Renny owner looking for an FC
#1
SARX + Boost = Win
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Renny owner looking for an FC
Hey Fellas,
Just getting on board trying to do some research. I am familiar with rotaries in general but I want to get my 15 year old son an FC for his first car. I figure it would be a fun project and he loves rotaries so....................
Anyway, I searched a bit but couldn't find much with regard to safety. I am looking for a TII or a loaded non turbo. I realize new cars have much more safety features but I plan on letting him autox with me and I think he will be a good driver and he is a responsible kid. But how does the FC hold up in a crash? I plan on addressing brakes, tires, wheels, and suspension first.
Just getting on board trying to do some research. I am familiar with rotaries in general but I want to get my 15 year old son an FC for his first car. I figure it would be a fun project and he loves rotaries so....................
Anyway, I searched a bit but couldn't find much with regard to safety. I am looking for a TII or a loaded non turbo. I realize new cars have much more safety features but I plan on letting him autox with me and I think he will be a good driver and he is a responsible kid. But how does the FC hold up in a crash? I plan on addressing brakes, tires, wheels, and suspension first.
#2
Rotary Zealot!
iTrader: (8)
Every crash story I've heard involving an FC [] makes them out to be quite safe..
Rollovers, freeway rear ends [with the hatch full of stuff] etc.. Seems pretty good.
I had a very small accident in mine [spun 360deg on the freeway because of a van] and got hit right in the middle of the rear bumper by a Taurus.. Scratched my bumper, pinched my spare tire, and obliterated the headlight area on the Taurus.
Didn't even get a bruise that I can remember...
Rollovers, freeway rear ends [with the hatch full of stuff] etc.. Seems pretty good.
I had a very small accident in mine [spun 360deg on the freeway because of a van] and got hit right in the middle of the rear bumper by a Taurus.. Scratched my bumper, pinched my spare tire, and obliterated the headlight area on the Taurus.
Didn't even get a bruise that I can remember...
#3
I crashed my first FC learning how to drift, it was a pretty bad crash (spun 360 degrees in the air and landed in a ditch) car was toast, me and my passanger were completely unharmed. I would get my own child a FC as their first car.
#4
rotorhead
iTrader: (3)
They don't have airbags unless you get a convertible or a few rare T2's which have it on the driver side. It's rare to find one with working ABS. In its day I think it was considered pretty safe for a sports car. It is the largest Rx-7 ever made. The bumper supports are not the beefy metal bars you will find on newer cars, they are more like a hard styrofoam. The brakes do stop well but they require more pedal effort than you would be used to.
In a straight line they are pretty slow by today's standards, even the turbo ones (stock s5 T2 is maybe as fast as a healthy stock Rx-8). Most people wouldn't consider it "kill yourself" power. Those new V6 300hp Mustangs will hand a stock T2 (or a stock FD for that matter) its *** in a straight line. All the cars had a primitive mechanical stability system called "Dynamic Tracking Suspension System" and GXL models (high end non turbo) had adjustable dampers. But that stuff doesn't work well anymore after all these years.
I think you should be concerned about reliability in the sense that no matter how well they are maintained, they will need a lot of attention and there are times your son will need to find another way to get to school or work. Are you prepared for that?
In a straight line they are pretty slow by today's standards, even the turbo ones (stock s5 T2 is maybe as fast as a healthy stock Rx-8). Most people wouldn't consider it "kill yourself" power. Those new V6 300hp Mustangs will hand a stock T2 (or a stock FD for that matter) its *** in a straight line. All the cars had a primitive mechanical stability system called "Dynamic Tracking Suspension System" and GXL models (high end non turbo) had adjustable dampers. But that stuff doesn't work well anymore after all these years.
I think you should be concerned about reliability in the sense that no matter how well they are maintained, they will need a lot of attention and there are times your son will need to find another way to get to school or work. Are you prepared for that?
#5
i bought an FC as my first car i only had a few mishaps and my biggest problem was i had worn tires i spun it out alot in the rain (bald rear tires) and i hit a curb in the snow it held up great
however the car doesnt have airbags and may not have working abs which makes it unsafe in a mothers eyes (ask me how i know) so just make sure mommas ok with that lol
and no matter what you do he will prob be stranded somehow lol they do break down but give them a break there old lol
however the car doesnt have airbags and may not have working abs which makes it unsafe in a mothers eyes (ask me how i know) so just make sure mommas ok with that lol
and no matter what you do he will prob be stranded somehow lol they do break down but give them a break there old lol
#7
Rotorhead
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Safety items to check on the FC:
- Make sure a previous owner did not remove or cut the internal front bumper structure in order to mount a FMIC.
- Make sure a previous owner did not ghetto-rig the driveshaft or differential flange in order to mate a NA transmission to a TII differential or vice versa.
- Ask when the driveshaft was replaced. The u-joints usually start to bind around 150,000 miles. I recommend replacing any driveshaft that the previous owner "fixed" on his own.
- Ask when the pulsation damper was replaced. If the car has "the banjo bolt mod", that is OK, but it is a good idea to install an Aeromotive or SX fuel pressure regulator with a built-in pulsation damper to compensate for the deleted stock damper.
http://www.mazdatrix.com/c-pulsation.htm
A "loaded" non-turbo FC may or may not be a good choice because "loaded" in the 1980's usually indicated luxury items rather than performance items. If you are looking for more performance, then just choose one with 5-lug wheels and a manual transmission. If you think the car may end up in SCCA IT or EP racing, then choose one without a sun roof.
The stock brakes are fine, and will probably just require a caliper rebuild and maybe new lines. Tire Rack usually has a pretty good deal on Brembo replacement rotors if you buy a car with worn or cracked brake rotors.
- Cars do sometimes roll over in autocross events. I have seen it twice.
- Airbags are bullshit. If his son moves up to higher-level SCCA racing, then the airbag needs to be disabled anyway.
- Many insurance companies charge more for convertibles, and with a teenage son the OP needs all the help he can get on his rates.
- Convertible tops add more expense to the car. When I was a teenager I barely had enough money for gas, oil, and tires. Spending $700 on a replacement top would have been a real bummer.
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#9
SARX + Boost = Win
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Sounds good, the car will have great brakes (one if the first things I upgrade) and I am making my son do quite a few Autox events to learn car control prior to getting his license so hopefully he will be able to handle the car should he get in a sticky situation on the street.
#10
WTF is a Piston?..Anyone?
im 19 and i can tell you they are safe cars. i wont get into the details but i got t-boned at 60 and hit on drivers door. im fine, window still rolls down and up the doors on these cars have great steel beams in them i would say the doors weigh 50 lbs each or more without power window option.
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