Things to know/learn before purchasing an FD?
11-16-2005, 02:26 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
Will hopefully be getting an FD farily soon. Anything in particular I should look for? I know that the motors last longer than the 80-100K that people seem to think they die at, but other than that is there anything in particular I should avoid? Anything that should be replaced from stock?
Any places other than here that have good info on the motors? I'm familiar with piston engines and can work with them, but don't really have any experience with rotarys. Just wanna learn what I can before I go out and screw it up
Any places other than here that have good info on the motors? I'm familiar with piston engines and can work with them, but don't really have any experience with rotarys. Just wanna learn what I can before I go out and screw it up
11-16-2005, 06:16 AM
#4
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 250
Get a shop to do a compression test on it before you buy it. If the compressions are bad, it could be bad apex seals on the rotor, which means an engine tear down/rebuild to replace the seals. Ask ne how I learned this.......the answer is the hard way.
11-16-2005, 08:34 AM
#5
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 72
Yeah, a compression test is a must. One other thing I recommend is have a Dealer (whos knows what they are doing) look it over. I wish i did this before i bought mine. I when i got it, it had a light knocking in the rear supennsion, once it was up on the rack i could see that just about every bushing on the rear was shot.
I learned my lesson the hard way, have a competent dealer look it over before you but it.
I learned my lesson the hard way, have a competent dealer look it over before you but it.
11-16-2005, 11:04 AM
#6
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Stacked outside you're trailer door
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Originally Posted by ElemntSP4Life' post='778776' date='Nov 16 2005, 12:26 AM
Will hopefully be getting an FD farily soon. Anything in particular I should look for? I know that the motors last longer than the 80-100K that people seem to think they die at, but other than that is there anything in particular I should avoid? Anything that should be replaced from stock?
Any places other than here that have good info on the motors? I'm familiar with piston engines and can work with them, but don't really have any experience with rotarys. Just wanna learn what I can before I go out and screw it up
The motors normally do not last longer than 80-100k. If you have a rebuild and its modded you'll almost definately get less than 80k out of it.
11-16-2005, 12:05 PM
#7
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Richardson Texas
Posts: 4,326
one thing to know, dont buy an fd. unless you have a lot of time and money that is. definitely do not plan on it being your daily driver. like it was already said the motors dont really last more than 80-100k unless a miracle happens.
they are a whole lot of fun to drive but not much fun when they have to sit in the shop for months on end. if you dont care that much about the style and just want a fun toy get a gslse (84-85) and get it looking mint, then swap in whatever motor you want. i want a 13brew with upgraded twins and other mods which put about 400 to the ground. in a 2300 pound car this would be one of the fastest things on the road and much easier to work on than an fd
imo
they are a whole lot of fun to drive but not much fun when they have to sit in the shop for months on end. if you dont care that much about the style and just want a fun toy get a gslse (84-85) and get it looking mint, then swap in whatever motor you want. i want a 13brew with upgraded twins and other mods which put about 400 to the ground. in a 2300 pound car this would be one of the fastest things on the road and much easier to work on than an fd
imo
11-16-2005, 12:35 PM
#8
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Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 46
Damm that’s pretty negative, FD’s rock! I can’t think of another sports car with the performance capabilities of the FD that can be classified as '”reliable". It’s a sports car and if you drive it that way things will wear out. Let’s not forget these cars are 10 years old +.
If you’re going to buy a sports car then you’re going to pay. “No bucks – no Buck Rogers “
Just about every import sports car for the 90's has its own Achilles heel like FD's do. Do some research; take your time finding one. I looked for seven months to find my FD, I test drove about 8 before I found mine, and it was worth it. It was my daily driver for two years and never let me down.
Speaking from experience I have had two motors go on my FD, both were due to poor tuning. These cars are not as unreliable as you have heard, just victims of poor service techs and some bean counters at Mazda. Find yourself a good shop; this is as important as finding a good car!
Oh, just my 2 cents, 2nd Gens are butt ugly. Yes the performance envelope is good, reliability I question that one. I know many 2nd Gen owners that blew motors and have unique problem just like the FD does. If you looking for performance, styling and a low production veichile, there is no choice but the FD.
If you’re going to buy a sports car then you’re going to pay. “No bucks – no Buck Rogers “
Just about every import sports car for the 90's has its own Achilles heel like FD's do. Do some research; take your time finding one. I looked for seven months to find my FD, I test drove about 8 before I found mine, and it was worth it. It was my daily driver for two years and never let me down.
Speaking from experience I have had two motors go on my FD, both were due to poor tuning. These cars are not as unreliable as you have heard, just victims of poor service techs and some bean counters at Mazda. Find yourself a good shop; this is as important as finding a good car!
Oh, just my 2 cents, 2nd Gens are butt ugly. Yes the performance envelope is good, reliability I question that one. I know many 2nd Gen owners that blew motors and have unique problem just like the FD does. If you looking for performance, styling and a low production veichile, there is no choice but the FD.
11-16-2005, 01:03 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: California
Posts: 22,465
Originally Posted by SENNALIVES' post='778901' date='Nov 16 2005, 10:35 AM
Damm that’s pretty negative, FD’s rock! I can’t think of another sports car with the performance capabilities of the FD that can be classified as '”reliable". It’s a sports car and if you drive it that way things will wear out. Let’s not forget these cars are 10 years old +.
If you’re going to buy a sports car then you’re going to pay. “No bucks – no Buck Rogers “
Just about every import sports car for the 90's has its own Achilles heel like FD's do. Do some research; take your time finding one. I looked for seven months to find my FD, I test drove about 8 before I found mine, and it was worth it. It was my daily driver for two years and never let me down.
Speaking from experience I have had two motors go on my FD, both were due to poor tuning. These cars are not as unreliable as you have heard, just victims of poor service techs and some bean counters at Mazda. Find yourself a good shop; this is as important as finding a good car!
Oh, just my 2 cents, 2nd Gens are butt ugly. Yes the performance envelope is good, reliability I question that one. I know many 2nd Gen owners that blew motors and have unique problem just like the FD does. If you looking for performance, styling and a low production veichile, there is no choice but the FD.
yep, thats about right. look at what mods people do and then see if the car pops, before you actually do anything.
11-16-2005, 02:21 PM
#10
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Stacked outside you're trailer door
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Originally Posted by SENNALIVES' post='778901' date='Nov 16 2005, 10:35 AM
I can’t think of another sports car with the performance capabilities of the FD that can be classified as '”reliable".
Anything with an LS1