Why is a stock rx7 so nice to some people?
03-19-13, 10:44 PM
#101
This is not intended to sound mean but I think the original question is flawed. It implies that some people would not find a bone stock RX-7 desirable. I think even the OP would like to start with a stock FD. What car enthusiast does not like seeing a stock vehicle just as it came from the factory? I am talking about a bone stock, well kept, well maintained, RX-7. What I mean is that realistically while we can all agree that a properly "reliability-modded" or properly "power-modded" RX-7 is great to find, who would not rather find a properly maintained but completely stock vehicle that has not been messed with at all? I think if we are all being completely honest with ourselves we would rather be the ones doing the modifications, reliability, power, whatever on a clean slate. The piece of mind that comes from not having to figure out what was done by prior owner and being able to personally check all the important items off the list....cooling, fuel filter, rats nest, pre-cat. I am fortunate to have one of those RX-7s. I got mine with 38k miles, same owner since 95, very detailed records, receipts, only had a fan-switch mod. I learned everything along the way and I did not have to reverse anything that was done because nothing had been done. I know what I have done and it's as close to being the original owner as I'm ever going to get. Who wouldn't prefer that?
03-19-13, 11:31 PM
#102
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There is no way I would ever go back to the stock twins after going to my single turbo. I love my car and the mods I have performed to it. I am not cash strapped like many people and I did most of the mods myself.
I drove my roomies almost stock rx7 R1 and I loved the car, but my car is way more fun to drive and simple but it took a lot of money to get there and my time.
Most of the cars are 20 yrs old, they are going to need money into them anyway, so I think it is somewhat expected.
I drove my roomies almost stock rx7 R1 and I loved the car, but my car is way more fun to drive and simple but it took a lot of money to get there and my time.
Most of the cars are 20 yrs old, they are going to need money into them anyway, so I think it is somewhat expected.
03-20-13, 12:41 AM
#104
This is precisely why my build is going the route it is. I am staying sequential and not making the interior look after market. (Still having an internal battle about a 3 gauge A-pillar, or just going without.)
My goal is a more powerful version of the same design: Sequential Twins. Engine build aimed at the midrange powerband, and suspension that won't make the vehicle harsh. I think the only thing I have planned so far that is not in the spirit of things in the manual steering rack.
However, that all being said, my first experience in an FD was nearly stock. All it had was a Racing Beat Dual Tip cat-back exhaust. I fell in love from that moment on, went and found a 95 rolling chassis and against all logic or financial responsibility... purchased it. Had I been smarter, I would have just waited and bought one later that was running in near stock condition. However, 6+ years later and I am finally making headway to a running FD. I'm no-where close to done yet, but at least I am moving forward.
My goal is a more powerful version of the same design: Sequential Twins. Engine build aimed at the midrange powerband, and suspension that won't make the vehicle harsh. I think the only thing I have planned so far that is not in the spirit of things in the manual steering rack.
However, that all being said, my first experience in an FD was nearly stock. All it had was a Racing Beat Dual Tip cat-back exhaust. I fell in love from that moment on, went and found a 95 rolling chassis and against all logic or financial responsibility... purchased it. Had I been smarter, I would have just waited and bought one later that was running in near stock condition. However, 6+ years later and I am finally making headway to a running FD. I'm no-where close to done yet, but at least I am moving forward.
03-20-13, 08:56 AM
#105
This is the main reason why I started with a roller. Start from scratch with known work done by myself with friends. I don't have to find other people's problems or why they did this and that. Also built the car up to stock. Then went reliable mods. Then modding for more power and fun comes after I know how the stock car is and feel every little mod and upgrade to appreciate it more.
the PO started to repair the car . But never finished , he got as far as giving half the car half a paintjob . and honestly all I've done has been fix his mistakes .
03-20-13, 11:09 AM
#106
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Bolt-ons are one thing, but I don't think I could ever pull the hell out of the fenders or cut my quarter panels for a wide-body. That's where you're at the point of no-return.
03-20-13, 11:04 PM
#107
hey guys, first time posting in 3rd gen i think
i agreed with lots of people that stock is actually not as bad as people think it is, what happen was people gone ape **** with the car trying to double power without any upgrades then boom they said the car sucks yadayada
im looking at a stock jdm fd right now and it seems pretty nice, has 80k km on odo (probably messed with it) and everything is stock. the guy imported from japan and i already have a rx8 and fc in the states so i wanna get this one. there is another fd at the same lot, but ita already modded, not a lot just coilovers, bov and an intake. but if i have to pick i would still pick the stock one over the modded one
i agreed with lots of people that stock is actually not as bad as people think it is, what happen was people gone ape **** with the car trying to double power without any upgrades then boom they said the car sucks yadayada
im looking at a stock jdm fd right now and it seems pretty nice, has 80k km on odo (probably messed with it) and everything is stock. the guy imported from japan and i already have a rx8 and fc in the states so i wanna get this one. there is another fd at the same lot, but ita already modded, not a lot just coilovers, bov and an intake. but if i have to pick i would still pick the stock one over the modded one
03-22-13, 05:43 PM
#109
I think one of the more insightful series of comments has been that everyone goes to single turbo with the intention of making a lot more power and at the same time, making the motor more reliable. Often they end up with a more problematic motor that's in the shop more than they'd like and costing them more in continuing maintenance costs than they expected. That is contrasted against how genuinely nice the stock setup is and how many people, the 85% you mention, don't know what the stock car was like.
Gordon
Gordon
03-23-13, 12:44 PM
#110
I bought a stock FD 3 years ago with 14k miles on it....It drove excellent till the pre cat broke...but I replaced the pre cat with a Fujita downpipe put a racing beat muffler on it and now it runs like a dream. I know that's not considered 100% stock but its damn close... anyway's now my FD has 61k miles on it now (my daily driver) and I think it still runs super sweet. Actually I just took it to the Tustin Mazda dealership for the first time in 3 years..(was and still am taking it to Mazdatrix) but now it runs like a champ!!!! and I'm running the original non-rebuilt motor 
These cars are amazing..All I've ever done is stay on top of changing the oil and top it off every 500 miles and I run evans coolant. So ya love the stock/ semi stock FD's 
These cars are amazing..All I've ever done is stay on top of changing the oil and top it off every 500 miles and I run evans coolant. So ya love the stock/ semi stock FD's
03-24-13, 03:40 AM
#111
Regarding the topic of leaving a car stock versus going single turbo, I would like to lend perspective. If you have the opportunity, you can read my article here:
Afterword: Single Turbo Conversion | Grand Mighty
I personally opted for the single turbo route, and outlined all the reasons why. I do still appreciate an "overall" stock car - the key here is the balance - but this does not mean there aren't areas for improvement.
Afterword: Single Turbo Conversion | Grand Mighty
I personally opted for the single turbo route, and outlined all the reasons why. I do still appreciate an "overall" stock car - the key here is the balance - but this does not mean there aren't areas for improvement.
03-24-13, 09:57 AM
#112
All out Track Freak!
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Regarding the topic of leaving a car stock versus going single turbo, I would like to lend perspective. If you have the opportunity, you can read my article here:
Afterword: Single Turbo Conversion | Grand Mighty
I personally opted for the single turbo route, and outlined all the reasons why. I do still appreciate an "overall" stock car - the key here is the balance - but this does not mean there aren't areas for improvement.
Afterword: Single Turbo Conversion | Grand Mighty
I personally opted for the single turbo route, and outlined all the reasons why. I do still appreciate an "overall" stock car - the key here is the balance - but this does not mean there aren't areas for improvement.
Single turbos are great for the track but suck everywhere else unless you like bullying daily drivers.
I admire your commitment and determination but I never would of changed the motor on that car other than a v-mount and a good tune.
The twins are very reliable when setup properly like your car was
I drove it from 8600 miles to 25k with ZERO problems. See how many issues you have over the next 16000 miles on your single setup.Hopefully you used good lines to the waste gate with AN fittings etc....because if it gets burned, pops off, leaks etc... and you over boost there's usually no forgiveness with a single turbo it's simply BOOM GOES YOUR MOTOR and it can happen in a dozen other ways as well. I also hope you left the stock fuel rails alone and went with two 850s or 550s and 1200s otherwise you can have all sorts of issues with failing leaking injectors etc.....
I've said it OVER AND OVER and my face stays blue on this subject but you DON'T NEED POWER and the car is good for 350 max before you start tearing everything apart to include: bushings, motor mounts, leaky oil pans, motors, trans, diff, ppf, etc...etc....
The twins are perfect for the street and I would of bolted on a v mount added a HF cat, tuned the car and called it day. You would of loved how responsive the twins are and how cool it is when the secondary comes on line. That never gets old in my book and again the only thing a single turbo street car is good for is terrorizing other DDs, getting tickets and breaking your car.
I know I'll get flamed big time by the single turbo lovers but after owning countless single turbo and TT cars my mind is made up and once you've walked in my shoes I think you'd feel the same way. Remember I'm talking daily driving, my weekend warrior is a single turbo track car and I can't have fun on the streets without going to jail.
03-24-13, 06:32 PM
#113
Recovering Miataholic
I now know from 20 years of experience that the car likes 350-375 wheel hp and I want that kind of power in the same seamless linear package the original car offered and with the same or better reliability. So, improved twins or NA 20b.
03-25-13, 12:31 PM
#115
300 NA hp sounds really good to me right now!
I am considering an NA as my next build (an RX-8) as I have been driving/racing this stock 2004 automatic RX-8 (with my FD wheels/tires) and its faster in the corners than my FD from its lack of torque.
You can get on the gas really early without significantly changing the chassis balance and I am thinking I want to preserve this aspect of the car as I add power.
Not really related to why stock FDs are so nice, except that I also want to preserve the strong points of the stock RX-8 chassis (ie, why a stock RX-8 is so nice to some people).
I am considering an NA as my next build (an RX-8) as I have been driving/racing this stock 2004 automatic RX-8 (with my FD wheels/tires) and its faster in the corners than my FD from its lack of torque.
You can get on the gas really early without significantly changing the chassis balance and I am thinking I want to preserve this aspect of the car as I add power.
Not really related to why stock FDs are so nice, except that I also want to preserve the strong points of the stock RX-8 chassis (ie, why a stock RX-8 is so nice to some people).