Honda, Toyota, and Mazda all dropped their "high end" sports cars by the late 90s, so I'm not sure that's a good "impact". The NSX was way out of the price range of the average buyer, more of a showpiece for the manufacturer, so it had little if any imapct on what would follow. The FD was a critical failure because if it would have been done right (3 rotor n/a, simple and bulletproof), at the right price ($30k or less) it would have set a positive trend. Honda tried again with the S2000, which borrows from the FD in many ways (including curb weight, claimed power, and price tag - all of which are eerily similar to the FD), but even that car, dropped in '09, they now consider a "failure".

It's remarkable to me in the big picture that these cars failed, because hard core fans are out there - hard core sportbikes have done extremely well, in fact sales are up if anything from the 90s - Honda will always sell the next generation CBR1000RR and Yamaha will always sell the next YZF-R1 to people who can't wait to plunk down 13 large (that's about the going cost for a 2011 model) - all for a purely recreational vehicle that has essentially no practical value. Yet in the 4 wheel world all we really have left in 2011 is something like the Cayman S or the Z06, both of which are great cars, but beyond the reach of the average budget. The 370Z is not a hard core sports car, but I suppose that is the only alternative right now. Sad.

 

u·nique
noun /yo͞oˈnēk/
uniques, plural

A unique person or thing

adjective /yo͞oˈnēk/

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else

Particularly remarkable, special, or unusual

Belonging or connected to (one particular person, group, or place)

 

Hahaha I disagreed with the idea that the only thing unique about the rx7 was the engine. I think the combination of the FDs timeless looks, its exciting ride experience, the sports car centric focus during development, and its almost universal appeal also make it unique. To me, the Supra's performance was the only really unique and special thing about the car. Beating a dead horse aren't we haha.

I'm talking about the impact the NSX had on the F1 and other super cars. The blurb Viking posted had info about it.

 

I agree, the celica is the supra twin, they share the exact same design but the supra is a little bit longer. I can appreciate the supra for what it can do, but its design does nothing for me.

 

Again, the wedge design and engine layout of the NSX was nothing new - Ferrari had already done it and Honda just copied/tweaked it, this is another reason I don't have all that much respect for the NSX

 

Ignoring the stock FD vs. supra arguments...those pictures show one thing...FD racecars look way more badass than Supra racecars

 

YES!
there are a few other motors out there that, stock for stock, can hold the same power as the 2jz, the 32v 4.6 liter v8 from the 03-04 cobra can take similar levels of abuse, as can one of the lsx series motors

 

NSX Exhaust Note :

http://vimeo.com/21485805

 

This thread is getting to be pointless..

How can you debate with someone whether or not a car is or is NOT special/significant/unique/fun/cool/stylish/etc...

It's going to come down to opinions in the end.

We all like different cars for different reasons. The vehicles that we would each choose as an alternative/replacement for the FD will vary from person to person.

It's like someone made this thread with the intention of getting everyone pissed at each other! lol

......Genious!

P.S. With that being said....I would still rock a Datsun 240, 260, 280Z with a 2JZ motor pushing 400+rwhp. ^.^

har har harrrr

 

i agree.. this thread is all over the place. lol

 

Yea but NSX was a very streetable and comfortable supercar (by the standards of the day). Dude it seems like you didn't read Vikings thing. It was Gordon Murray's benchmark for the F1. The guy built one of the best supercars ever made and he loves the F1. Even today, the F1 is in my top 2 and it is still relevant in the world of supercars.

Yea but its been am interesting thread all around. Good discussions are hard to come by lately.

Yosh, why do you think people are getting pissed?

 

EXACTLY.

Someone grasps whats going on here.

People are putting their feelings and insecurities in this thread, that its off topic way too many times.

Its like they cant hear when one person suggest something MIGHT be better than the FD, or something drives better, looks better. Its like NO, THE FD IS TIMELESS AND UNIQUE.

lol we're here, well most of us are here because at one point, we love, loved and/or continue to love the FD.

So whatever happens from this point on, just let it be. Some people will move on from the FD, some people will continue to own theirs and some people will strive hard TO own one in the future. Who cares.

Im tired of people going PMS when someone mentions another car and gives it credit OVER the FD. Its childish.

 

Sorry im a little biased towards the supra.

My buddy and I.

 

Naaah man what insecurities? Honestly, I expected to see a huge FD bias here and I'm surprised it hasn't been.

I don't think people mind hearing suggestions about what cars might be better than the FD. I think about that all the time. I want an exige and an NSX in the worst way. Just because another car might drive better and look better, it doesn't make the FD any less timeless and unique. It also doesn't make it any less desirable. People go nuts over the miata but there are certainly faster and IMO better looking cars around but the combination of its roadster heritage, excellent driving dynamics and modern day reliability make it awesome even today. Everyone has opinions on what is what but that is what forums are for. We discuss. We don't just listen and not respond. I think that would be pretty lame (although we are pretty off topic by now).

BTW Rob, nice FD haha. Still waiting on my bodyshop guy to give me a quote on my fender.

 

i bet the red FD does circle around the supra on track...

like i said earlier.. nothing like driving a newer car.

on another note...

http://youtu.be/6MgN_vvneOk

 

Good points there, but $35k in 1993 equals $52,00 today, so comparing apples to apples, if the FD came out today, it would be in the Cayman and Corvette range. In addition to the Supra, 3000GT, and 300ZX, the Japanese sports cars also failed because most buyers in that price range could have afforded a Corvette in 1993 (not saying its better, and certainly not the 1993 corvette vs RX-7)

 

What makes a car "better" than the FD is really going to be more opinion than fact.

Sure, there are cars that have more horse-power, better technology, engines that don't randomly pre-detonate and explode, but hey.....

As stated earlier, we're all here because we have, had, or want to have an FD. Whatever vehicle we choose to replace it with in the future, if at all, is going to vary from person to person.

With that said, although a POS Honda Civic is still a POS Honda Civic, if the owner himself thinks it's the best car (for him/her), who are we to say otherwise?

*cough*

Okay, maybe not the best example...lol...but you get the idea, right?

:P

 

engines that don't randomly pre-detonate and explode


LMAO!!

 

Build them right and you don't to worry about that

 

Yea I get what you are saying. I think this is because we are talking about 2 different things right now. I forgot where in the point of the thread we got steered but I was talking about what makes a car more of a collectable. IMO, the more unique the car, the more collectable it is in the long run. I think that is something that can be talked about objectively. As for which car you would give up your FD for, you are absolutely right.

To get back on track though, after all of these good suggestions, my replacement would have to be fun and exciting to drive and look appealing to me. Speed factors into that but I think much less than most people. If I had to rank obtainable cars...

Elise, NSX (tie)
Viper GTS
M Coupe
Mazdaspeed miata
Worked 240z
Any old M3

Nothing else really comes to mind for me. I think an old vette would be fun but they really turn me off for some reason.

 

yeah.. i just thought it was funny.

How about we talk about cars under 40-50k? a lot of the super cars are better and nicer than the FD..

 

Hahaha I couldn't resist...



Also built and tuned right haha.

Yeah under 30k I'd say.

 

I personally don't want to have to pull out another loan to buy any more "project cars" like I did with my FD.

I only owe $1,600 more on my original loan, and once the thing is paid off...everything I do to it will come out of my own pocket.

If I can squeeze out a good $20-25k out of my FD once it's all done up the way I want, then I can't say for certain what car I will replace it with. That will depend more-so on my reason for why I sell the FD in the first place, ya know?

 

hahaha Teddy!

 

LMAO! If you think people with FDs are feeling insecure than go read some NSX threads when they try to compare their cars with other cars... But of course, this topic is no different than any other political debates I've listen to and been in..

That being said, many of us have chosen FD for a specific reasons and some of us learned a hell of a lot because of FDs. Also some of us have 'grown up' and still think they are great cars don't mean we can't hear...