Well all our FDs are coming up to the 20year mark soon...I was thinking the yesterday, how well do you think our cars handle against today's modern cars? I'm hoping to bring my car out after 5 years in the garage, so it's been a long time since I driven my FD, but for a stock car with 255hp seems just decent to today's standard...

What are your thoughts??

 

Ive tracked my stock 94 with street tires against all kinds of new stuff. On the turns and braking Id say it stands up well. Once things got down to horse power on straights not so well. Most new sports cars have alot more power - my crappy acura TL has almost 300! That said a modded FD with 350hp can more than hold its own. 99% of the time it really doesnt matter on the street. The biggest thing I notice about the car is the interior. I love the layout and design but the materials are not that good compaired to modern ones. Looks wise - the situation would still be DTF...

 

I was wondering if there was a way to improve the car's interior, you do like the design, but after years of tugging and pushing, wear and tear, the plastics are all creaky. I don't even think the airbags work either.
All in all though, everyone keeps sweating how light the FDs are, although it doesn't seem as light as ppl say

 

most modern sports cars (other than a lotus) are 3300lbs and up. The fd is 500lbs less but with the low hp in comparison we lose in a straight line. You could recover the interior and dynamat it but I'd rather keep it stock looking as it represents what the car was designed to be , warts and all.

 

Having a 2002 model i would say that if Mazda were to build this car it would have to be priced in the $135,000 - $150,000 price bracket .

Here in Australia , and there is nothing in that price bracket in way of a new car thats any were as exiting or as rare , or pleasurable to have .

My 2 cents worth

 

I think the body style has held up VERY well, particularly compared to it's competitors from the ERA. With minor updates ('99 front/signals, and 18" wheels) people do occasionally ask me if it's new. That wouldn't happen with Corvettes, Supras, or 300Z's from '93.

The interior is nice, but cheap in materials, and while it looks handsome, modern cars have gone much more over the top in terms of detailing and materials (see Audi TT or RX8). The FD looks a little plain.

I terms of chassis, it's still at or near world class in overall design. Chassis rigidity has mostly improved (the RX8 for instance is near world class for anything but exotics, and it's twice the FD's), but that's not universal... the FD is similar to a Lotus Elise, and they seem to handle pretty well. The suspension design is still of similar design to what others are doing... though you'll note RX8's have longer a-arms, so it's clear that they worked with the geometry a bit. Brakes on modern cars are much bigger relatively too... but nothing a BBK won't cure.

The power is only passable because the car is relatively light weight... but as someone noted, Camry's come with as much HP. You really need a 3-rotor to make modern levels of power and maintain the sort of torque/drivability of a modern car. A 6-speed would be nice too.

Overall, it's really the only accessible car from it's era that you could even have this conversation about.

 

Q: How well do you all think the FDs are compared to today's cars?
A: Very well, except fuel economy.

 

What are the FDs getting? From what I remember I was getting about 14mpg...i think...

 

Admittedly i have not driven any modern sports cars, but every modern car i have driven has felt worse then older cars.
Modern cars are now full of so much junk that you loose alot of the "feeling" of driving the car.
New cars feel like your driving some kind of motorised couch/boat that your not even very in touch with.
My first car was a 1996 Ford Laser station wagon, that thing feels better to drive then a brand new holden commodore or mazda 6 for example. (drive these as we have them for company cars).

As far as brakes go, I think the stock FD brakes are actually pretty good! (99spec type RS brakes). My brakes are bigger then most brand new SUV's that weigh twice as much as my car.
I realise iv got side tracked away from "sports cars" but then again no new sports car that can compete with the FD are anywhere near the price of an FD.

Compare apples to apples and look at price / bang for buck comparison and you will quickly see if you were to spend the same amount on an FD as a new sportscar the FD should eat it alive.

 

Still more fun to drive than a LOT of other cars out there. Not to say that it's better, but it is faster, more exciting, more fun overall, and I like that nothing can out-corner my FD Currently nobody makes 2800-lb turbo cars.

Other newer cars are more refined in a number of ways, but that's because they're newer, and it's an automotive evolution that's to be expected. In the end it's better and worse than newer cars. Besides I like the fact that my car's paid off. I own it, versus the Mercedes that owns the guy making the huge monthly payments.

Furthermore it's still 200 lbs lighter than a prius, and although the FD3S is a guy magnet, girls who don't really know what it is will see your passion for the car, and if you've taken care of the car, they eventually get into it and start liking it also. Soon your girl will have have fun telling her friends "You have an Integra? Um, yeah my boyfriend has an RX-7!"

After driving FD's for 6 years, I still smile and get excited when I'm driving it. That's part of what makes it special. And having a down-*** chick next to you in the car makes everything worth it.

None of any of the aforementioned is happening with a prius lol.

...

btw, girls like fast cars. If you ever meet one who doesn't, ditch her. I once met a girl like that, seemed nice, then later at dinner, she told me she was a witch. I almost spit the food out of my mouth. She didn't shave her chacha either She had a nice bod tho.

 

I like how it doesn't have a Nanny system that comes standard on new vehicles.

 

dissapointing

 

the only safety features are 4 wheel ABS system, and a drivers airbag. No pillar, side or rear curtain airbags, no traction control, no stability control, no active differential, no yaw control, no automatic climate control, no heated seats, no Electronic brakeforce distribution, no factory GPS.

No added weight
No cup holders
no back seats

good power stock
great handling
driving excitement

No Nonsense.

If this car doesnt teach you how to keep a high maintenance, extremely attractive girlfriend..... your doing the car wrong as well

 

i agree completely gordon

The FD was wayyyyyy ahead of its time in just about every aspect of the car...even porsche back then was still trying to figure out terribly they could make the placement of an engine before it was so terribly placed that it actually worked loll

if the rx7 is properly set up, you'd be hard pressed to find a car that is as much fun to drive, or as fast...i recently read a thread on here that a 400-450 hp FD is as fast as a ZR1!!!

and like someone said earlier, theres no "invisible hand" governing the car
now-a-days the cars pretty much drive themselves
you input a command on the steering wheel, then 17 computers all agree that you are wrong, and they change the command and put you where you want to be...wheres the fun in that?!?!

at my job i've been lucky enough to drive some really amazing cars (twin turbo r8, 500 whp ISF, tuned clk black series...etc...) and dont get me wrong, those are some serious cars, amazing cars to say the least...but theres always that thought in the back of my mind that the hardcore race inspired design that these cars are supposedly modeled after has been lost, that they could have made these "track day monsters" so much more focused

then i get in my FD thats way too low to get into, has no cup holder for my water, no space for my cell phone and no room for just about anything except the driver, and the last thing i'd ever do is complain cus and it all just makes sense as i sprint home at 9k rpm

 

I have to throw in my 2 cents worth.

Everytime I drive my FD, I have people follow me to a parking lot I pull into to ask me questions, pull up next to me at stoplights and comment on the car, or drive by and take pictures. People ask if it is a 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and are shocked when I tell them it is a 1993. Ive had cops stop me for some silly thing, not give me a ticket and start the conversation with comments and questions about the car, then end up with "you are probably wondering why I pulled you over".

I work at Boeing and this summer there was a car show at the flight line, a yearly event. Mine was the only Japanese car there. There were so many people that did not know what it was. I have the Efini emblems on the front and back, my wheels are the 17's with Efini center caps and I took the RX7 emblem off. There were more people gathered around my vehicle than any other vehicle there through most of the day, and I spent all day talking all the facts about the FD. There were all kinds of vehicles there ranging from the 1930's to present day muscle cars, so many awesome cars of all types.

So, to answer your question, the FD is a unique beautifully designed machine, with a unique engine, and considering the numbers that were imported into the United States as compared to all other imports, it is very rare. It has world class appeal and captivates looks from almost everyone that sees it. The current look / design for most cars is so generic unless it is an exotic supercar ie. Ferrari, Lambo, etc. Does anybody really take a second look at a new Corvette, a 911 Porsche, a new Mustang, Camaro, whatever? Probably not!

Yes, it doesnt have a lot of the current refinements in technology. So what! It has a presence, a personality, a uniqueness, a character that has not been emulated in anything to date that is not an expensive exotic supercar.

So for those that dont own a pristine 3rd Gen RX7 and wish they did, EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT!

-Chuck

 

This has actually been on my mind quite a bit lately. Ive been lucky enough to try many of the newer sports cars in "fun" situations and always walked away feeling better about my FD than I did at the start of the day.

Looks-
I know this can be a very subjective topic, so Ill keep this short. Some of the newer cars do look pretty good from the out side but every time I look at my FD or another one on the road I just can't help but think "wow, that is just such a gorgeous car." I know our interiors aren't exactly constructed from the best materials but the overall design flow is near impossible to beat. When I see most newer sports cars interiors they just seem so boring and predictable.

Braking-
So far the only car I have driven in the last few years that I can say truly out braked our cars is a Ford GT and lets be honest, their calipers/pads probably cost almost as much as our entire car.

Power-

Sure its almost a 20 year old car but honestly ask your self, when your on the road is there really many cars you couldn't overtake with ease? If this isn't enough for your needs there is always after market alternatives to change that. A few grand in bolt ons and the margin of cars that could actually pose a threat to you in acceleration quickly decreases.

Handling-

I can say this with absolute confidence that any rear wheel drive under a 50K price range would absolutely be eaten alive in real world corners. To be honest the only car that I have driven that would even compare is an Evo. But in reality the whole driving experience is so sternal from the computers "cuddling" you the whole time.

Feel/Personality-

To this day the FD still feels more like a living creature than a car. I cant believe how much this car "talks" to the driver. It lets you know when its time to back off or throw her around. It is also painfully obvious when the car isn't quite feeling up to par or if its acting peppy and needs a nice hard run. So far the only thing that has been even remotely close was my first gen Miata.

If you ask me if the FD compares to newer cars, I think the real question should be "do newer cars compare to the FD?"

 

The problem with modern sports cars (I've driven a GT500, 370z, RX8, WRX, etc) is that there is a very clear disconnect (less so with the RX8) between the driver and the car. I'm not interested (entirely) in all out speed so much as the driver involvement. Otherwise you might as well just be along for the ride. I haven't driven an FD (yet) but I'd like to think it is a more sophisticated, and faster, incarnation of the FB.

 

I wish I could comment on that, mine has been sitting for 5 years in the garage

 

Im a newer FD owner but still this has been QFT

 

As they say, they don't bulid them like they use too.

Today everything is monitored by computers. The instant you insert the key (if there is key insert) in the car, the computers are already talking to each other.
You're no longer the driver. You're just the computer operator.

The FD brings you back. Its a willing partner ready to tango whenever you're ready.

Modern cars, not talking about sports cars, are just "applicances". You get in, you operate them from point A to B, and that's that.
Modern Sports cars are like this, but with more power and pampering devices (power/heated/vibrating seats?!?!, Auto climate control??)

The FD is there to do your bidding. It will not automatically adjust itself for temperature. It will not monitor your throttle input 20 times a Milisecond. It has no Traction Control to monitor your fun level.
It simply does what you ask it to do. And in return, you're rewarded with a huge grin on your face and some laughter.

You can't find a fun car like the FD nowadays...

 

Nice quote!

 

Lets look at this from another perspective.
Buy a "modern" car. New or used you'll pay what.. 25-35 K even 40k for something decent. Especially for a sports car.

Now lets take a look at the FD option

Buy it for 20k TOPS for a like new (or as like new as possible one). then put the other 10k into it that you would have spent on the "modern" car and ****.. you're laughing you're *** off.

My FD is 17 years old and it is by far the sexiest car in town.. not to mention my brother in his somewhat modern mustang is teerified!

FD ftw!

 

haha, no offense...but sexy or not, I'm about to burn mine

 

haaaaaaaaaaaahahaha ZIING!!!

 

just a note on chassis rigidity... it's definitely important, but not necessarily the end all be all of "handling"... a sample of figures that include some world-class handlers that notch in similar (or less) than the FD... the RX8 can be considered state of the art:

Mazda Rx-8: 30,000 Nm/deg
Mazda Rx-7: ~15,000 Nm/deg

Honda S2000 - 7100 Nm/deg
Koenigsseg CC : 28,100 nm/deg
Lamborghini Gallardo: 23,000 Nm/deg
Lamborghini Murcielago : 20,000 nm/deg
McLaren F1 : 13,500 Nm/deg
Pagani Zonda S : 26,300 nm/deg
Ferrari 360 Modena : 23,000 nm/deg
Ferrari 430 : 27600 nm/deg (supposedly 20% higher than 360)
Ferrari F50 : 34,600 Nm/deg
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe : 27,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise 111S : 11,000 nm/deg
Lotus Elise S2 Exige (2004): 10,500 Nm/deg
Porsche 959 : 16,000 nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo(2000) : 13,500 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996 : 27,000 Nm/deg
Jaguar X-type : 16,319 nm/deg
Dodge Viper Coupe : 7,600 Nm/deg
Audi TT Coupe : 19,000 nm/deg
BMW E46 : 18,000 nm/deg
BMW E90 : 22,500 nm/deg
BMW Z4 M Coupe : 32,000 Nm/deg (BMW AG's press)
Ford GT: 27,100 Nm/deg