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I still think we have ways to go. There is no reason these cars should be cheaper than MKIV Supras, other than perhaps the availability of shops with rotary expertise.
The body itself? SFA. Really early cars (like my 1992) were missing some extra bracing on the rear subframe, but that got added pretty quickly, pretty sure its bolt on pieces too. Need to have a gander at the other rear subframe I have there.
Originally Posted by GoodfellaFD3S
For those that care about the volume of airflow going through their radiator and oil cooler(s)...... the '99 spec bumper is far superior to the USDM piece. Looks damn nice too, although I may be biased
^^^^ This, a bloody good point for sure! I think I'd consider another front if I ever go down a route that will require drastically more cooling capacity.
Originally Posted by Redbul
S7 had the S6 front, but at some point gained the future S8 round tail light modification.
There is an argument that "S8" does not exist.
It is slang.
I have not found reference to "S8" in official Mazda literature.
The reference is to Version 5 and Version 6.
But never mind.
You're right, S6 / 7 / 8 are just common terms that popped up. The literature refers to them as Versions 1 - 6.
All S7s came the later tails, early front bumper, and the dolphin tail spoiler. That spoiler is the one version of any of the parts fitted to an FD I'd actually call ugly. I think they're bloody awful!
Biggest change that happened is that in the S7 they went to the 16Bit ECU.
Originally Posted by Redbul
But really , we are just discussing degrees of perfection.
Love the new record but I think this is the top for at least 3 years.
I suspect we are close to the top of inflation and will see major deflation in 2023................ Cash will be king in mid 2023, this type FD will be sold for 40k or lower 06/2023.
Last edited by Fritz Flynn; Mar 12, 2022 at 06:29 PM.
Idk. I think as a rare novelty type purchase that is only getting rarer, it won't necessarily dip. The type of people that have $77k for an FD as play money are still going to have $77k over the next few years. The only way it goes down is if middle class owners that bought their FD years ago come into trouble and need to get money quickly in a market with fewer buyers.
We may need a depression to get that kind of deflation. The inflation underpinnings are getting locked in by the day.
Today's news, half the worlds production of Neon (the gas, not the cars) is in Mariupool. Neon is necessary to produce chips (the computer kind, not the food).
Oil price shock is locked in for the foreseeable future.
Unless there are a lot of Ukranian refugee truck drivers, transport costs are going to rise from many factors, including lack of truck drivers.
Potash shortages. Uranium shortages.
On and on.
Trade embargoes of those Putin sympathizer countries.
Is unnatural in that you KNOW its an S8 bumper on an S6 chassis.
+1
I think the main point here is that we all know what spec usdm FD's came in. There's no need to pretend otherwise and I believe the term 'faking the funk' can def be applied here. I did the same thing when I built a replica RZ with my '94 some 15 whatever years ago. But since then, I've learned to not wish a specific vehicle was something it wasn't. I equate that type of thinking to a short person who dreams of being tall one day. Just love something for what it is. Which if you think about it, is ultimately what caused you to love it in the first place.
Maybe for you. But don't assume everyone is trying to wish a car into something it's not. Some people just like it better, for looks and also for cooling. If there is an OEM upgrade, and you live in the US where it's LHD, then it's a very logical option. To say it's wishing the car into something different is pretty stupid. So did Mazda wish it into something different in 1999? Why didn't they call it a fourth gen rx7 if it's so different?
Do you have an aftermarket exhaust on your car? Upgraded fuel pump? Aftermarket radiator or AST, After market head unit? GPS? New tires? Rims?
I think what you are both trying to say is that you prefer the pre-99 front bumper. That's totally fine. Don't try to brainwash others that if they go 99spec they are wishing their car into something it's not or that it's a different chassis. It's the same chassis, just a different bumper. 1999 also had upgraded ABS and twin turbos and solenoids. Same chassis.
The urge to "improve" our cars in various ways is strong. To each their own.
I am at 45 diversions from stock and counting.
I have had a passing thought to put a S6 front on my S8, just for the heck of it. But ,somehow, I feel that would be unnatural.
We have lost a lot of stock LHD up here to kits in the last few years. Our group had a group buy of four feed replica kits from Shine Auto, for instance.
Anyone, these days, with pretensions to build a fake Spirit R, will quickly realize how special the Spirit R is.
Externally, its just a badge and wheels, dividing it from in period base S8. So maybe $5060. But if you move on to all the other Spirit R specific cosmetic changes, the costs skyrocket considerably.
I don't disagree that a spirit R replica would be pricey. But it's not a different chassis and calling a 99 spec bumper unnatural is an awfully unnatural term to use for it. It's a cosmetic modification, nothing more, nothing less. Nothing to do with the chassis.
And a pre-99 car uses the same chassis as a post-99 car. That is just a fact of life. Calling it something different is just someone making something up to spark debate (or ignorance).
It's a cosmetic modification, nothing more, nothing less.
It's actually significantly more. The middle bumper opening is divided, funneling some air directly to the intercooler without passing through the radiator first. Larger opening means more cool air. This led to ~10*c cooler charge temps, allowing more boost. Oil cooling ducts are larger. Brakes have ducts, and the RZ/RS Spirit R brake backing plates are angled out to catch more of this redirected air. It's a fully engineered change, not just a cosmetic update. I believe the crash bar is lighter as well.
...and the dolphin tail spoiler. That spoiler is the one version of any of the parts fitted to an FD I'd actually call ugly. I think they're bloody awful!
If this is the "dolphin tail" spoiler, then it is amazing how tastes can differ - you hate it and I think it was one of the best!!
And it's basically the original OEM spoiler with floating ends - the (inboard) mounting points are the same, same profile, width, and height - just without the return to the body and the outboard mounting points.
Vehicle rolling off the production line equals birth imo and 93-95 usdm FD's were delivered in a very different spec than jdm 99+ models. It is what it is and you can't change what you are... unless you're into elective surgeries! And baby girl we can fix that ugly nose of yours for your 16h birthday!
All jokes aside. I'm all for lhd 93-95's upgrading their front bumpers to aftermarket tuner kits, etc but implying that slapping on a '99 kit is just as 'natural, stock, period oem' is false. Now if we're talking about 'tuner' cars, then that's a very different story. If the stock car is what you admire, then you should keep it that way. If you prefer the '99 spec FD, then you should work towards ownership of a genuine one. And if it's outside of your realm, then you should accept your limitations (whatever they may be) and move on.
This oem+ infatuation has caused many enthusiasts to make up their own jdm narrative imo. It's not dissimilar from the rx8 owners who put the s2 front ends on their s1 because they prefer the look of the s2. Quite literally the same argument over cooling, looks, etc. I personally don't consider updating an earlier vehicle models' front facia to a later generation an improvement anymore.
Again I'll ask you, is your car bone stock? If yes, then I see your perspective. If you have rims, or other modifications, you are just debating for the sake of debate.
It is what lies beneath.
