PseudoKirby

I love these cars I really do, but what I wanna know is the RX8 better for an everyday driver type of car? or is the FD RX7 suitable for it?

or should I buy an FD RX7 then buy something like an A4 for an everyday car lol

IRLGuy

What a silly question. They are both suitable for every day driving.

PseudoKirby

really? I dont know but Ive always heard how its dumb to use such nice expencive sports cars as everyday driving, like the corvette

and with RX7's being rare and all the wear and tear of everyday driving may not be suitable or soemthing

but that makes this question alot harder for me then, cause I love both cars and honestly cant choose what to buy, I mean its not a problem of price or availability or anything either, as I already have a loan source

I keep going back and fourth on which one to get too, its driving me crazy

Absinthe

I personally think it's dumb to let a car waste away inside a garage.

As for the 8 vs 7... I would personally go with the 8 as the best choice for a daily driver, mainly based on the cars reliability.

PseudoKirby

I mean it wont just waste away in the garage, it would be driven for special occasions, when I go out whatever..

but I think a commute could be hard on a car, cause its not exactly long open roads, its the stop and go of the highway and with the amount of idiots out there drving in the bay area, anything can happen

but asking this question here actually may be a dumb thing to do, cause even though the two cars arent in competition, I will mostly get answers of RX8, as apposed to if I ask on RX7 club Ill get mostly RX7.
not sure why there just cant be a rotaryclub.com combining the two..

4me2

RX7 = old car.
What is better?

PseudoKirby

well I do love the RX7's styling, I think more than the RX8, but I go back and fourth on that too

the FD isnt exactly that old, its still a nice car, I showed a picture to my brother and asked him what year he thought it was and he said 2002, it was just a 93 FD..

IRLGuy

The RX7's styling will age much better than the RX8's for sure. I think it comes down to reliability. Generally speaking, a RX7 is going to cost you more in repairs. If you can afford to be without your car for a while without a loaner, or are somewhat handy with a wrench or can afford to be without a warranty, maybe the RX7 is the one for you. On the flip side, good luck finding a RX7 that hasn't been riced out and beaten on. Just buy the damn 8 already. This ridiculous agonizing will go away the first time you hit 9000 rpm.

staticlag

Yup, i wouldnt go rx7 unless you wanted a project car. You have to realize that a lot of stuff is going to be at the end of its life on a 13+ year old car. I know a few rx7 guys who are constantly chasing failing oil systems and turbos, along with an overly complicated wiring and piping system.

sweet car, but its an old car.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

Having owned both, I think the 8 is the more "practical" from the standpoint of more room only.

That said, there is a difference between the three different generations of RX-7's. I still like Gen. 1 the best; what I owned. The body style kind of left me cold when Gen. 2 was introduced.

They both are incredibly fun to drive but if I had to choose one only, I'd go with the 8- which is in fact what I did. YMMV, good luck. Tough choice.

d j

I was in the same situation before; and due to the similar reasons stated earlier, I went with the 8... I commute at least 75 miles a day (Richmond-Fairfield)although gas mileage is not the greatest, I'm sure that it's still a little better than the FD's. I've put 15,000 miles on the care since I've had it and yet to have a major issue, with the exception of flooding it once but that was because somebody tried to move my car from the garage to the carport and killed the engine right away.
If I had the extra time (and cash), I'd go with a completely overhauled FD (start fresh).

delhi

Do you want to drive a car or pay for the mechanic's kid's tuition fees? While i liked the FD, I wouldn't want one even if it's given to me. I'd have to spend money just to move it into the garage. FCs were more reliable.

arghx7

Rx-7s were fine daily drivers when they were on warranty and maybe a year or two after that. The casual enthusiast who doesn't want the bullshit of wrenching on a regular basis should not be daily driving just about any car that's at least 13 years old and likely has 100k+.

Take it from someone who daily drove for 3 years a nonturbo second gen that was in good shape. **** still breaks.

Stavesacre21

as much as you've gotta be expecting to get a biased decision on an rx8-based website, i still do actaully think the 8 would be an all around betetr driver, especially in the winter.

On summer tires, both of them are useless in the winter. The 7 easily has 300lbs less then the 8, and about 30 more horse. That said, it's gonna be less drivable in the winter either way, when put in comparision.

Realiability speaking, it really should be a no brainer. Lets see...a new RX-8 that's under warranty, or a 12-15 year old 7 (assuming you wouldn't get any older then FD), which likely will have anywhere from 40-150K miles.

I think the 7 would be more fun hands down, but with all the headaches and other issues mentioned with it, it's just not a feasable car in terms or realiable all-season driving. Just my opinion tho

PseudoKirby

you know I always heard about how much you have to work on the RX7 from my dad, but I thought he was wrong and just saying that cause for the longest time he didnt want me to have one, so I am kinda surprised at how much of you are saying the exact same thing

the RX8 is sounding alot better now though

Huskyfan23

If you want the opinions of some RX7 drivers, go check out www.rx7club.com , and post this same thread. I'm sure you'll get a lot more "get the RX7" answers in there.

The truth of the matter is, 3rd Gen RX7 Twin Turbo's were not reliable. They were fast and fun to drive, but due to the forced air input and high heat output many had serious issues. The RX8 is a Naturally Aspirated (NA) car (as in non-turbo), so while the heat may still be high, they are still more reliable than the RX7 was.

OfficeNinja

Here's the real issue.

Think about the RX7 for a second. Any Marque, any year. The car was built as a fast sports car. What type of people bought these cars? Typically, people that drove the **** out of them.

To find an RX7, in an unbeaten, unused state... is pretty friggin rare. Understand that when looking into a car like that, it's going to be a project. Plan on major $$$ being thrown at that car just to keep it running. Unless you plan on overhauling the turbo system, expect about $1000 sorting out the problem reddled vacuum system associated with the stock turbos. If the car HAS been beaten, you may have an engine rebuild on your hands. Don't forget about the suspension, fuel system, brakes, etc.

I love RX7's. LOVE THEM. I just don't think they make a good daily driver because of the money required to make them reliable. I'd get a car that's slightly more reliable for a daily, and slightly cheaper. Get a decent bodyied RX7 and make it your project car.

Plus, you'll want to upgrade the crap outta the RX7 as soon as you get it... so why have to rush upgrades just because you need to drive the car daily?


Summary:

1. RX7 - awesome, fast, usually found pretty beaten up
2. Get a cheaper, solid , reliable daily
3. Get the RX7 for an awesome project
4. Make sure you have a lot of extra spending money for the RX7 (nobody likes a project that doesn't get done)

Good luck. Places for RX7's, look in Florida (doctors, older people as owners) or find a good Southwest car and have it shipped for a minimal fee.

-Ninja

Rick

Not all FD's are work. My 94 is still running its original engine. With the exception of an idle adjustment,battery,tires and a few recalls nothing else on the car has needed to be fixed. In fact my 13 year old FD has been the most reliable (knock on wood) vehicle I have ever owned.

delhi

Any car that is not driven can be reliable.
This would be the exception not the norm.

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

I'd have to agree with what most posts are saying. The 7 is probably more fun, but you'd have to be ready to pay for repairs and such. Aside from the overall reliability of each, the 7 is going to be older so reasonably it's more likely for issues to arise. I'm sure the 8 will be similar after 10+ years as well. Clearly most of us got an 8, as did I. I've sometimes looked back and wondered if I really wanted a 7 more, but I've recently decided that for what the 8 is, it works much better.

I often give rides for friends and such (few of us live in the same complex, so we often share rides). The extra 2 seats make it more reasonable. Just overall it seems more fit for my situation. I have been thinking about getting an FC in fair condition though, and working on it over time. Like others have said, a 7 would be a great project car, but maybe not so great as a daily driver.

PseudoKirby

oh when I get an RX8 it will prolly be a used 06 black cherry shinka and I will put in a Twin Turbo system in it with the extra cash from the loan

305WANKEL

if you want the car for daily driver choose the 8 - its reliable like most people here agree, its fun to drive and new. the fd is much faster , but remember it was built many years ago, the technology is old and they've proven to be unreliable. and besides, if having a 7 "stock" is like having a 1993 mazda ----- unless you spend some serious money on it to make it look good ang go fast - its gonna look like and old car

these are some piks of local fd's - they look good , but the owners have spent a big deal of money on them

2k4_8

OMG, just decide what you want and get it. Why not get both, you say you are gonna twin turbo an 8 if you get it so you obviously are in the money. No one can make up your mind but you, decide what you want and get it.

SlayerRX8

No twin turbo kits out there for the RX-8 right now. You can turbo it, but you will end up spending quite a bit of money getting it up to only a moderate power level.

You could also get a Mazsport turbo and pay $10,000 for 340whp.


Think about what your goals are carefully, and test drive BOTH.

dynamho

Simple answer:
Track: RX-7
Street: RX-8