to consider owning two), I'll consider cars like RX7s, BUT, I have to say, if I'm picking up an exotic, foul mouthed fire breather, which is gonna bite me in the wallet, I'll probably go for a TVR. I'm British after all.