fdtt19

The FD provides a much better driving experience and is a true sports car, the 8 is a nice daily driver and a better quality package. Performance wise in any aspect you take the FD, simple as that, and to me that makes the FD better.

spooledUP7

I have to agree.

My 1993 FD was 100% better at being a sports car than my 2007 RX-8. If we were comparing a new FD to a new FE I would hands down rather own an FD.

But... the FD is old, shows its age and the 8 is great at being new. I consider the 8 a temporary "fix" until the next rotary rocket hits the market.

CosmosMpower

Styling, Power goes to the FD

Everything else goes to the RX-8, the chassis, brakes, interior, safety, reliability are all superior.

Vancouver Blue-8

If you define "better" as rarity or an eye catcher, then FD is definitely better, because you really can't find a lot of decent FD these days... not where I live anyway. Beat-up FC are everywhere though lol

Mechanically, I would think the 8 is far better than the 7, and reliability.

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

I've owned both...the RX8 handles much more like a Miata...twitchy...oversteer, understeer, all kinds of steer.

The RX7 just feels more neutral, but is plagued with power oversteer (at least mine was)....but it rides so much smoother and the engine sounds 1000 times better...the Renesis sounds like **** compared to an FD.

I was much more confident driving the RX7 fast than I am driving the RX8 fast...but the maintenance on an FD is a nightmare and it's very tempremental (humidity, temperature, cycles of the moon, haha)...and for that reason it will never be the daily driver the RX8 is.

My $0.02

neit_jnf

I've owned one of each generation RX-7 (my current is a 93) and test drove the 8 several times, here's my comparison and I hope it makes sense:

The RX-8 to me feels like the next RX-7 after the TurboII if the FD never existed (does this make sense to you?). It feels like a massively upgraded 2nd gen, better at everything: performance, looks, confort, practicality, etc.

The 3rd gen is an all out sports car, faster, harsher, less confortable, in a league of its own; as a sports car the FD is the best.

If I could afford it I'd have an 8 as a daily driver and keep the FD as the toy :D

Oh and for those doubting the reliability of the FD, I firmly believe that the major part of it is the owner. I take good care of my car and at 45ish k miles, 320ish whp, several auto crosses, drag races (12.8@110), open track days, etc. The only thing that doesn't work correctly is the AC because it lost the refrigerant... :P

fdtt19

This is a HUGE +1, I never had any issues with my car other then the mod addiction. The purchase price of the FD is easily affordable, whether or not you can keep up with it is another.

rotarygod

They are both good but unique cars. I assume the OP is talking about the 3rd gen and not the 1st or 2nd gens. From a handling standpoint the RX-8 is a better handing car. I know there are those that doubt this and if you were driving in each of them and going purely off of feel, it wouldn't be hard to think this. The reason is that the RX-8 is as neutral as Switzerland (er..used to be) and this really masks it's true performance potential when it comes to feel. The RX-7 was a drivers car but you had to be a good driver to really take advantage of it. A moderate driver would have their hands full with that car. It had a sense of adventure to it in corners that engulfed the driver in the experience. That's what the intent was with the car. They wanted the car and driver to be as one.

The RX-8 is so much more refined and smooth that much of this character is missing. By no means is it a boring car to drive. Far from it. It's neutrality really masks much of the driving experience that the RX-7 had. This car is really set up more as a sports car that a wider range of people can appreciate. That doesn't mean it's any less of a sports car in the handling department though. It just feels very different. Also keep in mind that with traction control and more modern ABS, the RX-8 will help you in corners in ways the RX-7 would not.

Overall I'd give the better handling award to the RX-8 but in terms of handling personality to an adventuresome driver, I'd give it to the RX-7. Acceleration definitely goes to the RX-7. All around daily driver I'd have to give to the RX-8. The RX-7 has very little headroom by comparison. The RX-8 isn't a car that will overheat in Houston traffic either. I'd also have to give the nod to the RX-8 in terms of reliability. It's not uncommon to find a 3rd gen at 50K miles that hasn't had any serious issues. It's pretty hard to find one much higher than this that hasn't had any issues though. Of course there is always the rare exception.

In terms of looks I'd have to give the pure sexiness award to the RX-7. By far. That's just a damn hot looking car. The RX-8 isn't bad looking by any means. The RX-7 is the supermodel **** star and the RX-8 is the cute girl next door. Sure it's probably a better overall relationship with the girl next door but that dirty side just wants to go have some fun sometimes!

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

Good post! The handling difference is described well...sounds opposite of what I said, but isn't.

1.3L

I owned a 1985 RX-7 with the base 12A (4 barrel carburetor) engine for 3 years. I bought it near new and it was my first sports car. Even though it only had a little over 100 HP, I loved it. It was fun drive and handled well. Having said that, my 8, which I've owned for over 3 years is much better, not to mention that is has over double the HP.

1.3L

Hepcat1920

Granted, never owned an FD (guy I work with has one--damn it is fast), just a first gen and a second gen--both NA. Here are my impressions:

1st gen: I miss that thing like crazy. It was light, fast, and ran half put together like a top. You could just throw it around corners. I miss the smell of gas/oil (12A) creeping in all the time--just felt old school, and made you feel old school w/ the lack of power steering, spraying sea foam in the carb to get it started in the cold, etc. Just wanted to paint it flat black w/ flames to match the flames and the bang that few out the back end of it. If I had garage space and a bigger budget I would buy a roller and build a dedicated track car with this chassis, but I do not. :frown:

2nd gen (N/A): S4. Ran perfectally. Had usual things go bad--hoses, clutch, etc. With my Racing Beat dual exhaust - no cats, you could break the tires loose all the way through 2nd. Extreamely neutral car. You really had to pay attension to know where you had the balance. Had a great driver feel inside, everything was cockpit like--not quite like the 3rd gen has, but close. Sadly, it is the neglected middle kid of the rotaries...never gotten enough credit.

RX-8: First "New" car I have ever bought. It is everything I wanted my 2nd gen to be plus some. Has the increased rev range, more hp, no turbo stuff to maintain. Gain the advantages of technology (keyless ignition, heated seats, rear seats that fits regular sized people) and granted it is heavier, you know where the weight shift is--or where you want to put it, so I can push it further than I could ever in my 2nd gen. This car might need a few tweaks to get it to be amazing instead of unbeliveably good--but I give the nod to my RX-8--even without the nostalgic feel my previous RX-7s had. I miss them, until I get in my 8 and hit 9K rpm.

For the record: With snow tires--Rotary cars are by far the most awesome snow vehicles ever.

Rick

+2, With the exception of HP mods, my FD is 100% original. I can't say that about my 8. Anyway, I feel the two cars are too different to compare

MrCairo

Well, the RX-8 is the first Rotary that I've owned and in fact the first Mazda as well. It looks like I may just have to add to the "collection" and pick up later model RX-7. What I find incredible, and its because I'm not familiar with the car, is that they still sell for some serious ca$h!!

Cheers

RX26b

I think they have a lot more in common aside from the obvious rotary power than people think, namely that they're simply fun machines to pilot, which is a very rare find especially at the 8's price point. Feeble minded individuals that magazine race who argue that such and such car with X# of horsepower is superior fail to grasp the concept that a car should reward (and can reward) much more than a stopwatch.

delhi

^+1 alot of people mostly North American equates hp = best car. They fail and miss the rewarding experience of a truly well-rounded car. The only thing that the FD has over the rx-8 is hp fastness and shape. But since pop-up headlights went the way of Bush Sr. I don't know anymore. Fast? It's about as fast as my family wagon at 0-60 anyways. There is this mythical status to the FD maybe it had a short shelf-life in NA.
Anyhoo, there was a video with Mazda test pilot commenting the rx7 and rx8, the comment was that the rx8 was just the better car for driving experience.

RX26b

Imagine if the Mazda test driver had exclaimed "This RX-8 don't have **** on the RX-7!" He'd probably be shown the door before lunch.

Rick

Well, I've got time behind the wheel of the 8(a/t btw) and the FD. So OK, They are both fun to drive and both can corner on a dime, but that is it . Power delivery(twin turbo vs NA a/t) is not the same, the feel from the wheel is not the same, suspention is not the same, high speed stability is not the same, ect ,ect.... I dunno, maybe you are comparing something else about the cars?
All I know is that when I'm lazy I drive the 8 and when I want a thrill I'll drive the FD. JK

TrochoidMagic

" rotarygod:The reason is that the RX-8 is as neutral as Switzerland (er..used to be) and this really masks it's true performance potential when it comes to feel. The RX-7 was a drivers car but you had to be a good driver to really take advantage of it. A moderate driver would have their hands full with that car. It had a sense of adventure to it in corners that engulfed the driver in the experience. That's what the intent was with the car. They wanted the car and driver to be as one.

The RX-8 is so much more refined and smooth that much of this character is missing. By no means is it a boring car to drive. Far from it. It's neutrality really masks much of the driving experience that the RX-7 had. This car is really set up more as a sports car that a wider range of people can appreciate."

^^i really have to agree. well said. and like i pointed out, much of the character of the 8 is taken out simply because of the safety technologies put in there. not to mention the drive-by-wire throttle. its just not as snappy with the cable set-up. even S2K's drive-by-wire beats ours in response by a mile. and to think about it, this car was aimed at the older crowd of previous rx7 owners... and its right, i got one didn't i?

here's my complaint of the 8...a)make it lighter, b)separate the clutch and brake system into their individual units(so i can eliminate abs and use dot5 fluids) and c) give it cable throttle. and maybe lose the big 18" wheels for some wider racy ones. thats how i would like the gt pkg to really be.

and for the rx7's(my 2nd gen), its really a fun car to throw around. there's definitely more driver feel to those thats taken out in the 8 imo.

delhi

A/T owners need not apply here.

It's simple really, if I want to eat Ramen all day to keep my FD running to the nearest grocery store for the said noodles, I'd go for the FD. If I want to have a life RX-8. So simple, what's the deal?

9291150

I'm no styling freak, but the FD looks dated when I see one today, esp. the pop ups. A 300Z looks by comparison looks cleaner, but it's all perspective.

tajabaho1

the rx7s look real nice and handles great on the track and will rape the rx8, in the ***, in the face, where ever on the straights, but really

would you want an older car with uber reliability issues EVEN when it was new? or a nice, fun to drive car, that is still under warranty, has less issues, and looks better?

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

For you Sport Compact Car readers out there...

What really pisses me off is that RX7s are all over the USCC (Ultimate Street Car Challenge) but NEVER an RX8...friggin sucks...when is one of you serious modders on this forum gonna enter an RX8?????!?!?!?

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

I rather take the FD. And the FD looks better.

tajabaho1

ok then thats your opinion and I respect that

TrochoidMagic

after all the tech tips of the ins-and-outs of the FD is thoroughly reviewed, i would get an FD if i were 5yrs younger and meticulously maintain the car and follow those procedures, if any. if only the car can reward me back by not giving any problems. none at all.

hey, the 8 ain't perfect either. its like if its the same car,but for different age group. or at least what it was aimed for in the market...look around the threads, 3 engine changes? ain't much different in story. just depending on who's the owner and if he has a clue on what the rotary needs. and if he's got the budget and patience to keep up on the maintenance.