Right, because there are so many places to put a brake duct on the fender, and the nose of the Corvette was never sloped and they never had pop-up headlights prior to the C5... you're right, it does look just like a 3rd gen. RX-7...

Actually it was 1973, and the XP-882 had a mid-mounted GM-designed 390 CID 4-rotor engine. The slightly smaller XP-897 GT had a 2-rotor version of GM's design that was intended for initial release in the Vega. In 1976, GM scrapped their rotary engine program and the XP-882 got a V8 transplant to become the Aerovette.

http://www.millville.org/Workshops_f.../corvette.html

Several manufacturers experimented with the Wankel engine without having any affiliation with Mazda. Guess you didn't know as much about this topic as you thought you did.

Why is it so hard for you and other RX-7 neophytes to just say "so what?" and move on? Who cares if some of the styling cues of the C5 are similar to the FD? In fact, you should probably be thankful that the resemblance is close enough for the ignorant to occasionally mistake the two because it gives the 3rd gen. a fair chance of being mistaken for an arguably better and more expensive car.

OK, now you've gone from ridiculous to just plain stupid...

Actually, I think you're up past your bed time, Junior...

 

Hello-

Re: the C5 vs. the FD...

Yes, the C5 DID take *some* styling cues from the FD. However, this is not "ripping off." In the design world, there are a few truisms that ring strong, and one of them is "all design is redesign." You're always building on previous steps and going one step further.

The C5 also had a lot of design cues that were not from the FD! Take for example the rear end of the C5... it's nothing like an FD. In fact, some (not me, but some) would argue that the C5 did better in that regard.

Want another example of borrowed styling cues? How about the FC - the 2nd gen RX7? It borrowed so many cues that the general automotive press received it as uninspired... not enough cues were unique to it. Again, these aren't necessarily my opinions - just documented "popular" opinions.

When the design world starts taking your cues in styling, call it a compliment for god sakes!

But, someone earlier said that the C5 is arguably a better car than the FD, and I tend to disagree there. Really, it depends what you want. If you want a slot-car-like handling vehicle that is somewhat small and has a somewhat high-strung sports car engine, take the FD (I know I did!). If you're like most American drivers and don't rate handling all that high, want more throttle response from a big displacement N/A engine, and like a car that is significantly bigger, then take the C5. Personally, the C5 doesn't do it for me, but I wouldn't call it a stupid decision to get one... just depends what you want.

Take care,
Shad

 

Thanks jimlab! I was beginning to think I was all alone on this one..

I'm changing my plate to read: NOTAC5

 

too bad the 7 doesnt get nowhere near the respect it deserves back home... maybe its because 90% of our cars are imported from japan... or maybe its because you see quite a few of them during a typical afternoon ride or drag..

 

You'd better check the SCCA Solo 2 results before you start telling us that the FD handles better than the C5 Corvette...

http://www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/na.../2003/results/

 

when my FD was black I always use to get the "is that a viper or corvette" from older people. but now that its orange i find that only ricers ask me questions like "is that thing turbo" and "is that a 4cyl"

But the best ever was when a car was following me and i could read the little kids lips and he said "dad what is it" and i could see his dad say "i dont know" I just laughed shot a few flames and took off.

(damn every time i read these threads i think about my poor little car sitting in my garage broke. i cant wait to drive it again and i plan on getting a ticket the first day i get it back.)

 

AWESOME STORY

So...I just bought my car. And yes, I did buy it fully blown, as in completely souped up, but that was only because I saved over $15k on it and who knows how much labor time. Please, no one flame me for that...I picked it up in Missouri and was driving it back to Detroit. As you can tell, I am a true import fan, it's not the easiest for me living in a city dominated by the Big 3 and only seeing (before I got my car) all camaros, trans ams, or mustangs street racing...with one or two slow imports in there.

But anyway, back to the story:
I'm driving back from Missouri and boy did I get a lot of attention all over the place. I thought I got a lot with my Spyder GS-T. This was insane!!! I had almost all good experiences. People would ask while I'm gassing up or eating what kind of car and all sorts of questions out of curiousity. So fun to talk about when you are a die hard 7 owner. But the best part was when I was on the expressway and there were four or five kids in a Pontiac Grand Am GT. I couldn't boost because it is not WOT tuned yet. That was so disappointing, but you gotta love the blow off valve. I would give it some gas let off right by their car...they loved hearing the GReddy BOV's three whistles. But they were just in awe and could not stop staring. That was so much fun!!! I'm so thankful to have a Mazda RX-7...the most beautiful car ever!

Craig (Detroit)
BTW Can't wait to kick the American muscle cars' asses. LOL I do like them...but not AT ALL like the imports!!!

 

didnt the fd take some styling cues from italian cars anyway?

 

the worst question I've gotten, was from one of my buddies when I first bought my 93' ....."Why?"

 

however at that level, its not the car anymore, its the driver

 

What do you mean "at that level"? There aren't any good drivers running FDs in street stock? Better talk to DamonB and ask him what he thinks about running against stock Z06 Corvettes...

 

The sad thing is my license plate says RX7 TRBO and I still get people coming up and and asking me "Nice rx7.... is it turbo??" Actually the other day a kid that asked me that question tried to get in a argument with me that they made non turbo 3rd gens the sad part was the kid was so determined I think I coulda bet him $100 and he woulda went for it.

 

ONE TIME I WENT TO PARTY WITH MY RX-7 JUST TO STOP BY AND EVERY1 THOUGHT I HAD CORVETTE. THEY DIDN'T ASK ME IF IT WAS A CORVETTE BUT MY FRIEND CAME OUT SIDE AND TOLD ME THAT EVERY1 WAS TELLING HIM THAT THERE IS SOME1 OUTSIDE LOOKING FOR HIM IN A VETTE I JUST LAUGHED. ALL MY FRIENDS THAT WHERE THERE NEW WHAT IT WAS AND PUT EVERY1 ELSE ON. ALSO I WAS SITTING TALKING TO EVERY1 AT THE PARTY LEANING ON MY CAR AND THIS KID IN A CRX DROVE BY AND REVED ON ME WITH HIS LITTLE B1.6 SWAP EVERY1 WAS LIKE EWWWWWWW WHAT A DICK LOL

 

There's probably a key labeled "Caps Lock" on your keyboard. Use it.

 

He *WAS* using it.

 

there as a kid in my IT class that *claimed* he had a friend that had a 4 rotor convertible 2004 single turbo(stock)

everyone in that class knows about 7s 'cause i talk about 'em so much

that is by far the funniest thing ive heard about them

 

Most people say the following
"Holy **** thats sweet"
"Ohh fuckkkkkkk!!!" - when I boost and they are in passanger seat
"its purple?!" - ahaha
"you have a valve clicking"

 

OH MY GOD THAT IS AWESOME! IT IS HARD TO READ WHEN IT IS CAPS LOCK! PLEASE JUST USE LOTS OF !!!!!! IF YOU WANT TO YELL!

 

I already posted in this thread and I believe I mentioned about getting the "is it turbo" question a lot, but the question that pisses me off the most is "is it fast?" I'm just like, I don't know, what do you consider fast? People think I'm just trying to be an ***, but it's the truth, many people have driven modified Gran Nationals, or LS1's or LT1's that put out a ton more HP than *MOST* FD's, so I just hate the question cuz what's fast is such a subjective word, I mean, an FD can go faster sideways than a modified LS1 can safely, but sometimes it's just like, I don't know what you want me to say, I don't think you'd follow me until I stopped and got out of your car unless you knew it wasn't a special car, and I don't know about you, but most cars that look anything like an FD aren't slow.

 

So does it make some of you feel better knowing you were blessed with rotary/RX7 knowledge at birth? Be thankful that some people are interested enough to want to talk to you about your car.

 

You know, I always thought the RX-7 borrowed some styling ques from the old stingray corvettes... but I guess that's just me.

Victor

 

well wasnt the first viper released in 92, and im pretty sure there were concepts of it

 

well you gotta realize, he's probably asking if it is fast relative to the cars he owns!

 

i mean at the national level... i may be wrong but that is what i've always heard...oh and i never intended to put down c5s at all, just saying what i thought

 

My neighbors tease me for having such a nice car and not driving it much, or when I explain the reliability mods I'm performing they'll say "why didn't you just buy a different car then, why did you buy it if you needed to change it to make it better?"

These cars are pretty rare, and not on most enthusiast's 'radar,' so to speak. My neighbor who's a hot rod guy, he knew what it was, but didn't know how it worked. So the other day I gave him a ride, and midway through he said "wow, this thing would be even cooler with a turbo!"

-s-