Ok, this is a really dumb question... but... you know how 86-91 RX7s are known as FCs and 92+ were FDs... why aren't RX8's referred to as FEs since like the FCs and FDs it is in the VIN? Dumb question like I said, but I realized that they weren't called that after I created this account with my "ultra clever" name that would make more sense if these were called FEs

 

they're called se's, mainly i think from the new port design in the renesis.

 

because we're rx-8 (EIGHT) the seven's were the F class i'm guessing and we're the better S for superior (even though at this very moment i would kill to have a FD T_T) anywayz ya we're not FE's cuz we're not the next generation rx-7

 

Yeah, I understand us being an 8 and all But like I said, FC and FD were derived from the VIN, on the 8 it has FE in the VIN so that just makes sense to me. I'm not arguing the fact that it's not called an FE, but I figured there would be a better reason than the 7-8 because of the VIN.

 

SA - 1979-1980 US
FB - 1981-1985 US
FC - 1986-1991 US
FD - post-1991 US

They are also refered to as 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen, or generation, because they really did have major design changes. But they were all RX-7's, so they couldn't say "Your is an RX-7 and mine is an RX-8." They could only make the distinction between the three generations by just that, or by the VIN difference.

As KRNrs8Driver said, sort of, the RX-8 is a whole new model number, so we don't need to refer to this new and different car as a new generation, or by the FE in the VIN. It's an RX-8, or, "an 8" for short. Lots of 7 and 8 owners would protest the 8 being refered to as a new generation 7.

 

actually if you look at the VIN, the RX-8 is a FE

S and F are interchangeable for Mazda for the rotary power sports cars.

Note how the RX-7 VINs started as a SA, then FB, FC, FD, FE.

Get it A,B,C,D, E with either a S or F in front of it.

Denying the FE thing is something that FD owners started, when they claimed the FE/SE was not a replacement for the FD.

Of course there are 8 owners that are just as ignorant that didn't even know that the RX-7 started as a S and post stuf like this:
what even throws more of a loop, is that the FC (2nd gen RX-7- the P747) was originally slated to be called the RX-8, but was changed at the last moment for marketing reasons.

 

Now this gets started. I mean yeah, I did get in the habit of calling it an FE, now to start calling it an SE people might think I was talking about a Ford Fusion or a Nissan Sentra or something. I like Icemarks comment and agree with it. Yes it's not a 7, but there probably won't be another 7, (isn't E to D as 8 is to 7?) and if there is I sure as hell hope it doesn't look like the concept they had... gross. I think in the end an RX is an RX.

 

SA22C
FB???
FC3S (FC3C)
FD3S

SE3P

these things are CHASSIS CODES, that's the reason people use them, to distinguish from one chassis generation to another

you want to search for RX-8 parts abroad? google SE3P

FE is not a chassis code, use it if you want, but it's not a real code.

 

Just call it an 8.. 1st gen 8.. Heh..

 

Ah, yeah..chassies code...

Then why did Mazda internally refer to the 2nd gen RX-7 as the P747 chassis code.

And how about the P767 and others. That is a chassis code. Do you know for what Mazda model??? How about the 007, that should be known by everyone here... but I doubt it is. Yep, the 007 was the original chassis code for the 4 seat rotary powered car that later became the Evolve and then the RX-8

The thing you call chassis codes are simply based off of the Japanese VINs.

For example a 2nd gen RX-7 in Japan had a Japanese VIN of "FC3S-607290", but the US VINs were simular to this: "JM1FC3315K0123456".

See the thing you call a chassis code is simply just the first part of the Japanese VINs and not really a chassis code.

So either would be correct. And actually in America FE would be more correct than SE3P. Well unless you are searching for JDM tuner parts on Google

 

1st character- Identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured.
For example: U.S.A.(1or4), Canada(2), Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W), Italy(Z)

2nd character- Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C), Dodge(B),
Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G), Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D), Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5), Plymouth(P), Saturn(8), Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V).

3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.

4th to 8th characters- Identifies vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.

9th character- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.

10th character- Identifies the model year. For example: 1988(J), 1989(K), 1990(L), 1991(M), 1992(N), 1993(P), 1994(R), 1995(S), 1996(T),
1997(V), 1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2), 2003(3)

11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle.

12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.

 

Hmmm looks like the Japanese are starting to get it right too...

FE


From this Mag:

 

i thought the 8 was SE3P or something rather?

 

That is the continuing debate... I'm gonna stick with FE myself dammit!

 

You have fun with that

 

well, if 1st gen RX-7er's can call theirs FB's, I guess RX-8 owners can call theirs FE....

 

IIRC, the 1979 is the SA, and afterwards, the other 1st gens are FBs.

Laters!
Edgardo

 

umm, i thought it was simply because there are several generations of rx-7's, and using the VIN letters helps easily ID which generation car. for example, if someone says, "that's an rx-7" without clarification, u really don't know which generation 7 they're talking about. but, if they say, "that's an FD," u immediately know it's a 3rd gen rx-7.

the rx-8 has only been in one generation so far. so, it's somewhat pointless to need to refer to it using FE until another generation of 8 comes out.

am i wrong about this?

 

Just stating the year, make and model normally works.

 

best answer i've heard in this thread thus far, including my own lol