+1. A late 90s viper GTS is (IMO) the best "affordable" sports car out there with huge power potential and amazing styling.

The problem with this thread is that a great condition 400+ rwhp FD costs less than 20k... It's impossible to find a car in that price range that has the power, handling, rarity, and styling of an FD.

 

840s are v8 and 850 is v12

 

Yep, even in stock form, it's virtually impossible to beat an FD. Before I had kids we had a little more money and I had some other cars, but I kept coming back to the RX-7.

I can only speak for myself but if it were not for the FDs reliability issues, they would likely cost a lot more and could be out of many of our price range for a third car. They're certainly not idiot proof, but if they were an FD would probably cost in the 20s for a 50k mile car in good shape.

I wonder how much one of those "Factory Five" Cobra replicas costs? I would bet they would make for a nice simple track car.

 

Maybe an R34 or an S15. I would get used to driving on the right but I would still miss my FD

 

My choices....

4 door cars...
Cadilac CTS-V
335I
Evo 9

2 Seater...
Z06 Vette
Porsche Caymen
S2000 with a 2JZ swap

I'm sure I could come up with more but this was 1st thought...

 

997 GT3. I would miss the uniqueness of the FD but wouldn't miss the sacrifices you have to make to live with one.

 

Interesting - haven't seen that combo yet

 

my vote but with deep pockets GT2 RS 2011

 

Exige/Elise

 

If I have to give up my FD it could be one of this:



(picture from Phil's FB)

 

2003 Audi RS6.


4.2 twin-turbo v8 with quattro all-wheel drive 450hp. bolt-on mods with a flash will easily get 500+hp/tq and get better than stock fuel economy of 15/23 city/hwy


tasteful exterior mods will make it look just plain sexy.


Pictured is an A4, but they all look the same. The difference is engine, and drivetrain setup for the most part.
I'd have one look just like this

 

I did almost buy a c5 zo6 instead of another FD. IMO they don't drive the same, the Z06 is scary torque on the low end.

In the end though I could not bring myself to do it. The FD is much more my fit (small) and more unique.


I'd love a Maserati GranTurismo S, Aston Martin One-77, or an Audi R8, but who am I kidding?

 

I dont think the FD can be replaced honestly. No matter how many nice, fast new cars come out, how many of them are gonna be a twin turbo charged rotary engine? None. On top of that, theyre rare, and you dont see one driving around everyday. To me its boring to be driving a car that everybody else has.

 

Cayman S probably.

 

no such thing as an upgrade from a fd :P

 

jut fyi, a 2010 vette is an LS3 (Z06 is a LS7, ZR1 is a LS9). while i am a huge rotary fan, after selling chevys for a year and a half, i like the LS7 the best. the LS7 make sick power for an NA throw a super charger on it and it would demolish the LS9fo like $40k less.

and on track of the thread my dream car is a 20b fd, but a non fd it would have to be a ferrari 599 (if moneys no issue).

 

Theres plenty of cars I have thought about playing around with but I know that I'll always be coming back to the FD. Thats where my heart is.

 

I currently own a rotary powered sequential twin FD, a rotary powered single turbo FD, an LS1 powered FD, and a C5Z. All bring something unique to the table and all have their pro's and con's. Not going to go into those as we all know them. More than anything, it depends on what you want to do with the car. I obviously love my FDs, but there are plenty of other cars out there that I'll own. The next purchase will prob. be a C6Z or a GT3 in a year or two(prob. the C6Z). I spent a many years being a corvette hater, but they really are nice cars with some really cool parts. Titanium exhausts from the factory for instance. As Fritz said, the C5Z is a really nice track car(and will walk all over the FD stock for stock... and many times modded to modded... we are both working on this, give us another season ), but it's just not as fun as our FD's.

 

Same price range cars would be as follows:
1. E46 M3, best bang for the buck in my opinion if you want looks, good power, and incredible handling.
2. C5 Z06, you can find nice low mileage ones in the high teens now.
3. 99+ 911, not exactly my cup of tea but decent power and a timeless look.
4. MKIV Supra, Ive been around a ton of these and while I appreciate its potential the looks dont do as much for me as they seem to for most people. Though a wingless MKIV with aggressive staggered wheels ia still great looking car
5. 02-04 C32 Mercedes, incredible little cars for the money but stuck with an auto.
6. 00+M5, Classy with great power, starting to look a little dated though.

Cars that are out of the FD price range but still attainable.

1. 06+ Viper Coupe, if you havent driven an 03+ you should, still a drivers car like the Second gens but with huge improvements in ergonomics.
2. 96+ GTS Viper- (Starting to see a theme?). IMO it is the best looking car of all the cars I have mentioned or that have been discussed in this thread. Best looking car ever under $100k but that is just my opinion. Occasionally these cars dip into the mid 20s which is a lot of car for the money.
3. 911 Turbo, once again not my cup of tea but I can appreciate the total package.

 

There are several down here in S. Florida and most of them are running low 10's in the 1/4 mile. Great combo in my opinion.

 

Late 90s gts are a good buy. The earlier model ones can be a nightmare though. That's why most still have low miles, because they are always being serviced.

 

GTM mulsanne kit car

 

Yes there are a few running around, some with automatic trannys too!

The only reasons i could give up my FD is for
* MKIV Supra

or

* Daughter's Wedding

 

There would be only a hand full of cars I would want to replace the FD with.

Primarily a McLaren F1 and the Pagani Zonda F. I think the Zonda R would be too track focus for my taste. Love the car, but it's really a toy that can't be driven on public roads.

In a distant 3rd, a Ferrari F50.

 

I’m never giving up my FD without first putting up a good fight… But in the case of “if I had to give it up” I would get a truck instead. In my realistic world I’m done with the whole sport car/modifying thing. Meaning I wouldn’t do it again.

But if money wasn’t an issue I’d sport an R8 just for the pimp factor.