Cars in 2021 to replace the FD
#202
Banned
I was offered a 987 Cayman in trade. Passed on it.
#203
Eh
iTrader: (56)
I have absolutely no idea how you’re able to drive around anything that big and modern and still be able to jump into an FD.
Jumping into my folks GLC occasionally is enough to drive me absolutely nuts. I was annoyed when they started with the GLK’s. At least in those models they weren’t so heavily computerized as the GLC’s are. Now it’s absolutely ridiculous. I basically have to go thru a pre flight checklist before I can even attempt to drive that thing. I couldn’t handle that thing on a daily bases. Big, can’t really maneuver quickly, difficult to park and always at the mercy of the computers.
I’m approaching the 1/2 century mark and I already know I will never own a Mercedes.
Im pretty sure I’ll remain with my sports cars till the end of days. I might own an ev in another 4-5yrs, but I would seriously consider restoring the RX8. Knowing all these modern vehicles are constantly connected to the mothership is very unsettling to me. Analogue for the win!
Jumping into my folks GLC occasionally is enough to drive me absolutely nuts. I was annoyed when they started with the GLK’s. At least in those models they weren’t so heavily computerized as the GLC’s are. Now it’s absolutely ridiculous. I basically have to go thru a pre flight checklist before I can even attempt to drive that thing. I couldn’t handle that thing on a daily bases. Big, can’t really maneuver quickly, difficult to park and always at the mercy of the computers.
I’m approaching the 1/2 century mark and I already know I will never own a Mercedes.
Im pretty sure I’ll remain with my sports cars till the end of days. I might own an ev in another 4-5yrs, but I would seriously consider restoring the RX8. Knowing all these modern vehicles are constantly connected to the mothership is very unsettling to me. Analogue for the win!
#204
I have absolutely no idea how you’re able to drive around anything that big and modern and still be able to jump into an FD.
Jumping into my folks GLC occasionally is enough to drive me absolutely nuts. I was annoyed when they started with the GLK’s. At least in those models they weren’t so heavily computerized as the GLC’s are. Now it’s absolutely ridiculous. I basically have to go thru a pre flight checklist before I can even attempt to drive that thing. I couldn’t handle that thing on a daily bases. Big, can’t really maneuver quickly, difficult to park and always at the mercy of the computers.
I’m approaching the 1/2 century mark and I already know I will never own a Mercedes.
Im pretty sure I’ll remain with my sports cars till the end of days. I might own an ev in another 4-5yrs, but I would seriously consider restoring the RX8. Knowing all these modern vehicles are constantly connected to the mothership is very unsettling to me. Analogue for the win!
Jumping into my folks GLC occasionally is enough to drive me absolutely nuts. I was annoyed when they started with the GLK’s. At least in those models they weren’t so heavily computerized as the GLC’s are. Now it’s absolutely ridiculous. I basically have to go thru a pre flight checklist before I can even attempt to drive that thing. I couldn’t handle that thing on a daily bases. Big, can’t really maneuver quickly, difficult to park and always at the mercy of the computers.
I’m approaching the 1/2 century mark and I already know I will never own a Mercedes.
Im pretty sure I’ll remain with my sports cars till the end of days. I might own an ev in another 4-5yrs, but I would seriously consider restoring the RX8. Knowing all these modern vehicles are constantly connected to the mothership is very unsettling to me. Analogue for the win!
Funny you say this. I dailied my FD for the past two weeks, while I was breaking in an engine and letting my roommate borrow my 2017 Civic. I almost enjoy commuting in the FD better. This car still just handles so good and is so easy to place on the road. You can see out of it easy and my AC is COLD. When I hop into my Civic it feels like it has a small preflight and engine shut down checklist, between the DI engine and electronic parking brake. The Civic also feels like a truck, big and sloppy. Also have been borrowing a C8 vette. It is a better car than the FD in almost everyway, but still harder to drive. You cannot see out of it and it has that dorky lunch tray for a steering wheel.
Side note about phone tech. I have a double din android auto Kenwood in my car and it has brought the car to this decade. I miss nothing from newer cars tech wise.
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#205
Built Not Bought
iTrader: (14)
I'm not following how a civic feels like it has a pre flight checklist.
Hop in, push start without moving the keys from your pocket, release parking brake, put into drive, go.
That is about as easy as it gets and pretty far from a pre flight checklist. You have to do all that in an FD, except you need to actually insert and turn key to start an FD.
Hop in, push start without moving the keys from your pocket, release parking brake, put into drive, go.
That is about as easy as it gets and pretty far from a pre flight checklist. You have to do all that in an FD, except you need to actually insert and turn key to start an FD.
#206
The Ancient
#207
Eh
iTrader: (56)
I haven't driven any of the 2000 and up Mercs. My experience is only with their cars in the 80's and 90's. Nice to know they have moved toward performance. How's build quality? The cars used prices drop like stones. Very inexpensive as drivers. Same with many newer BMW's.
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#208
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (19)
We recently bought a 2021 Miata RF Club for our daughter and the more I look at it the more I like it. It's still underpowered compared to an FD, but the lightest weight Miata yet and you can bet there will be a supercharger kit for the ND2 soon. The Club model comes with BBSs, Bilsteins, Recaros, and Brembo brakes, all stock. .
I think the RF may be battling with the FC for 2nd best looking Mazda ever.
I think the RF may be battling with the FC for 2nd best looking Mazda ever.
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Neo (09-23-21)
#211
I'm not following how a civic feels like it has a pre flight checklist.
Hop in, push start without moving the keys from your pocket, release parking brake, put into drive, go.
That is about as easy as it gets and pretty far from a pre flight checklist. You have to do all that in an FD, except you need to actually insert and turn key to start an FD.
Hop in, push start without moving the keys from your pocket, release parking brake, put into drive, go.
That is about as easy as it gets and pretty far from a pre flight checklist. You have to do all that in an FD, except you need to actually insert and turn key to start an FD.
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Neo (09-23-21)
#212
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Mar 2001
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ND also gets about double the gas mileage, and is amazingly reliable.
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Federighi (09-23-21)
#213
The Ancient
If the BMW's you've owned were unreliable, I think they must have been much newer cars than those I have owned. I bought my first BMW in 1971. Still have a 1976 530i and an E30 M3. The cars powered by M10 and M30 engines were all extremely reliable. I wouldn't own a 2000's BMW. Not really BMW's at all. Just some European luxury cars.
#214
~17 MPG
iTrader: (2)
The 2022 Toyota 86 looks promising, although it might be a bit more of a practical daily driver and less stripped-down-weekend-sportscar than the FD. Someone on youtube dyno'd a preproduction model at 200-ish HP at the wheels and said it works well on the track considering how street-friendly the suspension is. Not turbocharged so they aren't going to be easy to add power.
#218
Eh
iTrader: (56)
If the BMW's you've owned were unreliable, I think they must have been much newer cars than those I have owned. I bought my first BMW in 1971. Still have a 1976 530i and an E30 M3. The cars powered by M10 and M30 engines were all extremely reliable. I wouldn't own a 2000's BMW. Not really BMW's at all. Just some European luxury cars.
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gmonsen (09-24-21)
#219
Eh
iTrader: (56)
Edit: I missed the part where you said below. We could almost agree on that. lol
Haha. I don't view the FDs as the disaster a lot of forum members and past owners due. There is a simple formula to having a pretty damn reliable FD but most either half *** it, or often times even worse, over complicate it. Good compression stock port motor, new or close to new harness, small single/twins, deleted AST and FPD, deleted emissions/rats nest coupled with radiator/IC/meth injection is a pretty spot on reliable FD even on Pettit Ecu or Base Tune PFC. I just did some doughnuts behind my shop about 20 minutes ago in my R2 on my way to pickup the greatest chicken sandwich on the planet from Popeyes. I don't drive it as often as I would like due to my kids but its gets driven every couple weeks at least and runs perfect every time.
Haha. I don't view the FDs as the disaster a lot of forum members and past owners due. There is a simple formula to having a pretty damn reliable FD but most either half *** it, or often times even worse, over complicate it. Good compression stock port motor, new or close to new harness, small single/twins, deleted AST and FPD, deleted emissions/rats nest coupled with radiator/IC/meth injection is a pretty spot on reliable FD even on Pettit Ecu or Base Tune PFC. I just did some doughnuts behind my shop about 20 minutes ago in my R2 on my way to pickup the greatest chicken sandwich on the planet from Popeyes. I don't drive it as often as I would like due to my kids but its gets driven every couple weeks at least and runs perfect every time.
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#220
RX-7 Bad Ass
iTrader: (55)
YEP. The biggest enemy of the FD is owners. Of course, the enemy used to be Mazda dealer techs in the 90s
Dale
Dale
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#221
Built Not Bought
iTrader: (14)
Closely followed by letting a car sit, I guess also an owners fault.
I let my e60 M5 sit for a year, had a water leak through the idiotic door card design, so I just put a cover on it and left it.
I started getting it ready to sell. New battery, new gas, started right up. However, now have an airbag light on due to the passenger seat sensor, stability control light on, check engine light on, brake light on (it's yellow, so that means low brake fluid but it's full). And who knows what else.
I did drive it, runs amazing and great sound and torque from the V10. Oh I wish I didn't let it sit... I love a streetable 500 horsepower with sequential 7 speed. So fun
I let my e60 M5 sit for a year, had a water leak through the idiotic door card design, so I just put a cover on it and left it.
I started getting it ready to sell. New battery, new gas, started right up. However, now have an airbag light on due to the passenger seat sensor, stability control light on, check engine light on, brake light on (it's yellow, so that means low brake fluid but it's full). And who knows what else.
I did drive it, runs amazing and great sound and torque from the V10. Oh I wish I didn't let it sit... I love a streetable 500 horsepower with sequential 7 speed. So fun
#223
Full Member
iTrader: (5)
Can confirm ND is slower than FD
ND is hard to beat as a daily driver, though (if you can fit). You can actually put the throttle all the way down for more than half a second, you'll be required to row up and down the gears constantly.. makes quick trips through town to the grocery store and back fun while keeping speeds reasonable and feeling like you're going faster than you really are. Don't mind the heated leather seats, putting the top down on sunny days, having a warranty, or getting almost 40 mpg cruising on the highway, either. If you care to, you can perform a few mods to it and be competitive with cars costing 4-5x at your local autocross.. plus you'll actually have regular car meetups/club events and have more than 4-5 people show up (rotary turn-outs probably better in other parts of the country). Would never replace everything an FD brings but could satisfy some people depending on what they're looking for. I recommend supplementing, instead of replacing.
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#224
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary
iTrader: (4)
ND is hard to beat as a daily driver, though (if you can fit). You can actually put the throttle all the way down for more than half a second, you'll be required to row up and down the gears constantly.. makes quick trips through town to the grocery store and back fun while keeping speeds reasonable and feeling like you're going faster than you really are. Don't mind the heated leather seats, putting the top down on sunny days, having a warranty, or getting almost 40 mpg cruising on the highway, either. If you care to, you can perform a few mods to it and be competitive with cars costing 4-5x at your local autocross.. plus you'll actually have regular car meetups/club events and have more than 4-5 people show up (rotary turn-outs probably better in other parts of the country). Would never replace everything an FD brings but could satisfy some people depending on what they're looking for. I recommend supplementing, instead of replacing.
However, the car had too much wear on it to bother doing a restore on it.
Next best thing is to pickup an RX8. Specifically an R3! Best decision I’ve made. While I do miss the top down driving some days, it can’t compete against the civility the RX8 brings. Having 2 rotary vehicles isn't too shabby.
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#225
Full Member
iTrader: (5)
I completely agree. I ran an NC PRHT as my daily for over 10yrs. Miata is definitely the answer.
However, the car had too much wear on it to bother doing a restore on it.
Next best thing is to pickup an RX8. Specifically an R3! Best decision I’ve made. While I do miss the top down driving some days, it can’t compete against the civility the RX8 brings. Having 2 rotary vehicles isn't too shabby.
However, the car had too much wear on it to bother doing a restore on it.
Next best thing is to pickup an RX8. Specifically an R3! Best decision I’ve made. While I do miss the top down driving some days, it can’t compete against the civility the RX8 brings. Having 2 rotary vehicles isn't too shabby.