97k miles with no problems definitely makes you the exception, not the rule. Most start to lose compression in the range of 60-80k miles. I do love FD's, I've had two of them, but I wouldn't want to count on one as a daily driver.

Also, nobody has mentioned the poor mpg of an FD. They normally average 12-15mpg which is a bit lower than an S2k.

All this said, as a previous owner I must admit that I find myself checking auto trader and ebay every now and then for them just to see what's out there.

 

To me the FD was the most beautiful car so far from Japan. Yes, I like it even better than the stook or NSX. I've put a lot of miles on a friend's 94R2, and it is a fantastic car in every way.

If Mazda had still been bringing the cars into the US back when I bought my stook, I would have probably bought an FD new instead. But given the choice of a new Honda or a 6 year old FD...a car with a warranty vs one without and a reputation for having mechanical issues...well, the choice was clear.

Today, I wouldn't think of trading the reliability of the s2k for the unknowns of an FD.

 

I could not agree more with this statement. It saddens me when I see people ruin them with ugly ricey body kits and 19" wheels.

 

Sell your FD on the Maza boards and then join the S2ki community.

 

I like the FD, but i like the s2000 better. So in other words, I wont be the guy to trade you. Lol. Good luck finding one man. Take it easy.

-Ian

 

My 2

 

Now as for being the exception maybe? Good driver? possibly? Not a idiot to put a bunch of mods on my car that it was not designed for and not give it the support mods it needs, yes.

mpg's range from 20 cty 26 hwy (pending on your lead foot)

Im glad you like the car you bought better I hope you would.

Also, yes mother, it saddens me also to see the FD killed in such ugly fashion w/ the ridiculous body kits and CROME :eww: rims... But when I get paint on my car next month, I think my spirit r clone will really come out.

Also, note. In 3 months I already have the RS engine paid for (installation everything). For those not familiar thats the JDM race model engine. The odo read 33 kilos.... some 18 year old japanese kid recked his rs fd and i bought the clip for near nothing so my fd will be almost 99 spec, although Im still fighting for a 99-02 rear diff w/ the bigger brakes, gear ratio ect.

ANYWAY!! thats work that I have to do once Im finished paying her off seeing as the bank doesnt like alterations done to it while they own it.

Please note, I was just wondering if you would trade, as I said earlier odds are Im just going to either use it as a trade in to get a 08 CR or... sell it on the fourm and use it as a down payment, either way Im probally going to be rolling in a s2k very soon!

Thanks guys keep the comments comming.

Rob

(If you ask why Im still doing work to the car even though Im going to sell/trade it in.... becuase all of this was paid for a long time ago... but my love for the s2k came back once I rode in a 08 CR, when I joined the military, all I wanted to do was get a s2k, then I got the fd after researching the rotary.... well my first dream is back and now I guess I want a s2k again )

(*editted a few spelling errors, if there are more, im too lazy to hunt them down)

 

did he say stook????

 

I've had RX-7s, and they are great cars - a lot like the S. FDs are great cars with bad reps for reliability - some of it from the factory, most of it from tuners blowing up engines. I love the rotary engine, but gas mileage is abysmal in a turbo FD - you're lucky to break 15 mpg.

Still, a clean FD at a good price (which is getting to be impossible to find) is still an attractive car. I'd own one as a second car, but as much as I loved my RX-7, I love my S for different reasons. They're both fun to drive and good looking cars.

 

You will be better off selling the FD on a FD forum IMO. There are quite a few people on here it sems that have come from an RX7 of some sort. I think they are amazing sports cars, and when they debuted states side in 93, there was nothing on the road with the same philosophy twords building a sports car - a no compromises powerful light weight RWD coupe. There was not much in a production car that could touch one stock vs stock on a track except maybe an NSX. But of course this philosophy came with great sacrafices - worst being reliability, then terrible NVH, fit and finish (especialy the paint IIRC), and poor ergonomics (think steering wheel that hit your knees everytime you turn it). You are selling a car made for a died in the wool Mazda guy, like my friend and his dad that both have FD's and dont mine rebuilding the engine and trans every 50K themselves. I sold my well maintaned 94 VR4 for a great price to a guy that owned no less than 5 Mitsubishis at once and flew down from WA state to drive it home without even test driving it. They are out there, you just have to wait sometimes.