At the time they were considered very safe cars. Yamiguchi's (sp) book has a section about the advanced safety features of the car.
That said, a lot has changed in 20 years.

 

The risks go up with the speed, Depends what your doing but if you loose control of an FD speed is usaly the main contributing factor. Hit anything over 60mph and you will have a bad day.

Problem with FD's is they are Low so if you make contact with another car you are hitting it some where its not idealy designed for so the other car tends to ride up over the front of your car and if that car is a 4x4 you are in trubble (seen two bad FD smashes and it wasn't prity)

The Moral of the story is be carfull guys.

 

The issue with this is that it's just a static load somewhat evenly distributed. That mass at 50 mph is another story.

 

i can't find the FD's crash ratings, but the FC was a 4 star in its time, which is equal to a volvo 240. like others have said the FD has the safety cage, and crumple zone technologies.

 

i suggest you don't try that

 

i'm not talking about the newer models, i actually prefer trucks in the late 80's and early 90's. the thing is basically a train on rubber tires. the older 3/4 ton versus new are much different, newer versions barely meet the guidelines necessary. if you worked at the dealers from then 'til now you likely would notice how cheap trucks and cars have become, relying on the cage and airbags to protect the passengers.

this is an older truck but still.. only a 1/2 ton.

 

Its funny this thread is up. Because i was looking at my buddys r33 on the lift and noticed like most imports out there that his pinch welds and square floor supports or wanna be frame rails were all crushed up and hammered to hell. Well not sure if you guys ever noticed but you can almost jack a fd up anywhere and they dont bend or crush. I have noticed all my friends cars are hammered from jacking the car up. Id say the car is pretty stout and safe.

 

One of my biggest worries when driving is:

- I'm at a Red Light waiting and when it turns green I worry about the driver(s)
running their red light now.

- When the light turns green for me I try and look both ways but I still worry.

- Lately while driving I've noticed that drivers texting and talking on their phones
has gotten so bad that I wonder dont these people have any consideration for
safety.

If my cell phone rings while driving I just ignore it. Most of the time I turn off the ringer on my cell phone while driving.

Overall, I feel very safe in both of my 93 RX-7s.

Best way to avoid any type of accident while driving is maintain as much distance as possible between other cars on the highway.

They are both daily drivers and I dont drive them like they are meant to be driven.

 

Can someone please post a picture of the inside of a new door ? Perhaps it would worth the effort to retrofit/weld-in a new beam . . .

:-) neil

 

Not very scientific but...

I've been on this forum a long time and seen a lot of wrecked FDs. I think overall they are pretty safe. The front of the roof (near the sunvisors) seems to be the weakest part in a rollover and will crush in some if it rolls, but the part back by your head crushes a lot less which is good.

They don't have the new safety features like side curtain airbags and stuff of course.

 

I bought this wrecked FD from a friend. Him and his brother were driving at "55mph" (probably more)...and the front drivers side upper control arm broke. It sent them into a ditch before it flipped end-over-end and barrell rolled 250 ft. into a field. Both of them walked away to get help with only some scraps and bruises. I'd say the 3rd Gen RX7 is pretty safe...

 

I've seen these cars crumpled up into little pieces. But every story I heard from the driver or passenger was the same. They were surprised how minor there injuries were. This is not to say that fatalities have not occured. But the structure of the car seems fairly stout.

 

My old JDM R1 after rolling 3 times:

 

Drivers on cell phones and texting freak me out. C'mon people, 10-15 years ago you got to and from work or the grocery store without having to text while driving, you can still make it.

I absolutely never answer my cell phone when driving. If I have a passenger with me and if the call is from someone important I'll have them answer and tell them I'm busy driving. If a message needs to be relayed that's the way. Otherwise I have voicemail for a reason.

-Geoff

 

I got run off the highway in NJ by a dump truck who didnt see me. Sent me spinning across 3 lanes of traffic (didn't hit anyone thank god) and caught the guard rail with the drivers side front corner at about 45 mph. Slid down the guard rail to a stop.

Totalled the car (bent frame) but walked away with a bloody nose from the airbag & a stiff back. My passenger walked away totally fine.

I'd say they are a small car and if you get hit head on, you're going to get hurt real bad. But as far as ability to take a hit - i'd say its pretty good if its not a t-bone.

 

so full roll cage is the solution?

 

It would definitely help... For handling as well.

 

Im going to put in a full cage into my FD this winter. also thinking of adding a kirkey seat for the driver. the only thing im thinking of going with is a removable bar at the door. since i want to be able to get in and out of it easily.

 

isn't putting in a cage dangerous without a helmet on? I think i read somewhere that your head can hit the rollbar easily in the event of a crash.

 

TurboJeff - I'd like to see the inside of a new door as well. You didn't happen to take any pictures did you?

 

Ouch. Some sad pictures there..

 

from Turbojeff "I bought a new door from Mazda last yr, the new door had an additional door beam"

That's good, since there is nothing on the stock door skin other than sheet metal to keep a side impact on the driver's side from smashing your pelvis. When I took off the inside door panel to replace my stereo speakers I expected al least some sound-proofing foam or coating. Nothing. Do not get T-boned. Front end collisions are as described by others on this thread- there is a lot of sheet metal to crumple and absorb the impact before it gets to the driver.

 

How did the control arms come loose? Was the car damaged previously?

 

holy mother of wrecked FD that has to be one of the worst im seen, i honestly think the FD was built with some great support in mind. ive never seen a rusted out FD and from all the wrecked/ salvage ones ive looked at they hold up very well to crashes!

 

Wait 10ft in the air how fast were you going , and wow that is pretty solid car.