I'm curious about what term or shorthand we'll use to call these cars:

1) RX-8
2) SE3P (the Mazda Chassis code, like FD3S for 3rd Gens)
3) FE17 (the US code/VIN# start).

I'm partial to FE17 myself, but what do YOU think?


Rotordude

Lightning Yellow 6SP Sport
1981 Pro7

Since it's not the successor to the RX-7, FE seems wrong to me. Doesn't really matter much to me though.

Probably for the short term, the '8. Calling it the "SE" sounds weird - too many cars have "SE" grades (including the RX-7 - there was an '88 SE that was pretty much the base model).

Gotta wonder what the chassis code will be if/when the new RX-7 shows up.

At least for the short term, there's no other RX-8's - there's no 1st, 2nd, 3rd gens, etc. to differentiate from. Just calling it an RX-8 is short enough. If it was called something that was long and hard to type, that would be another story :).

Dale

My vote would be for '8' if it was on the list

FE seems kind of mixed to me - you only use build codes around rotary heads, and yet, they're the same type that would seem to want the new RX-7 to be the legit 'successor'

REX8

its not like a Honda Integra where you say DC2 for the older ones and DC5 for the newer ones (RSX in the US). Similar comparison is the RX7 models which have different body styles and engines that differ from the years, so it is necessary to specify which rx7 you are referring to by using either the engine code or chassis number. calling it the rx8 is fine because there will not be confusion with other models since the rx8 just came out. if new rx8 models come out in the future, we should use the chassis code to identify the specific rx8.