Wanked_FC

iTrader: (1)

TCS is for wimps, if you cant keep your wheels from spinning in rain or snow with a rear drive sports car, you shouldnt be driving it.

gbowers

I agree, Miata is too small, but it has crisp handling.

Also, the Toyota MR2 was a great handling car, but to small.

I have owned a 1st gen RX7 also, but I did not buy 3rd gen RX7 as I thought it was to small - however, its performance specs are much better than 2nd gen, espically skid path and sallom.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

well there is the mitubishi VR4, but that depends on how you feel about AWD.

gbowers

Your 100% right - most people do not know how to drive RWD cars as most cars are FWD and FWD cars do not improve your driving skills.

RXSevenSymphonies

iTrader: (2)

It's great how nearly all the new tech listed in this thread is completely worthless crap and we are glad we don't have it, didn't pay for it, and don't have to rip it out for weight reduction

gbowers

I love AWD cars but only subaru cars are under $30K with AWD.

The mitubishi VR4 or 3000GT is a good looking car, but all professional reviews indicate car is to heavy (Weight: 3900 lbs.) and does not handle any better than RX7 - in fact, Car and Driver indicated car has sluggish handling due to weight .

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

i'm sure there is a bit of weight that could be stripped off, it is not a huge car but the engine is pretty massive and squished into that engine bay... the handling on them was not great but with most cars stock they are ok but not exceptional, the RX7 was one of the only exceptional ones but still had room for improvement. the VR4 has plenty of power but with some minor tuning and adjustments would be a great car, they just added too much crap to the engine compartment though..

gbowers

I agree, but the car looks great and has nice styling and lines.

BraveBlueMice

I've got an 89 Sundance turbo that I use for straight-linning (I know rwd would be better, but I love to OWN high $$ rice and Middle-Aged muscle with my $700 sunny!! Imagine that 46 year old who just bought a muscleman Camaro get OWNED by Gramma's Grocery Getter!)

I've got some seriously stiff (not to mention LOW) suspension on the Sunny, and My 7 is BONE STOCK (or was), and I used to Autocross them both.

Comments on PUSH vs PULL in corners.

Front wheel drive has a tendancy to plow through corners, especially when you're cooking too hot through them. I know I've biffed quite a few cones because I couldn't throttle/drift/jimmy/pray my way outta an on-track "oops."

My 7 drifts beautifully when I toss it around a corner too fast.

I've also spent a LOT of time driving my wife's 2K3 Sable LS. Let me tell you what THAT does in the winter... Last winter she got stuck in deep snow (on the road) that I was able to "float" over, cuz my car's light. Her TCS wouldn't let her get outta it, either. I had to turn of the TCS and rock'n'roll the car outta there. AMAZING, a safety feature that PROHIBITS MOVEMENT!?!? Geez..

Oh, yeah, and ABS scares me. I don't like the idea of my car letting some pressure off the brakes while I've got them cranked. It's been proven that "thresholding" the brakes stops faster than the ABS pumping action. But that's a very difficult move to master, far beyond that of your average driver.

All in all, the less things my car does for me, the happier I am. I don't want my stereo to turn itself up when I go faster, I don't want my car to turn my lights on for me, and I REALLY don't want it to tell me when to get my oil changed.

Sorry for the rant, but this is a discussion I usually lose...

~Brave Blue Mice
86 GXL - Home Depot Speed Shop

ajsuper7

2nd gens have been good cars for me. all the ones ive owned have been reliable, even more so than brand new cars. my rex will always start and get me home. modded they can compete with most cars under 30k, espicaly turbos. the suspension is outstanding. brakes have never let me down even when i had done some stupid *** **** as a teenager. my only real complaint is the headlights kinda suck and the electrical gremlins are annoying as well. in good condition and painted the 2nd gen is a sexy car and most people dont know what it is. ive even heard people ask others if its a new model haha. with my n/a i did some nice performance upgrades and found i could keep up with most cars i encounter on the streets, mustangs, civic, tegs, rsx, trucks. ive been pleased with it, my last race i remeber winning was aginst a g35 sedan, my car is not stock so this is not a made up race. a few days after that it caught on fire b/c of PD failure...another misfortune of the car, but instead of calling it quits and getting something else i decided it was worth it to rebuild it and buy a vert as a daily driver. so far so good, but the rebuild is taking its sweet time.

bennettaru

Meh, all the stuff mentioned is junk.

If i had abs i'd rip it out in my car, hate it, don't need it.

Don't want or need TCS or Stability control or any other intrusive rubbish.



Airbags i don't want either, for 3 reasons:
I won't be able to replace the steering wheel with a good one without it being illegal.
I don't want my car written off because of a minor accident and replacing the airbag costs more than the car.
They're dangerous.

13bturbo2

lol referring to the BMW, and other luxury sports coupes/sedans out there eh? well yeah i drive a 2002 BMW 330Ci and idunno its a good car all and all corners great and accelerates great too. Thing is i liked how primitive, although that might sound odd, my TII is. My t2 doesnt have a/c so in the bmw i'm usually with the windows down. its a bunch of little stuff that makes the driving experience different. One thing i don't like about the 330 compared to my TII is its dynamic stability control system kinda like a traction controller...i remember in traffic with my tii i would have fun doing minor burnouts on the road while it was raining or with the street wet. here i just have to sit without anything to do :\ . but one thing i do like in contrast is the ride quality of the 330 nice and smooth, i'm not saying the 7 isnt nice and smooth but like all cars there's always room for improvement.

KompressorLOgic

iTrader: (6)

here is the only advantage of 30K sports cars of today vs the 2nd gen rx-7.

THEY HAVE CUP HOLDERS!!!! lol

gingenhagen

I would put up for comparison the Mitsu LanEvo8 RS. A very impressive car. Starting at 27k. A comparison with those specs (http://rx7.voodoobox.net/infofaq/rx7specs.html) you were touting before.

Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Price as tested: $27,374 (base price: $27,374)
Engine type: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, port fuel injection
Displacement: 122 cu in, 1999cc
Power (SAE net): 271 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 273 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Wheelbase: 103.4 in
Length/width/height: 178.5/69.7/57.1 in
Curb weight: 3026 lb
Zero to 60 mph: 4.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: .13.2 sec
Zero to 130 mph: .28.3 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 6.4 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 13.5 sec @ 102 mph
Top speed (drag limited): 149 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.92 g
EPA fuel economy, city driving: 18 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy: 17 mpg

Also consider that this is a 4-door sedan with many luxuries you'll never see on the RX-7. It is true that cars being made for enthusiasts are appearing less and less nowadays, but sports cars today now combine both speed and handling with comfort and convenience.

NorCal90

Oh wow, this thread makes me happy. My friend with a 90 Miata and I are the only people we know that feel the same way about all this electonic crap in today's cars. I was perfectly happy when the only electrical things on my old car were the headlights, wipers, and EFI. I've got a GXL now so its got all sorts of power stuff but thats ok. Its still a 7 and can't lose. I'm 18, have never had ABS on any of my cars (3) and have yet to wreck one. I abhor that thoght that by the time I am middle aged and can afford an expensive car, all of them with be electronically controlled. I mean who honestly needs rain-sensing windshield wipers and lights that turn themselves off? Are we reallly that supid?

BraveBlueMice

EXACTLY!!

BTW: Airbags KILL people. I've been in a lot of accidents with less able friends. I've walked away from all of them except one in a 99 contour, where I was hospitalized for three days from a broken nose, fractured skull and severe burns to both wrists.

None of which would I have suffered if the airbag hadn't bashed me in the face.

SEAT BELTS - GOOOOD, AIRBAGS - BAAAD!!

I'm not looking forward to the day my Wife totals her Sable, and is killed by the "side curtains"...

I will never own a car that has a functioning explosive built into the dashboard or steering column.

~Brave Blue Mice
86 GXL - Home Depot Speed Shop

ajsuper7

my vert has airbags...im scared about what will happen i do get in a wreck and they go off, they are 14~15 years old now and i know the newer airbag systems are much better than the old ones. oh well i hope no one hits my car too hard.

Dan H

Not entirely true...

gbowers

Great comments - your completely right about all the high tech crap on new cars that really don't enhance car's performance.

gbowers

Great comment

gbowers

Your right about Mitsu LanEvo8 RS because it has AWD and turbo engine except for following important concerns:

1. Evo RS slalom speed is only 46.5 mph versus 67 mph for 1988 RX7 NA.
2. Evo styling is ho hum boring.
3. Evo interior looks like honda civic
4. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans major restructuring due to poor sales: Mitsubishi denied Japanese press reports that it would withdraw from American market and sell its Normal, Ill., factory. Details of what it will do in its restructuring plan, though, are not ready to announce. Mitsubishi is delaying release of the plan's details until late January from mid-December.

On a road race course with plenty of twistees, 2nd gen RX7 turbo would dust the Mitsu Evo8.

Dan H

20mph slower slalom speed? I don't think the gap is that big. The Evo should have the advantage and slalom speed doesn't determine overall handling. A Mini Cooper S is able to out slalom an FD3S.

On a road course with lots of twistees, I would have to give the nod to the Evo8. With that much power and AWD, it will be able to accelerate out of the corners better than a TII. It has a more advanced suspension geometry and as said, more power/torque.

However, we're comparing cars of different natures. The TII today, does surprisingly well with other cars that are 15 years newer, but its no Evo8 killer.

gbowers

Correction: Mitsi Evo8 slalom speed is 69.3 mph versus 67 for 1988 RX7 NA.

Dan H

Ah ok, pretty impressive for its time.

NZConvertible

That's the funniest BS I've read all week...