I don't drive my RX7 around town often, but nearly every time I take it out there are people excited to see one driving around. Mine has a completely stock exterior, with factory wheels, and it's not even lowered. In my opinion, the paint is good for original 1990's Japanese paint, but the mirrors are faded and there are some scratches and plastic trim pieces missing or faded if you look close.

Today I was stopped waiting for someone to cross the street. He did a double-take and then yelled 'Hey, is that a RUNNING RX-7?!? Nice! And it's not smoking or anything!'
Later on the way home, a guy in a Jeep said the usual 'nice car'.
Ten minutes later a different guy in a different Jeep said 'Yeah but I could beat you up the mountain!' I hadn't heard that one before, and he was absolutely right because there's still snow on the nearby mountains this time of year.

I wouldn't want to be so famous that my face gets this much attention just walking around. But it's fun that people seem to consider these cars special now.

 

Literally everytime I take mine out, even for a just a quick 15 minute warm the fluids drive, I get either a thumbs up or a phone pressed against the window of someone taking a pic. At least one. Also stock visually other than a catback.

It's fun.

 

Took my wife's Mazda 3 to Greenway Mazda in SW Houston to discuss a recall. When the young service manager learned I own a FD, he insisted that I bring it in some day for them to see.
When I did that a week later, the complete parts and service personnel came out to gawk and take pictures.
Many of them had never seen one in person.
Of course mine is nicely modified and repainted BMW steel gray metallic.

Definitely more notoriety to day then back in the 90s.

 

It's because there's a wider spectrum of generations that know this car now, and they are idolized all over social media. In the early 2000s, it was young Boomers and Gen X who liked these cars, if they were into JDM. Today it includes those generations plus Millennials, Gen Z, and older Gen Alpha kids. That totals five generations.

 

I get a fair bit of attention when out too. Usually it’s fun unless they pull up beside you in a clapped-out Civic wanting to roll-race. But here in flyover country these cars, especially in LHD, are pretty rare.
My car isn’t perfect either but I enjoy going to the occasional local fundraiser car show where you can actually talk to people about car. Hard to explain, but it seems like a little more respectful interest from the Mustang/Camaro/Charger crowd the lately.

 

Let's have a competition, who can get the most thumbs up in a day. Car meets excluded.

No purposely stopping at every crosswalk waiting for someone to come along.

My favorite story is when I decided to walk home from the local bodyshop carrying the front bumper I had just had replaced. I walked through the park by the local elementary school at lunchtime and a bunch of grade fives came running up yelling "FD, FD!".

 

It just occurred to me that it’s been at least 2 or 3 years since anyone mentioned the Fast n Furious to me.
There IS a God!

 

So you are telling us you have not left the house for 2~3 years.

 

No,see my earlier post. I can’t say exactly why, maybe it’s because I never hung out at grade schools.

 

every single time i drive mine, without fail. either someone taking pics, asking me to rev it, etc.
the best compliment i have ever gotten, not a single word was said - an older guy, probably in his 40s-50s, just looked at it, and smiled.
he didnt have to say a word, i knew exactly what he meant.

 

I have experienced pretty much the same thing lately. Even had a small kid, maybe 3-4 years old when I dropped my daughter off at her elementary pulling his mom while looking back pointing wildly asking what it was. Was pretty funny.

Also, took my new/used BBS RS-GT's to get tires mounted a couple of weeks ago and the mechanic asked what they were going on and I had mentioned the FD. He told me I had to absolutely bring the car back down when I got them on and when I did I spent about 30 minutes talking to all the mechanics at the shop, until the shop manager came and made everyone get back to work. Have had multiple 10 minute discussions at gas pumps when I fill up and just about anywhere I stop.

They definitely bring the crowds.

 

The first time I drove my FC on the highway, I had a guy in a minivan fly past me, pulled off to the shoulder, jumped out and started taking video/pictures as I drove by. All while doing a very animated dance and cheering. Made my freaking day.

certainly looking forward to getting my FD on the road, but even in the FC I get stopped almost every time I drive it.

 

When I bought my FD in 2001 it wasnt to get attention, I bought it because I wanted one when they came out but couldn’t afford one. At that time I didnt know about the Fast and Furious movie and the resurgence of popularity of the RX7, but I soon found out. I got a lot of looks and comments and offers to buy my car back then, but nothing compared to what it is now. The one difference is hardly anyone offers to buy it anymore because I guess they know what the value is. Once again, I dont own it to get attention, but the fact that it happens tells me I selected a very special car and that does make me feel good, and best of all I never get tired of looking at it and driving it. I sometimes think that if I was driving some sort of Porsche no one would even notice it.

 

I think this is true. An FD is a rare exotic at this point. I like bringing mine to shows. It seems to get almost as much attention as the Aventadors, and from a wide spectrum of people. Literally the entire age and gender gamut from Gen Z high schoolers all the way up to boomers.

 

I swear my 9 month old granddaughter said "Da Di ef Di" the other day. She has not said it again, but i am hopeful.

 

This is the case in my area. You see McLarens, lambos. Posches, Teslas etc daily even in school car lines. So those don't get near the attention my FD or other 90s cars get. it's a rare site to see an FD, 240sx, 3000gt, z32, MKIV supra etc. There have even been more Skylines at meets than FDs recently.

 

Hasn't really changed in my area. Its been getting attention since I've been in my area. Over 3 decades, and it's still pretty much the same. There might be a few days where it's a bit more pronounced than others. But for the most part, it's usually the same. I find it funny to see all the local guys get older and them switching out their rides every 4-5yrs. Definitely people who are leasing or just going thru divorces.
1 thing that never gets old is being able to cruise on the highway at the speed you want and people getting out of the way. Kinda like parting the seas...

 

It’s somewhat rare in North America…especially in LHD, and certainly more desirable than it was when I bought mine. But I’m not buying into the “exotic”. The Japanese manufacturers had a golden age in the early 90’s with sports cars and the FD was one. To steal a phrase from a Supreme Court Justice, I can’t define what an ‘Exotic” is, but know it when I see it. For me that isn’t an FD and that’s a good thing.

 

I meant it more in the sense of something rare and with a slight sense of flamboyance that traditional exotics have. Not in the usual sense of exotic, which usually refers to something mid-engine and low production.

 

FD look a lot like 1950's, early 1960s, Ferraris. Would we consider a Ferrari 250 SWB an exotic? Compared to today's exotics?

 

Thats actually the wrong way to see it. Since the vehicles of that era existed for 1 reason. To compete and win! Only after they were slightly detuned and road worthy to meet homologation rules.

Only people in the know would refer to any derivative of the 250 as an exotic. The rest of the people refer to them as “classic” due to their age. Even more common people will simply refer to them as old cars…. It’s what the people know right now. They could care less about history. They just want to know how much it costs and how fast it is.
c’est la vie…

 

'90s JDM were detuned to meet Government regulations.

But some of the super modified time attack FD were certainly exotic (in a way) in appearance.

Just semantics.....I know.

 

Whatever it is, its design is timeless and is also the best looking car out of Japan imo. I get just as much compliments with the e30 m3 but rarely do i get any with the 993S, except from other porsche owners.

 

Of the 1950's cars that had influence on the FD design, I would think that the Alfa Romeo BAT cars would qualify as exotic in their day.

https://fristartmuseum.org/1953-alfa-romeo-bat-5/

 

Haha, reactions like that would definitely make anyone's day! These cars definitely turn heads, bringing out the car enthusiast in everyone.