Would you own a FD rx-7 (rotary powered) ?
 

I've recently been offered a trade for a 93 FD rx-7. The rx does not have a drivetrain in it right this moment, but it comes with a freshly built motor:

Freshly built 13brew:
-Semi-Bridgeport
-Notched Housings
-Brand New Irons
-milled 3mm Rotary Aviation Apex Seals
Freshly built transmission, updated synchros, 4:33's in the rear diff.

Also comes with:
Apexi Power FC, Commander, Datalogit!
2 Sparco Corsa, like new in black.
Carbon Fibre mazdaspeed style vented hood, faded clearcoart, was going to paint.
100k on the chassis. Chassis is about the same as my miata, no major damage but needs paint.
Owner says he has everything needed to put it together and run it on the stock turbo's sans a clutch, but he planned on running a much much bigger turbo.

My miata for those who don't know:

1990 with 1999 bp4w swap. T25 turbo off a sr20, BEGI manifold/downpipe, MSPNP, dw800's, kyb agx/ground control, konig wideopen with federal 595 rs-r's, rollbar, hardtop, momo wheel, frame rails. I also have tons of spare parts for this thing (1x longblock, 2x spare trans, misc other parts everywhere).

The FD has always been my dream car, and I thought it would be easy to trade my miata for something I've lusted over for so long. Now that I have the chance I'm REALLY choking and don't think I could do it.

I'm thinking of insurance prices (miata vs FD must be a huge diference going to get a quote soon), reliability of course - I can't afford to build a rotary right now so that build better last me at least 40k miles.

Plans for the miata this winter are to build a longblock with ebay rods and oem everything else, and make ~300whp.

What would you guys do? The only reason this trade could happen is because the FD is a project (assembly required) and the miata is a great running DD right now.

Pics for clarity. my miata:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375725477
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375725477

RX7 in question.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375725477
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375725477
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375725477

I'd get it, sell the failtary crapchute to some stupid purist schmuck, and drop a proper engine and drivetrain into it, like an LSx of some sort.

Then I would paint it and make it pretty, and win at life.

I'd love to have an FD, and properly maintained it seems like they can be relatively reliable. They're certainly beautiful cars.

However, if the decision is to trade a nicely modded, good condition, perfectly running turbo miata for a FD shell and a pile of parts that will supposedly almost get it back to running condition, I would stay the hell away.

With crap like that you have no idea what you're really going to need and it's more than likely going to nickel and dime you to death. Not to mention how few of them there are riding around; finding stock replacement parts for whatever might be missing is going to be tough and what you do find is going to cost big money.

Agreed. There's a reason people basically give away shells: most buying know way better than to believe the cool story of "well it just needs like 3 things and its done"

This would be epic. However I would NOT be able to afford that. Even selling the built engine for 2-3k I just couldn't do a proper lsx swap right now. It would sit forever and be a "project' for the next several years instead of having a fucking awesome and fun turbo miata to rip around in.

If I were keeping it, it would stay rotary for now (next 4-5 years at least until I could afford to do a proper lsx swap). I REALLY like the idea of a rotary, but I also know their numerous downfalls and they scare the shit out of me at the same time.

This is a seriously good point. The owner claims it was running and was his DD before he popped an apex seal and had the motor rebuilt. Now he has a kid and is moving to a different state and needs to get rid of it. However he could be full of it, and even if/when I go to look at it I would have no idea what is missing.

I also know nothing about these cars so re-assembling it wouldn't be as easy as, say, a miata that I picked up for cheap that was in pieces.

If I went for the trade, I would literally have to get it running for under 1k and hope it's reliable for a while. (LOL).

I really want an FD, but the more i think about it the more I realize maybe I don't REALLY want an FD, but i like the idea of one more.

rotary, no. LS1, yes.


if you traded your car for that, you're retard.

Given what you said thus far, the clear answer is NO WAY JOSE and as brain said you'd be going full retard.

I love you guys.

You are all 100% right, i just needed some reason bitchslapped into me. My lust for the FD chassis might have temporarily overridden my brain functions.

I would absolutely pick that thing up if he was selling outright and was cheap tho.....I too lust for that car....with a proper drivetrain though

Boost goes in, apex seals go out.

Sell rotary engine and build ebay-rod BP and put it in the FD to troll the rotor heads.

Vlad, 5k cash takes everything. I wish I had a spare 5k to buy another toy, but I don't.

haha, i'd rather build the BP and throw it in my miata. Then troll EVERYONE, because miata.

:laugh:

They already soak their tampons when you mention a v8.

I can just imagine them seeing a BP powered FD and gritting their teeth so hard the fillings would pop out.

I always wanted to do something like that.

......stick like a turbodiesel in there and make the digits on the tach stand for x100 instead of x1000:bowrofl:

and its got a title and everything?

g'ahhhhhhhh I want it now

Yip, comes with a clean NM title. Never wrecked. Owner claims I would have no problem getting it running on the stock twin turbo setup, all I need is a clutch to put it together.

Now you see why i want it so bad. I just cant see trading my miata for it, because i wouldn't sell my miata for 5k.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1375730011

As everyone else here has already pointed out:

Owning an FD Chassis = full win.

Rotard = full fail.


It's not that rotary engines aren't.....neat. But ultimately they're only useful as a novelty. FD + anyenginewithpistons = tits.

Sheesh. Late to another thread.

Would I own an FD RX-7? Absolutely. I would even try to own a rotary powered FD.

However, it would have to have an engine rebuilt by someone I trust with a tune that I trust and I would start with a nice, clean model paying a premium for one owned by someone who had taken care of it.

I would also have a slush fund saved up for an eventual LS# swap when - not if - the rotary failed.

In no way would I think it would make sense for you to complete that trade.


Someday, I think it would be awesome to have the Gen X/Y version of a Boomer's dream garage. Instead of a collection of '60s and '70s hotrods, I'd have the cream of the crop from the '90s: MKIV Supra TT; Z32 TT; FD3S (and a '91 CRX Si). :D

A few of the main benefits of my miata that would be lost with the FD.

-My current 1990 miata was and is my first car. Can't replace that.
-Weight. A turbo miata can easily weigh ~2200 lbs.
-Replacement parts. All dirt cheap and readily available. You blow up a motor? ~$600 and a weekend and I'll have it running again. Because of this I'm not afraid to tune the car myself, so another benefit. Put the car into a wall? Same deal, the big $$$ part of a built miata are the modifications and not the chassis. Great toy and track car because of this.
-MPG. Turbo miata will easily be in the 30's. FD.. 15 max?
-The convertible thing. I usually rock a hardtop so this isn't a huge benefit for me. I will admit to having so major fun with the top off in the past though.
-Then there is the whole "you just got shit on by a miata" factor.
-Reliability. Even a 300whp BP can and will go 100+k miles.
-Tires, brakes, other consumables are very cheap. Honda civic cheap.

Of course the FD has it's benefits.
-Extremely sexy. Rare. Iconic.
-Still no pig. For it's size and capabilities it's still a great lightweight sports car.
-handling like a "big miata"
-Bridgeport motor easily capable of 500+whp. I would probably run it somewhere between 3-400whp and leave it. Also has a transmission/rear end that can take this power.
-It's a motherfucking FD RX7.
-With lsx swap this is literally my dream car. I would take it over many MANY other more expensive cars.

After thinking about it more, it's pretty clear owning and modifying a FD is out of my price range. Especially when you add in insurance costs, gas costs, and maintenance costs. I guess the car will remain on my bucket list for now while I enjoy the living shit out of my miata.

I really do love my miata, like a whole lot. If i was more indifferent about this car the trade would have been done in a heartbeat.

I sold my FC to buy my Miata. FDs are pretty but no. Hell no. There's a reason he's eager to trade. Yours is quick and reliable. His is a basketcase and is still on worn out original suspension, wheels, paint. Basketcases are always impossible to unload. It would possibly be different if it was on nice wheels, newly upgraded suspension, etc., but you would be the guy spending the big bucks on all of that hardware now. Plus you are looking at a couple of months of labor and hundreds or thousands on miscellaneous parts that were supposedly there, or aren't really any good and need to be replaced before reassembly.

The grass, she is not always so green as she seems on the other side. Or else he would have done it.

..and the FD is like carrying two really fat chicks in your Miata weight wise.

Not disagreeing with you.. But have you done this??? I want pics of 2 fat chicks in your car with you...