SammyD

So I sold my FD in January. I rarely had the car because it was always in the shop with boost leaks.

I bought a Z4 M Coupe. At first I thought it was the dog's bollocks, great rattle free ride, smooth etc. I though the power was decent but the car is flat out boring and I never drive it. So I've decided to sell it after 3 months.

Drove two Evo's yesterday, and while they were fun and the mod potential is huge and cheap, they just didn't feel enough like 'sports cars'.

I still owe my old mechanic money for some work that he did to my truck which he has yet to tally up. He mentioned he has a cherry FD outside. I'm going to drive it at lunch. I bet I'm going to come full circle.

This time I'm just going to get a PFC and an aftermarket steering wheel and that's it. I really think that's all these cars need. Famous last words eh?

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Yep, the car really doesn't need much. Sometimes we go too far down the 'upgrade' or 'mod' path and wind up with a car that is more work than we wanted.

Let me know if you need a second opinion.

KaiFD3S

iTrader: (37)

lol, that's what I said when I bought my FD, just change the steering wheel exhaust and intake...Look at the car now after a ton of $$$$$$$$

rotaryjunky

The man I bought my s5 from many years ago had a brand new porsche in the garage next to it. He called my three months later to have me help him find an fd. Your not alone.

adam c

iTrader: (2)

I really like my OEM steering wheel

93FD3S

Ha ha....!! Thats how I started about 6 years ago. Its a disease without a cure my friend...!!

cesarx7

iTrader: (1)

Don't feel bad. They always come back...

trickshot

That's quite a testimonial. The FD is a purist's sportscar. There are so few of them around. Under about $60k these days the only ones I'd put in that category are the Lotus Elise and maybe the Porsche Cayman and the Honda S2000.
There's something about hanging the tail out on the FD that makes you feel like you're really driving. Other performance cars are loaded with equipment, and traction and stability controls that remove you from a more direct connection with the driving experience.

Let us know how things turn out.

c_akira

iTrader: (1)

I'm on my second fd too. Don't feel bad - you're definately not the only one.

mdpalmer

iTrader: (24)

Awesome, I love stories like this. The Z4 M coupe is a cool car, never had a chance to ride in one (yet). Good luck with the next FD. Any true car enthusiast who had a taste of an FD at one point in time will come back, provided he has the means. We'll always have a special place in our hearts for these cars--I know I will.

RE-Amemiya

I'm still waiting to come back too,but a house was far more important at this point in my life.

Love the Z4M coupe!

LAN

iTrader: (1)

Z4M COUPE, Like this?

Wow...
Just buy a whole bunch of sports cars....
FD, NSX, PORSCHE, ETC..

sbnrx7

iTrader: (4)

I am a die hard German car guy. I've owned a modified Porsche 944 Turbo which I sold and then bought a 2002 BMW M3. Swore up and down I would always have a German in the garage. The first FD I ever drove I now own. It has it's quirks and complexities, but so did my previous sports cars. But none of the above turned so many heads and evoked so many questions from bystanders as does my RX7. This car is different than the others. The Porsche had brakes like no other and the M3 was gorgeous and in my opinion the finest NA car made, but this damn little RX7 feels like a real race car. Never thought much of rotory engines 'till I drove an FD. Done.

HKNY

iTrader: (2)

i have a history with the M coupes, cool cars but they do get boring very fast.Good luck

Silverstone

Absolutely! I just bought a 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP (Dual Scroll Turbo, Direct Injection etc etc). But I'm not selling my FD. The FD is just in a class all it's own; a different experience entirely.

trickshot

So how do the two compare? What's the Solstice feel like? What about it do you think is better or worse than the FD?

FallenCho

iTrader: (1)

The best times with the FD are the "yeah im just gonna go easy driving her today to save on gas and just cruise" then you hear five beeps getting onto the freeway...

rexhvn

Impossible to stay off boost in a FD

rotarymandan

iTrader: (15)

I find that I sometimes think about the cost of owning my FD, and little glitches it may have, but all of those doubts vanish as soon as I slip back into the car and go for a ride.

aoc007

iTrader: (5)

Yeah I add up all the expenses for my car and think about how it is by far the most expensive thing I've bought so far in my life... But then I also think about how it is by far the most enjoyable thing that I've owned hah.

vacanyols

I went... from a 98 civic hatchback ( my first car) up until 1 week ago...to a 1994 rx-7 there car is stock completely etc... and I just cant stop driving it... its so...... "pure" its not the fastest car Ive ever driven ( my roommate has an 04 sti wich is faster than a stock fd) yet it feels.... niceer...

Unholy FD3S

seems like once you own a FD you really never go back to other cars.

ive sold my first fd too, got a second one coming.

jpandes

I'd like to come back to the FD someday, too. I just love those sexy lines. I'll just keep my c5 Z06 as my daily driver

Silverstone

Well pretty much what everyone has said. The FD is pure sports car with the hard suspension and rattling on rougher roads. There is a lot of "feel" to the steering and a connection with the road that is lacking on the Solstice to some extent.

The Solstice GXP I've only had for 1 wk now and have not opened it up due to break-in period for the differential. But my first impressions are that it has a lot smoother ride to it and is more of a roadster than a pure sports car. It's a different ride that has its perks and querks. Has a pretty trick 5 spd Automatic transmission (for the wife) and fancy electronic traction/stability control that can be turned off when you want to. Has every electronic digital gage which gives you a digital readout on everything from fuel economy to boost and coolant temps. Great car to drive on a Sunday afternoon with the top down.

So far I enjoy driving both cars on different occassions for different reasons. They are both cars that are easy on the eyes. I'd like to mod the Solstice a bit with a 3" catback and possibly some cold air induction but for now I've just ordered a K & N high flow air filter. I'll post a pic eventually sitting next to my FD so you can see the contrast. I'm waiting for the weather to clear up a bit so I can wash and wax both of them for the best pic.

trickshot

I like 'em. I've never driven one though. I think I'd go for the Saturn version, but that's just a matter of taste.

I know you haven't wrung it out yet, but does it feel like it has more usable torque than the FD? I imagine that would lead to a different driving style.
What's the redline on the Solstice anyway?

When you're over the break-in period and can press it fully, please come back and let us know how it feels compared to the FD. It shouldn't feel too far behind in acceleration. If it's better on mid-range torque it might even feel zippier in some circumstances.

Powering from the apex of a turn is one of the most fun things to do in the FD. I wonder if it is close to the same in the Solstice, or is there a different feel to it?