Ive been doing some searching and havent found what im looking for. I am going to be getting a car withing the next 6 months, and for a while i knew it would be a gsl se. but ive been seeing some people saying how the fc handles better. I know the fb has the unpredictable live axle, but how much of a hinderance is that?

At any rate, what i really want is an honest opinion from everyone on which of the two has better handling between the gsl-se and a gxl or gtu (both of these fcs come with an lsd right?).

thanks in advance for the response.

BTW im posting this in both gen forums.

 

I had a second gen for a while it handled good but I sold it so I could get another GSL-SE because it seemed to be more fun to drive in the twisties(without driving stupid fast)I currently own my 84GSL-SE and 2 third gens. and the SE would be the last car in the driveway to leave if I ever had to sell.

 

SE's handle *real* good with the Tri-Link conversion. If it's a street car, just get brand new Mazda rubber bushings for the rear end and Polygraphite bushings from P-S-T for the front. You'll be laughing. Oh yeah, by the way..TIRES TIRES TIRES.


Zac

 

I noticed that you asked if the fc's had the LSD, well I think that one thing that helps the GSL-SE handle well is that it too has an LSD. I'm not sure if you knew this already, but just making sure.

I'm about to make a bad comparison here, so bear with me. The live rear axle really isn't a hinderance. The handleing I would guess is about the same. I would personally like the live rear axle better because IMO, the independant is just a PITA to fix. Why do you think the Camaro's and Mustang's still use them.

 

IMO Second Gen Handles better. SE is more of a raw sports car to me. I've driven all the 7s it really depends on what youre looking for. Classic old school style horse power (drag car) or well rounded road coarse machine? they all have their advantages Good Luck

 

Get an FD.

 

The 2nd Gen guys will basically all say that the FC handles better, and the FB guys will slant the other way. In all honesty the FC has a better suspension, no doubt about it, but there are several things you can do to a FB to make the suspension work better and give you better handling. Absolute adhesion is all about tires of course, so upgrading to a wider wheel and tire will do worlds for traction. Check out www.pbandjracing.com for a page that details some of the shortcomings of the rear suspension on a FB and what you can do 'on the cheap' to make the suspension work better.

There is another issue to think about, style. All due respect to FC owners, but I never really dug the styling of the 2nd gen, but the 1st gen with a nice set of wheels really looks sharp. Check out www.rotorhead.ca for a prime example of how pretty a SE can be with some nice wheels.

 

I drive 83GS and 85GSL (with LSD) and I must say that the 83 is more fun to drive on the twisty hilly roads around my house.

You need that inside rear wheel to break loose: how else you gonna know when you're driving fast enough?

B

 

really? a 2nd gen handles as good?... hell.. I assumed that they would handle like **** compared to my SE. they weigh a ton. the 10AE is like.. 600 or more lbs than my SE. IMO the GSL-SE is unimaginably forgiving, and I have never driven a better handling vehicle. I really badly want a brand new miata.... they are gorgeous, have some decent power finally.. and gawd they are rumored to handle like they are on rails.
I honestly can't see a FC handling better than my car, but I have all new rear links, shocks, and springs... I'm curious now, and want to pilot one..

 

Sorry, I hafta strongly disagree with this statement. 1st Gen's handle great but they're NOT unimaginably forgiving! The FB is a drivers car which means you hafta drive it. Slouch drivers need not apply. When I think of forgiving cars, I think of my Audi A4 Quattro, now THAT'S a forgiving car. The only way to run that car off the road is to fall asleep behind the wheel. The 1st Gen, when hitting the twisties, requires your complete and undivided attention and that's why I enjoy driving that car so much. Oversteer is fun!

 

quote:
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Originally posted by hotty
IMO the GSL-SE is unimaginably forgiving, and I have never driven a better handling vehicle.
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Drive an M3 some day, It will whip the **** out of an SE I drive one because its affordable not for the unreal handeling

 

a gls-se will definately handle better then an fc, especially in the long run when you mod them. stock, a gtus might be able to outhandle an -se, but thats close.

 

in 84 they fixed the sudden oversteer problem (when at the limit) on the FBs

 

How easy would it be to lower the trailing arms on an '83 like they did on the '84 and '85? I assume that this was the main factor in improved handling.

 

SSixpeed "trailered" all the stock and modded BMWs (60 + cars...) that showed up at the BMW Fort Worth TMS meet on a 1.7 mile course they laid out this past summer. Only a full fledged, tube chassis M5 race car and some corvettes that were modded beat his raw times...and even then not by much, so the now-discontinued 2003 Camaro SS SLP would be the vehicle to have for an affordable, unreal handling vehicle if we're going to resort to beating up cars instead of answering his question....

 

thanks guys for the responses. BTW I did know that an lsd would help the handling, thats why i was kinda inquiring as to which fc models have them, as i already know that all gsl se's come equipped.

 

i pulled out of a harpin last nite hard on second , started sliding sideways to left, i hit it harderand counter steered and leaned hard to the rite and i had a flashback to when i was ten and my neighbor let me ride his twin engine two stroke go cart my na fc was never that much fun nor my 90 t2, fb gets my vote

 

If you want the best handling, get an FD. The FB is a very good base package and when you make a few modifications to it you get really dramatic improvements, and it can be competitive. However the stock FD starts out with an advantage, and you can improve the FD also.

IMHO, for handling: first choice FD, second choice FB. The FC has some shortcomings compared to the other two, but it can be a capable car as well. If it is for a car you are driving as opposed to purely racing, go with the one you like the best.

 

yeah all right ill just save up 15k real quick and get an fd.

 

I think this thread proves that "good handling" is a subjective phrase.

I could'nt agree more. My wifes Z3 is the same way. I try to get that thing sideways and I just can't. (We're looking to pay it off by totalling it. ...hate that friggin car!) It's really no fun at all!

I've driven a couple of 2nd gens and they felt heavy and very well planted to me. They also felt sluggish - like it was going really slow, yet suprised me each time I glanced at the speedo and realized how fast I was going around curves.
After being behind the wheel of my stiff FB (Koni adjustables) for so long, the 2nd gen felt effortless around the turns. I did'nt like it because I could'nt "read" what the car was doing through the feel of the steering wheel. When the FB is about to break traction, you know it's coming. The FC had me wondering when I would zip off the road sideways.

I think it really comes down to what you're used to.

 

I'm sorry, I love my GSL but it doesn't have the best handling. I think the FC and the FD have better handling. Plus, there are other cars that have superior handling but for a car thats been around for over 20 years, it has great handling.

 

Yes FDs handle better then other RX7's and their price tag shows it My GSL-SE handled pretty good stock, and now it is quite impressive, even with the stock wheels.

As far as FC's go: Stock they have much do be desired. Not that they don't handle well, but they don't give you the feel for the road. Most ALL of this is Mazda once again trying to be clever with its "rear-steer" or DTS as they put it. It is really hard to get the rear loose in a turn, but when it goes it is uncontrollable. Mazdatrix sells solid bushings that eliminate this little contraption and opens up a new world to the FC. Fully independant suspension is a plus for the FC when setup correctly. However, getting there is often expensive and a headache. And last but definatly not least, the price of FC suspension parts is a bit more expensive when compared to the FB.

Good luck

 

When I want to have a little fun on the twisty hilly roads around my house I take the 83 with live axle because it's 200 lbs lighter and feels much livelier than the GSL.

B

 

We're discussing GSL-SEs, which have a different suspension than GSLs.

 

Other than brakes and bigger wheels, how is it different?