Inherited a first gen!
 

Oops. Mods can this be moved to the beginner section? I forgot about the post count limit. Sorry about that.

I am now an owner of a black '85 GS. My wife and I now have a total of 5 vehicles and makes our driveway look like a used car lot. It's time for me to make a decision, well for you all to help me make a decision between two projects. I'm cross posting this from a mostly Honda based forum for thoroughness. I'm 100% sure what you all will say.

My 2001 Prelude was going to be a test mule/learn how to race car where I would try to execute a few of my wild ideas in my head once my life settled down a bit. This car would NEVER(read: very difficult) be truly competitive in my class if I were to register it, and I would literally have to go balls out and probably still get whooped by Miatas and CRXs. It is a more modern car, fairly rare (not as rare as 1st gens in Atlanta), and a very fun car to drive. It is lightly modded and has a lot of character, IMO.

The RX-7 is an interesting vehicle. I have not seen this generation on the road at all in my entire life, not that I was really looking or anything. It definitely gets points for obscurity and uniqueness. It is bone stock, 12a, classic FR car, very lightweight at about 2200-2300 pounds. The perfect platform to learn to race in, right? I have not really driven it due to the clutch disintegrating on me. (I should make a thread about that) Can the RX-7 be as fun to drive as a modded Honda (if you have ever driven a VTEC Honda, bonus points :D )? Is this a good car for learning how to drive fast in? Could I grow my skills without really outgrowing the chassis' capabilities?

I know the rex is easy to work on, I've already dropped the trans, and refreshed the drums. Parts are surprisingly cheap as well. Neither car is a daily. This is my first rotary AND carbureted car. I've invested a lot of time in the Prelude and I want to be assured that investing time in the RX-7 will be just as fruitful!

I look forward to the responses!

Your house sounds like mine. Between the wife and I we have a Mercedes C300, Volvo XC60, Nismo 370z, and 2010 Mustang. I recently sold my 75 280z, so that freed up a little space.

So to answer your first question. I don't own an RX7 yet, but I'm going to guess that yes it'll be "as fun to drive as a modded Honda". It should be a great chassis to learn how to drive fast in. What metric will you be using to gauge when you've "outgrown" the chassis capabilities? Personal time? Comparison to others in the same class (you'll always be chasing this one regardless of what you're driving)?

I vote that you drive the RX7 and enjoy it.

Welcome to the club. I suspect the 7 would be an ideal car to use on the track with some minor mods. Or you could keep it mostly stock and just enjoy it.

Since you are in atlanta, there is dedicated group that meets the 1st Tuesday of the month just north in the burbs of atlanta. Give them a shout out and get to the next meet:

https://www.rx7club.com/se-rx-7-foru...eeting-675955/

This is what I expected. Hopefully I can throw the Prelude motor in an Accord wagon to haul FB parts. :)

I'll be using autocross time to measure my skill, rather lack thereof. If I can get within a few tenths of my fastest time on every run, then I can start to do some mods.

I had a "3geez" that landed in my lap. With the same weight and hp as I rx7, I was hoping for a similar experience. The Accord was fun to drive, but It wasn't the 7. No other car is the first gen seven. Not saying it is that much better, it's just that different. It has a fingerprint, it's own DNA if you will. Just as the FC3S (second gen) is an entirely different car from the first gen 7s.

I would keep the 7 mostly stock and enjoy it as a great driver. Not a ton left in their original condition. Some tasteful upgrades would be good like Tokico Blue shocks and struts with poly bushings would be nice and improve ride quality. Would love to see some pictures of the car!! How did you get the car and do you know any history on the car?

I do not believe the blues are still available.

Sounds like a plan to me! I now officially only own the 7 as a project. :D

I'll start a build thread, once I build up my post count, and I'll throw some pics and the story in there.

Can't wait to see the build thread started and those pics of the build start popping up!!