Stock body work or aftermarkit bodykit? which design is more timeless?
 

Wanted to get everyone's opinion on bodywork. Will the stock/lightly modded look better in 10 years time, or will a drastically modified bodykit such as the Burnout kit look better in 10 years time? Right now I'm leaning towards stock for longevity......any opinions?

I would do the 99 spec. It really represents what mazda was trying to get across. You save thousands of dollars and easier to instal. If you want alot of attention and goin for a show car look do the burnout.

Honestly, i think the 99 spec if you're going for the "classic" look. I'm on the Burnout group buy and i've loved that kit forever.

Aftermarket body kits do not look good 10 seconds after they are installed, let alone 10 years after.

Apart from the '99 front, I have never seen a body kit that works on the FD. Every kit I have seen ignores the original lines of the car and pretty much just adds some random new ones.

Personally I hate body kits in general, however I have much love for the burnout kit. IMO these people have added to the look of the FD without taking away any class.

If I ever did a body kit, it would be this one.

Ditto! :) But I do like the '99 front bumper too!

In 10 years time if your car isnt stock it wont be worth a dime. body kits(even the high end ones) have trouble matching stock quality. 99spec or US spec is the way to go. Ive chosen to keep my stock USspec exterior in the hopes of increasing my retail. Stock FD's already sell for higher than non-stock FD's.

I really agree with moconnor. The stock is really beautiful as it is and it is really had to add somthing to it. However I have a slight preference for the 93 front.

This man knows what he's talking about. You'd all be smart to keep your stock parts even after you make your switch.

Honestly, how many people bought there car as an investment? The cars value has pretty much stabilized in the last five years.

In my opinion, do what you like now. In 10 years if you feel that the body kit has lost it's charm put it back to stock. It's body will need freshening in 10 years anyways.

I actually prefer the front end look of the 93-95 cars sold in the US when clean. Less frontal openings appeal to me more than the "smiles" and intergrated license plate of the 99spec fascia. Give me that with the rounded tail lights, and I think it about satisfies any classic car design coming from the 3rd gen.

I can't believe I clicked on this thread.

bodykits are a fad...what's timeless about that.

I've had 8 year olds tell me my car was nice, and I've had the grandmother next door tell me my car is sexy. My car looks stock.

Stock 93-95 IMO

stock...i will never put a bodykit on my car ever! too ricey in my opinion. Makes it too "showy"

What about 99 kit with some more width? I gotta admit I dont really liek any of the Front bumpers for the 7 other then the 2 stock ones and the MS one. But what about a 99 front with a little more width on the fendersand slightly larger ducting? Been think baout desgining something of the sort. With slightly larger front fenders, but kept pretty much stock looking and then some even bigger ones for the rear but nothing too insane lookign that woudl allow the FD to retain stock lines or even accent them at the least? Becasue no matter what, I think the stock 99 with a the lip makes it look not only the best but fastest and lowest. The problem with all the aftermarket bumpers is that it makes the car loook taller? I dunno if thats the word I'm looking for. But I think you guys get the idea, the car just doesnt look as slim as it should. Half of the reason I kind of dont like my FEED style 99 front bumper, again just doesn't look as slim as the beautiful 99 with lip. Like that 95 silver FD thread going on right now, slim fast and slick looking.

I agree the 99spec front with the shave licence plate would be the most classic.And any rotor head would love it too :) :D

i dig the 99 look, but w/ the shaved front plate, it looks too much of a smily face w/ a veilside bumper-like Gonzo nose. Not exactly my style.

but Timeless = BONE STOCK (with excellent paint/body condition)

bodykit's for personal preference, but it no longer looks like a RX7. they crack and wear out due to street conditions and crap that gets swiped up on the road.

but another 10 years from now, a excellent condition stock FD will still turn lots of heads. even FD owners will say "daaammmee... that's a clean rx7) lol.. :bling:

When I got my 7, it came with a C-West bodykit molded on, and a year & a half later, its getting taken off in favor of a '99 Spec front bumper and stock everything else. I'm tired of scraping the damn thing through car washes, bad dips, and I've never really liked the look of the kit. Stock will be nicer and more tasteful IMHO, and the '99 front end is classy.

Stay stock,just lower it and add some nice wheels.

I want my classic car bone stock. That means if the stock 99 spec came with a liscence play holder I want it. It's authentic. It's quirky. I(personally) do not want a 99 spec anything on my 95. But, the authentic 99spec parts on a US spec car may acually bring more money. I dont want a 99spec replica or modification. When someone sees my car I wish they would say, "That is one clean 7" and not think its modified in any way. No front mount. No loud exhaust. No visible electronics. No 3 guage a-pillar pods. The fd is about to go through or may be in the limbo before being a classic(it may be a big limbo) where prices fall and hold steady. If you want to predict the futufre of this car check out whats going on in the 1st and 2nd gen forums. Go see if a turbo SA22 is worth more than a bone stock SA22.