Buying a Third Gen RX-7 FD 1992-2002 for the first time.

***ZGN*** · 10-09-2013, 08:14 AM

Members,

Can you help to create a sticky for people who are interested in owning a FD. Post mainly the basics they should know about buying this car from preinspection to maintaining.

I will combine the post into one highly information post for potiential new owners.

thanks!

RedR1 · 10-09-2013, 08:37 AM

The first and most important thing to do, is to arrive at the car unscheduled. Cold start the car and see how long it takes to turn over. That is not a 100% garunteed way to tell the health of a 13B REW, but it's a good indicator if you do not have access or the owner doesn't want to take it to a local Mazda dealer for a compression test. Difficulty starting often means low compression (always exceptions to the rule). That, off the bat, eliminates some problems down the road.

Another thing to remember, is that (here in America) these are 20 year old cars, there will be things that need to be replaced, both in the interior as well as under the hood. Always factor in the price they are asking, plus $5000 or so. It probably won't be nearly that much, but replacing the interior bits isn't cheap, as Mazda no longer makes LHD parts for our car. You also would be wise to flush and replace the cooling system. While at it, replace the radiator with an aluminum unit (Koyo, Fluidyne, Ron Davis, etc). A downpipe wouldn't hurt either, as the OEM unit likes to hold in heat.

rx7 vinnie · 10-09-2013, 11:13 AM

I'm glad this thread is here..... I'll be in the market for one first of the year.

***ZGN*** · 01-04-2014, 07:32 PM

It's the 1st of the year!

rx7 vinnie · 01-04-2014, 08:36 PM

It is!!!! When Ludwig gets my Cosmo FC wired in and tuned it's on to looking for a reliable mildly modified FD...or your rhd FD.

Weaksauce · 01-06-2014, 11:44 AM

New guy here looking for one also and this would help a great deal

FDDandata · 01-30-2014, 03:56 PM

any 6'3" fd owners out there, that can give me an idea of how well i might fit in one. I will be looking for one as spring approaches

RETed · 01-30-2014, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FDDandata

any 6'3" fd owners out there, that can give me an idea of how well i might fit in one. I will be looking for one as spring approaches

Don't.
With the stock seats, the cars are made for a 5'6" person...
No joke.
I don't see anything taller than 5'8" being comfortable in one with stock seats.

I'm 6', 250#, 31" inseam.
I absolutely do not fit in one.
This was in a 1993 R1 with those special suede seats; I believe the leather seats are a tad higher, cause I've been in a Touring with even less headroom.

Unless you're planning on getting a custom seat fitted, it's going to be uncomfortable.

-Ted

Pete_89T2 · 01-30-2014, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RETed

Don't.
With the stock seats, the cars are made for a 5'6" person...
No joke.
I don't see anything taller than 5'8" being comfortable in one with stock seats.

I'm 6', 250#, 31" inseam.
I absolutely do not fit in one.
This was in a 1993 R1 with those special suede seats; I believe the leather seats are a tad higher, cause I've been in a Touring with even less headroom.

Unless you're planning on getting a custom seat fitted, it's going to be uncomfortable.

-Ted

I agree, I'm 6'0", about 180lbs with a 34" inseam. I could fit in an FD, but it's rather tight and intimate all around. With a helmet on, there's no way in hell I would fit. FWIW, that was in a '93 touring model that I recently test drove with the sunroof. You loose about 1" of head room with the sunroof.

That said, there are always exceptions... 6'6" tall guys like Dale Clark who seem to be able to somehow fit in their FD's and drive them to DGRR every year. No clue how he does it, unless there are massive aftermarket seat mods.

zoom-zoom89 · 02-05-2014, 07:28 PM

Im 6'8 and my plan when I get one would be possibly to remount the seat railings further back or remove the bucket seats depending on what model I get.

Prodigy · 06-30-2014, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

I agree, I'm 6'0", about 180lbs with a 34" inseam. I could fit in an FD, but it's rather tight and intimate all around. With a helmet on, there's no way in hell I would fit.

dis my first autocross today...

similar build to you but taller..

6'4" 180lbs 34 inseam 34 waist...

I *fit* the FD while wearing a helmet, but the helmet is also touching the headliner, and getting in/our is a real pita with it on, fwiw I'm rhd too..

jdm type r (R1 basicly) with factory seats/rails/foam.

woukd I like more room, yes, do I need it for auto x, nope... for circuit, yes I woukd do something...

J.

speedjunkie · 12-02-2014, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prodigy

dis my first autocross today...

similar build to you but taller..

6'4" 180lbs 34 inseam 34 waist...

I *fit* the FD while wearing a helmet, but the helmet is also touching the headliner, and getting in/our is a real pita with it on, fwiw I'm rhd too..

jdm type r (R1 basicly) with factory seats/rails/foam.

woukd I like more room, yes, do I need it for auto x, nope... for circuit, yes I woukd do something...

J.

I'm 6'3" about 215 and have the same problem as you. I bought the rails that Adam Griffith made. They bolt right to the floor and fit a bucket racing seat (side mount). I sat in his EVO 2's with the same rails and fit pretty well. I'm getting the same seats.

Spooln2 · 04-15-2014, 06:13 PM

Get a 94 or 95 if possible if going for a low mileage fd. I'm 5'9'' and the FD was made for my body.

93rx7r1 · 06-29-2014, 03:41 PM

I'm 6' and 200 lbs with oem seats & the only time I feel uncomfortably cramped is when I have a helmet on & even then once I start to race I don't even notice it anymore haha

speedjunkie · 06-29-2014, 07:07 PM

I'm 6'3" about 220lbs with about a 36" inseam and I have stock seats and a touring with a sunroof. It was a really tight fit with the stock steering wheel in there. I kept hitting my hands on my knees as I turned the wheel. However, once I put in an aftermarket wheel with an NRG quick release, it changed everything. It put the steering wheel closer and I sit in there comfortably now. I plan to get Adam Griffith's seat mounts that bolt the seats directly the floor and get some Sparco Evo 2s, but that's just so I can fit with a helmet. I won't fit with one in the stock seats with the stock rails.

10-09-2013, 08:14 AM	#1
*ZGN* I fly drones & film crap. Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 10	Buying a Third Gen RX-7 FD 1992-2002 for the first time. Members, Can you help to create a sticky for people who are interested in owning a FD. Post mainly the basics they should know about buying this car from preinspection to maintaining. I will combine the post into one highly information post for potiential new owners. thanks! __________________ Kevin

10-09-2013, 11:13 AM	#3
rx7 vinnie I SEE DEAD PEOPLE Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nashville, tn (antioch) iTrader: (0) Posts: 743 Rep Power: 17	I'm glad this thread is here..... I'll be in the market for one first of the year. __________________ VIN-AUTO Rotary list of Fails below: 86 mazda rx7 csp 61 N/A= because RACECAR 87 mazda rx7 t2 with 13b-re cosmo GT42= FKN RUNS!!! 03 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Vert 06 dodge ram 2500 Megacab turbo Cummins=puller 16 MB ML350

01-04-2014, 07:32 PM	#4
*ZGN* I fly drones & film crap. Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,262 Rep Power: 10	It's the 1st of the year! __________________ Kevin

01-04-2014, 08:36 PM	#5
rx7 vinnie I SEE DEAD PEOPLE Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: nashville, tn (antioch) iTrader: (0) Posts: 743 Rep Power: 17	It is!!!! When Ludwig gets my Cosmo FC wired in and tuned it's on to looking for a reliable mildly modified FD...or your rhd FD. __________________ VIN-AUTO Rotary list of Fails below: 86 mazda rx7 csp 61 N/A= because RACECAR 87 mazda rx7 t2 with 13b-re cosmo GT42= FKN RUNS!!! 03 Dodge Viper SRT-10 Vert 06 dodge ram 2500 Megacab turbo Cummins=puller 16 MB ML350

04-15-2014, 06:13 PM	#13
Spooln2 Rx7 Lover Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0) Posts: 30 Rep Power: 0	Get a 94 or 95 if possible if going for a low mileage fd. I'm 5'9'' and the FD was made for my body. __________________ 1984 GSL-SE 54k mi 1989 GTUs 31k mi 1995 PEP 15k mi

10-09-2013, 08:37 AM	#2
RedR1 Brokeback Power! Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0) Posts: 290 Rep Power: 17	The first and most important thing to do, is to arrive at the car unscheduled. Cold start the car and see how long it takes to turn over. That is not a 100% garunteed way to tell the health of a 13B REW, but it's a good indicator if you do not have access or the owner doesn't want to take it to a local Mazda dealer for a compression test. Difficulty starting often means low compression (always exceptions to the rule). That, off the bat, eliminates some problems down the road. Another thing to remember, is that (here in America) these are 20 year old cars, there will be things that need to be replaced, both in the interior as well as under the hood. Always factor in the price they are asking, plus $5000 or so. It probably won't be nearly that much, but replacing the interior bits isn't cheap, as Mazda no longer makes LHD parts for our car. You also would be wise to flush and replace the cooling system. While at it, replace the radiator with an aluminum unit (Koyo, Fluidyne, Ron Davis, etc). A downpipe wouldn't hurt either, as the OEM unit likes to hold in heat.

01-06-2014, 11:44 AM	#6
Weaksauce The Newbie Join Date: Jan 2014 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	New guy here looking for one also and this would help a great deal

01-30-2014, 03:56 PM	#7
FDDandata The Newbie Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY iTrader: (0) Posts: 27 Rep Power: 0	any 6'3" fd owners out there, that can give me an idea of how well i might fit in one. I will be looking for one as spring approaches

02-05-2014, 07:28 PM	#10
zoom-zoom89 The Newbie Join Date: Dec 2013 iTrader: (0) Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Im 6'8 and my plan when I get one would be possibly to remount the seat railings further back or remove the bucket seats depending on what model I get.

06-29-2014, 03:41 PM	#14
93rx7r1 Rotary Fan in Training Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0) Posts: 89 Rep Power: 15	I'm 6' and 200 lbs with oem seats & the only time I feel uncomfortably cramped is when I have a helmet on & even then once I start to race I don't even notice it anymore haha __________________ My FD3S Build Thread 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX (daily)

06-29-2014, 07:07 PM	#15
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO iTrader: (1) Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	I'm 6'3" about 220lbs with about a 36" inseam and I have stock seats and a touring with a sunroof. It was a really tight fit with the stock steering wheel in there. I kept hitting my hands on my knees as I turned the wheel. However, once I put in an aftermarket wheel with an NRG quick release, it changed everything. It put the steering wheel closer and I sit in there comfortably now. I plan to get Adam Griffith's seat mounts that bolt the seats directly the floor and get some Sparco Evo 2s, but that's just so I can fit with a helmet. I won't fit with one in the stock seats with the stock rails.