Saki GT

If there's any place to own an RX-7, its Japan. Especially since you can buy a 95. If nothing else, you'll get to own and drive an iconic car for a few years.

Saki GT

What are you comparing Mazda to? Bentley? All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s - the standard was Ford/GM and that's why Japanese car companies did so well. Your average Mazda was no Honda/Toyota for reliability but it was about the same in materials and quality of parts. If Honda is known for one thing, its bad paint jobs.

Rxmfn7

Id double check and read the fine print in the laws reguarding importing the FD. Unless youre talking about Canada, I do not believe it is technically legal to bring the cars to the US. Back on topic, buy the FD

shyong

What are you comparing Mazda to? Bentley? All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s - the standard was Ford/GM and that's why Japanese car companies did so well. Your average Mazda was no Honda/Toyota for reliability but it was about the same in materials and quality of parts. If Honda is known for one thing, its bad paint jobs.
[/quote]

Come on, Moderator. It's asinine to insinuate I was talking about a Bentley. "All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s". Assume much? I can think of two Japanese companies right off the bat that matched Ford/GM quality. Mitsubishi and Mazda. Did you own a Mazda during the 90s? We did. A 92 Mazda 929 and 93 Mazda MX-3 both of which were purchased brand new.

During the same decade we also owned a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, 1997 Honda Accord SE, and a 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH. All of which had better material and build quality than the Mazdas. Both the Honda's had no problems with paint. I didn't know EVERYONE knew how Honda had bad paint. />

F20AP1

What are you comparing Mazda to? Bentley? All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s - the standard was Ford/GM and that's why Japanese car companies did so well. Your average Mazda was no Honda/Toyota for reliability but it was about the same in materials and quality of parts. If Honda is known for one thing, its bad paint jobs.
[/quote]

Come on, Moderator. It's asinine to insinuate I was talking about a Bentley. "All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s". Assume much? I can think of two Japanese companies right off the bat that matched Ford/GM quality. Mitsubishi and Mazda. Did you own a Mazda during the 90s? We did. A 92 Mazda 929 and 93 Mazda MX-3 both of which were purchased brand new.

During the same decade we also owned a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, 1997 Honda Accord SE, and a 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH. All of which had better material and build quality than the Mazdas. Both the Honda's had no problems with paint. I didn't know EVERYONE knew how Honda had bad paint. />/>
[/quote]

actually that's funny that this is brought up! My 1995 HONDA civic had completely no clear coat and and blotched paint on the entire passenger side and roof, my S2000 with 45k miles 2nd owner had faded clear coat on the trunk and 3/4 panel. My mazda rx-7 which i had 4 2 years... had beautiful black paint like new factory condition, the interior was flawless and the materials were definitely NOT cheap. I still think till this day that was and still will remain the best car I have ever driven. Every time i looked at it or even see a picture of one I'm simply reminded of how awesome every aspect of that car really is!

oh... and if it was really that cheap (like your stating) they would never even be close to fetching 15k for a 1994 here in the U.S with over 100k on the odo... food for thought... supply and demand... It wouldn't be sought after if it was cheap right?

spoon_S2k

Get a Dc2 ITR. Great for track and has rear seats.

Ryan2949

I think you already know what you want to do and you'll always get biased answer when the car in question is the car the forum revolves around. I bought an fcs3, non turbo with 95000kms and the only thing i did wrong was flood it by shutting it off too fast/not let it warm up at all. I now have 101500kms and have owned it since June. My only issue is the fact it's my daily driver and i live in the city so my mpg is absolute shit.

If I have the chance to own a clean, stock fd I will choose it over almost anything else. You have the chance to get an awesome car while at the same time making money out of it.

shyong

What are you comparing Mazda to? Bentley? All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s - the standard was Ford/GM and that's why Japanese car companies did so well. Your average Mazda was no Honda/Toyota for reliability but it was about the same in materials and quality of parts. If Honda is known for one thing, its bad paint jobs.
[/quote]

Come on, Moderator. It's asinine to insinuate I was talking about a Bentley. "All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s". Assume much? I can think of two Japanese companies right off the bat that matched Ford/GM quality. Mitsubishi and Mazda. Did you own a Mazda during the 90s? We did. A 92 Mazda 929 and 93 Mazda MX-3 both of which were purchased brand new.

During the same decade we also owned a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, 1997 Honda Accord SE, and a 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH. All of which had better material and build quality than the Mazdas. Both the Honda's had no problems with paint. I didn't know EVERYONE knew how Honda had bad paint. />/>/>
[/quote]

actually that's funny that this is brought up! My 1995 HONDA civic had completely no clear coat and and blotched paint on the entire passenger side and roof, my S2000 with 45k miles 2nd owner had faded clear coat on the trunk and 3/4 panel. My mazda rx-7 which i had 4 2 years... had beautiful black paint like new factory condition, the interior was flawless and the materials were definitely NOT cheap. I still think till this day that was and still will remain the best car I have ever driven. Every time i looked at it or even see a picture of one I'm simply reminded of how awesome every aspect of that car really is!

oh... and if it was really that cheap (like your stating) they would never even be close to fetching 15k for a 1994 here in the U.S with over 100k on the odo... food for thought... supply and demand... It wouldn't be sought after if it was cheap right?
[/quote]

1995 Honda Civic? Purchased brand new? How many miles? When did you own it (years)? Hey, anything's possible with neglect and selection. Maybe you had gotten a bad batch, who knows?

I've had two S2000s (3 if you include my fiance's). 2001 AP1 and 2004 AP2 (fiance's 2003 AP1) both of which have zero paint problems. The 2003 has double the mileage of yours w/ zero issues.

No idea how you consider the interior "flawless and the materials were definitely NOT cheap". Yeah, compared to a Civic, sure. But isn't it funny how every single one I shopped for in the late 90s had peanut brittle door trim. The door trim was coming apart, not to mention the condition of center consoles looking horrendous with low miles.

$15K? rofl. You mean the ones with dual mileage? For example, 100k miles on body/ 25K miles on 'new' motor? Yeah, you can keep it.

F20AP1

What are you comparing Mazda to? Bentley? All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s - the standard was Ford/GM and that's why Japanese car companies did so well. Your average Mazda was no Honda/Toyota for reliability but it was about the same in materials and quality of parts. If Honda is known for one thing, its bad paint jobs.
[/quote]

Come on, Moderator. It's asinine to insinuate I was talking about a Bentley. "All the Japanese carmakers were above average in the 90s". Assume much? I can think of two Japanese companies right off the bat that matched Ford/GM quality. Mitsubishi and Mazda. Did you own a Mazda during the 90s? We did. A 92 Mazda 929 and 93 Mazda MX-3 both of which were purchased brand new.

During the same decade we also owned a 1995 Toyota 4Runner, 1997 Honda Accord SE, and a 1999 Honda Prelude Type SH. All of which had better material and build quality than the Mazdas. Both the Honda's had no problems with paint. I didn't know EVERYONE knew how Honda had bad paint. />/>/>/>/>/>
[/quote]

actually that's funny that this is brought up! My 1995 HONDA civic had completely no clear coat and and blotched paint on the entire passenger side and roof, my S2000 with 45k miles 2nd owner had faded clear coat on the trunk and 3/4 panel. My mazda rx-7 which i had 4 2 years... had beautiful black paint like new factory condition, the interior was flawless and the materials were definitely NOT cheap. I still think till this day that was and still will remain the best car I have ever driven. Every time i looked at it or even see a picture of one I'm simply reminded of how awesome every aspect of that car really is!

oh... and if it was really that cheap (like your stating) they would never even be close to fetching 15k for a 1994 here in the U.S with over 100k on the odo... food for thought... supply and demand... It wouldn't be sought after if it was cheap right?
[/quote]

1995 Honda Civic? Purchased brand new? How many miles? When did you own it (years)? Hey, anything's possible with neglect and selection. Maybe you had gotten a bad batch, who knows?

I've had two S2000s (3 if you include my fiance's). 2001 AP1 and 2004 AP2 (fiance's 2003 AP1) both of which have zero paint problems. The 2003 has double the mileage of yours w/ zero issues.

No idea how you consider the interior "flawless and the materials were definitely NOT cheap". Yeah, compared to a Civic, sure. But isn't it funny how every single one I shopped for in the late 90s had peanut brittle door trim. The door trim was coming apart, not to mention the condition of center consoles looking horrendous with low miles.

$15K? rofl. You mean the ones with dual mileage? For example, 100k miles on body/ 25K miles on 'new' motor? Yeah, you can keep it.
[/quote]


I think you need to familiarize yourself with a japanese spec rx-7 and stop comparing them to the early model U.S spec one's if you have no knowledge go ahead and step out of this conversation... just so you know... every early model car has problems... Including our PRECIOUS S2000's! remember the oil banjo bolt issue on early ap1's? how bout the valve cover issue? The seizing contol arm bushings? the rusty input shaft splines for tranny? the holes in the soft top caused by rubbing the frame? Oh what about the AP1 valve retainers, oh wait! what about the un-torqued to proper spec rear axle nuts.............................................. ........................ I will gladly take a insignificant crappy door trim over these issues caused from my S2000... wouldn't you? I had a 97 rx-7 with the newer ecu upgraded ABS and guess what!?!?!? no interior problems! Oh thank god for japanese rx-7's right? re-think your statement...

EDIT: oh and I forgot about our crappy OEM timing chain tensor issues... another one to add to your oh-so reliable s2000 list...

Ryan2949

I love when people have a good experience with a car they think every single one of that make is fantastic or they have a bad experience with a car and they say that all cars from that manufacturer are shit.