gbowers

What new sport cars handle equal or better than FC?

FC has same performance specs as base RX8 and Nissan 350Z except acceleration (0-60).

I know Mazda miata handles better.

Recently, I test drove base new Mustang which was inferior to my FC.

BMW Z4 roadster coupe uses Mcferson strut suspension in front.

I am trying to determine if FC is still one of the best handling cars on the road.

JWteknix

iTrader: (2)

yes it is

snowball

its good but in the past 20 years things have progressed.
the rx-8 is better, miata is better, im willing to bet most sports cars today are better.

gbowers

If you drove RX8, please indicate how handling was better.

DarkKnightFC

Of course thats not to say our cars can't be made to handle better using about 10% of the cost of one of those newer cars.

tandolla

iTrader: (1)

yea that is true to the statement avobe.. if you put as much money into the suspension and stuff as you would buying a newer sports car.. the RX7 would handle way better.. for the money.. if it makes sense to you guys.

idsigloo

I want a Lotus Elise.

jay3

so would i. but i think i would be happier with a helicopter.

VacavilleFC

i owned a 05 rx8 for a year before i traded it in for a toyota tacoma and bought my fc, rx8 is quicker than my n/a fc, but i feel the fc has much better turn-in than the 8. i'm doing bushings this week so we'll see how it feels then. but for now my opinion is stock t2 vs rx8 would be pretty close in the twisties, fc feels nimpbler though

Valkyrie

For the price an FC destroys an RX-8 (assuming you use some of the money you saved to get some nice tires and preferably some suspension mods... and refreshing)

I've driven both pretty hard (actually I drove the RX-8 harder since I haven't really had a chance to thrash my own car yet...as theres no place to do it without getting arrested, kicked out, or sued...).

Black91n/a

One should realise that just because a car can pull large numbers on the skidpad, slalom and so on doesn't mean it handles well. You can't measure handling, it's purely subjective and is also subject to personal preference.

If you're looking for great handling on a budget, the Miata is THE car to have, it has some of the best handling out there, but it won't pull the huge Vette and Viper numbers unless it's heavily modded.

sniperstevedave

'99 FD, but everyone knows that.

Healing

Please. The FC is a great handling car, but lots of cars handle much better than the FC, even when modified.
Out of some of the cars I have driven...
S2000 >>> FC
RX-8 >>> FC
350z >= FC (only because of the weight and soft *** suspension the base model comes with)
FC > SL 550 (Well, its a 4000 lb touring car, and people don't exactly buy this for 'sport')
etc etc...

Sure, for the money, you can make an FC handle much better than any of those stock cars. But what if you start modifying those stock cars?
This might suprise some of you, but people like to have new cars instead of our 20 year old FCs. People don't just go for all out performance...

IMO, is the FC a great handling car? Yes. Can the FC compete with sports cars today? Yes, when modified...But is the FC a better car than sports cars today? At least with those that I mentioned and others like it, no.

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

If you start upgrading the suspention on most modern sports cars, they will be about as good as the FC when upgraded. On the limit at the track, the FC might have the advantage over some due to its low polar movement, but thats getting into stuff thats beyond most FC owners. For the money, the FC will own almost any new car, but thats just because theres so much extra money to throw at it.

RotaryEvolution

iTrader: (30)

problem is people are comparing their suspension modded FCs to stock sports cars.

stock sports cars have even camber and toe to prevent tire wear while gripping as good as they can without causing the suspension to give a harsh ride.

stock for stock an FC is inferior to most sports cars today, period. modded it can rival most cars out there because there is limitations to what you can do to any car so it boils down to overall weight, ground clearance and weight distribution.

Syncro

iTrader: (1)

Suspension setups have gotten better over the years...

No realistic tire\shock\spring combo will make an FC handle like an Elise.

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

The elise is not a fair comparison. A Ferrari can barely be made to handle like an elise. It is in a class by itself. I know the FC isn't the best handling car out there, but comparing it to the elise is just unfair.

dwb87

iTrader: (22)

I test drove an RX-8 and was not super pleased. I felt like driving my FC after that. That's just me though...

raptor22

Of 20 year old stock car with old struts and soft springs won't handle as well as a modern sports car.

However, it doesn't take much modding to make the FC a very competitive car. My car is only mildy modified (shocks, springs, sways), and I did a run through the mountains with a brand new Carrera and could easily run with him in the turns. Of course, there was zero contest in a straight line, but that's not really a fair comparison is it?

Raziel

iTrader: (1)

Neither is a run in the mountains. If i had a carrera i wouldnt push it to its limit in the mountains at all or even get it close to it. But im not saying the FC wouldnt handle just as good. Im sure there are FCs who have kept up with carreras on a track or even put up better times in an autox event.

walken

iTrader: (6)

here's a fun comparison.

stock FD > FC with full suspension

FD with modified suspension feels like you are driving a mine cart. For as much speed + cornering abuse it can take comes down to your tires and just how well you know the throttle. Too much = spins, too little = spins.

The FD is the only car I've driven that could take a 90* turn at 50mph without a single chirp. That was with stock suspension and low profile tires. Now after riding in my buddy's with coil overs all I have to say is god damn!

Then after all the hear say, supposedly an RX-8 will out handle a FD stock for stock. If that is true then the RX-8, S2000, and 350Z all put the FC to shame. I drove an 8, but didn't get to beat on it too much, but from what I did get to do, it was fun a ride at 10K rpm

Healing

^^ I disagree...I didn't think a stock FD was that outstanding. An FC with suspension tuning will be a great car, comprable to tuned FDs (not necessarily better, but hey, they should be able to hang with them, and driver skill can make up for the rest...)

But yes, the RX-8 and the S2000 outshine the FC and FD, stock for stock. Not so much the 350z, IMO...

petex

any car with double wishbone rear suspension (FD, miata, S13, S14, 350z, rx8, s2k) will outhandle car with trailing arm suspension (FC, s12, rwd celica, starion, older bmw).

FC suspension is old design, because the car is old, you cant compare it with new design... duh...

SureShot

The FC's multi link rear suspension is not limited to the trailing arm motion, so it can perform better than most trailing arm setups.

GodSquadMandrake

I think the FC has a lot of potential even though it isn't setup the best right out of the box. The FC does have it's limitations and I agree that it will never beat the FD, or probably the RX8, S2000, or Miata as far as handling goes. But it would be CLOSE and with enough skill you could probably pass any one of those cars on the track. For the money it's pretty good.