When Buying a $40,000 FD RX7 - Things You Need to Know 

Superb video! Greetings from the United Kingdom from a former ('92) FD owner, and a current RX-8 R3 driver. At last - a clear sighted presentation and crystal clear analysis of the FD RX-7 from someone with a deep-seated understanding of these beautiful and mysterious cars. The Rex is the antithesis of everything the modern automotive firmament has to offer. Driving the RX-7 is akin to falling in love with driving all over again: a life-long relationship. It helps that it is the most beautiful car ever designed- the true essence of a sports car. Thank you RAD Potential.

Super underrated channel. Please keep this kind of content going!

I love your video. As an owner of two FDs, I totally agree with keeping as stock as possible.

This guy needs to drive my RX7, an FD that was not beat on its whole life so the interior and exterior parts are not falling apart and the suspension was built for the best possible handling, not to look low and cool while losing all drivability like most FDs out there.

21:24 this is probably one of the most important takeaways from this video. You went in depth, and that requires time in the seat. Solid review man, you got another sub

Definitely sticking around, watching your rotary experience unfold alongside my own. Your videos teach me a lot, who else is gonna wring out a 8500 rpm 12a now on YT for us to listen to sides you. Especially looking forward to a FB manual trans rebuild if it's comin. cheers!

I just started on my journey with a 1st gen.. This video affirmed me that I made the right choice. Thanks!

Absolute truth! THE LOOKS! TOP F'N REASON! Exactly why I started searching to buy an FD, without ever driving one, or even sitting in one before! I just knew.

I already love this Channel. Not just cause of the FD, but the "MMMKAY" ! AWESOME!

Great video I feel same as you had 2 mk1 2 mk2 2 FD3S and 1 231 Rx8 just love Rotary’s My childhood dream have lived it Love your channel keep up the good posts Mel

Great review. I've always said the rotary is fine, it's the supporting systems that are sketchy. It kills me when people talk shit about the engine, especially when they don't have any experience with it. I've had mine since 04 and I've had a few engines but some were outside factors. One engine was built by a guy that screwed me over on purpose and didn't even last 1k miles, one engine lost compression early due to the apex seals and a weird exhaust port shape done by the previous owner, one engine lost oil pressure to the rear bearing and was catastrophic. I've never lost a coolant seal or broken an apex seal. But my current engine is from 2014 and still going strong. I overbuild the supporting systems now.

Insta-sub. I've been faithful to the Dorito Cult for twenty years. I haven't owned an FD yet, but it's my next purchase. I've owned two first gens (SA & FB), two second gens (S4 T-II & S5 GTU-S), and an RX-8. I'm addicted, and always will be. In my humble opinion, the FD3S is hands down the most beautiful car ever built. Oh, and there are many, many rotary-powered cars that don't utilize a center-mounted tachometer... and they're not all Mazdas. Though, since this is a Mazda-focused channel, the cars that they built that didn't have center mounted tachs were Cosmos and several other older oddball vehicles that Mazda stuffed rotaries into. Cheers!

Maaan I really appreciate the way you did the video! Was nice to watch and also nice to see the other cars around. I am gonna have a look at your other videos :) Shoutout from France!

in 2 weeks Im buying back my FD that I sold 6 years ago🔥🔥🔥🔥 by the way great content🍺

Appreciate the honesty bro. I still want one. Just not today. Keep the videos coming

Excellent content, ever seeing one in NZ in 95 I wanted one . Got my first 7 in 99 a series 4 ( fc3s). Fast forward to 2007 and got my Fd3s 99 spec (series8). Back then prices were cheap eg. fc cost nzd $3k (motor wasn’t healthy). Now days 😅 the prices are insane esp since your part of the world started importing them in ( applies to most jdms actually) supply vs demand has definitely kicked in. Fd my all time fav car and has to Be rotary powered. Many more powerful and faster cars exist but for me this puts the biggest smile on my face 😃

Thank you so much for making this video man bro

I've watched the start like 5 times over already 🤣 Awesome. God damn that FD is insane..

Great video by the way. Just found your channel and I really enjoyed it. I am now subscribed!

I had my fd for over 13 year's. Single turbo, drives all the time, never left me stranded, drive mine often. Built good, maintained good, that's why mine has been great to me. 90 percent of the time human error would be cause to any mechanical device. Great engine, great car. Great videos

Alot of guys are K20 swapping their Fd's, I personally think this is the best motor swap for any RX-7 for many reasons but mainly due to weight, cost, potential, and most of all reliability, I bought a new 2002 RSX type S with 5 miles and after 457,000 miles and 20yrs it proved to be gem, I ran bolt ons since I bought it, Spoon sports race header, throttle body, Tanabe exhaust, Kpro, it was fast af for its time and now pulled the Rsx apart for an AWD build with a K24, I also have a rust free all original Arizona sun baked 1983 GSL RX-7, I pulled the motor to sadly find the front and rear irons cracked both at the top dowel landings or holes/seats, so my K20a2 needs a rebuild and the 12a is really hard to find, I need help from you Eric and everyone here, I'm more excited to get my fb rolling before I finish my awd rsx project so should I go Fc 13b or 13b rew? Swapping the k20 into it has crossed my mind but I'm determined to keeping it a Rotory

As a Mazda fanboy I salute your collection! That truck is sick.

great video man, love from ireland 🇮🇪

Thank you SO much for doing this video. I love the way they look, I'm 6'2 and 250 (athletic as well, cant drive a miata because my leg wedges between shifter and steering wheel) though and I don't like cramped cars either... and there are so few available here I started to look about having one delivered but now, absolutely not. .

Nicely done rx owning!!!

I needed to watch this. 👍

Great video!!

You right 100%. Nice fd! ☮️

Thanks for yet another great informative and enjoyable to watch video! Really really enjoyed your insights into how you spoke about the joy of driving the cars you have been associated with and experienced. Got my brother watch this video with me- he’s a rx8 owner wo bought himself one after driving my rx8 on a road trip from Germany to the Ukraine and back. He’s also owned a gen 2 rx7 and an rx3 Coupé We love how the rx8 is great to throw around in corners, has reasonable steering for one of the first electric systems, good turn in, a communicative rear end and a balanced chassis. The car feels like one piece- It feels like the front end is connected to the rear! How does the rx7 Fd fare in these respects? Would love some info! Maybe if you got time you could expand on this topic in future videos. Would also Love to hear more of your detailed thoughts and opinions on driving the 240z and c6! Love the channel best rotary channel ever- keep it up! Re the rev counter- rx3 Rx2 rx4

love the complete blacked out look

If you buy an FD without a very solid background in old cars... you're insane. I've owned several 1st gens and sold many many sports cars... If you have 30k cash for RWD, put it towards a new Z. It weighs more but you get 400hp turbo charged reliable performance that will last 15 years. Alternately, Buy a new GR86 if you don't need to go fast or an FRS if you want to spend 10-15k... maybe less depending on condition. The FD was may dream until I had enough to buy one... and I decided I didn't need the hassle. Good on you for keeping yours on the road. I'd love to drive it if I was ever was so lucky.

My red 1993 RX7 FD is for sale. It is all stock except for a free flow stainless steel exhaust and cat converter. Never winter driven and has been garaged. Not driven for 10 years because it failed emission test at idling at that time. Then life got in the way. Compression was 100psi on each of 6 combustion chambers. There was no exhaust gas leak into the cooling system. Almost 180,000 Km on the clock. Make a descent offer. Locatet in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

Excellent video I just bought a 93 and yep it barely made it 30 minutes... I expected this to happen I actually thought to order a tow truck and was like nah .. it can make it to NYC its only an hour drive with traffic. 🤣😂🤣

Great review. I use to think the fd was a great bang for buck a couple years ago but not anymore. As it has grown to be a classic collectors car, around NY the going rate is about $30k and that's without putting money into it because you know it's going to need parts replaced or even a new motor (worst case scenario). That's putting it into r32 gtr price territory and lets not forget a Corvette territory too. Missed the opportunity to buy one years ago but someday if I find a shell with a blown motor or something but not to crazy. Like you said these are old cars now and need replacement parts that most don't do on them.

Damn man you're crushing my dreams, I'm 6'3 and now not I want to sit in one just to see how does it feels... I wouldn't be surprised if there were no fd's in my country to try it out though lmao... On that note, I'm worried that fd's are just gonna keep getting more expensive and in case everything works out well I might do the dumbest thing ever and buy an fd as my 1st car when I eventually rack up enough money. Great and forward video with no bs though, keep up the good work.

I bought an FD roller about 6 months ago. Completely stripped interior, caged, fuel cell, carbon wing/bash bar, fully stich welded. No windows for Lexan- Besides that everything is there including the transmission- $6.5K Most likely going 20B N/A with billet plates and high compression RX-8 rotors. The thing is already light but the plan is for carbon/kevlar doors, front fenders, and hood. Time Attack in Japan ran two weeks ago and the FD's were still the fastest (with the exception of an Evo9) and in my opinion the best sounding and looking car on the track. I just didn't see any reason to spend a ton of money for a car to cruise around town with this car is meant to be on the rev limiter! Thanks again for another informative vid. brotha!

One of my closest friends has one of these - in black - LS6 swapped. Other than the random electrical gremlin, no A/C, or Power Steering, and the cabin sometimes smelling like ass'o'line, it's a really fun car! _for about 20 minutes or so_

FD is my dream car and saving to get one still..over in Australia they are worth alot

So a 5'6 guy like myself won't have a problem. At last, a perk of being a small guy. I've been interested in rotaries for the past few months. And FD got me interested.

going into the air force hoping to get stationed in japan so i can take a look at some of these

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but yeah. FDs are not for tall people. However, the JDM example in the video has the JDM rails, of course, and they are about 4-5" shorter sliding back due to the rear "seats". If you have a JDM spec car, swap the rails for USDM, they mount right up giving you more leg room and marginal headroom.

Hey man! Love the channel, just took my rotary 240sx for its first drive and I got a nasty transmission noise.. wondering if you could take a quick listen and possibly offer any insight on what that noise might be coming from 😬

Exceptional diction incredible video well spoken informative entirely entertaining 5 stars

you have a nice rx7 man i love rx7

That’s a really beautiful rx7! I got cuestión for you! Between rx7 and Supra which one it’s better to drive and performance? Of course stock no modifications!

5:55 when the sound is so good doggo came up to listen

Haha, in mine, passengers get the door shut, and opened by ME!

Would a stock ported engine with bolt-ons last longer and be more reliable than street/bridge/peripheral that had the same bolt-ons?

I know a guy who sold his panels for $2200. The interior alone is worth probably $6-7k.

I get that your not comfortable due to your size. I'm 6'1" and I fit well. I love it. It's a good fit for me. Not too small, but just right. I actually feel kinda bad that it is uncomfortable for you cause then you don't get to enjoy it like I do. Mine has low miles. 38k miles currently, so I don't have the creaks and broken interior pieces. Mines in excellent shape. I say this cause I think the condition of the car, combined with how well I fit, makes for an overall great experience. So although I get where you're coming from, I just wish you had a better setup for you specifically, to accommodate your size, and also a really well kept FD. You seem so pumped on the exterior looks, which I 100% agree on, and I think if everything else was good for you, like it is for me, I think you'd truly be in love!

your right on the bad rap that they keep saying, as a 56 yr old guy and love and worked on many a motorcycle or car, damn some ppl. have the bucks to buy a rotary car. cute huh? but, oh yeah sure i also have the money to repair it at a qualified dealer.... wrong, they may find a basic oil change too expensive to other cars and not get that done on time well the list of a bad owner goes on. and we haveto fix it....

My biggest "comfort" issue with my FD is the windows. I daily drove a FC for 4 years (I am 5'11) and got used to the room, so whenever I drive the FD I find my elbows banging the windows decently hard because of the weird angle and the fact that the windows are just a few inches closer than they are in a FC.

I don’t even need to watch this video,cuz the FD Rx-7 is and will always be my dream car

Very nice 👍🏽

So fkn beautiful.

Wait, people can drive in USA w steering inside the car being on the right?

Pretty fair review here thanks. I'm 6'2 and also really don't feel comfortable sitting in these cars. The interior is very cramped which is why I never bought my own. I've driven both rhd and lhd versions and they pretty similar. From a wrenching pov the lhd cars are easier to work on since you don't have the steering column routed next to the turbo. If your a big guy the fb and fc are more spacious for interior space. Adding a quick release and steering wheel is a must. And totally nailed it with the interiors, they fall apart if you look at them. Stock seats are pretty comfy I have r1 suede like seats in mine and I love them

so mazda still sells rx7 parts? i wonder why is it so hard to find parts for my rx7 fc tho? and really expensive when ordering some hard to find new parts even used parts are to find too.

I'm 5' 6... I'm perfect for this car.... however I have been having a starting issue as of lately. I have a 92 JDM and every so ofter, the starter won't turn over but I can do a rolling start to crank it up. Turning the key has been acting weird as of late. I thought it would of been a blue relay like the usdm model but the early JDMs don't have one.

Oh man the fd was my "affordable" dream car for the longest time now and I feel like this dream is moving farther and farther away as its getting less and less affordable. Anyway will you fit a aftermarket seat into it, being 6'5'' my self im interested if this will help fitting in at all.

JC cosmo, RX-5 cosmo, RX-4, RX-3, RX-2, R100, Cosmo sport 110S and technically the RX500 as well did not have center mounted tachometers

Sorry bro but maybe the reason you don’t like it is like you said, you’re too tall for it. That and your car sounds like a rusted tin can whenever you close the door or hood. Damn thing might also, like you also said, not be modded correctly (tuned correctly). If you say the steering is numb, there’s something extremely wrong with your setup. Other than my own personal opinion, I do like your channel and the way you present. So keep it up! 😊

RX-3 and Cosmo don't have center mounted tachs!

I removed my drivers seat and added 2 inches to the seat rails to get it back to touch the rear seat. I’m 6’7” 😏

I still want one

How would you compare an FD to the FC particularly when you speak of driving these cars at their limits (across the board horsepower wise). Most opinions ive heard on this subject are usually biased towards the FD but im not convinced. Granted im pretty at home in my FC and there's so many factors that play into it.. size / height like you say, driving style and experience etc.

for some reason i can already smell the interior

I’m curious to know. Where did you even find a repu? I’ve never seen one, never seen one for sale online either🤔

What wheels are those? Great video

Complete good quality lhd black interior is usually 12k to 15k

Looks like mine with out all the vac tubes and ...... been sitting in the race trailer. Judge Ito motor ( bad ass) is out . One day....... lol 92 R1

70k in Aussie , I’ll take two thx

Hey bro just wondering what you do for a living. I live in the city but I want to live around trees and have all that space looks expensive love to see it 🙏

A little off topic, looking for a replacement engine for a kit car... Would a rotary be a good pick? I just need a compact power plant that's easy to rebuild. 100,000 miles is more than enough life. It's supposed to use Subaru ej25 or so... But a performance build for 450 to 500 hp requires a machine shop every tear down if motor was ran... Because it twists... Idk, a typical 4 banger seems too long and tall...

I want one

Unpopular opinion, but I don't dig the styling of the FD as much as the FB, and not nearly as much as the FC. I own an FB but I think the FC looks the best out of all three. I guess that's good for my wallet considering FDs cost way more than the other two. I can't argue that it isn't an iconic car tho.

I am an agreement with most things said I have owned my Fd for 24 years. I am 6ft 2 and for me it is a great car to drive. The handling is great but you do need to know what you are doing. This car will bite you if you are not to experienced in driving rwd cars at speed. The rx8 is easier to drive at the limit. Good review and brap on

is 30k alot, yes, but then you remember pretty much every new car starts at 25 k after taxes , and a sports car like a mx5 cost 28k new, a frs 27 etc.. and then you realize a FD , IMO one of the best chassis EVER made goes for 25-40k.. AND is going UP in value.. id say its a sweeet deal

always wanted one, looks and sounds great but sounds like a headache to deal with rotary problems and interior sound noise

underdog channel if ive ever seen one... hey man if u ever want to sell any of your rotary vehicles i would love to keep the legacy going i work with a bunch of haters so i want to get myself a fd rx7 still with the pop ups of course with the bumble bee was thinking about keeping her running until she doesnt and pull her out tear her down and do a full out 3 rotor build or a modest 2 rotor turbocharged setup i just want to make it sound as sick as possible and be able to drive it to work and back 12 miles... what do u think are there any good rx forums or ways to help me find myself a rotory to build? thanks soo much god bless, -peter joseph

Cosmo. I believe did not have a center tach

you could get a aluminum passenger handle

Cosmo digital dash. speedo / tach shared left/right.

just got mine for 45k to make videos about it. Low miles and original so it was worth it but god damn handing over the check hurt 😂

Comos don't have a center tach I believe not 100 sure but a good guess

You maybe just saved me $40k..... maybe.

How tall are you?

I got a 1986 Mazda RX7 FC if your interested

My personal opinion on the FD is that it's a great car with a great engine and of course look beautiful and do believe it's the best looking Japanese car period. That said I don't exactly have any desire to ever own one. It would be nice sure, but at the end of the day how much car are you actually getting for the money spent? Between my 1980 SA22C LS and 2010 R3 I spent a total of $5,000 for both cars together and everything I've put into both cars collectively still doesn't amount to the initial purchase cost of a worn and torn, but running & driving, FD. The SA of course doesn't hold a candle to either the FD or RX-8 in terms of performance and chassis capability, but it's not bad for a 40 year old sports car and the $1,000 it cost me to buy I was more than justified. As for the RX-8 I think the money spent on a good example compared to an FD in comparable condition is much more justifiable although they don't have anywhere near the same amount of "cool factor" that fanboys and ignorant car people give the FD. I spent $4,000 on my 2010 RX-8 R3 with 131,000 miles on the engine as well as the chassis and got 30,000 miles with zero hot start issues out of that engine before a set of shitty set of TREX D585 GM coils killed a side seal and 3 corner seals on one rotor. Sure it wasn't it the best shape and 130k miles on any sports car can be pretty hard on it, but with the rx-8 being less than a decade old it's nowhere near as bad as an FD in similar condition and mileage would be just because they're a much older car and time definitely takes it's toll on things, but even with that in mind I'd be lucky to get a stock FD in that condition for less than $20,000-$25,000 so in that sense I think the RX-8 is the better choice especially considering practicality, comfortable daily drivability and parts availability & prices

Looking to buy one for a year now

why you wiggle the shifter before every startup 😂

To each their own but man, I couldn't live on the daily with that steering wheel staring me in the face. Just hideous.

S3 ain't got rev count and same with the 323 hatchy my brother has with a 13b

What state or area is that? Ive always wanted to live in an area like this!

Series 3 rx7 and jc Cosmo no center tach

who is the brown dog in the background?

84 rx-7s had equal sized side by side rpm and speed gauges. Not sure about the 85 letter cars.

Twin!

These cars are increasing in price rapidly. Buy one now! I predict that they will reach the 60k to 80k soon.

Stock clean fd for 30k. Nah. You can’t get one for that price now