Seriously, what's up with this... half the people here act like adding a body kit to an FB is the worst thing you could ever do to it. personally i think the FB needs help where a body kit is added (rocker panels and bumpers) the rest of the car has nice lines especially for it's time, but seriously.... can anyone say they honestly like the duck billed door stop look? the rear end is definately ugly on these cars stock, and the rocker panels sitting that high stock make the car look lifted. yeah, so most of the people here only care about power, but some of us want a nice looking car with alot of power, yes the 7 is a great sports car, but by the way it looks stock, does it look like a great sports car? certainly not... it looks very cheap in my opinion...anyway, open thread discuss on this what you want about body kits and your opinions.

 

This may turn out to be an old vs young debate. I think the lines on the 1st gen are classic and classy. Even better looking than the Porsche 924 it emulated. In my eyes, theres alot of Ferrari Daytona in the shape of the car. It's clean, uncluttered, and I LOVE the non-doorstop shape, especially in the back. I've never seen a body kit on this car that improves it's looks.

 

i think it doesnt really matter if you are for or against body kits, just dont force your opinion on other people. everyone has different tastes and can make there 7 look however they want or leave the original body if they like that better. it just comes down to what each individual 7 owner likes and thats all that it should come down to.

 

My thing is trying to find a kit or at lest someone to mold me one. And besides, the P-924 can't hold a thing to any first Gen. But if anyone knows where to order a kit other than Erebuni kits it would sure help me. Thanks Rev.

 

boy that 924 comment could evoke some flames. I have a body kit on mine. I have had this car since 82. its a 79 and it was not my first car. I had a feww before it if that tells you where I might fit in the age debate. on the power verses looks issue : most people KNOW the worst thing about all first gens is that they had looks and handleing but were way under powered. that is probly what you are seeing in the post that you are basing your conclusions on. I strongly agree the 1st gen needs some improvements in a few places on the car regarding looks and I solved that on mine with a body kit. I have the pacific kit on mine. If you want a body kit or would like a body kit on your car to improve on its looks you should get one. You would be among most 1st gen owners that like them. everyone likes one style or another . those that say they do not are either hiding in the closet, can not afford one, the one they like is not avilable, truly belive in the stock clasic Idea that may become a real thing when mazda turns a new rx7 off the line. DO not let a few very loud people sway you from your ideals. those that truly belive in the clasic idea would not try and sway you from your desire of a body kit on your car. some kit are functional some are just looks. the kit on my car with out a doubt improves its looks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you look at those of us that have the power in ours most have or are getting/ currently in the process of doing body improvements to the cars ( body kits of one kind or another) the real problem is avaliblity of choices that are on the market today. the way I look at it my car is mine to make me happy not someone else but if it does great. If it does not screw them. my guess is it is 80 % like one kit or another maybe higher probly around 5% do not care. If you belive in mods it would be hard to defend an idea that body kits are the worst thing you could do to your rx.

 

I totally think it matter on how it is installed, and how the car is further modified.

AJC13B has a stock body and that is one if not the coolest 1stgen ever.

Jimmy on the other hand has a heavily modified body on his car. IMSA front bumper, 5.0 mustang rear bumper, and a aluminum wing. I love how that thing looks.

I plan on going with the mariah mode 4 at some point.

 

I wish I could find a Pacific kit for my car

 

Stock is best. Kits look derivative.

B

 

I gotta agree that stock is best-- And I'm a youngin' even

Newer cars may be slicker in appearance, but they don't have near as much class.

 

While it's largely a matter of personal taste, the fact is that most FB's are now over 20 years old and therefore nice examples will increase in value soon (if they haven't started to do so already)--- but ONLY if they're kept original. Mods of any kind decrease the value.
As for looks, some of the more subtle body kits are tasteful, but the larger and more gaudy-looking ones scream "look at me!! I'm 18 yrs old, this is my first car, Daddy bought it for me, I want to aquire as many speeding tickets as possible, and I can't get laid to save my life!"
This may not be true (not all of it anyway), but that's what many will assume as they see you coming down the street in it.

 

I think i agree with aviator (most of it)... and i'm 19!!!

i want people to turn their heads to my stock (in appearance) 7... not to a body kit-ed 7... i want them to know that this is a back-in-the-day car and it's unique (and not to be messed with). the car is already very unique as is because you don't see these cars everyday... so i dun need a body kit (but maybe you do and i don't mind that)!

 

The 1st gen did emulate the 924 in styling. Anyone who was around at the time can attest to that.

 

I have to say I don't care for body kits on any car including the 1st gen.
When I see one I have to wonder why the person bought the car in the first place if they didn't like it's original styling. However, I'm an old guy and I bought my SE because I always loved the natural look of the car - it reflects the era of the 80's import sports car and, IMO, Mazda did a very good job in the design (along with the early Z cars).
That being said, do as you wish to your car and stand by your decision - after all, you're the owner and driver and what you do should be pleasing to you first and foremost. As for why others may not agree with your choice.... who cares!

 

i think the 7 needs a spoiler, but thats about it. My car had a body kit, but i took it off.

 

Many FB owners enjoy the sleek body style of the original 1st Gens. For some reason they feel it is most honorable to preach this to the remainder of the public...

Oh sorry, I was just being geeky and watching Star Trek (an episode about Klingons)

 

I dont like the looks of most of the body kits, they attempt to put a modern look to an old car and it just doesnt work. That said, a lower front bumper is nice for pure aerodynamics reasons, and I do really like some of the FB widebody kits, especially those that look like the old IMSA race cars.

 

I think the FB has 90s body lines, look at other cars from it's era... early 80s civics, accords, corrolas, supras, Zs, ect, the FB was very ahead of it's time with japanese styling. as you all know i've got the blitz bumper on my car... in my sig below, now imagine this bumper on any other early 80s japanese car, it definately doesn't work out. kits that modernize the looks of the FB is great in my opinion, it shows how ahead of it's time the car really was.

 

Its not that I don't like certain body kits, but I don't like dead weight that doesn't need to be there as most performance oriented sports car owners would agree. Dead weight doesn't help with its anything but questionably astestic value to its owner and who ever hes trying to impress may or may not be. However I know that extra fiberglass and mud attract more extra attention from cops and people conerned with a "stand-out" image issues.

 

well I think most of us just really dont like the riced out honda look.

However, I personally think that nothing can beat the mariah mode 1 look.

 

i totally agree with ya man

 

Aftermarket spoilers make the FB look unbalanced and heavy; it ruins the beautiful lines of the car.

There's a decent looking one on ebay right now... did the fender flares and all and it looks quite nice. But in general, the FB doesn't look good at all with 'em.

Oddly, the SA models don't have that problem....

 

I've got an airdam on the front of my 7... It's there for function.. I do track days, and it aids in cooling as well as Downforce...

Dan

 

Do the IMSA air dam and spoiler count as aftermarket? They were offered as dealer options I believe.

I like those together... Subtle... None of this Shogun or combat or Weapon R.. or X... or whatever letter they're using crap... If I wanna plow snow, I'll get a truck and a plow.

 

I didn't bother reading all the posts, but IMO the first gen is one of the best looking cars I've seen and adding a bulky body kit ruins the lines and adds a bunch of useless weight. Added to that the fact that many are poorly installed, not painted right and have lines that are anything but flowing and smooth. It just ruins it.

 

Ehh....

I enjoy my bodykit. It's what made me want to buy the car in the first place. I was browsing some inexpensive cars at some dealership website, and after I saw it......I was like "what the.......?"

Every Mazda or import get together I have been to, I have had a ton of people coming over to ask me all about my car. 99% of them ask me where they can get that kit.

For those who say it's dead weight, and only hurting performance....

I'm 5'11'' 117lbs. (LOL) Me in my car, with my kit.....probably weighs less than most guys in their cars, in stock form.

I find it entertaining.....to pull into a gas station....and have everyone looking at my car.....like, what the hell is that? I get a kick out of walking past some guy and his girlfriend....and hearing the girl say "Is that a Ferrari?" or....."Is that a Porsche?"

I had the same thing all the time with my widebody MGB roadster......nobody (except someone who owned one before) knew what it was.