Is the FC scene dead?
I hate to be the one to say this but I feel the scene here in the PNW has never been better. I have been around since '98' and never have we had more nice looking fc's and fd's rolling around. Just in are small group here in Olympia we have 4 fc's, all supper sweet in there own way, and 2 fd's. I remember looking for aftermarket stuff for my fc back in the day and there really wasn't anything,, now there is tons of stuff. I mostly have thank the drift scene for this because it has enabled people to bring all that goodnees known as real jdm parts over from the japan. im excited for what the future holds for the fc and fd. I don't think the scene is dead, I think it is just picking up again.
If you have facebook, we have a page called stl rx club. There's quite a few of us around St. Louis and the surrounding area. There are usually a couple rotary meets and mazda meets throughout the year.
If you want to see FBs, FCs, FDs and virtually every other make and model of sports car ever built get to Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI this coming weekend. They will be everywhere...not hundreds, thousands...
The scene hasn't died since we have lots of people on this and other forums as well as groups on Facebook and other social medias. But people that know about fc3s and other gens would make the time and effort to look these cars up. Take for instance if superstreet magazine does an article on a a fc3s then some people will like the fc chassis and some will not. Owning a fc isnt a fad like when initial d came out, everyone wanted a 86. Yes our cars are rare but i believe that its our rotary engines that scares the normal people and just avoid them or criticize them. So our cars may not be as popular as a beat em up 240sx, but we're as rare and cool as a starion/conquest. I for one like to stay under the radar, if a kid thinks my fc is a s13 then he'll be surprised when i tell him what it is and the size of the motor.
I've been a member of the Mazda Sportscar Club of Washington (MSCW) for maybe seven years. There are a few RX-7 die hard members, but RX-7s are getting rarer even at club meetings.
I still see the odd FC or FD on the road here, but weeks go by between sightings. Can't recall the last time I saw an SA or FB, though I have a friend who just finished restoring the '84 that he bought new.
I actually just purchased a '91 Mazda Rx7 (non-turbo) about a year ago. All original miles I just hit 78,000 miles yesterday. Car is absolutely bone stock all original. I am actually new to the Rx7 scene, but I have seen a handful of FCs in the LA area. Not in the best condition though.
I think it's a mix of stupid people and others getting older. Stupid people end up having theirs scrapped or crap up the forum due to not searching.
I used to DD my GTUs, had 3 in my yard and 2 in the driveway then I got married. I've got two in the garage now, I drive one occasionally and the other is a WIP.
I think another thing that has killed the forum is the noob section that was created. A ton of people sign up and never make it to the 10 or 20 post they need to get to access the whole forum. I'm sure it helps the moderators stay less busy, but it is keeping new people out.
I used to DD my GTUs, had 3 in my yard and 2 in the driveway then I got married. I've got two in the garage now, I drive one occasionally and the other is a WIP.
I think another thing that has killed the forum is the noob section that was created. A ton of people sign up and never make it to the 10 or 20 post they need to get to access the whole forum. I'm sure it helps the moderators stay less busy, but it is keeping new people out.
I agree and disagree with the post count thing. I disagree that its hurting the forum. If you do not have enough patience to get 20 posts to get the information that is within this forum, you do not have the patience or will power to own one of these cars.
I agree to a slim degree that its hurting our cars, because those in a hurry to fix something are barred from one of the few places you can get used parts. Then the car gets scrapped, and no one wins.
If you really want these cars, you will not care about a measly 10 post (which is easy and takes 5 minutes in the noob section) and then the tiny next 10 post jump to get at the sub sections and classifieds. I know I did not care and am glad it was there.
I agree to a slim degree that its hurting our cars, because those in a hurry to fix something are barred from one of the few places you can get used parts. Then the car gets scrapped, and no one wins.
If you really want these cars, you will not care about a measly 10 post (which is easy and takes 5 minutes in the noob section) and then the tiny next 10 post jump to get at the sub sections and classifieds. I know I did not care and am glad it was there.
It's a natural progression. Older cars like the S30 Datsuns were everywhere at one time, now it's the real enthusiasts left. A lot of people are doing engine swaps to pistons instead of rebuilds since cores are getting harder to come by and why shouldn't they? Mazda all but destroyed the rotary with the hyped-up Renesis. Why should anyone be loyal to the rotary when they aren't even made by Mazda anymore?
It also seems to be a generational thing. Cars are not desired like they were with older generations. Kids are getting their licenses later and later, they'd rather text their friends. Less people work on cars due in large part to the direction of automakers, so it's both ironic and hilarious that automakers/marketing people's plans to sell more cars and increased engineered obsolescence actually had the long-term affect we are seeing now where cars are now in less demand. China is the only growing market.
It also seems to be a generational thing. Cars are not desired like they were with older generations. Kids are getting their licenses later and later, they'd rather text their friends. Less people work on cars due in large part to the direction of automakers, so it's both ironic and hilarious that automakers/marketing people's plans to sell more cars and increased engineered obsolescence actually had the long-term affect we are seeing now where cars are now in less demand. China is the only growing market.
haha. Dang I wondered if I'd be mentioned in here, and sure enough...
But yea, they're DEFINITELY becoming scarce, hence why my wife & I "freaked out" & started gathering them, as we'd like to enjoy them the rest of our lives, but, not pay much money in doing so.
But yea, they're DEFINITELY becoming scarce, hence why my wife & I "freaked out" & started gathering them, as we'd like to enjoy them the rest of our lives, but, not pay much money in doing so.
Good, rust-free FCs were already getting hard to find in the Northeast even back in 2007 when I bought my current one. They are old, cheap used cars. What usually happens to old, cheap cars is that large numbers of the ones that are left get used up by young, broke owners.
Some select old cars develop a following that transcends the normal life cycle. The next step in this case is that old dudes who remember them when they were new and now have disposable income (typically after all the kids are out of college) go back and buy up all the clean, low mileage survivors, driving up the price. Will this ever happen to FCs? Time will tell.
Some select old cars develop a following that transcends the normal life cycle. The next step in this case is that old dudes who remember them when they were new and now have disposable income (typically after all the kids are out of college) go back and buy up all the clean, low mileage survivors, driving up the price. Will this ever happen to FCs? Time will tell.
The next step in this case is that old dudes who remember them when they were new and now have disposable income (typically after all the kids are out of college) go back and buy up all the clean, low mileage survivors, driving up the price. Will this ever happen to FCs? Time will tell.
where at??? i literally have never seen another fc except for one that was parked at my work in monterey park once since i've had mine. otherwise everyone has a riced out civic or integra or the latest ive seen is a bunch of s2k's
Haha, I saw you on the facebook page I think. I just joined it as well. From what I've been told the car scene here is pretty dead. At least.. across the river from Saint Louis.
hahaha yea that was me! Car scene here is still going, not as much as it used to be. I believe there are still meets at the Sonic in Chesterfield Valley though.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 29,798
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From: London, Ontario, Canada
It also seems to be a generational thing. Cars are not desired like they were with older generations. Kids are getting their licenses later and later, they'd rather text their friends. Less people work on cars due in large part to the direction of automakers, so it's both ironic and hilarious that automakers/marketing people's plans to sell more cars and increased engineered obsolescence actually had the long-term affect we are seeing now where cars are now in less demand. China is the only growing market.
I just fear the day that the government tries to make it illegal to drive cars like ours because of the o-zone, natural gas conservation, or because of "safety" regulations. At least here in the US the traffic laws and the way they enforce them make you feel like a criminal for going 5mph over on the interstate or not wearing your seat belt.
Yeah, my brother is turning 18, no desire to work, get his licensee, anything other then sit online. I am partially at fault for giving him my old gaming rig, but still... Our WHOLE family is car nuts, he could not give a flying **** unless it is a $100k plus car.
Was at car craft today in MN, only 4 rx7's that I counted in the over 10k cars. 2 of which were not powered by rotary anymore. Saw a nice rx3 and met a guy that lives north of me with his second gen there however.
NOT ONE FD! I was shocked this year. maybe I missed it. The only car my little brother creamed his pants for were 3 new GTR's cruising the park.
Me and my two brothers each have an fc and other then that I know of 4 more. They are out there just not as much as 240's and the typical Hondas. Here in Canada, specifically Alberta, Subaru's are a big part of the car scene now.
i mean, if this generation is bad, at the rate youths interest in manual labor trades is declining, think of how bad the next and then the next after will be





