New FB (12a) owner- Hello!

[munk]

Hi folks,

I'm Dave- from West Sussex.

Have been looking for a tidy FB for a while now since being loaned one in the States. Finally found one that I'm happy with and I'm due to pick the car up tomorrow- so pics up then. Have seen the car in the "spotted" section- so quite enthused by some of the comments.

The car is in great condition ('85 FB 12A) and the seller wanted a reasonable price, so a deal was done and I put a deposit on the car on Sunday- pending MOT & Tax. So, fast forward to yesterday; the car passed it's MOT with no advisories (not bad for a 27 year old car) and tax was duly bought. Just as a pre-cursor to rotary ownership; I Called Jimmy's in Norwich to check on a price for a pre-purchase check and the inevitable (but not obviously imminent) engine rebuild. Turns out that while they were not able to do a check; the owner was in fact a customer and they knew the car - so we had a chat and they vouched for the condition. I asked some questions about my view of the car's mechanical condition from test drive & hot start test vs the sellers comments- all sounded encouraging & positive. They did go as far as saying that FB's tend to last 130k+ before needing a total rebuild- not sure I necessarily believe that, but it's a nice nugget of info to reassure the bank manager with.

Anyway, money withdrawn, insurance sorted & train tickets (just about) booked. Roll on tomorrow.

[Steve-A]

Hi Dave Welcome to the FB forum and to FB ownership!

Sounds like you've got a good car lined up, and you've done your research. It is true to say that in standard trim the 12a can go on a lot longer than some of the more highly stressed rotaries, but exactly how long is very dependent on the previous owner. Make sure to get some pictures up and tell us your first impressions of your new car once you've picked it up

[ian65]

Hi Dave,
a very warm welcome to the forum!

Exciting times the night before collecting a new car..... I've owned 60 cars and still get a buzz from buying a new one and the anticipation of going to fetch it.
Please post some pictures up when you get a chance.... we love photos on here!
I dunno about their phrase that "FB's tend to last 130k+ before needing a total rebuild".....
they should replace 'tend' with 'could possibly'.
Some only did 50,000 if they were neglected and well thrashed..... others, if well maintained and not abused do pretty high milages, especially in the US.
As a general rule they seem to be heading towards a freshen up around 100,000 miles..... but of course, every car is different.
Great that you're joining the world of 1st gen ownership, hope you enjoy it!

cheers,
Ian

[mpk490p]

Excellent welcome aboard you will love it

[spoddy]

hi mate, welcome to the site and very best of luck to you with your fb
hopefully someday i'll be doing the same as you and finally get my hands on one lol, its edging closer though

good luck tomorrow.

[codge]

Hi Dave, Welcome. It'll be great to know which one of the 'Spotteds' you've bought.

Codge (Another Dave).

[munk]

So, after a 5am start, 3 train rides and a short walk. I'm finally back home again from sunny Norwich. Did I buy the car? Well, I didn't walk the 150 miles home if that give you any clues...



So there she is, in all her red shiny glory- I think she's a stunner. So the important bit, the seller picked me up from the train station- cash was exchanged and documents filled out, MOT cert produced & mechanics report was duly read. Turns out she suffers a little from the FB steering box play issue; (but only 3/4 of an inch so well within the limits) but the rear axle is in good mechanical health thankfully. So, with paperwork done it was time to drive off into the sunset, the owner said he'd shed a tear- but I suspect it's a tear of joy seeing as though he's been trying to sell for a long old while. Anyways, I digress- she started on the button- very promising. I then navigated Norwich and drove 90 miles to a service station on the m25 (mix of single track A roads & dual carriageway + a smidge of M25) - left for 10-15mins whilst a murder-king was rapidly ingested. Prayed to god that she started first time, low and behold... it's not rebuild time quite yet.

First impressions- not bad at all. She drives really nicely, good and tight- not bouncy bouncy like so many others. The pops & bangs scare pensioners & children alike (couldn't resist trying that out on a line of unsuspecting high-school kids- my god did they jump, a cyclist almost fell off his bike!), and she goes really nicely. Got a little over exuberant coming out of the Dartford crossing toll booth, managed to break traction in second with a little chirp for the rears into third, so I think she's in pretty rude health and not too many of the 100 rampant stallions that Mazda saw fit to bestow upon her having left the paddock. I recon she's getting around 25mpg+ on a run if driven like you've just overshot the last service station on the A14 with the next services being 20 miles away... and you're already on red (whoops). One negative though- the seats were clearly made by Satan himself as a lower back torture device- some playing around with fore, aft & lumber will be the order of the weekend I feel. However, last point aside- I'm dead chuffed, for the money I paid I have no complaints.

More pictures tonight when I go for a walk, but until then I shall be nursing my ruined back with coffee & cake.

[ian65]

That's a result Dave to get your hands on that car...

we've been admiring it on the forum for a good while..... surprising that it's taken so long to sell but many people get lured in by the cheapo projects on ebay and buy those instead.....
It looks lovely, no wonder you're chuffed.
Great score

[Marc S]

Nice car Dave, welcome in

you might not be too far from me...depends where in Sussex you are

[codge]

Thought it might be that beauty when you said Norwich.

It looks like a cracker Dave.

The MOT allowable play on the steering wheel for a car with a steering box is a massive 2" and more. Rack systems have a much lower free play allowance.

Check the idler bushes as a first step (easy fix) then if its only 3/4"......heyho you get used to it.

Popping and banging is usually the front part of the exhaust admitting air.....particularly if it's an original Mazda exhaust jobbie.