Lambo Doors on An FD RX-7
Sprinkle on cereal. Yum!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: So. CA
on a serious note, I think lambo doors don't solve a problem with entering and exiting the car. What should be taken into consideration is the utilization of an existing Mazda design: RX-8 style suicide doors.
Given the way people have to tilt their legs to get in and out of the FD's lower and narrow cockpit area, suicide doors would allow the legs to clear the door area far easier. The ingress point is diagonal within the same opening space as the suicide door's opening. The door will also swing in the same direction as the operator's arm, making it a cinch to manipulate and is less stress on the arms. Most of us have switched over to manual steering, after all.
Plus you can use it as an air braking system if you lose brakes while going down hill.
PROS:
1) probably nobody has thought of reversing the door direction on an FD (UNIQUE)
2) Easier ingress/egress. Reduced operator fatigue (FUNCTIONAL)
3) Mazda design, not another manufacturer (CONSISTENCY OF DESIGN LANGUAGE)
4) Air brake (SAFETY)
5) Talking point. People will totally ask you about the doors (INTERESTING)
CONS:
1) Not upwards direction of door travel. I know that the upwards direction allows 2 additional advantages which is sunlight blockage and defense against airborne animal attacks while in operation.
2) the air brake system cannot be deployed while rolling backwards, something that can already be implemented on a normal car as described by NHTSA design safety considerations, section 11.4A.
3) This modification may not be CARB legal in California.
Given the way people have to tilt their legs to get in and out of the FD's lower and narrow cockpit area, suicide doors would allow the legs to clear the door area far easier. The ingress point is diagonal within the same opening space as the suicide door's opening. The door will also swing in the same direction as the operator's arm, making it a cinch to manipulate and is less stress on the arms. Most of us have switched over to manual steering, after all.
Plus you can use it as an air braking system if you lose brakes while going down hill.
PROS:
1) probably nobody has thought of reversing the door direction on an FD (UNIQUE)
2) Easier ingress/egress. Reduced operator fatigue (FUNCTIONAL)
3) Mazda design, not another manufacturer (CONSISTENCY OF DESIGN LANGUAGE)
4) Air brake (SAFETY)
5) Talking point. People will totally ask you about the doors (INTERESTING)
CONS:
1) Not upwards direction of door travel. I know that the upwards direction allows 2 additional advantages which is sunlight blockage and defense against airborne animal attacks while in operation.
2) the air brake system cannot be deployed while rolling backwards, something that can already be implemented on a normal car as described by NHTSA design safety considerations, section 11.4A.
3) This modification may not be CARB legal in California.
10-8-10-8
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 848
Likes: 12
From: Australia
I think the average FD owner is a bit older than 16, has grown up past the point of playing Need For Speed Underground, and has hopefully moved onto better taste options.
Those doors should stay buried in 2004. Thats just my opinion too.
Those doors should stay buried in 2004. Thats just my opinion too.