Would love to see another rotary sports car but apparently the only place we'll see a rotary is in an electric car as a range extender.

Typically new models don't hurt collector values and in many instances only make it more obvious why they were chosen as classics in the 1st place. I'm extremely biased but IMO the FD is the best mass produced, mid priced sports car made in the last 30 years (possibly ever LOL). Or it's not easy to hit grand slams in the car world, and the FD is a GRAND SLAM of a car!

You won't ruffle any feathers saying a new rotary could be better, most of the die hard FD guys have owned various sports cars, or own multiple cars, so they know what a good sports car is and how hard it is for big car manufacturers to produce one. If Mazda or someone else builds a sub 3000 pounds sports car with 400 HP you can bet you'll see some sitting in garages next to FDs, but the FD in many cases is there to stay hehe

 

Ummm, has a car like ever been made (other than exotics). Remember, the FD was produced with only 250 HP.

 

YEP....cough cough lightly modded FD. The experimenting has been done and it's very easy to mod an fd to 300 plus rwhp, AND it's more reliable than a bone stock RX8. I don't have a single friend in the FD community who drives a stock FD, so they damn sure aren't going to replace it with a modern car that has 250 hp. Name another light weight sports car that you can easily mod like the FD. They don't exist.

FD plus:
Engine mang
exhaust
cooling
and fuel
add coilovers for high speed corners
Cost 7k

325 rwhp or 400 at the crank

FD plus:
single turbo
more cooling
Cost 20k

400rwhp (200 mph exotic)

 

Cayman GT4 comes closest I think (hp). Corvette Z06 close also (weight). Some lotus exige models might meet the power/weight of an FD? Next you have to step up to a used McLaren or 458 if your paycheck allows. Good luck with maintenance and repairs if you thought a rotary is bad. Is there anything lighter with Fritz' 400hp minimum? My family needs a bigger house, so the FD will have to suffice.

 

Exactly

Even considering a corvette (which isn't much heavier) but looks and drives like *** in comparison.

Most are too heavy and or too expensive.

 

It's funny that a well-maintained and intelligently modified FD is now considered a good value

Most car people still believe that FDs are unreliable time bombs due to outdated fearmongering from internet know-it-alls. An FD with reliability mods and updated parts (i.e., not the original parts that are 26+ years old) is a sports car that can beat most other cars on the street or track (especially if you're near 400 hp). I prefer the sequential turbos and my speed requirements are not extreme – throttle response and reliability are more important to me than max power.

 

I think there is lots of evidence of this, take a look at the rx8 vs the rx7 or the 350z vs the 300zx. the rx7 and 300zx are considered classics and still turn heads, whereas the others are kinda meh. Time will tell what those cars will do in the collector market but I don't think they will ever be as big as those 90s classics. I'm guessing the same for the new supra, especially since it does not have a toyota drivetrain.

 

With the death of the Volt, I think it's unlikely we will see a range extending Rotary going into full production, at least for the US market. Full hybrids (Prius) and range extending EV's are not selling well.

 

Yep, RIP rotary engine

 

They'll pick back up in popularity once gas prices rise again unless full EVs take over that market.

 

Absolutely! There is no comparing the RX-7 and RX-8. The RX-7 is light years ahead in sexiness!
I did think about getting an RX-8 though at one point as a daily that I could abuse like crazy and not care at all.

 

I think this is actually going away, one thing social media has done well is diminish this stigma. Owners now are managing expectations better and improvements in EMS options and tech are prolonging rebuilt engine life.

If an idiot buys an FD and makes a post on a forum, social media platform, or vlogs about it they will have 10+ people telling you them what they're planning to do is going to cause them to have an engine failure. If the idiot listens to the people one out of that group will usually stay in tow to provide support and become a friend in the process.

 

I just bought a Tesla Model 3 AWD dual motor long range a little over a week ago. It's a $50k car (tax credit basically refunds the cost of sales tax). I know the company and its CEO are very controversial, but let me tell you it's a great car. It handles really well for what it is--it's 4000 lbs but feels like a 3000 lb car due to the axle-based motors and the mounting of the battery. The build quality was good on mine; I think they figured out most of the issues. And it's a high 12 second vehicle with a lot of instant torque.

Once the price comes down on long range EV's (300+ mile EPA rating, which is a very overrated/generous number) and high speed charging becomes more widespread I think people will skip right to full EV's for non heavy duty applications. It's sad in a way, but drive one of these cars and you'll understand. It actually has a lot of driver engagement if you turn off all the automated stuff and use the sportier settings (heavy regenerative braking for one pedal driving, sport steering, etc).

 

Yeah the RX-7 is definitely the more well designed car, but the RX-8 is no slouch. I've had 3 RX-8's as daily's and they drive and handle great. I just change to the new IGN-1A coils, a high flow exhaust, and premix, and they run great. Plus you can thrash the **** out of them and not worry about any problems.

I really don't think they'll ever have the following that RX-7s do though. They're great for what they are, but they'll never be a classic like the 7's are. I'm actually surprised but the FB market is starting to come up pretty quickly too. a few years ago it was hard to find any FB over 5-7k, now I'm seeing them in the 12+ range, especially if they're a GSL-SE.

 

Most racers I've heard compliment the Rx8 chassis as an improvement on the FD. Design advances and a longer wheelbase probably make it more confidence inspiring and forgiving (I've never gone full out in an rx8). But, you can't beat the aethetics and factory boost on the FD. Nothing a full cage won't fix.

 

I wouldn’t call myself a racer but I own a FD and RX8 and I feel more confident driving a stock RX8 faster. The FD has Ohlins and aftermarket wheels and tires.

Back to the thread title. I’ve sold 2 FDs in the past 2 years

· Stock Red R1 with 100k miles for 15,500. Fairly good shape. https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...vr-r1-1113941/

· Lightly modified touring black FD with just a little over 100k miles for 21,000. https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...bo-fd-1135722/



I have also bought two highly sought after colors within the last year.

· Single turbo 1993 CYM R1 with 52k miles for 16,000.https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...ia-sc-1133097/

· Stock CW 94 with 74k with 74 miles for 21,000 I think.https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...miles-1130454/

 

the Rx8 chassis is magic, it rides nicely, and handles great. you get good feedback, it makes the FD feel nervous. the magic part is that the Rx8 never bites, you can do stupid stuff behind the wheel, and the most it does is pause, as if to say "did you really just do that?"

the FD is harder to drive, and it rides worse (NVH in general is worse in the FD), although the FD chassis doesn't really have any big vices either.

the FC is numb, and if you get it too crossed up it will bite HARD.

the SA/FB feels more like the Rx8 than any of the others, but steering doesn't really self center, and traction is scarce, so you have kind of two ways to corner. for slow stuff its best to barrel in, and not brake, you just turn in, the front will slide for like 6" and this scrubs all the speed off, and then you need to drop down a gear and floor it. for high speed, you brake (maybe, 105hp, its not that fast), and turn in and then you might as well start counter steering, although there is no hurry. all this happens slowly enough that its fun, but its probably also quite slow, **** stache and mirror shades not included.

 

I would say the RX-8 is kind of like a cross between the FD and miata. I didn't get a chance to track one while I owned it, but I remember the car was very fun to drive. If that car had a turbo rotary it would be a much more serious contender, but even with it's lower power it was still very entertaining. Much more confidence inspiring than an S2000, which you cannot make mistakes driving.

 

I was really disappointed in the OMP injector related engine failures of the '04-'08 Rx-8. It's a stain on the longevity and reputation of the vehicle.

 

Doesn't matter how great the RX8 platform is I just can't get past the looks of it. To each their own.

 

I've always wanted an FD, and so I've kept an eye on the market for a long time. The recent trend for rising prices (IMO, mostly due to importers overpricing all JDM imports and actually selling them to inexperienced buyers) made me get off my butt and get SOMETHING, lol. I'm picking up a roller this weekend, as that's what the budget allows right now. I'm in the middle of a full-on build for my time attack S14, so funds available for other projects are limited. Once the S14 is done, I will dive into the FD. For now, it'll sit in the corner under a cover. I'll do what I can, when I can, but it'll be very limited. However, It'll give me enough time to really learn what I need to on the platform. This will be my first Mazda (and rotary of course), as I've been mostly into Nissans over the years. I've only worked on a rotary once when I was a teenager (12A).

I think the FD is a timeless design, and shares top of the pyramid with only a few other cars (IMO) of what I consider the "golden era" of Japanese sports cars (late 80's to early 2000s). There isn't a single currently offered car that I care for that is within a middle class budget, so I personally stick to the 90s for my fun cars (daily drivers are new due to safety features). And the FD has been at the top of my list since I was a kid playing Gran Turismo 1...

 

Stock 93 CYM RHD with 26k miles available at Duncan Imports for $29857

https://www.duncanimports.com/used/M...9df7b4f364.htm

 

Might be the washed out photos, but it looks like they washed it with steel wool and dish soap.

 

That is a clean car, really clean interior too, but I would never (and I bet I'm not alone) own or want to drive a rhd car on US streets. Nevertheless, probably a $25k car. $40+ if lhd same color, same mileage and condition.

 

Just as a curiosity why would you not own rhd? I understand it's not preferable but it's really not bad. And with the prices being lower a nice example cam be had for less than their use counterparts.