purple82

It's been unusually rainy here in Colorado this summer but the past week and a half have been pretty clear. When I get a chance and it's clear, I've been taking the Rx up into the mountains. I'm just amazed that after 16 years of driving this car, it's still a total blast to drive (my dad bought it new in '81).

I've driven lots of other sports cars (911, 944, 356, 1st gen MR2, MR2 turbo, FCs, FDs, Miatas, SL, Eclipse, Iso Grifo, Bizzarini ...) and they all have their plusses and minuses, but I keep coming back to the Rx and really appreciating it's purity and honesty. It's not the fastest car I've driven nor the best handling, but it is without a doubt one of the most rewarding. It is truely a world class sports car made for the enjoyment of driving. I don't think Mazda has improved on the 1st gen yet.

I think we all realize how special these cars are, but it's easy to forget sometimes. I'm not sure that I really have a point to this post except to share my appreciation for this car with fellow rotor heads.

RacerX7fb

jays83gsl

Grade A post, that's for sure.

I think sometimes we all need to be reminded why we put so much sweat and blood into our cars, and posts like these do just that.

Thumbs up to you

bouis

Hell yeah.

I spent the better part of yesterday driving to 140 miles to pick up an '86. It's a nice little car. A lot better than what I expected. I've driven it about 200 miles and I have to admit that I really like it. It's got the bbs wheels from the convertible, adjustable shocks, S5 taillights, an aftermarket presilencer & muffler, an MSD, an e-fan, a cone filter -- a lot of ****. 105k miles. Not bad for $800. I actually bought it for the parts.

I felt sorry for it. It's been modified but not properly. The interior's been stripped. So has the power steering and the air conditioning. All the plastic stuff in the interior is beat up. It backfires when you shift and I don't think that the six-ports work at all. On my way home, I took it down a twisty country road -- a shortcut I guess -- at night, getting bolder and bolder. Man, that thing does hug the curves. I'm thinking that it just needs a little work, a little money, and it could be a real nice car.

Maybe it could. But that's going to wait. All I had to do was drive my '85 a little around town a little. Forget the '86; my fb is getting a 13b.

LongDuck

Thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours, pure enjoyment when you can stop and appreciate it for the drive...

purple82

I've had both the stock 12a and a 200hp 13b in the same car.

I love the 13b. That question that I used to have with the 12a "can I make it?" doesn't come up anymore. It's fantastic how easily the 13b can push this little car around and suddenly I'm in the acceleration league of modern, expensive cars.

However, I think the true purity of the Rx-7 is actually in the 12a. There's a harmony between the 12a and the chassis that the 13b doesn't offer. You can push the engine and chassis so equally at the same time, it's almost magical.

Having said that, I wouldn't give up my 13b for anything.

bouis

Well, I've weighed a lot of options and I've settled on the S4 13b. I really like the 12a, but it's limited by the intake options. I guess I could get another carb and push it up to 145 hp or so, but then I'd get no torque and 12 mpg.

I don't plan to do much to the engine. I should be getting a RB "road race" 13b header that fits with the 12a streetport system I've already got. It needs an o2 sensor. I'll need an oil pan and a front cover as well as a RB crossmember. I may keep the original computer or I might get an aftermarket one; I guess it depends on how well I can get the setup to run while it's in the '86. It'll get a second gen oil cooler. I'll use my lightweight steel flywheel and brand new clutch on it as well.

I don't think it'll ever make 200 HP, but it'll be quick with 160 or so and hopefully still make 25 mpg on the highway. Then I just have to find some nice 15" wheels and I'm set.

Max7

I've often driven the "Long" way to places in the 7. It is just a blast to drive, the down side is when going out somewhere everyone is like "Lets take the RX" they like it just as much as me.
As for the 13B.... hmm... 14's in the 1/4 without porting. need I say more?

My bone stock 83 is fun to drive to, the same way it was when it was new.
But there is a big diff between it and the GSL-SE, but still fun. just not as much fun

bouis

Yeah, I'd like to get high 14s. That's as fast as I'd ever want to be able to go.

Edit: Unless I decide to keep the '86 and give a smallblock and a t5.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Man, that was beautiful...

Brianhsval

What he said!!

OnlyOnThurs

I LOVE YOU MAN....but i love my 82 rx-7 more! hehe

Snapshot

I compare every car to my 81 RX7s. Bought a Miata because of that. Have 2 RX7s & a Miata that feel like a sports cars should. Just bought a Ferrari 328. Time will tell.

enigma32

:-D

I waited for 6 years to find my first one... and I enjoy every moment that I get to drive it now... I feel jipped when I have to drive any other car.

Too bad she comes off the road in another month or two for the winter :-(
This past spring I was going nuts in May waiting for the weather to be good enough to put 'er on the road again... I'm not looking forward to that same thing next spring!

Oh well, that means for the rest of the time it's on the road this fall I just get to go for lots more random drives just for the sake of driving :-D

ch0g0nda

For the like half day I had my 84 GSL on the road I was one happy little camper. The 12a gave me enough pep to push it through some pretty good corners without worrying about anything.

I've yet to drive a FB w/13b... But I'm not sure I'd wanna give up this 12a, the balance is superb ^_^

Jeff20B

iTrader: (13)

I agree. There is something about the 12A that is hard to put into words other than to say it just feels balanced. I was suprised as I discovered this as the passenger in an '83 a few weeks ago. I'm going to have to get a 1st gen soon.

bouis

I do like the 12a, but I think I can get all the "balance" I need with a 13b... I'll just do it at half throttle. Hah!