Fortunately I think that movement is slowly coming to a close as other cars like the s2000 or m3 have become more affordable but also have equal stature, are easier to work on and have more aftermarket support.

However I'll continue to repeat it over and over. This car will retain it's value because it will beat the pants off most any car in pure driving excitement which is what draws true driving enthusiast to any sports car.

 

That is an excellent point about the 'aftermarket support'. Whilst at an AUTOZONE the other day, I saw intake kits, exhaust kits, all sorts of headlight and tail light options, etc for cars like Honda, Mitsubishi, Ford and Chevy. In fact, there was a tricked out Eclipse in the parking lot, must have been one of the guys that worked there. The availability of stuff like this goes a LONG way towards influencing the purchase of a vehicle by the ricer crowd.

 

My car gets too much attention to the point that I feel uncomfortable looking left or right at a light because someone is always gawking and I don't want to look like a douchebag making sure that they are checking out my car. I love my car and stare at it ALL the time.

But i'm going to have to disagree with bajaman and Fritz- I don't think that it will lose popularity with ricer kids because the point of "modification" is to make your car unique. and what more deviation than a unique car itself? kids that are getting into the game love the concept of the rx-7 and the rotary... unless the price of this car increases drastically, we'll be getting droves of kids with parents who would have otherwise purchased for them a G35 that got them FDs. There is a challenge to owning this car- something that will be looked at more lightly than we think.

My evidence is the number of kids were getting on the forum... and further reinforced by the degree of quality that has dwindled on this forum since the "outbreak".

 

I dont think the FD is "popular" as there simply isnt enough of them around to be "popular".
However, i do think they attact a whole heap of attention, even more so then many cars that are actually "popular" e.g. mitsi evo.

The FD is an enthusiats car, people either love them, hate them, or have no idea what they are. And either way they get attention and lots of it.

I would not want to DD my FD, its really a drivers car. Its loud, its hot, it uses heaps of gas, is a cop/thief magnet and with my HKS coilovers is rock hard and not comfortable at all.
Its extremly dangerous in the wet, i dont bother driving it if its wet. When i first got the FD, it thought it would be cool to be able to spin the wheels with no effort at all, but you soon learn that its not so great when you have a car that will wheel spin all the way up through 3rd gear unless you activly try not to.

popular? no not really - iconic & attention grabbing? deffinitly.

 

i dont go a week without a couple people asking about it.

 

You're describing the younger enthusiast from the past like Damian, Goodfellas, FdNewbie etc....the current crop want a cool car that they can afford and lack the enthusiasm that an RX7 requires so they buy it, don't appreciate it, tear it up and sell it. Those memebers are currently dwindling because they can buy other inexpensive cars that also command respect for less money and don't require the enthusiasm/dedication/expense necessary to own an FD. Think about those members I listed above and how much money they have invested in there FDs, how long they've been members, how old they were when they purchased the car, what it cost them, etc...etc...talk about enthusiasm, those guys are the driving force behind this forum. I'm sorry but from where I'm standing the current drove of youngsters don't get it. They'd rather drop an LSX in rather than spend the 10k necessary to make that 12k FD a nice car.

The young enthusiast I described above will also dwindle along with the younger ricer type crowd because of the expense, dedication etc.... will escalate along w/ the age of the FD and more practical choices will out weigh the cost of purchasing and owning an FD for both them and their parents. However lets hope that there are still a few young enthusiast who continue to ask " how do I get this damn down pipe off" because those guys are the ones that make this forum tick.

 

I dislike Motego Blue...I hate Montego blue, but yours is amazing. I've never seen such a pristine FD. I was looking at your car and then I'm like oh that's how it's supposed to be. The car is ridiculously clean that it's sickening. I wouldn't sell it just for fear of not finding another as nice. PM me a price if you decide to sell...I can reunite the hood with the car and did I mention I hate MBP? Amazing car...new car smell is ridiculous. Haha I'm in love...I look at my car as a poor bastard child next to yours.

 

Fritz I don't want to start a flame war but that's simply not true. First, at the far side of 50, I'm not a youngster. Second, an LSx swap is not a simple 'drop in'. I would wager the swap takes as much mechanical (and electrical) skill as working on a rotary. If you peruse the V8RX7 forum you'd see that these swaps are not taken on by youngsters that don't get it. Quite the opposite.

I don't want to debate the purity (or lack thereof) of a V8 swap in a 7. I would like to point out that many people see the stock FD as a starting point. My FD has bigger brakes than stock, bigger swaybars than stock, stiffer springs than stock, bigger wheels and tires than stock, etc. - just like many of the cars here. Personally I see the LSx swap as an extension of that philosophy. I'm not criticizing the rotary, but it didn't meet the goals I had for the car - just like the stock brakes and suspension didn't. And trust me, I've put about 10k into this 12k car, and it's Very Nice now.

 

EMMph just sad isn't it

I also predict MB will be the most collectable

 

No flames taken

You simply took a couple of things I said and thought I was referring to guys swapping V8s. I have nothing against an LSX FD and I'm sure at some point I'll own one. Cheers to all the V8 guys

 

I'm sorry but from where I'm standing the current drove of youngsters don't get it. They'd rather drop an LSX in rather than spend the 10k necessary to make that 12k FD a nice car.

What I meant by this is that they don't appreciate the rotary and infact the opposite is usually the case. They like it for the looks and not the rotary.

 

Well, I've owned and sold many FD's over the year. Back when I picked up my first one I had people come up to me all the time asking what kind of car it was, how much I wanted for it, etc, etc.... As time went on, the people giving compliments while I'm driving down the road got a little smaller. However, anytime I have a FD with a 99spec front on it with some nice wheels... I get more compliments than I ever have in an FD. Of course most people still don't know what it is, but still. While that is nice, the reason I own one is because of the driving experience it provides.

I've got rid of my FD a couple of times... but I keep coming back. There is just nothing out there that feels that exciting/powerful/light to drive. I'm pretty sure I'll always have one.

BTW Fritz, we can decide what we think of LS1 FD's next summer at VIR in the new track car

 

hehe NOW we are in total agreement!!!

 

I think the word "popular" is used wrong many times in this thread.

People think popular meaning if people (us or others) will continue to like the car.

Popular really means more like demand or how badly people WANT it. Sure it can mean the other way but popular really means if people will really want the car.

Like the most popular girl in school. Many guys WANT her.

That being said, as the years go by (this thread is very similar with similar posts as the other thread), the FD will be more rare, making it a classic sports car that will always get respect and attention.

I dont find the car to be popular ever, because IMHO, it never been.

Because if it was, the batch of FD's we actually have on the road now, will be in 100000x better shape than what we see them already. I can buy an FD for like 8500 now. How pathetic is that?

My suggestion is, if you can support the car, and you already have it, KEEP IT. Even if it sits for a bit at a time. Take your time with it, work on it if you need to to get it on the road and enjoy it.

If it breaks, dont sell it. Or dont spend your enire life savings on it, then when something minor breaks, you sell it, losing 75% of what you spent to get it running in the first place.

I think that mentality and stupidity has ALOT to do with how the FD market is right now.

I thought ALOT about selling my car, even though i promised myself ill never sell it ever. Only because i feel like i dont give it as much attention as im supposed to. But i know if i sell it, ill miss it, only to buy another one later on. So i might as well use it to where im still satisfying myself and at the same time deciding on what to buy that will soon be sitting right next to it lol

After riding in a 500rwhp c6 yesterday, im REALLLLLLYYY leaning towards a used C6. Damn those things are awesome.

 

Yeah, thats what i dont want to start. I dont want to sell my original FD, then to buy another project FD later on. Even though i can get a highly modded FD with probably a newer paintjob for cheaper than what i would spend on my current FD but i know where my FD has been, i know the history so its hard to just leave it.

Unless i plan on selling my current FD only to find a MINT, low mileage pristine condition one and just not touching it modification wise. But its hard for me NOT to spend money on my cars.

My ultimate goal is to have the FD forever, have a speed beast and a nice daily driver, something thats modern, quick and luxury. Which is why i want the G37 coupe. Ill even settle for the g35 coupe still to save me some bucks. But the FD is a car that you just cant let go. Some people will understand, some dont.

Btw, i dont think you'll find any c6 with a bad motor lol. You're better off finding like an 05 with a bajillion miles for DIRT cheap, then doing your crate motor swap. I really want a c6 because its reliable power with modern age technology and style but honestly, my heart will always be for the viper gts. Imagine having one of those next to the FD. A guy shouldnt want anything else lol

 

and people wonder why the LSx swap is so popular...

I have the best of Americana V8 grunt and torque everywhere and forever in a package that handles very well and is fantastic looking...

 

I think its blasphemy to put anything else than a rotary engine in a RX7.

But each to his own likings...

 

Haha well I'm sure you have had beautiful examples as well.

 

Haha I guess I'm one of the "younger crowd."

It's ok...my car is a very rough example of the model, but I still love it. My only thing with V8 guys is that I don't see the point. If you're an RX7 enthusiast then it's tolerable, but a lot of V8 guys from other realms of the car world pick up an RX7 just because they think it looks neat and their motor will fit inside. I like my rotary...sure it sucks in stop and go traffic, at the pump, and on bumpy roads, but there's something about it that is unique that I can't really put my finger on. Rattles are one thing that just drive me WILD.

 

When you're at the track and have two young kids bowing to your completely stock FD...I'd say it's popular...unless of course they thought it was a Ferrari or something haha. I've had people think it was a Vette or a Viper mostly.

I'm not to the status of Rich, Damian or the other guys yet, but I've had my car since '04 and have put about $15k into it so far and that was all in power and reliability mods, it's just NOW getting paint and body work, and I'm not finished with the power upgrades yet either. I don't want it to be a showcar but I want it to have a nice paintjob finally. I don't plan on ever selling mine either, because like most others, it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it, or even every time I think about it. I have actually dry humped my car at the rear fender, just for a few seconds one time hahaha. THAT is love...or lust, whatever haha.

In any case, I absolutely love this car and everything about it. I love working on it, I love spending money on it, I love the rotary, I love the looks, I love the handling, I feel like I am one with the car when I'm driving it (especially on a spirited drive). I can't give it up, it's an addiction.

 

Question for the crowd - we have asserted that the "kids" are looking more at other platforms like the BMW and S2000s these days because of the better (perceived?) reliability and availability of more aftermarket support.

So, are they doing LSX swaps into these platforms as well?

(time to go Google, I guess)

Thoughts as to why / why not?

-b

[edit: okay, I have googled examples of both cars with LS1's in them. if it's any consolation, the BMW guys seem to get even more agitated than we do when someone mentions putting a GM engine under their hood ]

 

what do you mean by popular? personally i feel that the less people buying/driving these cars, the more exotic they become. my dad and i bought one in missouri and drove it back to washington last winter and the reactions of people we met on the way were amazing. no matter where we went (maybe cuz it was through the midwest lol) we had people stopping to compliment or ask questions about the car (my favorite was, is that some kind of new corvette?). before starting the drive back we wanted to change the oil, had to do that twice on the trip obviously, and when we called the mazda dealership they said they were gonna be full for at least 6 hours or so. when they asked off hand what kind of car we were driving, they *suddenly* had an opening. when we got there, there were 5 tech guys lined up waiting to check out the car. so if you mean popular like the corvette and there are tons of them then no its not. but if you mean popular like you turn heads most everywhere you go, then yes its very popular. its by far not the most reliable, not the fastest, and not the most comfortable car to drive, but you'd be hard pressed to find another car for anywhere near this price that can get the attention that it does.

 

I agree and those reactions are what make a car a collectable. Now add in the rotary engine along w/ the performance and you have a very strong contender.

 

I wish people would stop baggin on the LSx people. I think I at least understand some of where they are coming from. For me, I love driving the car so much, I don't even want to think about getting another car as a DD. I want another 7 as a DD. Hence the LSx (or to the people who are more technically and monetarily inclined, the 3-rotor N/A).

This doesn't mean I totally agree with engine swaps. I think you should only be allowed to do one if you have at least 1 rotary or have saved a rotary from destruction. I totally understand people who love the 7 so much that its all they want to drive.

 

Agree. I'd also be curious what people here think of the RoSpit - the rotary powered Spitfire - swap? or other rotary into a Xxxxx swap?