Does 500 rwhp make an FD more enjoyable to drive? (13b only)
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: England
I love my FD but bikes are my first love....in fact I only got an RX-7 as a runabout to stop me falling off bikes in the winter all the time....yeah, OK, OK not the most genius strategy ever lol. The FD feels fast and lairy until you get back on a bike on full honk and then it puts it back into some perspective. In fact, a few years back I traded down from a Fireblade to a Ninja 636 because the 'Blade was just too fast for the road around here. Here in England the Police will actually get you put in prison for speeding over a certain level, and it's an automatic driving ban if you're caught over 100mph....that was like second gear on the Blade
On the li'l Ninja I can enjoy the ridiculous acceleration and cornering prowess in the twisties but without having to be travelling warp factor ten to feel like I'm using the bike as it should be!Mind you, I'm off work atm with a snapped cruciate ligament after being nerfed off the bike by an attack Grandma, maybe I should have stuck to the Rex....
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NY
I bought a bike in 06 and pretty much forgot about my fd until about 2 months ago. Bikes are sick but you always come back. Owning an rx7 is an addiction! I sold my bike 2 weeks ago and the money I got from it hardly puts a dent in my rx7 wishlist. 500 better be enjoyable because I don't have anymore money for anything else..... So who knows a good clutch for a 500 hp fd for less then $2000? I've been drooling over $3000+ clutches and water/meth injections on line like it's my first playboy!
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From: NC
It's not a purist sports car and never will be, it's another luxury high power gadget laden sports car for middle age beer bellies; the kind of out-of-shape people you never see on a sport bike because they're too fat and care about comfort too much - the kind of people I don't have much in common with
Where do you go about in making an observation that a GTR cant be a pure sports car?
It does everything OUR SPORTS CAR can do, and 10x better.
Whats your idea of a sports car? Light weight, high revving engine with 50/50 weight distribution right? Like our cars right?
The GTR has a big engine, because its pushing a "big" car. Any brainiac can figure that out. You want to push something heavy fast, then you need a big engine (relatively speaking).
Sports cars can be luxurious. If you actually go look up the meaning "sports car".
Its not a sports car because of the heavy electric gadgets? Those are a step in innovation, recreation, reinvention to the name. Its telling you that you can now have your "sports car" as your daily driver during the week to work, to the grocery store, while beating the competition on the weekend. Beating your porsches, your vettes, your mustangs etc.
The GTR is what you call a masterpiece in terms of intention. It does what its supposed to do and it does it WELL. How ignorant to say its not a sports car simply because its "heavy" or because its bought by beer bellied guys. That doesnt take away from the fact of what its capable of. Look at its nurburgring time. That proves everything right there.
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From: NC
On the li'l Ninja I can enjoy the ridiculous acceleration and cornering prowess in the twisties but without having to be travelling warp factor ten to feel like I'm using the bike as it should be
Mind you, I'm off work atm with a snapped cruciate ligament after being nerfed off the bike by an attack Grandma, maybe I should have stuck to the Rex....
The most amazing thing I have seen this year was at the mile where a guy went 278 mph ( not a typeo) on a turbo busa, but the bike no longer looked like a busa as it was heavily modded. But it was very impressive. Bikes are unbeatable for bang for buck speed wise, but I keep myself in cars for a reason.
Walks out to the garage smiles after looking at the 7.
I also agree on all the computer crap overtaking the driving sensation. I bought a little 78 porsche 924 last week and I have to tell you its a lot of fun. Its no 7 but it gets back to basics.
Makes me wonder if I would be able enjoy any newer sports cars.
Walks out to the garage smiles after looking at the 7.
I also agree on all the computer crap overtaking the driving sensation. I bought a little 78 porsche 924 last week and I have to tell you its a lot of fun. Its no 7 but it gets back to basics.
Makes me wonder if I would be able enjoy any newer sports cars.
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From: NC
It does everything OUR SPORTS CAR can do, and 10x better.
Sports cars can be luxurious.
Look at its nurburgring time. That proves everything right there.
And NO noble is as versatile as the GTR. Nobles are 2 seaters, rwd cars. The GTR has a backseat and is awd. ITs a sports car that can be driven like a normal coupe. Funny how you have to compare a hardcore "track car" with a car that has a backseat lol
10x?
Not by my definition. A true sports car is spartan and ready to race. The GT3 barely qualifies. Then again I don't think like the average buyer or manufacturer. It's literally a wasteland of big, ponderous "sports cars" out there. Kind of nauseating.
Keyword in bold. All your posts are opinionated. A GTR is not ready to race?? lol
You cant be serious. The noble you claim doesnt even use its own engine from england, its taken from various cars. The GTR is HAND BUILT BY NISSAN. Where each engine is different, because its hand built, which in turn output various HP levels. Some people get 480, some people get 515. Its amazing.
Ring times are over-hyped and the subject of endless blogs. Clearly that track favors ultimate hp, allowing these heavier beasts to do quite well, but their time in the sun is temporary at best before the the next bloated tank with 800 hp or whatever comes along. It's kind of pointless. Getting these tanks around a tight course or mountain road with switchbacks would be embarassing.
Ring times are the most usable fact we have. And the only fact presented where you cant say otherwise.
Are you talking about autox?? Physics will clearly show obviously.
Btw, the GTR puts better numbers at the ring than most ferrari models, which are lighter and has similar to more hp.
Pound for pound, the GTR is impeccable. Whether you agree or not is a different story.
But you sound so funny discrediting the GTR when it does everything so well. Its almost the perfect machine, for the everyday guy, for any climate, for the weekend track go'er.
...for its price.
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Banned. I got OWNED!!!
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From: NC
I was being forgiving. It will blow our cars out of the water.
Pound for pound, the GTR is impeccable.
It will blow your car out of the water
I was right the first time with "our".
Ha, you're such a kid. I'm sure you have a poster of one hanging up in your mom's garage, that's about as close as you'll get to ever owning one.
90% of your posts here are childish and opinionated and im the child? LOL
You got shitted on by half the veteran members here with your aimless rants about cars you know nothing about. A GT3 YOU wont ever own.
Yeah you're right, i wont ever own a GTR because i dont want one.
But please dont include me in your lack of financial freedom. You might be poor but rest assure, i am far from it.
agreed! the most fun i had in a car this summer was in my 1958 TR3. i think without driving something like that, its impossible to really explain how nice driving actually can be, and that all of the "features" in a new car actually get in the way of a good driving experience.
My track buddies Spec Miata had a Jackson Racing Supercharger, and it didn't make it any faster around the track, except down the straights.
I really identify with the Pirelli tire ad that states, "Power is Nothing, Without Control" and the 13B at 500 RWHP, not only takes a lot of mods, but EXPENSIVE and well thought out mods, to control and modulate that 500 RWHP, and you'll need corresponding mods if you want to use it in the corners, which the FD *initially* just wasn't designed for. (A 20B can make it over such a broad RPM range, at least the power delivery is more tractable, but you still have to deal with the chassis/suspensions).
A 500HP 13B will make the FD more enjoyable in a straight-line (your initial question), followed by anxiety and panic, unless you have the supporting mods and frame-of-mind as you enter the corners.
So look at the whole car holistically- as a system of components working in unison, yet orchestrated by YOU the driver and you may find your zen.
The biggest mod, is track-time, and instruction with a real race car driver. You won't believe what's possible . . .
:-) neil
PS: This driver (Mike Skeen) will drive your car with track analysis software, and ride with you in your car, and give you comparison analytics along with video: http://www.mikeskeen.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSRqLRHDFY
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 255
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From: England
Common argument but I don't think it holds much water. I've owned 600s and 750s - they get to 100 nearly as quick as literbikes and, if anything, they encourage you to ring their necks to get any power out of them. Literbikes produce so much effortless power everywhere in the rpm range that you aren't really tempted to redline it often unless you want to want to lay waste to some stray Harley. The ZX-10R literally dares you to hold the throttle open, it is brutally quick
Yeah, the hit of a litre bike when you **** the throttle is very addictive, but you pretty soon realise you're just doing that at the cost of riding it. Any fool can just open the taps in a straight line, to be quick through the corners on a 600 takes skill. I'd rather feel like I was riding the bike as opposed to just hanging on....
Sound advice
. Since I live right in the middle of a pretty big town, it's kinda difficult to not ride through congested bits in order to get from my home to non-congested bits 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
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From: Charlottesville VA 22901
Take a regular Miata (no traction control, etc.) around the track and you'll be impressed. Take a Spec Miata, and be in awe in the corners !
My track buddies Spec Miata had a Jackson Racing Supercharger, and it didn't make it any faster around the track, except down the straights.
I really identify with the Pirelli tire ad that states, "Power is Nothing, Without Control" and the 13B at 500 RWHP, not only takes a lot of mods, but EXPENSIVE and well thought out mods, to control and modulate that 500 RWHP, and you'll need corresponding mods if you want to use it in the corners, which the FD *initially* just wasn't designed for. (A 20B can make it over such a broad RPM range, at least the power delivery is more tractable, but you still have to deal with the chassis/suspensions).
A 500HP 13B will make the FD more enjoyable in a straight-line (your initial question), followed by anxiety and panic, unless you have the supporting mods and frame-of-mind as you enter the corners.
So look at the whole car holistically- as a system of components working in unison, yet orchestrated by YOU the driver and you may find your zen.
The biggest mod, is track-time, and instruction with a real race car driver. You won't believe what's possible . . .
:-) neil
PS: This driver (Mike Skeen) will drive your car with track analysis software, and ride with you in your car, and give you comparison analytics along with video: http://www.mikeskeen.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSRqLRHDFY
My track buddies Spec Miata had a Jackson Racing Supercharger, and it didn't make it any faster around the track, except down the straights.
I really identify with the Pirelli tire ad that states, "Power is Nothing, Without Control" and the 13B at 500 RWHP, not only takes a lot of mods, but EXPENSIVE and well thought out mods, to control and modulate that 500 RWHP, and you'll need corresponding mods if you want to use it in the corners, which the FD *initially* just wasn't designed for. (A 20B can make it over such a broad RPM range, at least the power delivery is more tractable, but you still have to deal with the chassis/suspensions).
A 500HP 13B will make the FD more enjoyable in a straight-line (your initial question), followed by anxiety and panic, unless you have the supporting mods and frame-of-mind as you enter the corners.
So look at the whole car holistically- as a system of components working in unison, yet orchestrated by YOU the driver and you may find your zen.
The biggest mod, is track-time, and instruction with a real race car driver. You won't believe what's possible . . .
:-) neil
PS: This driver (Mike Skeen) will drive your car with track analysis software, and ride with you in your car, and give you comparison analytics along with video: http://www.mikeskeen.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxSRqLRHDFY
Is that Mike driving in that vid? If so he's in chill mode.
Umm yeah the FD will need some supporting mods to make 500 rwhp but isn't that pretty frikken obvious to everyone.
As Neil mentions a big hurdle to appreciating what a car is capable of is the experience of the driver. Driving at 5 or 6 10nths through the mountain turns is like being stuck in traffic once you've learned to drive at speed on a track. It's a waste of time unless you are site seeing. Someone who isn't versed at getting the most out of a car will drive a GTR to the same grip level as there tr3 because that's the limit of their comfort level and they are incapable of experiencing the outer limits of the car which is where the fun starts and rest assured the outer limits of a track prepped GTR is practically in outer space compared to a spec miata.
As mentioned earlier the GTR is a great car and I'll say it again IMO it's practically a legend already.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 10,672
Likes: 413
From: Charlottesville VA 22901
1QWIK7... I generally agree with you and suspect a number of people are jealous of the GTR. But there are also quite a few people who just don't like what it is. There is obviously a mounting backlash among enthusiasts against how heavy and computerized new "sports" models are. The Ferrari GTO in 1962 was doing 170+ with 300-320 hp. Today, the hot stuff all does 190 or better, but they all have 600 plus hp motors. The size, mass, drag on new cars just needs the hp to get over themselves.
Cars are simply the best mechanical toys you can have. They are the biggest go-karts adults can get in with a straight face and go out and drive like a maniac and come back grinning. As sports cars started becoming so computerized and big, they became less mechanical and as a result waaaay less fun to drive regardless of how fast or capable they are.
It seems to me that conceptually new sports cars are converging with the games like GT3 or whatever. The computer is doing everything and you just point the thing. Just going fast by itself may be some fun, like getting shot from a cannon, or dreams of flying, or riding in an airplane, but, its just not the same as driving a mechanical conveyance. Owning something that costs an enormous amount of money and can turn on the stereo in your house and tells you that you just turned at the wrong intersection or that brakes when you do something stupid and parks itself may all well be very interesting in some way. But it has little to do with cars or having fun with them.
Gordon
Cars are simply the best mechanical toys you can have. They are the biggest go-karts adults can get in with a straight face and go out and drive like a maniac and come back grinning. As sports cars started becoming so computerized and big, they became less mechanical and as a result waaaay less fun to drive regardless of how fast or capable they are.
It seems to me that conceptually new sports cars are converging with the games like GT3 or whatever. The computer is doing everything and you just point the thing. Just going fast by itself may be some fun, like getting shot from a cannon, or dreams of flying, or riding in an airplane, but, its just not the same as driving a mechanical conveyance. Owning something that costs an enormous amount of money and can turn on the stereo in your house and tells you that you just turned at the wrong intersection or that brakes when you do something stupid and parks itself may all well be very interesting in some way. But it has little to do with cars or having fun with them.
Gordon
Thread Starter
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: NC
Yeah, the hit of a litre bike when you **** the throttle is very addictive, but you pretty soon realise you're just doing that at the cost of riding it. Any fool can just open the taps in a straight line, to be quick through the corners on a 600 takes skill. I'd rather feel like I was riding the bike as opposed to just hanging on....
Since I live right in the middle of a pretty big town, it's kinda difficult to not ride through congested bits in order to get from my home to non-congested bits
Gordon....its funny you mention that OLD Honda bike. If i am not mistaken i saw a bike similar to this in a boiler room trashed while i was working on their boiler. I am not into bikes so i never really paid attention to it. I am not sure if it was a honda or not but is sure damn look similar.
If i work in that building again i will snap some pics and send them to ya!!!
If i work in that building again i will snap some pics and send them to ya!!!
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Take a regular Miata (no traction control, etc.) around the track and you'll be impressed. Take a Spec Miata, and be in awe in the corners !
So look at the whole car holistically- as a system of components working in unison, yet orchestrated by YOU the driver and you may find your zen.
So look at the whole car holistically- as a system of components working in unison, yet orchestrated by YOU the driver and you may find your zen.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
i think the words "sports car" have been so over used, that they are totally meaningless.