With the FD, as with rotary cars in general, the thing to be wary of is the engine's compression. You can't see compression in a photo, and you can't see it by standing next to the car either. I haven't owned an FD, so this page sticks to what I'd tell any buyer.
Two ways to buy one, in my view
- Buy from a shop that has measured the compression. In my view, that's a good way to buy one. Ask the dealer whether the engine's compression has been measured, and for the figures if it has.
- Buy a cheap one with a good body, and do the engine yourself. Pick the car for its body shell, and plan to tune and rebuild the engine on your own terms.
Either way, the body is something you can look at before you buy. The compression is something you have to ask about.
What we can't tell you
- The compression. We don't connect equipment or test engines, so a viewing from us won't give you a compression figure. If the dealer has one, we can ask for it and pass on what they say, marked as Reported.
- How the engine runs. We don't drive the car. The dealer's staff start it, and we can't tell whether it had already been warmed up. See engine start videos for what a video can and can't show. For what can be seen under the bonnet, see the engine bay.
- Where an FD rusts. This page doesn't cover rust on the FD. For the places that matter on most cars, see what dealer photos miss and rust on the body or a part.
We don't tell you whether to buy.
Found an FD in Japan and want to know what the dealer can tell you about the engine? Send us the listing and tell us what you want asked.
If the car is a long way from us
A Remote Check is where we phone the dealer in Japanese and ask your questions, including whether the compression has been measured. We mainly cover the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu and Mie) for viewings in person; for a car elsewhere in Japan, ask us and we'll quote the travel before you pay.
Sources
- The compression, and the two ways to buy: the founder's view, given on 3 October 2026. "In my view" means one person's view, not a survey
- What we do and don't do on a viewing: On-Site Vehicle Viewing, checked 3 October 2026
If the body is what you want checked before you pay for an FD, send it to us.