Other than the actual body of the first and second gen rx-7s what are the major differences?

 

Lots of stuff, engines, tranny, drivline maybe, rear end, brakes, etc...

~T.J.

 

The car was completely different from the ground up... There are VERY few common parts asside from a few engine parts...

 

Just about the only thing in common between 1st-gen and 2nd-gen is that they're both made by Mazda and have the same type of engine and seating/drivetrain layout. I don't think there's a single thing in common between the two except for minor stuff like fasteners or minor internal engine and transmission parts, maybe some differential parts too.

However, you can swap some stuff from a 2nd-gen into a 1st-gen if you're so inclined and don't mind a little bit of work! Seats are a bolt-in if you use 1st-gen rails, people have swapped 2nd-gen engines into 1st-gens (don't let them tell you it "Bolts right in" ), N/A trannies will swap in with little work, etc.

 

How does the handeling of a 2nd gen compare to that of a first gen? I find that the 1st gen rx-7 is one of the best handeling cars I have driven.

 

Second gens are on a totally different level.

 

they feel heavy though...

 

2nd gen have rack and pinion steering which is supposedly superior to the recirculating ball in the 1st gen.

 

owning 2 FB's and one FC I will chime in... The FB in a more tossable car. You can feel the lightness and agility. But the rear end will humble you very quickly. The FC seems to inspire more confidence possibly to the heavier car ( I have a TII) It is a more refined car and that is why I bought that for the family car. 3 year olds fit in the back nicely. I only have had the FC for a week and for fun to drive while obeying traffic laws the FB wins for the smile factor. Aceleration of course goes to the FC with the slipping clutch.

 

On the track wich one is the better handeling wise, wich would you rather race? I heard the 2nd gens had funny rear suspension that made them no as good on the track is that true?

 

You're refering to rear-steer in the 2nd gens. It can make the car very unpredictable at the limit, but is easily disabled.

 

Yeah, I have heard about rear-end steering. What does it do and how, shouldn't having the rear end do a bit of stearing be an advantage?

 

the simple answer is there are bushings that when they flex change the geometry of the rear end. you can buy metal bushings that disable this function.

 

The fisrt gens dominate the NA second gens at the autocross. and they both get stomped by CRX's. The T2's get whupped up in the ASP class by the 3rd gens. I do not know how they do in stock classes.