Why is the FD more then just your average sports car?
 

I seriously think about this from time to time. I remember when I was 10 thinking about how cool the FD was the first time I saw one (Also how my friend told me they had so many problems with that engine haha) and what made it so unique. As I got older I learned about the rotor and how different is was compared to the regular 137868764589x piston engines out there. I remember the first time even being in the presence of an FD it was a very awe struck feeling. I don't know if it's the rarity or how different the engine is, maybe its beautiful lines of the FD that make it so unique. All I can say is the first time I drove one I knew it was the perfect machine for a person such as myself (Me being a think outside the box type of person). Unique, Fast, Different, Stylish & Completely limitless to the minds designs on appearance and under the hood performance. The FD is one of the only cars I can truly say it truly is limitless as far what the mind limits it to (All you need is $ :) ) It is one of the very few cars out there that has a presence or to be more precise and "AURA" to put it right.

What made you guys so attracted to the FDThree so much? (Please don't say chick magnet because if you really are one of those guys then the car has a waste of an owner)

I see a S2000, M3, Supra and every other nice sports car out ont he roads of Chicago every day. I see maybe 1-2 RX7's (other then tuner rx7 buds) driving around every 3-4 months. The RX7 is so much more rare. It's instantly respected when you pull up in a crowd of enthusiasts and is one of a very rare few that could look like it jsut came off the production line in 2007 even though it produced 15 years earlier. It's a diamond in the rough.

Its like having a really fit bird, incredible lines, great to rag, all your mates drool over her, takes all your money, but there's always that feeling in the back of your mind that one day when you take her out she's going to snap and show you how totally fucked up she is.



.......but your addicted and keep going back for more.

Well said, We all get pissed when were under the hood working on stupid shit that breaks and spending money without reason but once the boost hits it all seems to become a blur.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

This weekend I was doing a HPDE at Summit Point.

One guy came up and asked all kinds of questions - about the rotary, about the turbos, about the reliability (mods), etc. He wasn't driving, but I only noticed him chatting with one other driver about their car - a guy with a rented Spec Miata, talking about cages and costs and stuff. But he was really curious about the FD.

Then a couple of others strayed in and one of them is currently a Porsche owner but in the past owned an RX-3 and all three gens of RX-7. He said that the 3rd gen was his favorite of all his cars, and he was thinking about getting another if he could justify the upkeep. He certainly respected the fact that I had a clean one and I kept it fit for track use.

Of course then there are the compliments about how this body style is one of their favorites of all time. I must agree.

I don't go bragging about it to others, but people feel compelled to brag about it to me. That says a lot.

Dave

Agree'd, I'm pretty modest about my car as well but I do hold it high on the pedistal of automotive excellence.

+1
my words exactly

man you guys couldnt have said it any better

The fact that a car of this proportion was developed in the very early 90's. The engine, chassis layout, and sheer look of the car that came to be at the same time I was starting school. It was a marvel for it's time and with a few of the quirks worked out (downpipe cat and vac lines), it's easily one of the fastest, best handling, best looking, and most responsive cars still in the auto industry today.

I love the fact that I can pull up to someplace and people still give me the "what kind of car is that? is it new?" line. People are usealy suprized when I tell them its a 94. Thats one of the 10000's of reasons why I love the FD.

"The 3rd and final generation of the RX-7 was, and still is, one of the best handling sports cars ever produced. With its powerful yet efficient RE13B 2-rotor Wankel Rotary engine and sophisticated twin-turbo system, excellent balance, and light-weight, the FD RX-7 had all the ingredients of a true sports car and is still a much sought-after machine amongst driving enthusiasts. Its beautifully curved futuristic body shape remained alluring throughout a production run that spanned 11 years and it remains an instantly recognizable icon that has also staked its claim in popular culture with appearances in major movies such as the Fast and the Furious series, games such as the Gran Turismo series, and the Japanese animation hit Initial D."

is that a wikipedia quote? i believe i remember reading that there. if i had to sum up the FD's prodigious magnificence, as a novice of course, I would say Un-parralleled ability to be lightening quick on the track, look like "what kind of car is that?" and retain the icon of a legend and even best the newest sports cars with ease. but i really couldn't tell you this from experience.

i agree with everyone on here. i was attracted to the looks of the car, mainly the 3/4 rear view which, in my opinion, is the best view of the fd. i'm surprised with the amount of attention one gets when driving this beautiful vehicle. i've gotten lots of thumbs up from random strangers and even more people wanting me to launch the car. the fd truly is an amazing machine - when it's working.

"The RX-7's performance is awe-inspiring:... the best hard core sports car in it's price range, maybe any price range".: MotorTrend 2/93

"The R1 was either the greatest track weapon the world has ever known or the harshest street machine to ever bottom out on the lip of a driveway."

"You wear the RX-7 the way you would an Italian suit. " Playboy May 1992

nuff said

+1 On everyone's quote.

I believe there are 2 things that hit me: the first was the looks, when I saw it the first time and said to myself: "I HAVE to get this car" (took from 95 to early 2007, one other child later, house, 2 Neons, 1 Accord and soon a Mazda 5, 9 years of work, just as many of dreaming and almost 2 of constant patient search). The second, it is just what a sports car should be: stellar vehicle dynamics and enough quirk to set you apart from anyone else.

...Did I mention I absolutely adore this car?

Tottally agree:icon_tup:

Like many have said, i love its uniqueness. I fell in love with the first generation rx7 about 6 years ago. Not the sexiest, nor fastest car out there but it was so original. Well the day came when i had the chance to get a 3rd gen. Having never even ridden in one, i drove 8 hours to buy one. I wanted the car because, like my first, it was unique, even more so than my first. When the guys garage door opened i couldnt keep from smiling. When i sat down in it i had the biggest grin ever, and when the pedal hit the floor i had the scaredest look ever.

I agree with all of the above for sure. The first time I saw one, I was in love. The first time I drove one, I was absolutely hooked. To me, it is everything that a true sportscar should be. Driving it instantly puts me on cloud 9. I also find it hard to put the damn thing away in the garage, because I know that I can't glance at it throught the window!!

The thing I appreciate the most though, is that it takes a certain type of person to own/properly maintain one. We all know its not an easy or cheap thing to do, and I wear that like a badge. Its an exclusive club that requires copious amounts of patience, and lots of hard work (both under the hood, and in our respective professions $$$). It's cool when my car gets noticed by someone that doesnt know much about it. It's much cooler when the person that notices it realizes how much effort one has to give to be an owner.

where i live nobody knows what an RX-7 FD is let alone ever seen one (backwater town....but next city over they do know). they look at me dumbfounded when i tell them its a 93. when they ask me "is it a V6 or a 4 cylinder?" i love the look on their faces when i tell them its a "zero banger" prior to explaining to them its a rotary engine. im modest about this car despite its awesome might on the road yet im proud as it is revered by many enthusiasts in the world. the dedication/responsibility it requires (this car actually taught me responsibility) is respectable as well since it does require lots of attention.

i adore this vehicle very much even when it is down for some issue it has and when i get it resurrected my spirits shoot through the roof. a friend of mine once said to me when it wasn't able to start with the key to cheer me up over a game of warcraft "ITS STILL A GOD LOLOLOL". that it is...that it is. even if it costs me a 1,000 to get it back on the road all that pain is immediately removed once my foot goes down and the hammer is dropped.

when i pop the hood to clean the engine bay and to inspect everything elation is what i feel, when i get underneath the car to change the oil satisfaction finds me as i am doin what is needed to keep this demon going. everything we do from changing the wires/spark plugs to the removal of the engine is all for paving the way to velocity and the addicting preservation of a car that is a mechanical demi-god whos kind is dwindling in number. as of this writing i must say this will be the fastest most gorgeous car i will ever drive in my life. the day i need to part with it may come, but i will see to it that it'll never happen as it is a dream made reality.

Basically, cars like the FD only come around once in a while. Certainly there are some spectacular cars out there; Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Aston Martin...etc, have made some rolling works of art. But the FD evokes a response that the 'common man' truly appreciates, which was the ABILITY to actually afford to purchase a car with the beauty AND performance such machines create. Much like the Jaguar E-type of the early '60s, the FD is (and was) affordable and gave much more 'snooty' cars a view of its tailights more often than not.
Mazda hit a design home-run with the FD, too bad the market wasn't there to support it.

To bad not everyone thinks like we do. Some punk took a pipe to my windshield and drivers door glass on Mon night. At least they only hit the glass and not the body. I don't understand how any red blooded male could actually damage such a gorgous vehicle. Envy maybe.

Mark

though i'm not sure which rx7club member i read this from, but he says it all for me.

"you can buy one for less than a BMW, their more rare than a prosche, and can be as fast as a ferrari"

sorry if i hacked that quote

plus its sexy as hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought mine in 95 for $21K. 12 years, $30K, 2 engines, 1 transmission and 1 diff later, I'm still driving the car. This despite not having AC or heat or radio. Something about the 3/4 view when I approach it after a hard's day work; the blow off valve hissing on every shift; the change in sound when the 2nd turbo comes on ...

I've gotten compliments from grand-ma's, teenagers, a retard girl on a bike (seriously), car nuts, biker dudes, hot roders, low riders, strangers who leave notes, brown/yellow/green people, friends and family.

I just think...what kind of reaction this car will get in another 13 years.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y28...p/IMG_0010.jpg

I can imagine dubulup, Louisiana doesn't have too many FDs. I get a lot of compliments too (no notes yet), mostly at gas stations.

This was posted not to long ago... every time i want to take a wrench to her because she's not co-operating, i read this article:

http://www.motivemagazine.com/pub/fe...azda_RX7.shtml

FD: THE physical manifestation of speed.

btw im an fc owner that wishes to one day also own an fd.

Man you guys know how to some it up. I am currently waiting for my 93 fd r1 to arrive from Iowa and i am so exicted. I have had rx7s since i was 15 and my dad had a 79 rx7 when i was like 6 and just loved that car. I am 17 now and getting my first fd after owning 4 2nd gens and still have 2 and really consider that a accomplishment in my life. I really love these cars and there is nothing like the rush i get from driving a rx7. All my friends want to ride with me because they love the way i take the turns like no other car they have been in and taking the engine up to red line beating the stupid honda that thinks he has a race car. I can't see myself with out one of these cars and so glad i went on autotrader that one fine day and found that 88 rx7 gxl that became my first car. Really got my first job becasue i needed money for parts all the time but driving it always made up for it. Mazda really developed a work of art and I really dont know why these didnt catch on sooner.

mmm... FD gooood !
 

“Like many of you I’ve had a few sports cars. after my first test drive of a new 93 FD I sold my 91 ZR-1 Corvette & bought the 93 FD with 3 miles on it
& still own it today…………………. with many mods & God willing more to come.”

i stopped reading that article the 2nd sentence once it said "penned by Tom Matano" <--- bc he didn't

^^ That article also says the FD has 2 sizes of turbos and that the 'larger' secondary turbo comes on at 1800 RPM. Does the author do any fact checking or just go off assumptions and (poor) memory.

For whatever reason, I skipped over the the thread the first time but here's my .02:

A couple of years ago I was a course worker for an Open Road Rally here in my state. Decent size event with some VERY serious iron...Competition Coupes, Cobras, numerous full race Vetts, Porsches, etc. I'd parked my car well off the course near my station, but it must have been visible to the drivers because I had one of them come up to me later during an after-party. I forget now exactly what he drove, but remember he was also an SCCA Official in his home region and had sought ME out by asking around.
Now it's hard to get more jaded about cars than this guy, a well-healed racer and Official. Still, he must have asked me a dozen questions about my car and kept telling me how sorry he was that he'd sold his some years earlier.... and he intended to get another.
These cars really are something special....and not just because we own one.

The style and power is what got my interest when the FD came out for 93. Didn't gut to buy one until 2 yrs ago. found a no title car to make a DE toy out of it. Blew one of the turbos last year and am finally getting aroung to changing it to single. About the comment about the style being about as good as the early 60's XKE's I also happen to be the proud owner for 37 years of a 1963 XKE. Guess that lets all of you young guys know that us old geezers like FD's also.

Never seen that aticle befoe.....nice! :icon_tup:

i remember that feeling. you either get it or you dont i guess

I don't think there is one person out there who sold their FD and said "Good riddance". Everyone I know who had one (or had the chance to get one) wishes they never let it go. The guy I bought mine from still asks about it all the time, like it's his old girlfriend or something! :inlove:

I'll never sell mine...unless of course it's for a lower mileage one.

My .02

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...g/DSCN8284.jpg

Nuff said :D

I agree.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...8/DSC07992.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...8/DSC08025.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...8/DSC08019.jpg

Nuff Said

I agree with everything that has been said here about the FD...Although this is similar to stuff that has already been said...I think its just the fact that the FD was so ahead of its time, not only unique in engine design, but the body lines of the car...As for the two of you that posted pictures.........*drool*......They're both beautiful, very clean, I hope to have mine looking as clean some day soon...

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1194528647

The other night we went to a movie, but before that i had to run to autozone then we went o steak and shake to get a quick salad. anywho, at autozone i just had to run in for one thing and it took me 15 minutes because the guy at the counter would not stop talking to me about the car he loved it. then we goto get a salad and mind you we have only about 10 minutes instead of a half hour now. i parked my car outside the window where i was seated to i could see it and 3 car pull up stuffed full of guys they all get out and wonder around my car for the entire time we were in there then talk to me when we leave..... we were late to the movie.

my favorite is how people always run up and ask my if its stock. front mount, slammed, fat tires in the back, growling exhaust. yep its stock.....:lol:

that or they ask how many turbos i say two, then explain how one is in the near future and they always say why would you wan tto go BACK to just one......

The sound of the engine, feeling how light the car is when you brake, 1g around turns...

Mostly I like how you're not driving the car, you're piloting it. It's not a drivers seat but a cockpit, not like any other car.

And like somebody said before, there's more driver involvement with an rx-7. Heating up, cooling down, lowering rpms before you turn it off, keeping it in (or out of) the high end range.

Did I mention how pretty it is? :D

1) rarity, uniqueness, sexiness. RX-7's were way ahead of its time

2) speed, power, light weight, god-like handling

3) the number of people who break their necks when you fly by

4) getting a thumbs up from M3's, Porsches, Supras, NSX's, and the people that say:
"Whoa, it's an RX-7..."

5) the learning process of maintaining a rotary, teaches you patience,
teaches you how to care for your car, teaches you to love and respect
your car, teaches you how to treat your car right. If you can handle
a rotary, you can handle any other car.

^^^agreed

looks just like my car, except i have a 99spec wing

haha painted stock rims FTW!

Well, aren't you going to tell me (us) who did?
Please...

Yeah, I would like to know who you think did too...

From what I could find, it was a mix of Tom Matano's (chief designer in the states) model and Wu-Huang Chin's (also working at Irvine R&D) model who won out in the end. Chin got credit for the final design but if you compare the two, it's definitely a mix of both.

my 2001 FD is porn on wheels............i wish it had a vagina :lol:

Yea The RX-7 is definitely the best car I've owned yet :D after seeing mine I totally just fell in love. I too saw them when I was a kid and always wanted one. So far the hardest part about owning mine is when I had to go to Iraq and know that she was sitting in the garage waiting to be driven by me :( it was torture!

Intercourse on four wheels............

When everyone see's a porsche they know its a porsche. when everone see's a Rx-7 they dont know what it is. That feeling alone is thee best. When people stop just to admire your car.....PRICELESS!!