First I want to say hi to you guys because this is my first post. I've been reading the forums for a while. I have personally driven the 350Z several times, the RX-8, and EVO. After all this I have remained undecided untill i searched my brain's vast library of car knowledge and came to this realization: The RX or rotary series of vehicles has always had less power than the so called "competition" My numbers and dates may be off but you guys who are more knowledgeable will understand.

Lets start with the FC (88-92 right??) around 200-210 HP correct. Its competion at the time was the Supra tt the 1jz correct? Which i believe but out around 250hp. The Z was around I don't really remember which one but I believe it had more hp also. Also the Skyline made its debut.

Now for the FD (93-99 or 00 - I can't remember). I believe the FD topped out at 250 hp mayber more in its hay day. Which was alot lower the the 93-99 supra TT (280 - 300 hp?), the skyline R33 and R34( 280 I believe) and the the 300zx TT (280 -300)

Now we have the, wait a minute - whats the chassis code for the rx-8. Anyway. The current rx series has 238 hp, 350z (287), Toyota-???? Nothin.

So what made the rx series great ever since its inception. The power and lightweight and those two cool little triangles. The HP talk is bunch and hoopla. The FD and FC were "underpowered" in there generation but still were awesome cares with huge followings. If you ask me mazda did get it right. The rx-8 is a great accomplishment. It is follows the same formula as the other rx vehicles. Based upon this epiphany. I have decided to purchase and rx-8 in the summer when I see what 2006 has to off with the series. I am basing my decision on i like to be different and like mazda's philosophy with the rx series - keep it light, and quick. Who cares about the "oops its not 250 mistake" or its not as "fast" as the 350 or mustang in a straight line. The car has the latest refinement of a great engine that has proven the test of time and created a series of cars that have truly evolved into the awesome automobile it is today stayin with the same formula- lightweight, handling, performance.

Please guys give me some feedback on my first post. Also anybody know how much 05 6mt base RX-8s are going for, because i don't want to wait till june. This is a great forum

 

Got my 04 base 6MT last April for $24k. I'd expect an 05 this time of year to be ~$25k.

 

This is true, RX's from the factory have always had less power than their competition. But it has never been a factor, they still have performed and matched well against the competition.

Your numbers are a bit off, but you're on the right track.

 

Here are the HP #s that I know--corrections are welcome:
FD USDM (93-95) 255HP
FD JDM (92-95) 255HP
FD JDM (95-98 5spd) 265HP
FD JDM (95-98 auto) 255HP
FD JDM 99 5spd 280HP
FD JDM 99 auto 255HP

Supra TT USDM 320HP
300ZX TT USDM 300HP
3000GT VR4 '99 USDM 320HP

The power deficit of rotaries has been negated by their lightweight and agileness compared to the competition. Compared to the FD--the Supra, 300ZX, and 3000GT were buicks in terms of weight.

 

The chasis code for the RX-8 is SE3P. The Vehicle Series/Body Style in the VIN is FE. There has been a lot SE3P vs. FE debate.

 

Don't for get the FB (1st Gen RX7). The original with the 12A engine had 115 hp. The 84/85 GSL-SE model with the 13B had 130 hp.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. It's never been about raw power with the rotary power'd cars. it's all about balance and making the most of that power.

By the way, I just picked up my '05 (gt) for invoice.... but I had a supplier discount... if you've got someone you know with the ford supplier discount ("S" plan for Mazda) you can pull off the same deal.

 

Hi Warlord:

GREAT first post. Well thought out, made sense and for once isn't ranting about something.

To me the RX cars have always been all about BALANCE - the right chassis with the right amount of power.

I had an original FB car with a 12A rotary (a 1985 RX-7 GS) and the 115 HP. That car would still do 0-60 in the mid-7's, run strongly with a Mustang, a Z car, a Supra, a 944 and other contemporary cars of the time because it had balance. It would a drag race to all of them, but would hang with them on a road course and flat out beat them all on the autocross course, where top speed and acceleration are less important than balance and agility.

My RX-7 was heaven to drive - it was light on it's feet, just an absolute joy. The live rear axle was a bit of a handful, but that's the way it was it built ... and it was beautifully tuned for it.

The RX-8 has many of the same feelings - light on its feet, totally balanced, never overpowered, never underpowered.

 

The FB 12a had 101 hp, not 115 hp. The factory claim for 0-60 for the series 2 (only difference was the catayltic converter instead of the thermal reactor, I think) was 8.9 sec.

I wish I would have had the 13b in my '84. The 12a was too finiky in the cold.

 

I could be mistaken, but I think the early first gen RX-7s were 101 hp - this was the 79-82 models, and the 83-85 models had a bit more.

My 12A from the factory, using optical timing gear from my SCCA chapter was good to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds from stock.

A minor timing change (advancing the lead plug several degrees, and advancing the trailing plug a little less) drastically improved the power output - played havoc on the emissions, but what the hell, and that mod, plus a lower-restriction aircleaner on top of the engine, and running high octane gas with a can of octane boost in the tank had the car doing 0-60's in the mid-7s and could easily spin the wheels in a 1-2 shift and get a chirp on the 2-3 shift.

Additionally, I think redline on that car was 8000 (if anyone knows/remembers, feel free to correct, but I routinely "drove through the buzzer" on the car after my minor mods to a shift point of about 9200 - ironically 100 rpm less than when our current car runs into the rev limiter.

Man, what a fun car. Here's mine on the autocross track in spring of 1985.

Stew

 

The FC (2nd generation) included both Series 4 (86-88) and Series 5 (89-92). The Series 4 N/A had 146 HP and the Turbo 182 HP. The Series 5 N/A had 160 HP and Turbo 200 HP.

The balance and handling made up for the relative lack of grunt. Very fun cars to drive fast.

 

The good news is that if you look at the horsepower figures of every generation RX-7, the power always increased during that models lifetime!

 

It's all about the balance of the car- which is totally stunning.

Stew

 

You are correct. The RX7 w/12A was 101 hp. The RX7 w/13B was 135 hp. I liked my 82 GS more than my 85 GSL-SE. The newer one may have been faster. But the 82 seemed better, more fun to drive. Better balanced.

Horsepower information provided by RX7.org

Stew, was that picture from Triton College?

 

12A Naturally aspirated 101 hp

12A Turbo (Japan Only) Anybody knows???

13B Naturally aspirated 130 - 160 (FB, FC)

13B Turbo FC 187 - 200

13B Turbo FD 255 - 265 - 280

13B Renesis Naturally Aspirated 238 hp



Cosmo 20B Turbo 300?

 

163 HP comes to mind for the 12A turbo. I know I have the figure in a book somewhere.