23109VC

Here is a question to throw out to the bulk of you here.

I have owned two RX7s in the past. A LONG time ago I had a 79 RX. I did a lot of fun work to that car, ported motor, upgraded carbs... back in the day it was fairly quick.... it got into a wreck and I sold it.

Later, I owned an 87 Turbo II. Did minor mods to that car, and it blew the motor, I was a poor college student and couldn't afford to fix it so I sold it.

Now I'm older, have some $$...and am looking for a toy. I have test driven several RX8s and I love the car. I like the rotary motor, lov the high revs, and the handling is phenomenal. The ONLY thing that I dislike is that the car lacks serious horespower. The rear seats are nice, but I don't HAVE to have them. the perfect car would be to get the hp/torque levels from teh FD into the chassis of the rX8...that would be great...but that's a discussion for another thread...

I remember when the FD was out and was new. I was in college... and I kept a picture of a red FD over my desk - sort of as motivation - thinking that I'd buy one when I got out of school. by the time i got out of school, they ddin't sell it anymore..i didn't make enough to afford one anyway..blah blah..married..blah blah...kid #1, kid #2, kid #3....now i'm 36, make good money, and am thining of doing a third car. for me. for fun. as a toy.

the one car I lusted after back when I was young was the FD. it would be fun to finally get one. even though it is a 10+ year old car...it is still a unique and timeless looking car. a nicely conditioned, well modded FD would turn heads today as it would back then..at least to me... nice wheels, lowered, one of the TASTEFUL body kits, or the japanese OEM kit.... and the thing looks beautiful.

It's been a long time since I have had a rotary...but I researched the heck out of FDs back in the day and my recollection was that while they wre phenomenal cars in terms of power/handlng...that they were very tempermental, and had a reputation for blowing motors, and in general, having lots of little issues...

I'd like to spend $15-20k on the car and not have a pile of repair costs. which is why I'm leery of the RX7.

I think I could find one in that price range...and maybe even a well maintained one, but I really have no idea what I"d get hit with or should expect to get hit with in terms of operating costs - i.e. REPAIRS.

I figure I can easily find a low mileage 05-06 in that price range...and have a warranty..a new car..and probably few or no problems.

I've also never seen or heard anyone do a head to head comparison of the RX8 and RX7. I drove an rX7 like TEN years ago...and remember thinking it was on rails..but that was 10 years ago. last time I drove an 8 it was on rails to me too.... but i've never done back to back road tests. i'm sure someone here HAS.

maybe the 8 actually handles BETTER...or maybe the 7 is still the overall king of rotaries..if you can afford to pay/play...

My gut tells me I migth be safer going with an 8. it will be newer, warranty...and just enjoy it for what it is.

the RX7 is tempting though...

Anyone car to chime in on their thoughts? is buying a used RX7 really a roll of the dice/ russian roulette.... basically getting into a situation taht will eventually wind up costing me a ton of money.... b/c if it is, i'd rather just avoid it. but if the real truth is that wit the right mechanic...and a good car...it would be a dream to drive..maybe it's worth looking into...

and the other question is...how do the two cars compare? i know power it's kind of a no brainer. but what about cornering, handling, etc?

for those of you who have had both, or driven both back to back...for a sunday drive on a twisty road, or a track day (novice track day...I would just be doing it for $hits and giggles..to screw around and have fun not to try and beat anyone or win any races).... just about having fun...would they both be just as good as the other??

thanks.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

When I was 20, I bought a BN '80 RX-7 (late '79). I agree with you that those cars were special. I loved that car and have always regretted parting with it. FWIW, my buddy had a 280ZX and the 7 was every bit as fast...thanks to being nearly 1,000 lbs. lighter!

I love my 8 and intend on keeping a long time. I'm not as into raw horsepower as you and think the car has plenty of muscle as-is, but to each, his own. I love it just as it was designed. And I do think it handles better than my first gen 7.

I have also been thinking of buying an old, first-generation 7 to rebuild as a project car. Keeping my eyes open for just the right one. No rush.

I think it would be a ground-up project and my aim would be to restore it to as close to factory condition as possible...concours material. Mostly a trip down memory lane.

So I enthusiastically say "go for it" if you are prepared to spend some money. Especially if you go with the turbo version.

CyberPitz

Personally, I'd say hit the RX-8, and if you were wanting to get that "turbo" feel with it, you could drop a turbo kit in there after the warranty is up. Getting the RX-7's is just begging for the little problems that will prevent you from fully enjoying the cars...*electrical gremlins, gotta make sure the engine is in good standing, etc*.

If you really want to get back to your nostalgic self, get the RX-7, no questions about it. But you are wanting to enjoy the car without worrying about it giving you a problem with anything soon after you purchase. That's what makes me say the RX-8.

Jethro Tull

iTrader: (6)

^^He's right. That's why I intend to have both...

JRichter

It's been a while since I've driven an FD RX-7 but I'm pretty sure a stock FD RX-7 would easily out handle a stock RX-8. In fact I think it would out perform it in just about every performance category but for every day driving it would be fairly close. The two cars are in two different classes.

The RX-7 was more hard core being lower to the ground with stiffer suspension and I would think less suspension travel in general. It was also quite a bit lighter and more "pure" meaning it was a no-compromise sports car. The RX-8 obviously has more room and I would say more comfort which was Mazda's intention to appeal to more people. This may not matter to you but their is some big differences between the two.

But... with that being said, it would be more wise to spend your $15-20k on a much newer car with some sort of factory warranty left. The RX-8 isn't that far off performance wise (for every day driving) for the peace of mind of having something much newer and can be easily modified to run with the 7.

It's hard to find an unmodified FD RX-7 these days and if you do find one that is in good condition you will pay quite a bit of money for a relatively low mileage car that has been properly maintained and comes with all records of service. The complex sequential twin turbo system would be costly to replace/repair as would many other components in the car. I know there is clean/good running modified RX-7's around but your gonna pay some bucks and spend a lot of time looking. A lot more research would be involved.

If your into doing this kind of work yourself more power to you but if your looking for simple, worry free rotoring then a newer low mile RX-8 would be the obvious choice.

Get you an 8 now for a daily driver and later get you a RX-7 for a project.

CyberPitz

Pssh, Jerk!

jones75254

iTrader: (2)

hmmmm, i dont know man. You have lusted over the FD for a long time, what could be sweeter than to own your very own? 15-20k should get you a damn nice FD. I have seen some very nice one in that range. You would just need to do your homework on the cars history, owner, ect...
As much as i love the 8 and know you would too, if i had that kind of $ to spend, my *** would have an FD! You sound well established enough that im sure there are at least 2 vehicles in your household right now, so, you would at least have one other car for bulk of the driving and the beautiful FD for daddy!! Get the FD and live out your dream....man it seems i am living through you right now, LOL.

rx820bna

Or merge it into one.

http://www.autotechmotorsports.com/project-rx8.htm

CyberPitz

Now THAT is awesome....

23109VC

I have a 2007 MDX for wife/family driving and an older but dependable volvo (and PAID OFF) for my to/from work commuting.

the RX8 or RX7 would be a toy. I want something that is fun. If it breaks, or has a problem, I can park it in the garage and deal with it later. the car I buy will NOT be for routine transportation. It would be for weekend joy drives, occasional track day (maybe once or twice a year) and driving it to/from work once a week, like on Friday for fun.

the RX8 would proably be less hassle. it would be newer. the RX7 would be more ofa raw true sports car...but would be in/out of the shop here/there with the kind of stuff that old cars deal with...but then the 7 might also blow up and cost me $5k on a new motor. which would suck.

I also toyed with the idea of just getting a C5 Z06 and be done with it. not my cup of tea in terms of a car, but it's the "end" I"m looking for. i'd really love to have some slick,sleek bad a$$ looking car that not only corners well but goes like all hell. and unique. I don't want an EVO or some other generic rice burner.

the rx8 is a unique car. it looks good. it's fun as all hell.

i ought to find some used RX7s and go check them out, try a test drive and see if it still makes me feel the way it did 13 years ago. I've seen some so cal dealers that stock them, or keep a few on hand and seem to specialize in them.

there is one in San Diego called Sahara that seems to have like 5-6 FDs on their lot. high teens to low 20s pricing.

If I found one that was mostly stock...I'd get it checked out, make sure all the basics were in good condition, and then maybe do new shocks/springs sway bars, strut bars, new wheels/tires, source a nice body kit, and then do some mild tuning. an ECU tune, full exhaust, intake, and tehy are pretty fast. I'd try to keep the motor stuff mild enough that it wasn't going to blow up....but with an FD..who knows..maybe even a stock motor would be at risk of failure....

i could easily be more than happy with an RX8. i drove a few of them, it is fast enough. just not super fast. i woul dnever get tired of the handling once I put some stiffer shocks/springs/sway bars in it. but the power might be somethign that eventually I'd want to improve..and absent goin FI, it's hard to get more power out of the 8.

$$ is the issue though. I want to keep it reasonable. $20k is a fair amount to spend ona "toy" car...but I don't want to get nickel and dimed to death on repairs and maintenance.

rglbegl

If I were in your situation . . . ..

FD for sure.
You have the time, money, and know how to keep one working properly.
The FD is WAY more of a sports car. Way faster with a little work.
And if you dont need a commuter or a family car . . .hands down winner

But

The RX8
Has a back seat
Warranty
and reliability.

JRichter

Well Hell! That changes everything.

I would get an FD then. If you've always wanted one (like me) and it would be a toy or something you can park and work one then it's a no-brainer. Plenty more parts available for the FD then the RX-8 as of now and easier to build up.

You can always get an RX-8 years from now (they'll probably be dirt cheap) and build it up next.

I agree with rgbegl. It's definitely more of a "toy" and more of a hard core sports car.

Sunlight_Silver_RX8

I have owned both and without a doubt the RX7 is the better car. I miss my Twin Turbo terribly. The RX8 looks good but it does not compare.

I should have bought a Corvette but the 2007 RX8 I bought was practically given away so I had to take it.

Detrich

both are great choices.

the FD is a "purest" sports car, whereas the 8 is more of a "practical" sports car. and, the difference totally shows.

if you HAVE to have wHP & torque and don't mind paying for it, along with the additional headaches of higher maintenance, then the FD is the way to go. personally, i absolutely love the unique tone of the FD engine. it's truly one-of-a-kind. and, when properly tuned, the ferocious power in FD is a thrill to enjoy.

if you are OK trading off some wHP for better cornering capability, more comfort, and higher car reliability, then the RX-8 is the way to go. personally, i am not one who likes spending $ & time when my car breaks down all the time. so for me, the RX-8 is a better choice, even if i have to watch the FD burn by me on the road.

try to weigh the 2 and see what better fits your budget & lifestyle. and, let us know what you get and upload some pix!

jones75254

iTrader: (2)

LOL, coulda woulda shoulda, if i had a nickle............

911SC

I was in a simular situation a few years ago. No debt, other than a small mortgage, good income, and no kids. So I felt it was time to get another "fun car"
Years ago I had a Fiat X1/9 and an "83 RX7.
This would also be a car that could sit for awhile if it needed repairs and I didn't have the time at the moment to work on it. The FD was at the top of my list. Couldn't find one that hadn't been messed with. All had issues, and if not, they were too far away or over priced. Somehow I ended up with a 1980 Porsche 911SC Targa. I guess what I'm trying to say is since it's going to be a toy, get something you really like. For $15 to $20K there are a lot of nice classic cars out there. Also insurance and taxes could be very cheap depending on where you live.

delhi

Japanese cars don't age well. Get a 993. But if pop-up lights and kamikaze wing are your thing, then get the FD.

Cody Red

the fd is one of the greatest mazda's ever made, imo.

to me, this car is a super car because you can make it crazy fast and handle like a god. think: Twins Turbo

although, the fd is older, the aftermarket area is much larger. if you can get a great deal on the most stock fd you can find, i say go for it (if it's not a daily driver)

the rx8 is still fairly new, aftermarket isn't AS large as the fd, and is much more reliable (chances are the 8 will have warranty). since it's new, parts are expensive. I say if it's not as expensive, the 8 is a little less pricey (depending on how far you wanna go with the fd, and what it's being used for i.e. drag, grip, drift. the 8 isn't the fastest of the two, nor can it be made AS fast (unless 20b is an option), but handling can be as good, if not greater due to the engine being a bit further back. but then again, the fd can be made much lighter than the 8.

so yeah. it all comes down to how far you wanna go with it, and what it's being used for.

I say fd since you had a TII, and the fd is a sports car like no other, like all other rotary-powered cars. but the fd is WAYYYY more sexier, and more rare (Depending on area). then you can always build an rx8 later down the line

g/l

either way, fd/fe for the win.

gregs

iTrader: (7)

cant go wrong with either, i was in the same boat but i chose the rx8 because i wanted to be the first owner and i knew i wanted to turbo the 8 as well...not sure how a turbo 8 will compare to a twin turbo 7 but i didnt get to compete with 7 just mostly to have fun at track days and still load up some friends and go for a drive comfortably

CyberPitz

We need a poll :P

The more he talks, the more I think he really needs that FD :D

kersh4w

iTrader: (3)

get a cayman.

seriously.

also, vettes are kinda passe. not unique at all.

23109VC

ha! funny you say get a 993. a porsche 911 is the ONE other car that I really would like to get. My brother in law has a 1998 996 and it's a lot of fun. his has the aero kit, it's a manual (NOT a tip). not blazingly fast, but it looks VERY cool, sounds VERY cool, handles nice, and is a blast to drive. problem is to find/buy a NICE 996 (which are cheaper than 993s BTW) you're looking at 30-35k realistically. that's to get a clean one that has relatively low miles. I don't know if a used 911 or an FD would be more or less problematic/high maintenance than the other???

i like the idea of another rotary. it would be a fun car to work on. I am one of those people that likes to have a unique car. my last "toy" project car was a 2004 S60R. I tricked it out with a lot of stuff froma company named EVOLVE. it had a full body kit, suspension, ECU/dp/exhaust... here is a pic



i loved that car, but it got $$ to maintain and i really needed a more dedicated family car..so i sold it and bought the wifey an MDX. i drive our "Older" car to/from work but it still runs fine for commuting. now it's my turn to get somethign fun. i really dont' want to spend 30-40k on a toy car. i make decent money...but i don't make enough to justify spending THAT much on someting I'll drive "sometimes".

spending 15-20k would be more along the lines of what I want to spend. and keep in mind, i have to convince my wife to go wtih the program....and 30-35k for a toy is out of the question. so the 911 is probably not a reality.

given that I like unique cars...just look at my volvo...while not an "exotic" by any means, it was VERY unique. it turned heads wherever I went...and it was fun to have a car that literally NO ONE else had... i had looked at selling my commuter and buying somethign like an Acura TL-S.... something *sort* or quick and fun but basically ultra reliable and "sensible"..but geeeez you see a TL every where you look it's so generic. i decided i'd rather drive my older car to/from work every day and have something more unique and cool in the garage for fun drives.

an RX8 is a very affordable sports car. i've seen clean low mileage ones for 20k and given the current car market, i'm sure you'd find someone or some dealer that would negotiate and you'd get it down in the 15k range. take a few grand and buy a cat back exhaust, suspension, and the car would be FUN. not a rocket sled, but it would handle amazing and look COOL. and you would not see one at every stop light. i could do track days once in a while..and the upside the the 8 is my 6 year old son could go with me for fun drives. he could sit in teh back and we could go hang out. i wouldn't drive CRAZY with him in the car, but it would be a fun "father/son" thing to do to take him out for a nice drive on a twisty road - stop along here and there and take pictures.... with airbags, or safety concerns...it's not really a good idea to put little people in the front seat... so I could take him with me if I was going to go for a sunday drive...keep in mind not doing anythign reckless with my kids..i'd save my insane driving for a track day.. but there are times where you can go out and have a really fun drive, take some turns a few mph over the "suggestion" on the signs...and have a blast and enganger no one. or nice scenic drives with lots of twists and turns...here in so cal there are a lot of fun drives... palomar mountain, malibu canyon, julian.... palms to pines... ortega highway... i can go on and on..there are a lot of cool roads that we could "explore" together. i really need to see whether you can legally or safely put a booster seat in an FD and have a 6-7 year old in there. by the time he is large enough to not need a booster...it will be a few years....

anyway... for pure driving excitement, I think an FD would be a more purpose built car. you can find nice ones with not too bad of mileage in the 15k range...and then it would bea n ongoing project. honestly...in some ways..for a car that I would keep a long time, i kinda see the FD as more of THAT car. an RX8, while nice, is more of a "regular" car...the kind you would drive around but I don't see myself thinking "i'm gonna keep this car for 15 years"...whereas an FD is , at least within car nut circles..somewhat of a legend... it's the kind of car you could drive and it will turn heads, people who know cars wil know what it is..and if you had one that was fixed up nicely... it would get a lot of attention.

for fun..it would probably be a way better performance car.

the ONLY fear I have with the FD is that I'd end up spending 15-20k to BUY one...and I'd wind up with a car that was not modded and hopefully in decent condition...then I'd end up spending another $5k to make it lke I want..and then I run the risk of a motor or turbo problem.. and bam. i've got antoerh 5-10k in repairs. so then i'm basically into the car for 30-35k.... and when you factor in all the hassle of having the car in/out of the shop, paying for it, but not getting to drive it.. i might start saying to myself, you should have just bought the 996!



if i could find a nicely modded FD that was not a "problem"...and it would run relatively trouble free.. like one where the motor had recently been done, maybe the owner is selling due to financial issue...not "the car is a problem and I want to dump it on someone"...then i migth be able to find a nicely modded car..the way I would want to mod it...and in good condition.. in the 20-25k range... and have something that would not requrie a ton of $$ to mod, and it would run ok for a few years w/out major repair $$. that would probably be the ideal setup. find someone else who modded it..TASTEFULLY and PROFESSIONALLY. not some guy who slapped on parts here/there in his garage, and it's a mess and out of tune..but a nice car that was done RIGHT> problem is those cars are going to be very rare..i'd have to be willing to fly to find it and drive it home or ship it.

i saw one FD on autotrader that was 60k.. ha!@ not gonna spend that kind of money.

ok...so i go onto autotrader. i search for 93-95 RX7s and search the ENTIRE county. only 145 cars. go search for RX8 and do the WHOLE COUNTRY... it turned up ** 3000 *** hits. so you can see finding a good 7 is NOT going to be nearly as easy.

here is a nice looking one. no major engine mods (new turbos) but nice wheels, lwo miles. 25k... OBO

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=2318

another relatively low mileage car, very clean looking..

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1178

here SHE is... this is about what I'm looking for. right price. looks AWESOME...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...=&cardist=1700

this last one..the photos i linked below are from the ad above..the last ad I posted a link to. $20,000. 69,000 original miles. for a car made in 1993 that's LOW. of course it's gonna need work..it may need new bushings, brakes, fluids...blah blah...there could easily be $5000 in "tune up" type repairs and TLC... but oh how sexy..





that's about as far as I want to mod the car. factory lips, nice wheels, lowered on nice suspension. looks good, but NOT ricey or "fast & furious"... not after that look.. but his one looks nice.

that would be an awesome toy.

but buying out of state would be a major drag. imagine flying out to see it and realize it's not what the seller represented.... talk about major disappointment.

RotaryPower7

20k for 69k miles.. eh a little to much

ShAdOwFoX

but it would be a fun vacation though hehe

911SC

I told you finding a nice FD was hard. Nice ones are either expensive or for some reason on the other side of the country. If your budget is $15000 and you like 911's look for a nice 3.2 Carrera. I know people have a hard time buying a 20 year old car but the SC's and Carreras are reliable and sturdy cars. Mine is 28 years old and has been very reliable. Take your time, get a PPI on anyone you consider and all should be good. They are also fairly easy to work on if you have some talent. The Pelican Parts web site is great. Full of tech info and a bunch of great people that will help you with any issue.