The RX-7 confirmed to be in the pipeline for 2017---RX-Vision Unveil!!
02-10-14, 05:59 AM
#1551
Hopefully my memory is correct here. ZoomZoom can correct me if I'm wrong.
Just to put things in perspective....
What ZoomZoom went through with his FD was obscene. I've never heard of a car failing the same parts as often as they did on his car w/o any real understanding of why. At the time, it seemed like the car was cursed and needed to be gutted and re-incarnated in a different configuration. And iirc it was - as Carlisi's 3 rotor project.
Both of my FDs have been far more reliable than any German car I have ever owned.
Just to put things in perspective....
What ZoomZoom went through with his FD was obscene. I've never heard of a car failing the same parts as often as they did on his car w/o any real understanding of why. At the time, it seemed like the car was cursed and needed to be gutted and re-incarnated in a different configuration. And iirc it was - as Carlisi's 3 rotor project.
Both of my FDs have been far more reliable than any German car I have ever owned.
02-10-14, 12:37 PM
#1552
I'm with Pete if the next RX7 doesn't at least compete (in other words in the same mag article with) the corvette then there's not a reason to bother and YES we want a simple car too but it must be FAST (so it's going to cost 50k plus) or again why bother. The miata should already be the BRZ killer, lets hope what mazda doesn't eff that one up and the new miata is able to out perform the BRZ sti etc.....
Your current car is the giant killer
Your current car is the giant killer
It's simple. Excellent Mazda Chassis dynamics, 300 or more HP, sub 3000lbs dry...and will do laptimes comparable to the Cayman S.
Honestly if Mazda does not come out with something like this I think a Cayman S might be in my future...
They need to do it for half the price (roughly 40-45k)
02-10-14, 04:40 PM
#1553
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My performance benchmark for a new Mazda Halo Sports car is and has always been the Porsche Cayman S.
It's simple. Excellent Mazda Chassis dynamics, 300 or more HP, sub 3000lbs dry...and will do laptimes comparable to the Cayman S.
Honestly if Mazda does not come out with something like this I think a Cayman S might be in my future...
They need to do it for half the price (roughly 40-45k)
It's simple. Excellent Mazda Chassis dynamics, 300 or more HP, sub 3000lbs dry...and will do laptimes comparable to the Cayman S.
Honestly if Mazda does not come out with something like this I think a Cayman S might be in my future...
They need to do it for half the price (roughly 40-45k)
02-10-14, 05:22 PM
#1554
Used to be you got an American car for muscle and it was crap for handling. Now the Anericans offer some options. Vette since C6 is a nice road race car and has muscle. Boss mustang is a good track car etc.
Maybe RX-7 has lost its corner on handling? No pun intended..
Make harder to compete?
Maybe RX-7 has lost its corner on handling? No pun intended..
Make harder to compete?
02-10-14, 05:34 PM
#1555
Used to be you got an American car for muscle and it was crap for handling. Now the Anericans offer some options. Vette since C6 is a nice road race car and has muscle. Boss mustang is a good track car etc.
Maybe RX-7 has lost its corner on handling? No pun intended..
Make harder to compete?
Maybe RX-7 has lost its corner on handling? No pun intended..
Make harder to compete?
A lot of RWD track records are broken with FD's still today..
02-11-14, 06:20 AM
#1558
In 1993, with older school tires the rx7 put down over .9 g's on the skidpad and set the second fastest factory car lap at streets of willow done by Motor trend ( I really wonder what the time was). With new modern tires, w/ Spirit R sized 17inchrims, it would probably still be the tip of the sword handling wise.
A lot of RWD track records are broken with FD's still today..
A lot of RWD track records are broken with FD's still today..
Many more car models with razor sharp handling like Lotus for example, also the Porsche Boxster Caymen was mentioned. The muscle cars also have serious track prowess now. The new Z-28 coming out is another and few mentioned previously.
It was RX-7 and Nissan Z cars who dominated this niche but its no longer a choice. You can have it all elsewhere. It could make for a difficult sell for a new RX model in this market.
02-11-14, 09:58 AM
#1559
Handling was a niche market was my point. I know full well the FD's history. But today a new model would not automatically have the corner back on that market.
Many more car models with razor sharp handling like Lotus for example, also the Porsche Boxster Caymen was mentioned. The muscle cars also have serious track prowess now. The new Z-28 coming out is another and few mentioned previously.
It was RX-7 and Nissan Z cars who dominated this niche but its no longer a choice. You can have it all elsewhere. It could make for a difficult sell for a new RX model in this market.
Many more car models with razor sharp handling like Lotus for example, also the Porsche Boxster Caymen was mentioned. The muscle cars also have serious track prowess now. The new Z-28 coming out is another and few mentioned previously.
It was RX-7 and Nissan Z cars who dominated this niche but its no longer a choice. You can have it all elsewhere. It could make for a difficult sell for a new RX model in this market.
to do what an FD with 225's did with old tire technology . and to anyone who races knows that tires .. are LIFE!
people argue about the handling of the 8 and the 7 , a friend of mine showed me how his 8 is a better handling car and showed me the test reports from a magazine compared to that of the FD .where the 8 was marginally better on a couple tests.
But think about it the FD had tires that were 10 years backwards technology wise.
tires like everything except the rotary engine . have evolved and given comperable rubber . I'm sure the FD still handles as well if not much better hten alot of those so called handling cars .
much less a more modern designed suspension .
Last edited by Tem120; 02-11-14 at 10:00 AM.
02-11-14, 11:41 AM
#1560
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that didn't really happen here... either that or everyone is an a-hole!
02-11-14, 06:35 PM
#1562
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its funny, we went to Sweden and Norway in 2011, and it reminds me a LOT of the midwest, its pretty obvious the norse settled in Minnesota, because it LOOKS like home, but the weather is better...
02-11-14, 09:26 PM
#1564
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Originally Posted by MisterX
The stresses on the components must be magnified by x times due to the large difference in mass, no?
Wouldn't the same then apply to a 2800 lb FD and a 4000 lb M5 --- where they're both cornering at 9/10ths; there is more force on the almost 50% heavier car's components, no?
02-11-14, 09:32 PM
#1565
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people argue about the handling of the 8 and the 7 , a friend of mine showed me how his 8 is a better handling car and showed me the test reports from a magazine compared to that of the FD .where the 8 was marginally better on a couple tests.
But think about it the FD had tires that were 10 years backwards technology wise.
tires like everything except the rotary engine . have evolved and given comperable rubber . I'm sure the FD still handles as well if not much better hten alot of those so called handling cars.
But think about it the FD had tires that were 10 years backwards technology wise.
tires like everything except the rotary engine . have evolved and given comperable rubber . I'm sure the FD still handles as well if not much better hten alot of those so called handling cars.
Therefore, he must be quoting someone who subjectively stated, maybe because of a slightly more neutral handling behavior, that the 8 handles better. If it did, it wouldn't be 2 classes below the 7 in auto-x, would it?
02-11-14, 09:53 PM
#1566
8's limits against the 7 (even with its tires being 2 decades old tech) will fall short. I'm not sure which magazine your buddy is pointing to, but whether slalom or skidpad the 8 will not carry the same speed through.
Therefore, he must be quoting someone who subjectively stated, maybe because of a slightly more neutral handling behavior, that the 8 handles better. If it did, it wouldn't be 2 classes below the 7 in auto-x, would it?
Therefore, he must be quoting someone who subjectively stated, maybe because of a slightly more neutral handling behavior, that the 8 handles better. If it did, it wouldn't be 2 classes below the 7 in auto-x, would it?
I think were the 8 excels is more in the feeling department. Unfortunately that feelings don't translate into world class numbers. Now the 8 at one point I believe had the highest emergency lane change speed when it 1st came out. Not bad for a car with 235 series tires so the chassis layout and suspension is most definitely doing something. I can't remember what magazine did the original test.
02-11-14, 10:29 PM
#1567
The 8 is 400lbs heavier than the 7 and has about 50rwhp less everywhere in the powerband..
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
02-12-14, 09:53 AM
#1569
The 8 is 400lbs heavier than the 7 and has about 50rwhp less everywhere in the powerband..
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
02-12-14, 10:19 AM
#1570
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The 8 is 400lbs heavier than the 7 and has about 50rwhp less everywhere in the powerband..
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
The 8 shines in cornering mph while still maintaining the nimbleness of the much shorter wheelbase 7 due to superior weight distribution.
The 8 fails at corner exit due to power deficiencies.
I race both at auto-x and I feel the 8 has more potential due to chassis dynamics, but NOTHING looks as good as the 7 to me.
02-12-14, 10:57 AM
#1571
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I think were the 8 excels is more in the feeling department. Unfortunately that feelings don't translate into world class numbers. Now the 8 at one point I believe had the highest emergency lane change speed when it 1st came out. Not bad for a car with 235 series tires so the chassis layout and suspension is most definitely doing something. I can't remember what magazine did the original test.
in the 21st century, we have this notion that we should collect all the numbers, and bigger ones are better, but this isn't always true. too much is too much. also this isn't any FUN.
fun is when you can feel what the car is doing, and fun is when you're actually engaged in the experience of driving.
the most fun car i have ever had was my 1958 Tr3* it had no navigation, no backup camera, no stability control, no radio, it didn't even have windows. it was actually this lack of distractions that made driving a really engaging experience.
sadly this driving experience is just completely missing from any modern car, although the Rx7/Rx8/Miatas are close. which is why we like them.
*the Triumph Tr3 was the FD of its day, for the money ~$2600, it was the fastest thing you could buy in the early-mid 50's. if you have the coin...
02-12-14, 11:29 AM
#1572
Senior Member
this is actually one of the huge problems with the 21st century, feelings are what make the car FUN.
in the 21st century, we have this notion that we should collect all the numbers, and bigger ones are better, but this isn't always true. too much is too much. also this isn't any FUN.
fun is when you can feel what the car is doing, and fun is when you're actually engaged in the experience of driving.
in the 21st century, we have this notion that we should collect all the numbers, and bigger ones are better, but this isn't always true. too much is too much. also this isn't any FUN.
fun is when you can feel what the car is doing, and fun is when you're actually engaged in the experience of driving.
So we end up with a bunch of oversized/overwrought supercars and "sports cars" that are nothing but 2-seat versions of luxury sedans with big wheels/tires and some power, but *very* few minimalist fun-to-drive-even-at-3/10ths sub-3000 lb. sports cars.
If I wanted Corvette performance in a brand-new street car, I'd buy a Corvette.
But I want something LESS. A *lot* less.
There are cars already on the market that have Corvette performance. What's lacking is a reasonably priced reasonable size/weight closed-roof sports car. It doesn't exist in the U.S.! It should...
If my ultimate goal was to have a fast track car, I'd get a winged formula car and destroy Corvettes/GTRs/Ferraris while having a lot more fun and spending less on consumables.
02-12-14, 12:07 PM
#1574
Rotary Enthusiast
I'm trying to think of post-2002 hardtop cars with RWD, light weight, independent rear suspension and fun to drive... it's a pretty short list.
02-12-14, 12:20 PM
#1575
Just take the blue pill..
